Why does Insulin sting after injections?

[JaxTerri]

I've been on insulin ~ 8 weeks and have gotten used to the daily injections. However, I don't understand why sometimes it stings quite a lot when the insulin enters my body. The shot doesn't hurt but the insulin stings but not all the time. I bolus 3 times daily with Apidra pen and Lantus at bedtime (2 shots in different parts of body to absorb the insulin better). Also when I run out of one vial in the middle of a shot I have to take an additional shot to complete the dosage Does anybody else have this problem. Current doses are Apidra 16/14/20 units and Lantus is 83 units.

[pjams]

Terri:
Some people complain of stinging with insulin. Try a different location. I inject on side of my belly (where there is more fat) and I don't even feel the needle (31 Gauge Pen). The front or lower front of the belly is more sensitive. I guess that's why the docs use the hips or other fatty areas for shots. It is also possible that some people are more sensitive to insulin than others. I am a new user and don't have much experience.

[grace girl]

Lantus is well known to have a sting. I believe it's because it's acid based. If you will draw up your lantus and let it come to room temp before injecting, it will help.

[CarrieScott]

Lantus is well known to have a sting. I believe it's because it's acid based. If you will draw up your lantus and let it come to room temp before injecting, it will help.

Agreed.
My injections used to always hurt if I did it straight out of the fridge. Let it sit out for a while or rub it between your hands for a few seconds first.

[JaxTerri]

The insulin I'm using is always at room temperature. I only store the vials I'm not using. I learned that lesson a while back before when I was on Byetta. I also give the injection at a different site each time....either belly or tops of legs.

[Lynne59]

When I run out of insulin from one bottle I take it from another bottle. I never give me an extra shot. Oh, Welcome here. I know you will like it.

[Gary_W]

Lantus can sting a little, even at room temperature.

I recently moved on to Apidra (was previously on Novorapid, but I've also done the Lilly stuff as well). Apidra definately stings a little whereas Novorapid didn't; it doesn't do it 100% of the time but it certainly has more capacity for this behaviour. For me personally it is working out as a better insulin despite the fact that it is a little less comfortable to use.

With the Lantus, the bigger the injection the worse the sting in my experience (used to be on 35u a day of Lantus, now on 18). It's rare it stings for me anymore whereas it used to more often than not with the bigger injection. Squirting it in a little slower used to help, though this may have been me kidding myself. Can't hurt to try I guess :)

[JaxTerri]

I bought a Sharps container to dispose of my needles after taking my insulin. It's now getting almost full and I don't know how to dispose of it.

[grace girl]

When I first started injecting, I called the local trash pick up and asked them how to dispose. They told me to start putting them into empty laundry detergent bottles and just throw them away!
I believe you can take sharps containers to your local hospital for disposal.
Every area has it's own thing about how they handle it.

[CarrieScott]

Squirting it in a little slower used to help, though this may have been me kidding myself. Can't hurt to try I guess :)

Well then I must have been kidding myself too, because I definitely noticed a difference when I injected it slower.

[EasyType2]

While using Humulin, I never had the stinging so long as it was room temp. With Lantus, I occasionally get a sting after injecting, not immediately. The exact location seems to be the determining factor.

As mentioned by others, warming insulin to room temp does help.

Several nurses have advised me to inject quickly, but I find I get less sensation of any kind by injecting slowly. Also, less "leakage".

[shockme]

i'm on 10 units of lantus /day and sometimes it stings.it's not cold and i let the alcohol dry 1st,but it still stings at times...acidity in lantus...trish

[KickStart101]

I've been on lots of types of Insulin and they
all stung occasionally. I don't find Lantus any
different. It only stings once in a while also
for me.

You could slightly knick a capilirary(sp) which
would sting but there would be a drop or two
of blood. Most of the time I think I've just
injected near a nerve and the force of the Insulin
(acidic or not) doesn't make the nerve Happy.

Seems to me if it was the acid in the Lantus then
it would sting all the time but it doesn't. I'm sure
it doesn't help matters though. Then again I could
be wrong. ;)

[Cyborg]

Because the needles are sharp.... :hmmmm: