needles

I don't have a lot of fat on me so, I've been using the shortest needles with the thinnest gauge. I use the Novofine needle tips that are 6mm (length) and 32 gauge (thickness). There is one size smaller (shorter & thinner) that is used for infants only.

I find that pinching up a mound of skin and injecting at a 90 degree angle is the least painful. In fact, I find the BGL finger pick testing to hurt more than the injection needles

My abdomen is the best area for me to inject. I still haven't been able to inject into thighs without bruising (not enough fat). Never tried the arms but, have been using butt-hip area successfully.

I have Unifine 8mm 31G ones. I don't always find a spot that does not sting, but sometimes it's painless, most of the time it does not bother me. I have practically no fat in my hands and arms, so I can't imagine anyone injecting there, but thighs, butt and abdomen are good areas - anywhere you can form that mound of skin. I was taught to inject in an angle, change the position after each injection, but I know I should be changing the needle more often too.

However, I think there is something in Levemir that causes a formation of a hard bump the width of a golf ball to rise when injected in a new spot (rarely). It's not necessarily the needle and this never happened during the 20 first years and it never happens with the rapid insulin. I have had one on my abdomen and one on my thigh. I wonder what's up with that, but my doctor said it's possible..

My doctor set me up to test Levemir as soon as it appeared on the market. I've been on it for a few years and I moved from some old "mixtards".

In any case, I wouldn't be able to inject anywhere on my arms. It's a new idea to me. It does seem awkward, yes. After I was diagnosed, they put the drip on the back of my palm, but I wouldn't inject on my hand...