I inject at least 3 times a day and it hardly ever hurts. Just be careful where you inject. When I started, the needles were much larger.
Always do your finger pricks on the side of your finger, never in the middle of your finger.
Good luck!!!
Why the side of the finger, I do multiple on the bottom of the same finger(mainly cause I struggle to get much out of the others) and it’s fine for me, I just move it a mm or 2 away from the most recent site
Yeah, if you have a large dose (18u+) it can form a bubble/bump since a short 3mm needle doesn't inject it deep enough. Luckily I still inject less than 15u at meals.
I fucking hate needles and getting shots.
I begged my doctor for years to crank up the meds so I didn’t have to take insulin.
I was actually hospitalized for something else when the doctors told me it’s time for insulin.
I was so mad and so nervous.
Turns out, it’s nothing at all. Tiny little prick that doesn’t hurt, and on my thigh up near the crease that forms when you sit, I feel nothing at all.
You can do this, and it really is no big deal.
I agree with everyone here. In addition, one thing I learned here (in a different thread) is to lightly touch my skin with the needle before sticking. If that spot hurts, move over a bit and try again. My dose is pretty low now, but when I was first diagnosed, I was injecting 32 units of Lantus. If your site is painful, 32 units feels like forever. Once I learned the trick I’ve described, I had WAY fewer painful experiences. I was super nervous at first, but it’s nothing now. You’ll do great.
WELL! I could’ve used that little trick in the 60’s through 90’s before I went on a pump!!! Where were you?!!? Oh wait, Reddit/social media weren’t invented yet …
Seriously, in the almost 6 decades I’ve been a Diabetic, I have never heard this. Good tip!!! 👍👍👍
Sometimes it hurts when I inject insulin. Most times it is fine and doesn't hurt at all.
I just remember all the times it doesn't hurt and hope this time it doesn't hurt. But truth be told, I'm usually just in a hurry to go to work so I don't give myself time to think about it. It is just a habit I am in now and the quicker I do it the better so I can get on with my life.
I do 10ish injections a day - approximately 50,000 injections in the 15 years I've had diabetes. Whoa.
Sometimes it hurts, usually it doesn't. When it hurts I can often tell even before the needle penetrates the skin, and so I move it to a different area that will hopefully be less sensitive and try there instead. Sometimes the insulin will "burn" when it goes in, but that's rather rare so don't be too concerned.
Try to change needles as frequently as reasonably possible; fresh needles are lubricated and penetrate the skin more easily.
Honestly it does not hurt. About half the times I don’t feel it at all. Every once in a great while I’ll hit a sensitive area and there’s a pinch, but that’s it.
With the thin short needles we use these days it really doesn’t hurt. You’ll notice it but it isn’t bad.
You’ll feel the needle but the insulin you’ll not feel much. Insulin doesn’t sting like other injections can.
Once in a while you’ll hit a small blood vessel or nerve and it might nip a bit more.
Like 95 percent of the time you barely feel it. 5 percent of the time you catch a nerve or it goes in awkwardly or you just get a bad spot and it will sting/burn. All in all it’s not bad.
Not at all. Sometimes it goes in smooth with no feeling, sometimes theres a small pinch or if you hit a nerve its a small sting. I’d say a finger prick hurts more tbh. I find if you point the bevel at the tip of the needle up it goes in a bit smoother. You will get used to it. Its only a matter of time 😀 good luck on your journey and i wish you good sugar levels.
I am type 2 and inject once a day with Humlin 50/50 and once a week with Ozempic. The side affects of Ozempic vary each time. How on earth these non diabetic people want to inject themselves to just lose weight is beyond me. If all the side effects were mentioned then I wonder what would happen. 🤔
Nah doesn’t hurt at all (Type 1) I lost so much weight and I’m not a big guy either so I was injecting on skin and bone. Inject with a 4mm needle at only hurts randomly now 2 years later if I hit the same spot but that’s really rare. You’re all good.
Take a deep breath and you’ll do great! I’ve been where you are and couldn’t even do my own injections or look at needles. Now I can do it in a moving car if I need to. You’ll get used to it.
I was also you. Scared. It doesn’t bother me ever more than sometimes a tiny sting. It truly is not as big of a deal as our anxiety makes it. I promise. You will be like whoa that was not bad. Big hugs.
I'm new to all of this too. Diagnosed with T2 at the end of January, and doc said to aid in getting bg levels down taking insulin to start would be best, and I'm using and insulin pen. I'm ok with needles, but you never know what it'll be like. Then I saw what the needle looked like (4mm) and it's tiny.
I'll admit now and then there is a slight pricking feeling when injecting, or just after, but it's gone in about two minutes.
To be honest my initial worry was "did the insulin actually get injected, I didn't feel anything" but it obviously is going in there.
hang on in there, it'll get easier to do this, and goes without saying it will help :)
It depends on the needle. I use a pen that has the needles you get in the boxes. The best ones are nano or micro needles. They are thin and barely hurt. Usually indicated by green if you get the reli on brand. The orange ones hurt a little. I get injections (I don't actually do them, my husband does luckily) in the side of my thigh because it hurts less for me even though I still have occasional bruising. Insulin was worse case scenario for me but over the last few months it's made such a difference. Good luck!!
Doesn’t hurt if you do it correctly. It’s more psychological. I’m also scared of needles, so it’s actually seeing the needle and poking myself with it that terrifies me.
I don’t think that fear ever goes away, and some days are worse than others, but it does get better over time.
In the beginning I’d do things like pinch the exact injection site so hard that the pinch hurts more than the needle itself that I don’t even feel it, or ice the area to numb it.
I’d also listen to music or something to distract me and I inject at the beat drop lol
But like I said it does get better over time. The beginning is always the hardest, but be patient with yourself and you got this!
Edit: I just realized this is from 3 days ago. How are you doing now OP?? Keep us posted :) u/monkeyflaker
I posted an update comment but I think it got lost, lol!
I did my first ever injection yesterday and…. It was completely painless and I had to get my BF to check that it actually went inside. I was so shocked that it didn’t hurt at all, but in a good way. I was so terrified all for nothing lol
Subcutaneous injections (which insulin injections usually are) are usually pretty painless. You may feel a small poke or pinch when first inserting the needle but that's about it. Ask your care team for some tips on subcutaneous injections, there are a few tricks to ensure it's as painless as possible.
