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gave myself shot in upper arm - success!

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Posted 2/7/2006 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
To Jennie. Just to let you know. I just gave myself a shot of lantus in my upper arm 10, units. Did not even feel it. Thank you so kindly for helping me build up my courage. I could not have overcome my fear without your incouragement and putting my mind at ease.
Posted 2/7/2006 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
:::grins::: and I keep TELLING people it doesn't hurt!!!  Good job Steven.  Try the thigh..its easier to reach than your upper arm

scool  Warren

Posted 2/7/2006 9:14 AM (GMT 0)

Well done Steven!  yeah

Just wait, soon you won't even have to think twice about it.

Claire x

Posted 2/7/2006 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
To Jennie, Warren, Clair Bear, My Doctor called this morning. After alot of exercise, self denial, hanging on by my thumbs A1C came in at 6.7 She wants me to fax all my moment in time tests and fax it to her next Monday. I was wondering do they put all the numbers in a computer and the computer sets the doesage or does the Doctor just analyze what they see and go with an educated guess? Not that it matters this whole disease is all about careful trial and error. 6 more hours I take my second shot. In a way looking forward to it. The more I do it the more confident and less fear I will have. Thank you everyone once again to help me overcome my phobia a common problem with needles
Posted 2/8/2006 3:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Steven,

He/she is going to look at your numbers and determine the best starting dose for you.  Remember, Lantus is a 24 hour shot, so its going to give you a relatively equal dose of insulin all day long.  Your pills will supplement this.  So I think she s going to be looking at your fasting numbers and your evening numbers to determine where to start you.  Its kinda trial and error but not as flawed as it sounds.

scool Warren
Posted 2/8/2006 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Steven,

Hooray for you!!! As for spots to inject, one of my favorites is my side hip where (ahem!) we ladies tend to pack a little baggage. I usually do this in my bathroom where I can see what I'm doing and I'm always sure to look for any bruising caused by recent injections. Don't be alarmed if you sometimes get a drop of blood at the injections site. Just means you crossed a small capillary. Simply hold your hand over it and press for a few seconds. Sometimes the ones that bleed seem to make bruises so just be aware of that and don't inject in the bruised area until it fades away. I have this problem most on my tummy when I inject there.

As far as dosage, my doc started me on 6 units and then told me to increase by one or two units until my morning sugars were under 120. I'm now injecting 15 units regularly and if I've had a particularly low carb dinner I inject 12 or so. She has given me free rein to regulate my insulin to get my numbers right (within reason). I had to send her not only my numbers as you are doing but my diet sheets for weeks before we got to this area of trust. Your doctor is usually the one who makes the decisions about dosages based on experience. (I don't know if you could load all the info into a computer that would predict dosages... :-) ) The doc knows your dietary habits, exercise levels, what you go for when you lose it (for me it's Belgian chocolate!) as well as how well your other meds are working. 10 units is a very low beginning dosage and so don't be surprized if you need to raise it a bit over time until the numbers get right.

We are so lucky that we have the technology we have! I remember when I was a small girl. The only way my grandmother had to test was with diagnostix sticks that she put into her urine. By the time the sugar gets into your urine at levels that show up your sugars are a lot out of line. And she didn't have the meds we have now... No wonder she died of a heart attack when she was only 8 yrs older than I am now.... Anyway, great job Steven. Now you're gonna have to see if you can get AL (Pin Cushion) to sell you one of his needle chickens! tongue
Posted 2/8/2006 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Jeannie for taking the time for such a good detailed reply. She started me off with 10 units. I've taken 2 shots one in the right upper arm and one on my right theigh. Absolutely no problem. I feel I woud rather have A1C at 6.0 or lower than a 7.0 or higher with meds I can certainly see the merits of insulin. I think I will have alot more lattitude. My program stays the same just 1 more helper Yes it's only 2 days of insulin, but from what I see 10 is to low. My 2 hours test are much too high. that tells me something right there. Too say you are never going to eat candy ,cake or sweets sometimes is just not realistic, We are humans not machines. You are so right, we are more fortunate. I literally eat to my meter alot of times. By the way what is a nedle chicken? Do you ever get occurences of low blood sugar? and how common is it? Have you ever had to use Glucagon,? I hope not. As you can tell I'm a little bit of a worrier. But my doctor is taking the careful prudent approach and I feel very confident about her. You seem to really have your program together. Certainly you and Warren are good roll models. Thank you once again and for sharing your helpful knowledge.
Posted 2/9/2006 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
How do I get messages posted on my E mail. S Kreloff at G Mail. com Is there a way? anyone Know? Steve Kreloff
=================
Made a little change in your email address so it's unavailable to the spam spiders.

