What makes injections sting??

[jak123]

Hello,
We are new at this and have found that sometimes injections are painless while othertimes it stings. I know that being cold can be a problem. But we don't keep the insulin in the fridge and I warm up the syringe once I fill with insulin by rubbing in my hands for a minute of so. So its room temp to start and then warmed up. Can anyone tell me what else might cause this?
Thanks, JAK

[DeusXM]

It can depend on the insulin. Although generally 'cold' insulin stings because it's at a different temperature to the rest of you, other insulins sting you for very specific reasons. Lantus frequently stings because it's at a different pH to the body.

Of course, where you inject can also affect whether an insulin stings or not. If you hit a vein or a muscle than that will sting too.

If you're repeatedly having trouble with stinging when you inject insulin, then your best bet is to change your injection sites. The best place is in your butt cheeks. This is where most of your body fat goes (so there's little risk of you hitting something that might hurt) and also...well, think about it. Your bum is what you sit on, so naturally it has to be less sensitive than the rest of your body otherwise you'd be in agony every time you sat down. Your bum has the lowest concentration of nerve endings in your body so you can inject there with a much lower risk of a nerve picking up your injection.

Even if you consistantly find that Lantus stings when you inject, you will probably find that it is a lot less painful if you inject it in your butt cheek.

[Tokyo Cate]

I think I just posted and then lost the post. If I am repeating myself, please forgive me.

Temperature can play a role, but the most important factors for me are:

volume of insulin (a large dose will be more uncomfortable than a smaller dose)

site of injection (the fatter the site, the better)

type of insulin (when I first started using Lantus, I noticed that it stung for as long as 8 hours after, though I don't notice that now).

[sydneya]

The only times I have a stinging sensation is if the insulin is cold (which never happens anymore because I take it out of the fridge when I use my last dose of the current bottle.) Also just once in a great while I might hit a nerve. I've been very lucky, when it stings it's just a split second. I get more pain from finger jabs than needles. That's because I'm too cheap to change the needle.

Welcome to the forum!! Are you just new to the forum or new diabetes? We hope to hear from you often. Let us know a little about you. This forum, has been a great help to me, hope it is to you too.

[jak123]

I know its not the temp. I am very careful about warming up. I suspect it is either the insulin or the rate at which it is injected. I am on NovaNordsk insulatard and NovaRapid. Anyone else use these types?? Has anyone found that the rate at which the injector is depressed has anything to do with it?
Thanks, JAK

[sydneya]

Personally, I have not felt the sting from the rate of depression. I did just finish taking a Medical Assistant course and we were cautioned not to hurry the process. It does make a difference to some people.

[jak123]

I'm suspecting the depression rate or the insulin. The insulin we use is made by the same manufacturer as lantus, NovaNordsk. So I'm suspecting it is the insulin. But I remember when the nurses were giving the first injections at the hospital, they did it very slowly. I tend to do it very fast.

[SueM]

Are you cleaning the skin with any kind of wipes before you inject?
If so this could be causing the sting.

[jak123]

We actually have been using a wipe but then wipe the wipe area. I don't want to but my daughter insists??

Anyway, a question from an earlier post that I just noticed. I am new to both diabetes and the site. Actually, my daughter has type 1 diagnosed 2 months ago. She is 7. We're originally from Massachusetts, USA but are currently living in Saudi Arabia.
Thanks to all for the help.

[HollyB]

Hi, My son has had diabetes for about 6 months now and he definitely find the rate of injection makes a difference in the stinging, especially for the bigger doses of long-term insulin. He takes them very slow.

[jak123]

Hi, Thanks for that. I'll try slower tomorow. How old is your son? I hope he's doing okay. I'm curious about the dosage he might be taking vs. the carb intake. I know there's lots of information on the way to calculate it. But found I had to substantially reduce the dosage in order to get her BG in a normal range without her having to overeat. We're at 8U of long per day and 4U fast. She's 25 KG so that's under 0.5. I know it might be the honeymoon period, but I just finished a book by a Dr. Bernstein called the diabetes solution which advocates lower dosages and lower carbohydrate intake. It;s been very informative for me. I would highly recommend it.