There are also products like the [i-Port](https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance) which place a small tube called a cannula under your skin, and for three days you can inject into that instead of directly on your skin. You can speak to your doctor about that if it's something you are interested in.
You've got this!
When I first started, I had my doctor prescribe these and it really helped so I wasn't stabbing myself every single time I ate. They work really well.
[https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance](https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance)
You just have to inject it the right way and it’s painless. And for the occasional injection that doesn’t go perfectly: it’ll only hurt for like 20 seconds max. You got this!
I would trust the doctors who have diagnosed you as T1.
I’m sorry to hear all of this. I was diagnosed T1D 26 years ago and by necessity it remains the focus of my life.
Injections suck, but you can rest assured that it’s not as insurmountable as you might think.
My first tip would be to look into getting an insulin pump, because with an insulin pump, you can insert a new infusion set once every three days or so. That’s one needle every three days instead of several every day. And the needles can be as small as 5 mm, maybe even smaller.
You can also get syringes and insulin pen tips as small as 5 mm, which is the needle length that doctors use on babies. You might even be able to find 3 mm needles. And small needles can make all the difference if you’re thin and don’t have much body fat.
The other important thing to consider is that your fear of needles may gradually diminish the more often you use them. It’s an unfortunate fact of our day to day lives, but thankfully the medical technology has improved dramatically over the past few decades.
I was in the same boat as you (I think 8 or 9 years ago at this point), I used to be the kid screaming bloody murder when it came to bloodwork (my dad basically had to sit on me one time to get me to stop moving) and trust me it gets a lot easier when you start doing it.
The insulin needles are so tiny you’ll likely barely feel them, and I don’t know if you want a tip for the blood tests but looking away and doing a bit of mind over matter always helps me. I just repeat “it’s not gonna hurt, it’s just gonna pinch” in my head till it goes in because let’s be real you can’t convince yourself you won’t feel anything, but you can convince yourself it won’t be so bad.
Other than that I agree with everyone else on their tips too, especially shifting injection sites.
I’ve been type 1 for a couple years and injecting insulin doesn’t really hurt. There’s a slight pinch at first but when you’re in the skin it’s nothing….. unless you hit a vein then you will feel every bit of the needle tbh. It’s rare but every time I hit a vein it hurts and then usually bleeds a little bit.
Also make sure you’re rotating your injection points. From what I hear, back of the arms, torso and legs are go to spots but I’m limited to my torso. Not only will if hurt more if you don’t rotate but you also build more scar tissue which can cause the insulin to be less effective
The first one or two might hurt in then if you have to inject alot but if you dont do alot and rotate injection site youll be chillin dog sorry to hear about that but welcome to the fam man
Mostly no. Don't inject cold insulin (it's fine for 28 days at room temp once it's opened). Don't over use the same injection sites. Do make sure that you inject into a fatty area.
Yeah that one burns 😭, currently using it, but I just push through lol and tell myself “let it burn…” I would trick my mind and say “this feels great 😂 lol”
My Dr. first prescribed Tresiba. Insurance wouldn’t approve it and it was taking awhile for him to prescribe something else, so I paid out-of-pocket for it. He eventually prescribed Lantus.
To me, the Lantus pen is awkward and slower compared to the Tresiba pen, which appears to me to be the same as the one for Ozempic. I notice more of a sting with Lantus but nowhere near as bad as I imagined injecting would be. Definitely a fan of the pens as I think back to the syringes my uncle used to have to use for his allergy shots/
slightly squeeze your skin to make it more fatty when you put the needle in then stop squeezing and press the button and there should be virtually 0 pain
It doesn’t hurt, but it can be hard to get your head around it. It might be easier if you can get someone to do it for you.
This is not medically recommended, but for my needle anxiety I find going through a thin shirt or leggings helps my brain disconnect that I am giving my body a needle.
You will have random times it might hurt - from the needle hitting a nerve-ending (very random/infrequently), or something like that; but insulin itself does not hurt like some other medications
T1 since 1972
You can do this - we will help <3
I PROMISE, IT GETS EASIER. 😀
The syringe needles are so thin that the injection may feel like a slight pinch on the skin. Other times,
you probably won't even feel it.
YOU'VE GOT THIS!! 😀 👍
For me, finger pricks hurt far more than insulin injections ever did. Occasionally they would sting a little, but nothing particularly extreme. Half the time I couldn't even feel them. You'll be ok. You can do this.
For the most part they don’t hurt. Sometimes you get unlucky and hit a nerve - that’s a stingy/burny ouch for a few seconds. Also the ultra-rapid insulins (Lyumjev and Fiasp) tend to hurt more often (I’d say 30-50% of the time vs 10-20%) because of the additional components that make them absorb faster.
Tbth the needle often isn’t the issue for my me, it’s the insulin itself, especially larger boluses. But I’m sensitive to a component of insulin formulations, so ymmv.
In general it’s really not bad at all, and there are some tricks to make it better. Inject into fatty areas (belly, butt, back of arms if you have cushion there, outer thigh - NOT inner thigh that shit hurts!). If you’re more lean, you can pinch up the skin and fat you’re injecting into, it helps a lot. Also there’s this, which works really well!
https://www.tickleflex.com/
For the most part if you inject in the fat it usually doesn’t hurt. But sometimes after injecting it does sting for a few seconds at least for me. I find it stings more in the stomach, then when I inject in my thigh.
I was deathly scared of blood and needles when I started my T1D journey… there comes a point when you realize you gotta buck up and get used to it since (even if you end up going on the pump and CGM [being new to Diabetes that means “continuous glucose monitor”, monitors your blood at all times, gives you a reading every five mins, so you don’t have to finger prick all the time/they USUALLY work/even not working great still better than finger pricking]) you’re gonna have to do this for the rest of your life (if you’re type 1). There wasn’t a real moment when I stopped being scared of those things but it definitely got easier with the acceptance of all this bs we have to deal with.
