Possible Lantus issue

[relyt]

I just gave myself my 20 units of Lantus, but I accidentally used the wrong syringe. Instead of a 8 mm long syringe I used a 12.7 mm long syringe. Also after I pulled out the needle a large drop of blood came out. Will using a longer needle be bad, will something happen to the Lantus, and is it bad that a large drop of blood came out. Please respond. (if this seems dumb it is because I have only had diabetes for 7 months)

[owlyn]

I assume you mean the needle end is 12.7 mm long. You've got a couple of things to consider. Don't worry about the blood. As long as the syringe is U-100 based, you are okay on the dosage. Next, as long as you injected into fat, and not muscle, you will be completely fine. Unless you are very thin, you pretty much automatically inject into fat, especially if you use the proper technique (pinching up the skin). Also, you would usually know if you injected into muscle, as it tends to hurt. If you did inject into muscle, monitor you BG hourly. If it starts to plunge, start eating some quick acting carbs (glucose tablets, candy, or sugar). You may need to go to the emergency room. Lantus is designed to disolve slowly, but only if it is injected into fat. I don't know what will happen if it is injected into muscle, but rapid-acting insulins work very fast when injected into muscle.

[zoelula]

The concern with a spurt of blood is not that you injected into muscle, but possibly into a vein. I did that not too long ago. What it means is that the normally long-acting slow Lantus is absorbed much more quickly. In my case my numbers went down, but not terribly quickly. I've heard of this happening to other people where they had a very quick drop. I would monitor your glucose very frequently until you're sure you're ok and treat it with fast-acting glucose if it starts getting too low. Then continue to monitor as you may need to back that up with some longer acting carbs.

[wolf 06488]

Good-evening:

Hi, my name is Zach. I've been a Type I for 15 years, since April of 94. I use Lantus at night to, 64 units of it. It's okay, if a little blood came out of the tip. Your going to notice over time, that it happens. It just means a little blood got into the needle, which isn't a problem. As long as you pushed the plunger down all the way, you got your full dose. Your body is obviously full of blood, so a little bit if it will go into the needle part (sometimes). As long as none if it goes back into the the Vail, your good. As far as the size, is concered. The longer I always felt, is better because it pushes the insulin farther in. The shorter needles hurt less, but you run more of a risk of it leaking out because it doesn't penatrate as far.

If you have any qustions, give me a yell.

Zach.

[Rips]

Ditto on the vein thing making your sugar drop but not likely much with lantus. I would be concern with Humilog. Had a few scary moments hitting a vein with that.

[Nicci]

The shorter needles hurt less

I find that they hurt more for me. I accidently ordered the wrong size needles, and had just changed insulins, and my injections left me in tears, but blamed it on the new insulin. I recently found some longer needles hiding in a draw, and used them, and they didn't hurt at all.