Insulin needle use

[Thanksforyourlackofthought]

Hi. Have used an insulin needle for the first time today for the bonus dose. The needle is somewhat longer than the pen needle so I kind of guessed how far to insert it into my stomach. Is it possible to do this wrong or do you think it will be OK please?
I've 'lost' a lot of doses by my ham fisted attempts to turn the pen the extra click so would be great to save a few quid.
Thanks.

How long is your syringe needle? You can get 8mm ones to make it easier. I have seen some 6mm syringes, but not from medical suppliers (advertised as laboratory measuring tools) so I wouldn't touch them.

The risk with a longer needle is you hit muscle if you are leaner or inject in a place where the subcutaneous layer is thinner. I don't believe it will cause harm, The only things I have seen in posts before is posters saying you get a very quick/strong response in muscle, but it wears of much much quicker and it might hurt to inject.

Hard twist with short/flat nosed pliers (gently gripping the purple bit of the dose knob!) has worked for me the last 3 pens.

Simply inject at a slight angle rather than directly vertical to your skin to ensure you aren't going too deep (mind you, I have so much fat there's little chance of hitting anything but fat really! 🤦‍♀️)

Thanks so much to you both for replying. Not sure how long my needle is - I held it up against the needle that comes with the pen and did a quick 'guesstimate'!
Didn't feel any pain so hopefully I've done it OK.
I managed to get the does out once by twisting but bizarrely I wasn't trying - had got my weeks mixed up, thought I had a week left and that the pen was being stubborn!
All deliberate attempts have ended in broken pen failure! 😂

Insulin needles used to be 12mm but were reduced under the 'reason' of them being too long for subcutaneous injections... Or because heroin addicts were stealing them to inject heroin into their veins. Modern insulin pen needles tend to just come in 8mm lengths which is fine for a subcutaneous injection, you would have to be extremely skinny for an 8mm needle to be too long.

HI all,

Just going back to my question regarding the needle used for the bonus dose - all has been fine, steady losses and feeling and looking loads better but this morning I have done my bonus dose with the syringe and the area I have done it is burning very slightly. I think the needle went in deeper than normal as I was rushing. Its in my stomach. Anything to be concerned about do you think? Its not really painful but I definitely know I've done it!

Needle site reaction is normal. Whatever the needle. Usually hits about the 6 week mark. Red, raised, itchy etc, anti histamines and hydra cortisone cream help.

Ah, thanks. So I haven't caused myself any damage then? To be fair, I keep thinking about it so if I ignored it I'd probably not notice. The joy of overthinking!

It’s doubtful, even the instructions list it as a side effect, don’t worry. It is annoying though and you’re likely to get it every week now.

I got a reaction with different pen needles when I changed supplier, but it stopped when I went back to original pen needles.

It might be coincidence it happened this week, or might be your syringe needle is too long, thicker gauge or has different coating that you react to. Did you buy the syringes from a medical supplier? If you think it went too deep what is the needle length and gauge?

Hi. I think its an 8mm. It is from a medical supplier. I got the recommendation and link here on MN. I have used them twice before for bonus doses with no issues so hoping this is just a one off.

Op as said. It’s normal. And even listed as a side effect.