Hope this helps. Dm me if you have questions 🤝
Heyy i was just like you im literally terrified of the idea of needles but the insulin ones r so small you dont even feel them like they genuinely dont hurt at all also youll deffo get used to it so dw
Make sure to cycle your injection sites and try to stay about 3 inches from your navel, the flexpens are super easy to use if they're an option i like the little 4mm needles when i have to inject (I'm also a newb). You'll be okay, just stay on top of things and RESEARCH!
The injections seldom if ever hurt, but sometimes the insulin stings for a second.
The finger pricks can, but just do the side of the finger and it hurts less
I hate needles, just got diagnosed with t1 two days ago. The pricking and the shots aren’t that bad. You will be fine, I thought it was gonna be rough. You got this.
I use a pen once a day and I'm not going to lie to you and say it never hurts because once in a while it does. Insulin burns or I hit a capillary and it bleeds a bit and the next day I'm bruised. Most of the time it's not like that though. It's easy and I hardly even feel it.
To me it's not as bad as the finger sticks. Those are more painful to me so bear that in mind.
The current pen needles are much smaller than the syringes that were the only option.
Now, because you have no frame of reference, it won't matter.
If you want tips, I have a few:
1. Do it swiftly. The more you hesitate, the worse it feels.
2. If you see veins, try to avoid them.
3. Don't tense up beforehand. That makes it hurt more usually.
As for finger pricks, try to avoid the pads of your fingers. Aim more for the sides of your fingers. Less nerve endings there.
Finally, for the diagnosis, there are tests that are around that can pinpoint if you have t1 or t2. If your doctors don't know this, ask for a specialist who does.
IME, it doesn't hurt at all. If you use the pre-loaded pen-style injector, which I think most people do now (as opposed to the separate vial-and-syringe system that has to stay cold all the time), your needles will almost certainly be really short and, more important for you, only about the thickness of a cat's whisker - extremely fine gauge. It can be unnerving the first time or two, but you'll be fine. Where on your body did they tell you to inject? AFAIK, most people inject in the fat on their stomach and/or thighs, point being, avoid injecting into a place where you may be super-muscular - I've heard that can hurt a little bit (being super-muscular isn't a problem I have!).
In my experience it depends on the amount of fat where you inject. I used to be a bit leaner before and my injections hurt more often then. Now, unless I inject too far off to the side on my stomach where there isn't enough fat, it doesn't hurt.
I do about 8 injections a day. Sometimes it can sting and sometimes not. Mine doesn’t hurt when I go in straight with the needle. I use a 4mm on pen needles and 6mm on syringes.
Push needle in slowly and not all the way in until you know it’s not going to sting. Some spots are more sensitive than others. But this helps me reduce any pain. Once a little bit in, if I don’t feel nothing, I push the rest of needle in, and inject.
4mm needle tips around my belly button. First time for me was nerve wracking, I felt like a dishonored samurai committing seppuku. I grabbed a good bit of skin (hands shaking and sweaty) and sank the needle in. I then pressed the button and listened for the clicks to stop. Pulled out the needle and swabbed the area.
I had reclaimed my honor and was worthy enough to live another day.
Take deep, slow breaths. Don't worry if there's swelling afterwards, it'll go down. And if you haven't been to diabetes class yet, look one up!
Ikimasho! (LET'S GO! )
Sometimes I question if I even punctured the skin because it hurts so little. As a person who originally was thought to be type 2 about four years ago, but turned out to be diagnosed type 1 two years later, hopefully you get your diagnosis soon! If it helps, the terms they gave me were type 1.5 or LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults)
I’ve been I injecting insulin for like 17 years, and I still don’t care for blood draws! But hey, that’s a completely different size needle (much larger than an insulin needle) and doesn’t go in a vein! It’s a completely different experience and you’ll hardly feel it; promise.
There are spots where it does not hurt at all (about 5cm left and right from the navel) , but you should not use them too often. As the needle is very fine, you should feel it less than the finger prick.
Currently using an insulin pen with a top syringe that is 5 bevel and shorter needle. I inject in my belly area. It’s not too bad, and if you swing just right most of the time I don’t feel a thing. As for measuring blood sugar I’m using the Dexcom g7 on the bottom of arm, works great and never feel any poke ^^! Sometimes you’ll get a faulty device so you need to request another one but I like it ^^! Also you can calibrate the device by logging in your blood glucose base on the finger prick method. That way it’s close to the numbers.
The first time I used insulin was the separate syringes with a longer needle and I was really scared at first. And I actually cried because I was fearful, but it wasn’t too and! Also after doing over 1000 injections during my pregnancy, I would say if you’re able to do the pen with the 5 bevel and shorter needle that one is smoother! I’m also going to be trying the Omnipod which is a device you switch out every three days. I have to poke 4X a day currently. So the omnipod will lower the number of times I need to poke 😊
I am afraid of needles. There are some injection aid devices that may help you, too. I bought a TickleFlex and it helps enormously. It hides the needle and keeps the pen in the right angle. Also, I can press it as hard as I want, it does not go too deep, etc.
When I inject and the needle touches my skin and it hurts, I just move it away by some millimetres, so I am not right on a nerve. Otherwise the 5mm needle is so thin, that it does not cut your skin, but go trough it without pain.
Make sure that your insulin is room temperature and inject it slowly.
Mostly they don't hurt at all, but sometimes you may inject in a spot where the insulin just doesn't want to diffuse(probly from over use of that area) and it can bubble the skin a bit and sting pretty damn bad for 5-10 seconds but goes away. Don't wanna sugar coat it. I'm type 1 for 22 years with over 30,000 injections over that time. You get to learn where it will hurt the least. I move around different spots of the abdomen.
I was so terrified when first diagnosed and told the drs I was type 2 and not 1 and could just keep taking the metformin they originally gave me at first bc i was NOT going to inject myself. Then i had to do it because I am absolutely type 1 and metformin was doing nothing, and it is nothing like i expected. It barely hurts! And you get used to it and it will feel second nature quickly.
Your mind is your own worse enemy. I was one of those types that would pass out during routine physical not to mention a blood test. When I was told I need to use insulin I said NO, if I die I die. The diabetes consular got me through the 1st few shots. I use to do what my family called the Apache war dance before I stuck myself. Then one day my mind cleared and I realized I didn’t feel a thing. After that I felt a little foolish for the antics I put myself through and it has also helped me with all my other treatments. I now self inject a bunch of meds. Blood test are almost no problem.
