Lantus Shot Leaking?!

[wolf 06488]

Good-Evening, fellow diabetics. Or should I say good-morning? I've been a Type I Diabetic since April '94. 15 years & still breathing! My issue is my Lantus... It leaks out after I inject. I give four shots a day, 3 humalog & 1 lantus. I do my Humalog on my right side & my lantus on the left side (stomach area). My Lantus is my bedtime shot (64 units per day) & my humalog is well... 148 units per day (Before meals). The main issue with my Lantus is that, after I inject it... I count for 10 seconds to make sure it's in, then remove the needle. Then some leaks out... I wipe it off, then a little more will leake out. Then it stops. As far as how much comes out... Who knows? But it seems like I'm never getting a full dose & I can't figure out why... My humalog goes in & stays in... But my Lantus?!? It's leaks... I do use "Pens" for all my shots if that makes a difference? I was was wondering... Does anyone know, if the full dose can leak out? I don't think it can, but I figured I'd ask. I never know how much comes out, but I figure it can't be to much? Once it goes in, the skin starts to close up. Can't seem to find any info on any websites. But thank you all, for your time.

[Penny]

Hi Wolf. :) That has happened to me, but I think it happens when I inject with the needle straight up. When I inject at an angle, it does not seem to come back out at all.
Because I inject 100 units of Lantus at night, I tried injecting it in 2 sites and it worked better, but that got old quick, so I went back to the angle thing.

[Subby]

Hi Wolf. I found leaking a chronic problem with pens whenever I used them. Didn't matter how long I help them in, something would always dribble out. I would have used 3 different types of pens at various stages over the years. All had this issue.

I'd say it's unlikely the whole amount is coming out at all, but it might certainly be a reasonable percentage.

I have no such problem with syringes. I can remove them about 2 seconds after injecting, no leakage. So my advice would be to try syringes as an experiment.

Why do you get it with the Lantus and not the Humalog? That's a good question. I'd say a difference in pen design most likely. Many people love pens and presumably this doesn't become a problem for them. But for me the only solution included using to syringes.

The good news is, you don't even need to get a new lot of insulin to try this. Just get some syringes, and suck it out of the pen. If you return to using the pen "as a pen", be sure to re-prime thoroughly, being sure to see insulin come out again, in order to re-align the pusher with the penfill vial level. If you don't know what I mean by that, do ask!

Oh, and welcome to the forum. I had something to ask if you don't mind. You've got a high insulin usage there, indicating a lot of insulin resistance going on. Are you heavy? I'm curious in this, as I get insulin resistance and high insulin usage, but not much of a weight issue going on. So I try and get as much info on this as possible. Don't worry about answering if you don't want to ;)

[wolf 06488]

Thank you, for getting back to me! :) I used the vial & syringes for 2/3's of my diabetic duration. But with the jobs I've had, I switched to the pens since they are easier. And same problem. Humalog in, lantus out. Pens & syringes alike. It didn't matter what I used. Which is really weird. As far as my weight? Yes, I'm heavy. Not so much insulin resistant. I just like to eat! I don't snack.. Never. I just like really big meals. Hence the weight & insulin amount. I'll have three meals a day, but really, really big meals. So I'll give myself a lot of insulin so I can eat the amount desired.

[BlueSky]

... Humalog in, lantus out. Pens & syringes alike. It didn't matter what I used. ....
Could it be the size of the injection? 64 units is a lot to inject at once. Try splitting the dose into two injections, which you give in different places. You will probably find that much less leaks out after each shot. I inject only 13 units of Lantus, and I don't get any leakage afterwards.

[Subby]

That suggestion sounds worth a go. Another idea, might be to try longer needles/pen nibs, if you are using the shorter ones currently. I hope you find a solution of some kind.

[Delphinus]

Wolf,

I would also recommend splitting the dose as suggested.

The most I inject at any one time for my basal shots is 28units.

I find anything more, and a bit will come out.

[Tattoo azz]

Wolf, i agree with splitting the dose, but i would also suggest switching sites as well. Try your thighs and/or buttocks, it may be that always injecting in one area has caused some gristle to form which is why you are getting some leakage. Also look at a longer pen needle too. Hope you find an aswer and cure the problem.
Azz

[CountYourselfIn]

I get that from Solostar pens. Humalog in, Lantus dribbles.

The Pens tend to dribble on their own, anyway, and Lantus is acidic, so maybe it's slowing the clotting that would naturally occur, causing it to flow back out a lil?

[enigmalady777]

When I was using Lantus, I used a syringe with a 1/2 inch needle, and STILL had the dribbling problem. And my dose was almost half (38 units) what the OP's was.

I recently switched to Levemir, using the same brand and size syringe as I used with the Lantus and have not had the problem since then. I switched to Levemir due to the burning I had with the Lantus, no other reason. My dose with Levemir is a bit higher to reach the same results I had with Lantus, but no more burning and no more leaking.

Things that make you go "Hmmmm....." lol.