Post Edited By Moderator (Jeannie143) : 2/9/2006 9:46:11 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/9/2006 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Steven,

Im going to let Jeannie speak to the low blood sugar question as she's a Lantus user and Im now a Byetta user. I did just want to stop and tell you that if your not using a 31g 5mm needle for you insulin....get some and try them. Those are the smallest you can buy and they are by FAR much more pain free than anything else you can use!

Warren
Posted 2/10/2006 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Steven,

If I understand you correctly you are asking how to get email notifications of certain threads? Go up to the blue bar and click on the "Control Panel" link. That will take you to your private preferences page and when you get there click on the "Edit Email Subscriptions" button in the blue bar and follow the directions.

As far as the low blood sugar problems... I don't have them with Lantus. I have taken some oral meds in the past that just about sent me to LaLa land but the Lantus is very easy going. Because it is so long acting and helps stablize your sugars it doesn't lead to the deep lows. I have actually forgotten to eat sometimes and still not had any huge problems other than a slight 'muzziness' of the brain. When I had low blood sugars on my old oral med (the name escapes me just now) I literally felt like I was falling down a well. Shortness of breath, cold sweats and could just about drink maple syrup out of the bottle!

I'm so glad that you have been able to start the Lantus without any big problems. It's a good med and it works! Someday when I'm rich and famous (like Warren) tongue I'm gonna' get me some byetta. But until the medical insurance fairy stops by our house I'm going to have to stick with what I can afford. Take care!
Posted 2/10/2006 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Jennie and Warren for your reply. I followed your instructions. Good to hear how Lantus is gentle. That was one of my other fears about insulin. My mother went into a diabetic coma. 1 time. Unfortunely they did not have the medical coverage I had. As you know this is an expensive disease to take care of . I'm still taking all of my oral meds. Do you feel you have a little more latitude with eating. You don't have to keep as much narrow restrictions because of insulin? I know that Byetta is a relative new drug. My doctor was not to familiar with it.. That comment by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is beautiful. I really like it. Took my third shot , no problem . Might try near belly button next.. I'll keep you posted. Will Fax my glucose numbers to Doctor Monday I'll keep you posted. I'm 5ft 7in 145 not much insulin resistance.. So I'll see how many units I eventually end up. It really does not matter I guess. Take care and good health
Posted 2/10/2006 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Steven,
Word of warning about the tummy shots. Stay at least three to four inches away from the belly button. Your abdomen, especially around the umbilicus, is full of lots of blood vessels and there's a greater chance of bruising and bleeding there.

As far as I understand it, a needle chicken is a small rubber toy chicken without any feathers that Pin Cushion has hanging from his mirror on his car. He has some used syringes stuck in it as a sort of 'VooDoo' doll to 'kill' diabetes. It's his way of humorously poking fun at the dumb disease. You may be able to find one at your local dollar store. I got one for my grandkids for Christmas since the cat ate the last one. It's a silly toy but they like to use it when they play house. (They do not stick needles in it!)

TTFN
Posted 2/11/2006 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jennie for the warning about the Tummy shots, blood doesn't bother me except when it's my own. Still trying to work up my courage for other place than upper theigh and upper arm. That's pretty good with the needle chicken. Everyone has their own way of ventening their feelings. Just knowing I can converse with people here helps me alot. I find self help groups helpful to me. I appreciate all the moral support and incouragement I can get here. You and Warre seem so self confident and assured. It's contagious And as always it's nice to get a reply. This disease is controllable you just have to be attentaive and not get reckless. I'll keep you posted and let you know how I make out. Thanks Again-Steve
Posted 2/11/2006 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
What?!?! We can't get reckless!?!?! And here I was just getting ready to start snarfing wedding cake with my brides on their appointments! Darn!