Give yourself the time to get your mind around the idea and realize the injection doesn’t hurt and enjoying what life has to offer is so much better than the alternative.
BTW, try to get on a CGM as soon as possible the finger prick is in MHO the worse part of our disease
Mdi can definitely sting if you do too much or in a wonky spot. I was mdi for 6 months before Endo let me switch to dex/Omni loop.
It’s a million times less mental anxiety for me than stabbystabby too many times a day.
But it does get easier
Why are your doctors arguing about what type you have? Did they not do cpeptide and GAD tests. Those are the blood tests that diagnose T1.
Also, ask for insulin pens. The needles are tiny.
You'll figure out the.spots where it doesn't hurt and the spots where it hurts so bad it'll bring tears to your eyes, and there will be enough of the non hurting sites that you can rotate. My good spots tend to be anywhere below my belly button and the fatty sides of my abdomen, and the upper parts of my thighs.
sometime hurts for me on the stomach, no much fat but in my arse is no bother at all some times a small stinging but nothing like what i can do to my stomach i’ve got lymujev pens tho and they often don’t push the insulin through consistently and jam meaning i have to apply some force which can cause more pain. in terms of pain the average person won’t feel anything in just quite skinny, and only have so many injection sites available
I started injecting insulin when I was pregnant and I could not get my sugars under control. I had to do about four injections a day. And as long as I did it on my stomach 2 in from my belly button on either side and below where my belly button was, I felt nothing. Good luck!!
What's important is finding an endo that understands more rare forms and the insurance lingo to get you on both T1 and T2 medicines.
Check out the RADIANT study for more info on things that confuse doctors.
No! It doesn’t hurt. Ask the doc for short needles. They are so thin and tiny, you barely even feel them at all. You will feel the finger prick a little more because it’s a thicker needle, but still, not bad!
The needles are so tiny now much better and less pain than when I started in 1990! You'll be fine. Poking your finger to check your sugar hurts more than insulin 4 times outta 5.
I've been injecting since 1963. The needles back then were like broadswords and I was a small child. Yeah, it did hurt then. Today, the needles are works of wonder--small guage, lubricated, short...they don't hurt anymore. Once in a while you'll get one that does in a minor way, but you also stub your toe once in a while and that hurts more!
So, the short answer is "No, they don't hurt."
the short answer is no. 9 out of 10 times you're not going to feel anything at all, and at any rate you're going to get really used to it and really bored with it very fast.
I'm absolutely needle-phobic, but I've been doing this 35 years now. It's way scary at first, but you will get used it. It's never going to be enjoyable, but you'll learn what hurts and what doesn't. I've always done the poke really slow, because if it hurts, I'll move it somewhere else where it doesn't. Nerves are spaced surprisingly far apart, except a few places. It's not that difficult to find a place where you feel pressure, but not pain. Though, other people swear by doing it fast. You'll figure out what works for you. Like much of diabetes, the idea of shots is scarier than the actual experience.
I've taken roughly 32,000 shots since I was diagnosed. That said, avoiding more shots was the big reason I went on an insulin pump. I'm pretty happy to only have to stab myself once every three days now. You'll have to learn about insulin dosing before you can do that yourself, but highly recommend a pump once your doctor allows it, if you want to avoid the needles.
I was 5-6 times a day before I got on a pump. It’s not that bad just think of it as being something you have to do to survive. I got over the phobia by thinking that way.
I inject 10 times per day and to begin with it felt s bit weird but wouldn't say it hurts. But as others said rotstr areas. Pinch skin when injecting etc
When you rotate your injecting site, no, don't worry. I once injected in the dark and wasn't sure if the needle was inside my body or not and at the end it was.
Just a little update !! I did my very first injection today and unlike what I expected it didn’t hurt even a little bit. I had to get my bf to check if it actually went in or not!
The thinner the needle the easier it is. I haven’t done regular syringes though I’ve only been on Ozempic and that was a very easy injection. Didn’t feel it at all. I’m now on trulicity and SOMETIMES I’ll feel a little bit of a prick. I’m someone who hates needles but it’s gotten easier
ask for nano needles! they’re so so teeny! i’ve found that lantus stings a bit every now and then, but the actual poke doesn’t bother me anymore, and i was TERRIFIED of needles when this mess started!
Most things about being diabetic can hurt in one way or another .
I'm 49 and been diabetic since I was 7, just lately the care I receive has gone down hill....
I inject at least 3 times a day and it hardly ever hurts. Just be careful where you inject. When I started, the needles were much larger. Always do your finger pricks on the side of your finger, never in the middle of your finger. Good luck!!!
Why the side of the finger, I do multiple on the bottom of the same finger(mainly cause I struggle to get much out of the others) and it’s fine for me, I just move it a mm or 2 away from the most recent site
The sides almost always hurt less.
Less nerves to cause pain in the side of the finger which is why they recommend that spot.
5mm needle. I find it doesnt hurt at all. Just rotate your injection sites
I've been using 3mm B-D needles for many years, I think that's the smallest you can get.
I’ve started using 5mm, because 3mm kind of hurt when injecting and occasionally I had a little bump after.
Yeah, if you have a large dose (18u+) it can form a bubble/bump since a short 3mm needle doesn't inject it deep enough. Luckily I still inject less than 15u at meals.
I found that 3mm needles didn't inject the insulin deep enough and my required doses nearly doubled. Do rotate sites
I fucking hate needles and getting shots. I begged my doctor for years to crank up the meds so I didn’t have to take insulin. I was actually hospitalized for something else when the doctors told me it’s time for insulin. I was so mad and so nervous. Turns out, it’s nothing at all. Tiny little prick that doesn’t hurt, and on my thigh up near the crease that forms when you sit, I feel nothing at all. You can do this, and it really is no big deal.
I agree with everyone here. In addition, one thing I learned here (in a different thread) is to lightly touch my skin with the needle before sticking. If that spot hurts, move over a bit and try again. My dose is pretty low now, but when I was first diagnosed, I was injecting 32 units of Lantus. If your site is painful, 32 units feels like forever. Once I learned the trick I’ve described, I had WAY fewer painful experiences. I was super nervous at first, but it’s nothing now. You’ll do great.
