[kiki_doki]

Hello there, have had diabetes for 15 years now and am injecting 4 times daily, but I'm a bit old skool and after overdosing by mistake with the pen (because I didn't hear it make the clicking noise it should make when its finished injecting the insulin) I have stuck to using syringes (as I don't need to hear a click I can see it going in). The only problem is that almost every time I inject, some insulin comes back out when I have pulled out the needle. Told the docs at clinic and they suggested leaving the needle in for 10 seconds after I've finished injecting, but it still happens... any ideas? Am I alone in this happening?
Many thanks.

[KISS]

First, you need to make sure something comes out of the needle, by "injecting" a few units into thin air.

The next thing you need to do is "pinch the skin".

Inject the required number of units into the pinched area.

Keep the needle inserted for at least 15-20 sec. before withdrawing letting go of the "pinch" and withdrawing the needle.

[kiki_doki]

Doesn't pinching the skin just serve as a target? Or is there some other scientific reason behind that? I will try leaving the needle in longer and see if that works (",)
Many thanks

[KISS]

No. You want the injection to be subcutaneously. By pinching the skin your making sure the injection is going into muscle. If for some reason it doesn't, that particular injction can be faster acting. Thus it's important to pinch.

I never thought about it, but letting go of the pinch might actually draw a little insulin from the needle.

So try: pinch. Inject. Wait 10 sec. Release pinch. Remove needle.

Which pen are you using. It wouldn't be the stupid electronic Opticlick, would it

EDIT: Bold corrected as per J-9, was intramuscular which is wrong

[J_9]

No. You want the injection to be intramuscular.

Wrong wrong WRONG... Insulin works best SQ (subcutaneously) that is why one of the preferred sites is the abdomen.

[J_9]

Here is some info

Injecting at the proper depth is an important part of good injection technique. Most healthcare professionals recommend that insulin be injected in the subcutaneous fat, which is the layer of fat just below the skin. If you inject too deep, the insulin could go into muscle, where it's absorbed faster but might not last so long (and, it hurts more when you inject into muscle). If the injection isn't deep enough, the insulin goes into the skin, which affects the insulin's onset and duration of action.

Found at How to Inject Insulin

[J_9]

And video from Mayo Clinic

Video: How to inject insulin - MayoClinic.com

[KISS]

Ok, got it backwards. Thanks J9. Mind is foggy because of a migraine.

[J_9]

That's okay KISS, oh, what a lovely anagram for your name. I give insulin daily in the hospital, I just frown on misinformation, especially something this important.

[kiki_doki]

Thanking you for the info... I don't use pens, I like to keep it simple (",) and use syringes. The insulin only comes back out when I inject it into my arms but not the other sites and I don't want to get lumps in my tummy so I do rotate!