Another hint I have is to be sure to wash your hands before checking your blood (if you're doing finger tests). Diabetics often excrete excess sugar in their sweat so that sugar will show up in your testing and give inaccurate results. Also, pay extra attention to your teeth. We have sugar in our saliva as well... (my hubby was right, I do taste sweet when he kisses me!) I was taught at my classes to use Total toothpaste because it fights gum disease in diabetics. There has been a coorelation shown between plaque build up on teeth and plaque build up in arteries and heart attacks and the possible link between the same bacteria causing both.... So... Brush your teeth! tongue Because my fibromyalgia makes it hard to do the 2 minute thing I use an electric tooth brush... Had good results with that.

Hope this helps.
Posted 2/11/2006 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Steven,

Since I was needle phobic once upon a time, Im gonna give you my pain free way to do your injections, especially belly shots!!  Get that pinch of skin, whether its the thigh or the belly and rest the needle tip on that spot.  If you feel a prick, move the needle tip until you don't feel it. I find that if I feel it "stick" and just keep going the injection hurts, but if I find a part where I don't really feel the needle tip...VOILA..just slight pressure on the needle and it will slip right in and you never feel it.  HOWEVER, if that insulin is cold it could burn so make sure you hold it, stick it under your arm..do anything short of microwaving it to warm it up first!

With belly injections Jeannie is right on.  I find about 6 inches away from the belly button (6 inches to the side, not down) gets you to a less sensitive spot and one less likely to bleed.  Again..use the "prick" method and find a spot where you can pinch up the skin and not feel the needle prick and you are ok!  Again, I can't stress enough how pain free a 31g needle is so if you are using 22's or 28's...get another box of 31g's and save the others for a rainey day!  Also don't "jam" that insulin in but use one slow steady push on the plunger of the syringe.   Slow is better and doesn't cause the burn forcing that liquid into the tissues can if you just jam it down!

Anyway....this is homegrown advice from a needle phobic!

scool  Warren

Posted 2/12/2006 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
To Warren. Forum Moderaltor. Thanks Warren I'm using BD ultra Fine 3/16" 31 gauge needle. So you say move the needle so you don't feel it. I'll try that .Like everything with this disease .it's trial & error. I sort of have to master the technique with needles. I'll make sure I try that slow approach with the injector also. You are certainly the voice of experience. and experiece is the best teacher . I appreciate all your suggestions to make this a little easier. How long did it take you to get your techniuqe down? Just curious? Never really knew this was a knack to this. Obviously there is. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.
Posted 2/13/2006 9:27 AM (GMT 0)

LOL, Warren and I use exactly the same method of doing injections!  It works out to be a lot less painful.

Posted 2/13/2006 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Claire-Bear for confirming Warren's method. I'll give your method a try
Posted 2/17/2006 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Not that it hasn't been confirmed by two other excellent sources, but that's how I do it as well, sometimes you won't even feel a thing, not even a prick. I have never ever "stabbed" the needle in, In my 15 years noone has ever given me an insulin injection after the first one the nurse did for me :) slow and patient=relatively painless every time. Good luck
Posted 3/3/2006 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Haven't heard from you in a while, Steven... Hope all is well... Probably got all proficient at this insulin thing and now you're going to abandon us... (sniff! sniff!) You could stick around and help the newbies now that you have this great program going...

But that's ok... We will all muddle along without your input... Struggling to help other newbies overcome their needle phobia. We will try to hold you up as an example... and I suppose we can relate your good results... It might be as effective as you telling them yourself.... I understand... You don't need us anymore so we are cast aside like an old shoe... You're probably too busy for your old diabetes forum friends... That's ok... sorry to bother you...

(Jeannie exits dramatically with her hand over her heart.) tongue
Posted 3/7/2006 12:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Steven,

Just a quick note to make sure you didn't faint from an injection and give them up all together!!  Write and let us know what's happening.

scool  Warren

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