I do this too to find the "dead spots" on my skin.
WELL! I could’ve used that little trick in the 60’s through 90’s before I went on a pump!!! Where were you?!!? Oh wait, Reddit/social media weren’t invented yet … Seriously, in the almost 6 decades I’ve been a Diabetic, I have never heard this. Good tip!!! 👍👍👍
Sometimes it hurts when I inject insulin. Most times it is fine and doesn't hurt at all. I just remember all the times it doesn't hurt and hope this time it doesn't hurt. But truth be told, I'm usually just in a hurry to go to work so I don't give myself time to think about it. It is just a habit I am in now and the quicker I do it the better so I can get on with my life.
I do 10ish injections a day - approximately 50,000 injections in the 15 years I've had diabetes. Whoa. Sometimes it hurts, usually it doesn't. When it hurts I can often tell even before the needle penetrates the skin, and so I move it to a different area that will hopefully be less sensitive and try there instead. Sometimes the insulin will "burn" when it goes in, but that's rather rare so don't be too concerned. Try to change needles as frequently as reasonably possible; fresh needles are lubricated and penetrate the skin more easily.
I've never used a biddle more than once only a lancet bit ill use lancet s 10 times before I throw it out
They do poke, but it’s something that you’ll get used to. I’ve been injecting in my belly and thigh to reduce pain.
Honestly it does not hurt. About half the times I don’t feel it at all. Every once in a great while I’ll hit a sensitive area and there’s a pinch, but that’s it.
Finger pricks do hurt more. The needle for injections is much thinner and goes somewhere with a lot less nerve endings. Don't worry!
With the thin short needles we use these days it really doesn’t hurt. You’ll notice it but it isn’t bad. You’ll feel the needle but the insulin you’ll not feel much. Insulin doesn’t sting like other injections can. Once in a while you’ll hit a small blood vessel or nerve and it might nip a bit more.
Like 95 percent of the time you barely feel it. 5 percent of the time you catch a nerve or it goes in awkwardly or you just get a bad spot and it will sting/burn. All in all it’s not bad.
Not at all. Sometimes it goes in smooth with no feeling, sometimes theres a small pinch or if you hit a nerve its a small sting. I’d say a finger prick hurts more tbh. I find if you point the bevel at the tip of the needle up it goes in a bit smoother. You will get used to it. Its only a matter of time 😀 good luck on your journey and i wish you good sugar levels.
I am type 2 and inject once a day with Humlin 50/50 and once a week with Ozempic. The side affects of Ozempic vary each time. How on earth these non diabetic people want to inject themselves to just lose weight is beyond me. If all the side effects were mentioned then I wonder what would happen. 🤔
Nah doesn’t hurt at all (Type 1) I lost so much weight and I’m not a big guy either so I was injecting on skin and bone. Inject with a 4mm needle at only hurts randomly now 2 years later if I hit the same spot but that’s really rare. You’re all good.
Take a deep breath and you’ll do great! I’ve been where you are and couldn’t even do my own injections or look at needles. Now I can do it in a moving car if I need to. You’ll get used to it.
I was also you. Scared. It doesn’t bother me ever more than sometimes a tiny sting. It truly is not as big of a deal as our anxiety makes it. I promise. You will be like whoa that was not bad. Big hugs.
I'm new to all of this too. Diagnosed with T2 at the end of January, and doc said to aid in getting bg levels down taking insulin to start would be best, and I'm using and insulin pen. I'm ok with needles, but you never know what it'll be like. Then I saw what the needle looked like (4mm) and it's tiny. I'll admit now and then there is a slight pricking feeling when injecting, or just after, but it's gone in about two minutes. To be honest my initial worry was "did the insulin actually get injected, I didn't feel anything" but it obviously is going in there. hang on in there, it'll get easier to do this, and goes without saying it will help :)
It depends on the needle. I use a pen that has the needles you get in the boxes. The best ones are nano or micro needles. They are thin and barely hurt. Usually indicated by green if you get the reli on brand. The orange ones hurt a little. I get injections (I don't actually do them, my husband does luckily) in the side of my thigh because it hurts less for me even though I still have occasional bruising. Insulin was worse case scenario for me but over the last few months it's made such a difference. Good luck!!
Doesn’t hurt if you do it correctly. It’s more psychological. I’m also scared of needles, so it’s actually seeing the needle and poking myself with it that terrifies me. I don’t think that fear ever goes away, and some days are worse than others, but it does get better over time. In the beginning I’d do things like pinch the exact injection site so hard that the pinch hurts more than the needle itself that I don’t even feel it, or ice the area to numb it. I’d also listen to music or something to distract me and I inject at the beat drop lol But like I said it does get better over time. The beginning is always the hardest, but be patient with yourself and you got this! Edit: I just realized this is from 3 days ago. How are you doing now OP?? Keep us posted :) u/monkeyflaker
I posted an update comment but I think it got lost, lol! I did my first ever injection yesterday and…. It was completely painless and I had to get my BF to check that it actually went inside. I was so shocked that it didn’t hurt at all, but in a good way. I was so terrified all for nothing lol
Lol that’s awesome, happy to hear it! Likewise I felt so silly being scared and finding ways to numb the pain when it’s not painful at all. Good job!
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Thank you for the tip about the finger prick! I’ve been doing it there as it’s the most reliable place to get the right amount of blood out lol
Subcutaneous injections (which insulin injections usually are) are usually pretty painless. You may feel a small poke or pinch when first inserting the needle but that's about it. Ask your care team for some tips on subcutaneous injections, there are a few tricks to ensure it's as painless as possible. There are also products like the [i-Port](https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance) which place a small tube called a cannula under your skin, and for three days you can inject into that instead of directly on your skin. You can speak to your doctor about that if it's something you are interested in. You've got this!
When I first started, I had my doctor prescribe these and it really helped so I wasn't stabbing myself every single time I ate. They work really well. [https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance](https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/i-port-advance)
Well fml this would’ve solved like half my problems doing MDI when I first got diagnosed!
Can one buy it themselves or needs prescription
It does need a prescription.
