Giving yourself insulin - How did you get past that first one

[csab]

Hi all,

Well today I have been told that I need to start giving myself insulin for GD. Now I am dreading it soooo very much. I have to go tomorrow and do the education class for the insulin, yet I am not looking forward to it one bit.

So my question is, how did you get your head around that first time of giving yourself the insulin?

I feel sick just thinking about it.

Thanks In advance. hugs

[black_rose]

Take a deep breath and just do it, hopefully the educator will get you to do it with you, just remember why you are having to do it and imagine your happy healthy baby.

I didn't mind the insulin so much, my fingers got sore and dry from the finger *****s though.

[Just Me]

My first injection - I was sitting in the office with the educator and had to give myself a needle (no insulin, just put it into my leg) so she could check that I knew what I was doing.

I hate needles, I just reminded myself that this is what I had to do to make sure my baby was born healthy and focussed on that. The great news was that the injection actually hurt heaps less than *****ing my finger. The educator told me that before my injection and I didn't really believe her but it's true and I have spoken to other diabetics who say the same.

The needle is also not a normal needle - it is only about 1cm long (or maybe a bit more) but really really fine. It didn't usually even make me bleed. The only time I found them a little more ouchy was when I hit a nerve with them but they weren't that bad - like a mozzie bite. Normally, I was surprised that I could barely feel them.

Csab. It's not easy, but you can do it. Try not to think about it too much until you get there tomorrow and try to keep an open mind about what it will be like. The other upside for me was that I could eat meals and not stress about my insulin levels - I was starving myself trying to keep my BSL reasonable so having insulin was such a huge relief for me in that regard (I was diet controlled only with my first GD pregnancy and was really shocked that I couldn't controll my levels with my second GD pregnancy though I was eating the same).

Good luck tomorrow. It's only for a few weeks. You can do it!

[melbel]

In all honesty the finger *****s are more painful hun...the needles are not that bad... they are much smaller than any needle you would have had at the doctors in the past and much finer as you are only injecting into the subcutaneous layer of fat not the muscle like most other injections.

Some injecting tips from a veteran of more than 1500 a year over the past 30 years:

remember to breathe out slowly as you push the needle in...don't hold your breath....by breathing out you minimise the pain nerves so it hurts less.

if you start to feel sharp pain when you start to push the needle in you are prolly too close to a nerve....don't try and push torugh it move the needle to a different spot well away from where you are....you have just sensitised the nerves in that area so best to start again at least a few inches away.

Push the needle in firmly and inject the insulin slowly and wait a second or two before taking the neelde out to make sure the insulin disperses properly and doesnt leak out the needle hole when you withdraw.

some people find using ice on the needle spot or using some emla gel helps also but really it shouldn't be all that painful as the needle is so fine.....hope that helps a little bit..the most important part is the breathing...don't hold your breath as it tenses all the muscles breathing out forces your body to relax.....

[Just Me]

Some injecting tips from a veteran of more than 1500 a year over the past 30 years:

remember to breathe out slowly as you push the needle in...don't hold your breath....by breathing out you minimise the pain nerves so it hurts less.

if you start to feel sharp pain when you start to push the needle in you are prolly too close to a nerve....don't try and push torugh it move the needle to a different spot well away from where you are....you have just sensitised the nerves in that area so best to start again at least a few inches away.

Great advice and things I wish I knew I'll probably end up on insulin again this time since I seem to get worse with every pregnancy, I'm going to remember this. Thanks

[aussienic]

My first time with insulin was so funny (looking back) I simply couldn't do it even though I am not bothered by needles. I asked Dh to do it and well he jabbed me so hard I bled I said a few nasty words and sat on the bed crying (ps it didn't hurt at all)

In the end i took a deep breath and in it went. no problem what so ever. I have had GD with all my pregnancies and on insulin with the last 3. I actually found the needle in the finger hurt so much as the weeks went on..

Good Luck. I promise it isn't as bad as what you are thinking

[csab]

Black_rose - Thanks hun, bub is definately the main thing I am thinking of, and jabbing myself is a close second. lol. Its just the thought of it, that has me on edge. Thankyou you have helped with the low pain with insulin. hugs

JustMe - Thankyou too, The dietician yesterday first said to me that it should ease the pressure off of me a bit, and then on the next breather turne to me and said I still needed to monitor what I ate, so that I gain some weight. I thought that was a bit weird. You have helped with easing my mind about the pain side of things with jabbing myself. hugs

Melbel - Gee thanks very much, I will keep in mind what advice you have given, very helpful, I really appreciate it. I have noticed that the finger one is starting to get painful, even with changing fingers around. You too have given me hope about the pain side of things, wasnt sure whether to believe the health professionals about the insulin injections being less painful than the BSl testing one. So thanks.

Aussienic- lol hun, and to think I was considering letting my DH have a go,lol. I will have to think twice now, lol. I let him do the finger one one day and in all honesty he took way too much pleasure in it. Ohhh and it didnt work the first time so he did it again. lol. men. Thanks too about the less painful side of things, that is what was getting me more nervous. I can tolerate needles, but giving it to myself was freaking me out. I think I was ready to burst into tears when the Dr told me he wants me on insulin. Even though I was somehow expecting this outcome. hugs

Thankyou everyone, I will make sure i let you know how I go today with jabbing myself, and so thankful that it isnt the normal size needles the hospital like to jab us with. Phew..... I am also reminding myself that it is for bubs sake and its only for the most 12wks.

