Lantus Pain

[bgast1]

Does anyone here have intense stinging when injecting Lantus. I don´t always have this intense stinging, but I have for a couple of nights now. Tonight, however I had a drop left over on my skin when I pulled the syringe out. I am currently using short needles. I also am wondering if the brand name of the syringes makes a difference? I have only been on Lantus a short time and I am using 35 units at bed time.

[zookeeper671]

According to diabetes news (http://www.diabetesnet.com/news/news052701.php), "one minor negative to Lantus is that study participants reported a slight stinging sensation at the injection site, especially with doses of 25-30 units or more."

As for the leaking, try keeping the needle inside your body for about 5 seconds after injecting.

Best wishes,
Angie

[Teresa]

YES! I do get a stinging sensation when i inject my lantus!!! never thought to ask if anyone else got that!

[bgast1]

Nice to know that I was not alone on this. Looks like I fall within the parameters of that study as well. Oh well, will have to grin and bear it I guess.

[webpundit]

I take 23 units of Lantus at bedtime everyday and just like you I experience a hot, burning sensation when I inject it. It's awful and I don't look forward to those nightly shots!! One way that I've found to ease the pain is to keep the Lantus out of the fridge for a half hour or so to get it down to room temperature. To me it seems that the colder it is the more it burns. Try that out. If you're already keeping it at room temperature and not in the fridge, try injecting it really slowly. Those 2 are the only solutions that've worked for me so far.

I really hope this helps!

[bgast1]

Thanks, I´ll try that. I keep it out of the fridge already. Do other insulins sting like this stuff does?

[Ella1]

We've been told by the doctor that some people do experience stinging sensation when injecting Lantus, and it's due to the fact that Lantus is different to pH balance of the skin.

[webpundit]

Originally posted by Ella1
We've been told by the doctor that some people do experience stinging sensation when injecting Lantus, and it's due to the fact that Lantus is different to pH balance of the skin.


I learn something new everyday! Thanks Ella :)

bgast,
I take Humalog currently, and have taken the 75/25 as well as 70/30 mix before....none of these hurt.

[Ella1]

Yes, same with us! :) That's why I think the forums like these are soooo important!

My boyfriend takes 17 of Lantus every evening, and he doesn't really feel the stinging. Only occasionally when he accidentally hits a blood vessel. But then the same happens when he injects the ultra-short insulin (Novorapid), but it's very rare. Normally after those stingers he gets the injection area gets slightly bruised

[rzrbks]

I keep my Lantus in the fridge and take it out only to draw out that night's injection.

After I draw the nightly injection the bottle goes back in the fridge, I never have the bottle out for more than 45 seconds to a minute, then I leave the syringe out for 15-20 minutes so the Lantus in it warms up.

Mostly, I jab Lantus in the posterior and don't get burning sensations near as much that way.


Another point, by having the Lantus in the fridge except for 45-60 seconds, I believe that I'm abvle to make it last several weeks longer that way.

[DeusXM]

Just what I've been saying all along...Lantus might well be a very good insulin for bg control but it seems to have a lot of side-effects.

I'm just grateful that you guys only have stinging to put up with, rather than lose a whole year of your life.

[Teresa]

hmmm, i use an insulin pen for my lantus and once ive started on a pen i never keep it in the fridge, i keep it in my bag! is that wrong???

ooo, and about the stinging thing, the pain i get when i hit a blood vessel is different to the pain/sting i get with my lantus... i HATE injectin the lantus, in fact, i have been known not to bother injectin it to save me havin the pain!! bad, i know!

[rzrbks]

Teresa

hmmm, i use an insulin pen for my lantus and once ive started on a pen i never keep it in the fridge, i keep it in my bag! is that wrong???

There isn't a "wrong way" of being Diabetic if you do all the things you're supposed to. It's just that I'm very, very cheap. Since I use bottled Lantus, I keep it in the fridge and I get much more than just 28 days out of a bottle.

Been fussed at several times because I "Push the envelope" too far. But, then I'm cheap--proudly so. (Welsh/Scots ---primary ancestory):D

[Teresa]

oki, i was wonderin... cos when everyone was saying they kept it in the fridge i was thinking oh ooo, i dont... does that mean it wont work properley! as far as im aware my lantus is good to use till it runs out in these pens! (i hope!!)... one pen lasts me less than a month so im presumin its all ok! :) anyways... sorry, this is all off topic!

[Ella1]

There is a good way to see whether Lantus is off is to check whether it's still clear. When it goes off it gets a bit cloudy

[Teresa]

well in that case ive never had any that is off! =)

[webpundit]

Originally posted by Ella1
There is a good way to see whether Lantus is off is to check whether it's still clear. When it goes off it gets a bit cloudy

In many cases the Lantus simply stops working even though it's still clear. If you're using your Lantus beyond the 28-day mark, it's advisible to closely monitor your BG levels to see any significant peaks. It may very well be because the Lantus has turned useless now.

[webpundit]

Originally posted by DeusXM
I'm just grateful that you guys only have stinging to put up with, rather than lose a whole year of your life.

Hi Deus...I'm sorry but it seems like I missed something here. How did Lantus result in losing a whole year of somebody's life? I've been taking Lantus for over 8 months already and I'm skittish about being the first-generation of Lantus users. I'd love to get all the information I can get about it.

Thanks so much!

[rzrbks]

webpundit, check out the link



http://www.diabetesforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1212&perpage=15&pagenumber=1