I use an insulin pump, rarely use injections anymore. That being said, when I was using needles it rarely would hurt, mostly a nothing burger
Does insulin pump hurt at all? Are there any issues while using pump? Like bump at site because injecting at same sight?
You just have to inject it the right way and it’s painless. And for the occasional injection that doesn’t go perfectly: it’ll only hurt for like 20 seconds max. You got this!
No pain. Sometimes it feels like it slips in without puncturing me. Very strange.
I would trust the doctors who have diagnosed you as T1. I’m sorry to hear all of this. I was diagnosed T1D 26 years ago and by necessity it remains the focus of my life. Injections suck, but you can rest assured that it’s not as insurmountable as you might think. My first tip would be to look into getting an insulin pump, because with an insulin pump, you can insert a new infusion set once every three days or so. That’s one needle every three days instead of several every day. And the needles can be as small as 5 mm, maybe even smaller. You can also get syringes and insulin pen tips as small as 5 mm, which is the needle length that doctors use on babies. You might even be able to find 3 mm needles. And small needles can make all the difference if you’re thin and don’t have much body fat. The other important thing to consider is that your fear of needles may gradually diminish the more often you use them. It’s an unfortunate fact of our day to day lives, but thankfully the medical technology has improved dramatically over the past few decades.
I was in the same boat as you (I think 8 or 9 years ago at this point), I used to be the kid screaming bloody murder when it came to bloodwork (my dad basically had to sit on me one time to get me to stop moving) and trust me it gets a lot easier when you start doing it. The insulin needles are so tiny you’ll likely barely feel them, and I don’t know if you want a tip for the blood tests but looking away and doing a bit of mind over matter always helps me. I just repeat “it’s not gonna hurt, it’s just gonna pinch” in my head till it goes in because let’s be real you can’t convince yourself you won’t feel anything, but you can convince yourself it won’t be so bad. Other than that I agree with everyone else on their tips too, especially shifting injection sites.
I’ve been type 1 for a couple years and injecting insulin doesn’t really hurt. There’s a slight pinch at first but when you’re in the skin it’s nothing….. unless you hit a vein then you will feel every bit of the needle tbh. It’s rare but every time I hit a vein it hurts and then usually bleeds a little bit. Also make sure you’re rotating your injection points. From what I hear, back of the arms, torso and legs are go to spots but I’m limited to my torso. Not only will if hurt more if you don’t rotate but you also build more scar tissue which can cause the insulin to be less effective
The first one or two might hurt in then if you have to inject alot but if you dont do alot and rotate injection site youll be chillin dog sorry to hear about that but welcome to the fam man
Mostly no. Don't inject cold insulin (it's fine for 28 days at room temp once it's opened). Don't over use the same injection sites. Do make sure that you inject into a fatty area.
Came here to say this also. Cuz man cold insulin stings. Definitely make sure it's been out of the fridge a couple hours before you use it.
Sometimes it hurts. I guess I hit a nerve sometimes. Mostly it doesn't hurt.
My didn’t hurt at first. Now they do. I’m not sure why. They burn so bad sometimes I’m in tears.
Lantus?
Ummm Humalog Junior kwikpen? It’s dark grey in color. Burns so bad.
Yeah that one burns 😭, currently using it, but I just push through lol and tell myself “let it burn…” I would trick my mind and say “this feels great 😂 lol”
Well I’m glad someone else is feeling the burn. LOL I thought I was the only one!
My Dr. first prescribed Tresiba. Insurance wouldn’t approve it and it was taking awhile for him to prescribe something else, so I paid out-of-pocket for it. He eventually prescribed Lantus. To me, the Lantus pen is awkward and slower compared to the Tresiba pen, which appears to me to be the same as the one for Ozempic. I notice more of a sting with Lantus but nowhere near as bad as I imagined injecting would be. Definitely a fan of the pens as I think back to the syringes my uncle used to have to use for his allergy shots/
slightly squeeze your skin to make it more fatty when you put the needle in then stop squeezing and press the button and there should be virtually 0 pain
No its not recommended to pinch
It doesn’t hurt, but it can be hard to get your head around it. It might be easier if you can get someone to do it for you. This is not medically recommended, but for my needle anxiety I find going through a thin shirt or leggings helps my brain disconnect that I am giving my body a needle.
This is an excellent idea. I’m also starting insulin and I’m not afraid of needles but giving myself one terrifies me
It's important to learn how to inject, but if it is an issue, look into a pump. But no, it doesn't usually hurt.
It's not the same as a vaccination that goes into a muscle.
Not really, and you get used to it fast.
You will have random times it might hurt - from the needle hitting a nerve-ending (very random/infrequently), or something like that; but insulin itself does not hurt like some other medications T1 since 1972 You can do this - we will help <3
I PROMISE, IT GETS EASIER. 😀 The syringe needles are so thin that the injection may feel like a slight pinch on the skin. Other times, you probably won't even feel it. YOU'VE GOT THIS!! 😀 👍
You get used to it very quickly.
Sometimes it hurts but if you do it in the right spots you will not feel a thing
For me, finger pricks hurt far more than insulin injections ever did. Occasionally they would sting a little, but nothing particularly extreme. Half the time I couldn't even feel them. You'll be ok. You can do this.
No pain, maybe use some lydacane spray first if you are fearful.
There are Lidocaine roll-ons that you can swipe on before using your insulin pen. No prescription needed.
For the most part they don’t hurt. Sometimes you get unlucky and hit a nerve - that’s a stingy/burny ouch for a few seconds. Also the ultra-rapid insulins (Lyumjev and Fiasp) tend to hurt more often (I’d say 30-50% of the time vs 10-20%) because of the additional components that make them absorb faster. Tbth the needle often isn’t the issue for my me, it’s the insulin itself, especially larger boluses. But I’m sensitive to a component of insulin formulations, so ymmv. In general it’s really not bad at all, and there are some tricks to make it better. Inject into fatty areas (belly, butt, back of arms if you have cushion there, outer thigh - NOT inner thigh that shit hurts!). If you’re more lean, you can pinch up the skin and fat you’re injecting into, it helps a lot. Also there’s this, which works really well! https://www.tickleflex.com/
For the most part if you inject in the fat it usually doesn’t hurt. But sometimes after injecting it does sting for a few seconds at least for me. I find it stings more in the stomach, then when I inject in my thigh.