[aussienic]

Aussienic- lol hun, and to think I was considering letting my DH have a go,lol. I will have to think twice now, lol. I let him do the finger one one day and in all honesty he took way too much pleasure in it. Ohhh and it didnt work the first time so he did it again. lol. men. Thanks too about the less painful side of things, that is what was getting me more nervous. I can tolerate needles, but giving it to myself was freaking me out. I think I was ready to burst into tears when the Dr told me he wants me on insulin. Even though I was somehow expecting this outcome. hugs

I really did cry when I was told I had to start giving myself insulin. I even said I don't think so She did want to me to practice in her office but I said no and cried on the way home. Just a tip.. When it hurts a little in your tummy go for the thigh. Sometimes when the insulin goes in it might feel a little stingy but not much just like hey and then gone. (if that makes sense) I did get a few tiny bruises on my tummy but I was on insulin with my last 2 pregnancies well before 20 weeks so I had a lot of needles to give

Oh and it most definetly went away for me within 2 hours of birth. I was so amazed by that. and I have no traces of diabetes at all..

[csab]

Negrita - Thanks, I am hoping not to turn into a blubbering mess like a young girl was when we all had to sit around the table to do the BSL checking during our diabetes education class. She burst into tears before she even started, so FX. hugs

Aussienic - Thanks again for the tip with the thigh, I thought it only had to be on the tummy. Im so glad it all went away once your bubs had arrived. Hopefully Im just as lucky. lol.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

I agree with Melbel - i found the finger pinch waaay more painful, especially as i had to check my bsl 4 times a day - honestly, i would rather do the insulin shots! - the needle is so thin and my skin was so tight on my belly that i never really felt it going in.

I hope its not too traumatic for you

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Big hun, im sure it will be ok! - and like aussienic said, if it starts to get too sore doing the shots in the tummy, go for the thigh - will you be seeing an endocrinologist or just a diabetes educator?

[csab]

Thansk again nagrita, its the dietician educator I am seeing today, I saw the Endo Dr yesterday and will be back seeing them again next week. Just a quick question, the Endo Dr gave me a prescription for the insulin yesterday. Do I go and get it before I go to the education class? I am assuming i would need to. WDYT?

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Thansk again nagrita, its the dietician educator I am seeing today, I saw the Endo Dr yesterday and will be back seeing them again next week. Just a quick question, the Endo Dr gave me a prescription for the insulin yesterday. Do I go and get it before I go to the education class? I am assuming i would need to. WDYT?

not 100% sure, as my endo dr did my insulin education in his office, so not sure how its done as a class setting but yeah id get it and take it with you, just in case

[csab]

Negrita - Thanks for that, thats what I was planning on doing JIC.

JustMe - Thankyou again, some more great info well needed. Im glad I can have the option of thigh or belly. I think I will go much better with thigh ones. lol. That is really good how they subsidised them so much, the cost is way too much otherwise. Gee over $100. How many times do you use a pen for? I am feeling more relaxed about today, still quite nervous but once I get the first one over and done with I think I will be right. Its just the thought..... You girls have helped tremendously, to get me to this point. So thankyou. hugs

[csab]

Well, I didnt think I could do it, but I did.

The diabetes educator was really nice and there was another lady there with me that was also needing to give herself the insulin. She had been doing it already, but her times had changed from night to daytime as well. Anyway she even looked nervous. I told her to go first. lol. I would have thought she would have been ok doing it, so she grabs her skin and as she was puting the needle in, I got even more nervous. Here she is, going Owww that hurt. Not sure if she was doing that to make me feel more nervous about doing it myself, yet it did.
I told the educator, that I dont think I can do this. lol. I literally wanted to go home and forget everything. She asked if i had anyone at home that could do it and I said No, just me. Also added that I think Dh would take way to much pleasure in it for my liking. She then proceeded to tell me that yes you can do it.
OMG, I honestly felt like I just couldnt do it. She also mentioned that it has to be done in the tummy, nowhere else. She had me grab my skin and push the needle in then let go and press the button. Even after everything that you lovelies told me today, I was still expecting it to hurt. Anyhow I thought the needle would have hurt more going in, so hooray it didnt hurt much at all. I also remembered about the breathing out when the needle goes in, so thanks for that tip. Honestly I was glad it was all over. phew !!!! Now to work up the courage for next time - Dinner.
Ohh she also mentioned that we are likly to gain a heap of weight with insulin? Why thanks for that, just what i want to hear. So definately have to keep an eye on everything that I eat. its ok for bub, but she said that it is harder to lose the weight that you put on after bubs.
I hope I have the courage to do it again at dinner now.

Thanks everyone for being there for me, and for all the helpful advise. hugs

[Just Me]

You will need the insulin ASAP so probably worth getting it before you see the diabetic educator. My diabetic educator provided me with a sharps container and the sharps for the pens though I don't know that they all do that so you may end up having to go back to the chemist afterwards to pick up some of these things. My sharps container was one for home, I still had to get a travel one, so it might be worth picking up a travel sharps container just in case (it is a yellow tube - costs about $5 or so).

I can't get over how much insulin is subsidised. I bought 5 pens for $32 or something. I don't even have a healthcare card, but they are worth like $100 or more each (they did tell me but I can't remember now).

My diabetic educator only taught me to do injections in my leg. She never told me I could do them in my tummy but I ended up doing it in my hips when I was eating out and was wearing long pants because I didn't always find it convenient to run off to the toilets everytime we were anywhere other than home. It was a bit difficult with two toddlers.

Csab - you sound like you are feeling more positive about the whole thing now. I hope that today goes okay for you. It is overwhelming and scary but it will work out okay. I also hope you have a lovely diabetic educator, it will make all the difference.

[black_rose]

Well done Csab! I was doing it in my tummy and thighs. Not sure why you were told different. Hope you can do it by yourself tonight.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

well done hun!!! - its gets easier each time til you get the point you dont even think about it

as for the weight gain, not sure, as i only gained a total of 9kgs with DD's pregnancy and i lost most of it in the first 6 weeks after birth - i think it just depends on the individual!