Needles
 

I'm not sure where to put this in the Forums, but since I am Type 2 I will start here.

For those of you injecting, what size needles are you using? I have been using 8mm, but recently received more needles from the pharmacy. They sent the 5mm instead of the 8mm. I decided to go ahead and try them to see if I like them, and how well they work. In an extremely limited trial, they seem to work. But I seem to be bruising more. I will try a few more days, but if the bruising continues I will probably switch back to the 8mm.

I am wondering what others have experienced with different needle sizes.

-Ryan

rdricks;

I use Ultra Fine 5mm (long ~3/16'') 31g (diameter in wire gauge). The smaller the needle the less pain. I have tried several needles and I like these the best. I have had no bruising with these needles.

The Ultra Fine needles are the ones sent by the pharmacy. Do you pinch up the skin with the 5mm? I did with the 8mm, and I have been with the 5mm. I'm thinking I may need to try the 5mm straight in, no pinch.

Straight with no pinch is the way that I do it. It works pretty well for me. :)

Love the 5mm. I freaked when the pharmacy gave me the wrong ones for my first batch of needles (was 8mm). I called my doc and was like "uhh we have a problem! THAT is not what I agreed too!" She cleared it up and the pharmacy switched. I'm afraid of needles but the 5mm is not very intimidating to me so I'm happy.

i've been using 8mm the whole time. i haven't used anything else so I can't write a comparison. but i can tell you that using these needles it is recommended to NOT pinch the skin when you insert it. i get bruising sometimes too but that is unavoidable

I was getting a lot of bruising as well until I spoke with mt nurse about it and she sggested that I inject up higher above my waist line so my belt didn't put pressure on my injection sites. Additionally she said that Would get better insulin absorbtion at that higher site. I did both and bruising almost never occursnow and my bsl's have come down so I guess I'm getting better absorbtion too.