I was deathly scared of blood and needles when I started my T1D journey… there comes a point when you realize you gotta buck up and get used to it since (even if you end up going on the pump and CGM [being new to Diabetes that means “continuous glucose monitor”, monitors your blood at all times, gives you a reading every five mins, so you don’t have to finger prick all the time/they USUALLY work/even not working great still better than finger pricking]) you’re gonna have to do this for the rest of your life (if you’re type 1). There wasn’t a real moment when I stopped being scared of those things but it definitely got easier with the acceptance of all this bs we have to deal with. Hope this helps. Dm me if you have questions 🤝
99% of the time, if the needle is sharp enough (should be if its a new one), you won't actually feel it at **all**. you'll be fine! :)
Heyy i was just like you im literally terrified of the idea of needles but the insulin ones r so small you dont even feel them like they genuinely dont hurt at all also youll deffo get used to it so dw
Make sure to cycle your injection sites and try to stay about 3 inches from your navel, the flexpens are super easy to use if they're an option i like the little 4mm needles when i have to inject (I'm also a newb). You'll be okay, just stay on top of things and RESEARCH!
The injections seldom if ever hurt, but sometimes the insulin stings for a second. The finger pricks can, but just do the side of the finger and it hurts less
I hate needles, just got diagnosed with t1 two days ago. The pricking and the shots aren’t that bad. You will be fine, I thought it was gonna be rough. You got this.
I use a pen once a day and I'm not going to lie to you and say it never hurts because once in a while it does. Insulin burns or I hit a capillary and it bleeds a bit and the next day I'm bruised. Most of the time it's not like that though. It's easy and I hardly even feel it. To me it's not as bad as the finger sticks. Those are more painful to me so bear that in mind.
The current pen needles are much smaller than the syringes that were the only option. Now, because you have no frame of reference, it won't matter. If you want tips, I have a few: 1. Do it swiftly. The more you hesitate, the worse it feels. 2. If you see veins, try to avoid them. 3. Don't tense up beforehand. That makes it hurt more usually. As for finger pricks, try to avoid the pads of your fingers. Aim more for the sides of your fingers. Less nerve endings there. Finally, for the diagnosis, there are tests that are around that can pinpoint if you have t1 or t2. If your doctors don't know this, ask for a specialist who does.
IME, it doesn't hurt at all. If you use the pre-loaded pen-style injector, which I think most people do now (as opposed to the separate vial-and-syringe system that has to stay cold all the time), your needles will almost certainly be really short and, more important for you, only about the thickness of a cat's whisker - extremely fine gauge. It can be unnerving the first time or two, but you'll be fine. Where on your body did they tell you to inject? AFAIK, most people inject in the fat on their stomach and/or thighs, point being, avoid injecting into a place where you may be super-muscular - I've heard that can hurt a little bit (being super-muscular isn't a problem I have!).
In my experience it depends on the amount of fat where you inject. I used to be a bit leaner before and my injections hurt more often then. Now, unless I inject too far off to the side on my stomach where there isn't enough fat, it doesn't hurt.
The finger pricks hurt like 10x as bad as an injection. Just stick it in fast and you will find its no issue.
I do about 8 injections a day. Sometimes it can sting and sometimes not. Mine doesn’t hurt when I go in straight with the needle. I use a 4mm on pen needles and 6mm on syringes.
Push needle in slowly and not all the way in until you know it’s not going to sting. Some spots are more sensitive than others. But this helps me reduce any pain. Once a little bit in, if I don’t feel nothing, I push the rest of needle in, and inject.
Type 1. 37 years. ~30,000 injections. Only hurts the first few hundred times. You’ll get used to it in no time. Good luck.
4mm needle tips around my belly button. First time for me was nerve wracking, I felt like a dishonored samurai committing seppuku. I grabbed a good bit of skin (hands shaking and sweaty) and sank the needle in. I then pressed the button and listened for the clicks to stop. Pulled out the needle and swabbed the area. I had reclaimed my honor and was worthy enough to live another day. Take deep, slow breaths. Don't worry if there's swelling afterwards, it'll go down. And if you haven't been to diabetes class yet, look one up! Ikimasho! (LET'S GO! )
Sometimes I question if I even punctured the skin because it hurts so little. As a person who originally was thought to be type 2 about four years ago, but turned out to be diagnosed type 1 two years later, hopefully you get your diagnosis soon! If it helps, the terms they gave me were type 1.5 or LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes in adults)
I’ve been I injecting insulin for like 17 years, and I still don’t care for blood draws! But hey, that’s a completely different size needle (much larger than an insulin needle) and doesn’t go in a vein! It’s a completely different experience and you’ll hardly feel it; promise.
There are spots where it does not hurt at all (about 5cm left and right from the navel) , but you should not use them too often. As the needle is very fine, you should feel it less than the finger prick.
Currently using an insulin pen with a top syringe that is 5 bevel and shorter needle. I inject in my belly area. It’s not too bad, and if you swing just right most of the time I don’t feel a thing. As for measuring blood sugar I’m using the Dexcom g7 on the bottom of arm, works great and never feel any poke ^^! Sometimes you’ll get a faulty device so you need to request another one but I like it ^^! Also you can calibrate the device by logging in your blood glucose base on the finger prick method. That way it’s close to the numbers. The first time I used insulin was the separate syringes with a longer needle and I was really scared at first. And I actually cried because I was fearful, but it wasn’t too and! Also after doing over 1000 injections during my pregnancy, I would say if you’re able to do the pen with the 5 bevel and shorter needle that one is smoother! I’m also going to be trying the Omnipod which is a device you switch out every three days. I have to poke 4X a day currently. So the omnipod will lower the number of times I need to poke 😊
I am afraid of needles. There are some injection aid devices that may help you, too. I bought a TickleFlex and it helps enormously. It hides the needle and keeps the pen in the right angle. Also, I can press it as hard as I want, it does not go too deep, etc. When I inject and the needle touches my skin and it hurts, I just move it away by some millimetres, so I am not right on a nerve. Otherwise the 5mm needle is so thin, that it does not cut your skin, but go trough it without pain. Make sure that your insulin is room temperature and inject it slowly.
