[sue35]

Hello everyone-
I am not sure if I am even posting in the right section, if I am not I'm sorry. A little background on me: I have cystic fibrosis and am having a flare up. I was pre-diabetic but am now labeled diabetic with the amount of prednisone I am on.

My doctor wants me to start insulin today and I am terrified of needles. I really can't give myself one. I get dizzy just looking at a needle. I live alone so have to do it myself.

Are there any pointers you guys can give me? I looked into the insulin pens but are those less painful? I am just so lost.

Thanks a lot!
Sue

[Penny]

Hi Sue. It isn't as hard as you think, honestly. Ask your doctor about the pens, you barely know you are using a needle. I have seldom had an injection hurt, and if it did, it was not a bad hurt. It will get easier.

[princesslinda]

Hi Sue, welcome to the forum. The thought of giving oneself a shot is a scary feeling. I work in a doctor's office and we had a drug-rep lunch a few weeks ago. The drug rep had one of the injector pens used for Humulin (insulin) shots. I asked her could I see it. She showed me how to use it and I asked what was in the demo pen she had...she told me it was saline, so I asked her if I could inject myself to see how it felt (I figured if I did it when I didn't HAVE to, it would be easier than if I had to do it as i'd be more scared then). Anyway, I turned the top of the pen, took of the cap and stuck the TINY needle into my stomach and injected the saline. I DIDN'T FEEL A THING. It was much easier than a finger stick. This relieved my mind, as I've always figured i'd have to do insulin someday. This really relieved my mind. I think the idea is much worse than the actual shot could ever be.

You may not have to stay on insulin after the prednisone is out of your system, but I don't think you'll have ANY problems with the shot once you see that it doesn't hurt like you think it will.

[Olidus]

Sue,

The pens are great - and you can get different size needles and guages.

Here is a demo on the Novolog FlexPen
NovoLog®: helpful resources for diabetes patients

It all depends on the type of unsulin you get put on.

Penny is right in saying it does not hurt. Infact to have someone pinch you would hurt more then the pens now-a-days.

[shockme]

hi sue and welcome to df! i use a pen and i was terifies of sticking myself. i swore i could NEVER do it! took me over a 1/2 hour to get up the nerve...and i actually had to double check to see IF i stuck myself or the couch! i didn't even feel it! you CAN do this! considering the alternative if you don't.....take care,trish

[soso]

Hi Sue
I had a friend for many years who had Cystic Fibrosis, so I know a little of the daily therapy you have to do... I am very confident you will find your shots (esp with a pen) to be nothing at all.... as the others say.. it is true that you don't feel it at all, finger pricks are much more of a nusiance but even they are not really painful most times.. just do it once and you will see, nothing to be scared of...
best wishes..
ss

[lgvincent]

I'm so sorry to hear what has happened. I am hoping for the best for you.

I had a very hard time giving myself injections in the beginning, too. What helped me is I would place ice on the spot where I was going to take the shot and leave it there until the place became numb. I could take injections with no discomfort at all (except for my sometimes wet underwear). After a few weeks, I was able to give myself injections without the ice. I just place the needle against the skin and that way I'm sure to not miss when I take the shot.

I would encourage you to try the shorter needles, too. I use a 3/8 inch needle and it's so much better than the 1/2 inch needles I used years ago.

[EasyType2]

Sue, even syringes are not that bad. I was a devout coward about needles of any kind, and detested routine inoculations. Since starting insulin - about 15 years ago - I have given myself every shot save one. I rarely ever feel it and have to watch carefully to be sure the needle is fully inserted.

[mg_2204]

Welcome to this wonderful place!

I was on insulin for a short while when I was pregnant with my last child. I can't remember the name of it but I didn't use needles, it looked like a pen. It was SO EASY to use! Painless too. Maybe you could ask for something like that?

I've seen the serynges too and how a person injects and my! Doesn't look scary, it's fast, and then all done.

[sue35]

Thank you all so much for welcoming me. I already love this place because of how friendly everyone is.

I am on my way to pick up my pen now. I know that I am making it a bigger deal in my head and hope that after I do the first one it won't be that bad. I am nervous because people say that they get bruising and I don't have a lot of fatty places other than my stomach.

Will let you know how it goes!

[tanyatype1]

Good luck Sue. I agree with everyone above about the needles! One night my hubby wanted to see what I have to go through everyday, so he took one of my syringes and started poking himself - all over the place! He said that he couldn't feel a thing! (no more sympathy for me!) I'll be honest, sometimes you DO feel a little pinprick but that's it. It's do-able! Good luck!

[sue35]

I did it and it wasn't bad at all! I get shaky from another medicine I am on so I have to work on that. The first time I did it I shook so much that I scratched myself with the needle.

Is there somewhere on here where I can find what my numbers should be? I am only taking 1 unit if it is 150-200, 2 units if bs is 201-250 and so on. My sugars are not dropping below 120 after I take it. Should they?

[beau91]

Hi Sue and welcome to the forum.I inject 4 times a day and rarely feel a thing. About your numbers ,you will need an adjustment.Talk to your doctor ,tell him your numbers.At first they rarely hit the good dose. Anyway your at the right place for answers,Bye Ricky