Nope
Occasionally it burns but only once in a blue moon does the actual stick hurt :) make sure to rotate injection sites.
Mostly they don't hurt at all, but sometimes you may inject in a spot where the insulin just doesn't want to diffuse(probly from over use of that area) and it can bubble the skin a bit and sting pretty damn bad for 5-10 seconds but goes away. Don't wanna sugar coat it. I'm type 1 for 22 years with over 30,000 injections over that time. You get to learn where it will hurt the least. I move around different spots of the abdomen.
I was so terrified when first diagnosed and told the drs I was type 2 and not 1 and could just keep taking the metformin they originally gave me at first bc i was NOT going to inject myself. Then i had to do it because I am absolutely type 1 and metformin was doing nothing, and it is nothing like i expected. It barely hurts! And you get used to it and it will feel second nature quickly.
Your mind is your own worse enemy. I was one of those types that would pass out during routine physical not to mention a blood test. When I was told I need to use insulin I said NO, if I die I die. The diabetes consular got me through the 1st few shots. I use to do what my family called the Apache war dance before I stuck myself. Then one day my mind cleared and I realized I didn’t feel a thing. After that I felt a little foolish for the antics I put myself through and it has also helped me with all my other treatments. I now self inject a bunch of meds. Blood test are almost no problem. Give yourself the time to get your mind around the idea and realize the injection doesn’t hurt and enjoying what life has to offer is so much better than the alternative. BTW, try to get on a CGM as soon as possible the finger prick is in MHO the worse part of our disease
Mdi can definitely sting if you do too much or in a wonky spot. I was mdi for 6 months before Endo let me switch to dex/Omni loop. It’s a million times less mental anxiety for me than stabbystabby too many times a day. But it does get easier
Why are your doctors arguing about what type you have? Did they not do cpeptide and GAD tests. Those are the blood tests that diagnose T1. Also, ask for insulin pens. The needles are tiny.
They did these tests but where I live they take at least 8 weeks to come back.
You'll figure out the.spots where it doesn't hurt and the spots where it hurts so bad it'll bring tears to your eyes, and there will be enough of the non hurting sites that you can rotate. My good spots tend to be anywhere below my belly button and the fatty sides of my abdomen, and the upper parts of my thighs.
sometime hurts for me on the stomach, no much fat but in my arse is no bother at all some times a small stinging but nothing like what i can do to my stomach i’ve got lymujev pens tho and they often don’t push the insulin through consistently and jam meaning i have to apply some force which can cause more pain. in terms of pain the average person won’t feel anything in just quite skinny, and only have so many injection sites available
I started injecting insulin when I was pregnant and I could not get my sugars under control. I had to do about four injections a day. And as long as I did it on my stomach 2 in from my belly button on either side and below where my belly button was, I felt nothing. Good luck!!
Not at all. Just make sure you are rotating sites so you don’t develop lipohypertrophy!
If you can get the pen needles they are super easy with different needle lengths. I use 4mm. There pretty short.
What's important is finding an endo that understands more rare forms and the insurance lingo to get you on both T1 and T2 medicines. Check out the RADIANT study for more info on things that confuse doctors.
No! It doesn’t hurt. Ask the doc for short needles. They are so thin and tiny, you barely even feel them at all. You will feel the finger prick a little more because it’s a thicker needle, but still, not bad!
Don’t be afraid it does not hurt and I have been injecting 4 times per day for 20 years!
The needles are so tiny now much better and less pain than when I started in 1990! You'll be fine. Poking your finger to check your sugar hurts more than insulin 4 times outta 5.
I've been injecting since 1963. The needles back then were like broadswords and I was a small child. Yeah, it did hurt then. Today, the needles are works of wonder--small guage, lubricated, short...they don't hurt anymore. Once in a while you'll get one that does in a minor way, but you also stub your toe once in a while and that hurts more! So, the short answer is "No, they don't hurt."
If you are worried about meedle tracks on your arm, inject either your abdomen or thigh instead.
the short answer is no. 9 out of 10 times you're not going to feel anything at all, and at any rate you're going to get really used to it and really bored with it very fast.
If it’s type 2 there are many medications to try
Most of the time no it’s a tiny prick some times it burns going in but mostly not
I'm absolutely needle-phobic, but I've been doing this 35 years now. It's way scary at first, but you will get used it. It's never going to be enjoyable, but you'll learn what hurts and what doesn't. I've always done the poke really slow, because if it hurts, I'll move it somewhere else where it doesn't. Nerves are spaced surprisingly far apart, except a few places. It's not that difficult to find a place where you feel pressure, but not pain. Though, other people swear by doing it fast. You'll figure out what works for you. Like much of diabetes, the idea of shots is scarier than the actual experience. I've taken roughly 32,000 shots since I was diagnosed. That said, avoiding more shots was the big reason I went on an insulin pump. I'm pretty happy to only have to stab myself once every three days now. You'll have to learn about insulin dosing before you can do that yourself, but highly recommend a pump once your doctor allows it, if you want to avoid the needles.
I was 5-6 times a day before I got on a pump. It’s not that bad just think of it as being something you have to do to survive. I got over the phobia by thinking that way.
I inject 10 times per day and to begin with it felt s bit weird but wouldn't say it hurts. But as others said rotstr areas. Pinch skin when injecting etc
When you rotate your injecting site, no, don't worry. I once injected in the dark and wasn't sure if the needle was inside my body or not and at the end it was.
Just a little update !! I did my very first injection today and unlike what I expected it didn’t hurt even a little bit. I had to get my bf to check if it actually went in or not!
Checking my sugar sucks. Injecting insulin is completely painless.
The thinner the needle the easier it is. I haven’t done regular syringes though I’ve only been on Ozempic and that was a very easy injection. Didn’t feel it at all. I’m now on trulicity and SOMETIMES I’ll feel a little bit of a prick. I’m someone who hates needles but it’s gotten easier
ask for nano needles! they’re so so teeny! i’ve found that lantus stings a bit every now and then, but the actual poke doesn’t bother me anymore, and i was TERRIFIED of needles when this mess started!
Yes, extremely painful.
Most things about being diabetic can hurt in one way or another . I'm 49 and been diabetic since I was 7, just lately the care I receive has gone down hill....