We are new to Basal/Bolus. My daughter is 7 (almost 8)…She is on Humalog and Lantus. Both Pens…no syringes. She has been giving herself the injections for a while but will only give it in her abdomen. At her last endo visit her doc said she was starting to get hypertrophy (sp) in her tummy because she was not moving the injections around. Well we talked and she is now. We move all over the approved area of the stomach. Also, when I am home with her, I make her use her leg…or I give it in her arm or butt area. Long story short. She is bruising VERY easily. I actually see the bruises very quickly…AND a lot of the time after she injects in her stomach she bends over saying how bad it hurts. She said it doesn’t hurt during the shot only after. Is this normal? Is she not inserting the needle correctly? Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!!
Julee,
can’t offer much help other than to say that Lantus definitely stung our child and she hated it - the nurses wouldn’t entertain it until one day I learned of the acidic nature of Lantus. Later we switched to Levemir (for other reasons) and the stinging went away - now really happy about it.
Our little one gets bruised on and off, sometimes more noticeable than other times and since she’s giving most all her own shots there’s no reason to presume she’s trying different techniques from time to time. However, it might be in the way a right-handed person favours their left side and vice versa.
Also, our child has very fair skin so you can see her veins clearly - when she ‘hits’ one of those she will bruise quickly or draw a little blood.
You can try a slight angle to the injection rather than going strait in and make sure there is a good pinch. I always found when I did arms more there was less bruising, but if it is lantus it always has to been in the same location for the most part. Has your daughter considered the pump? We did shots for two year then switched to the pump, seems he was getting less tolerant of the shots and so were we! Just a thought, good luck.
We have thought about the pump, but she does competitive dancing and having to wear the costumes that do not cover the site/pump just makes it not an option. My younger brother uses the pump and he agreed the pump wouldn’t work well with the dancing she does and costumes she wears. Perhaps in the future if the dancing thing doesn’t work out.
Thank you for your help. The bruising is still there and you are right, Jake, she does favor her left side. This weekend we have taken a break from her abdomen. She talked to my little brother and he explained to her the importance of moving around, (leg, arm, butt, tummy) and for some reason the things he says to her is almost like gospel. I can tell her these things until I am blue in the face but one comment from her Uncle Jeffey and she is sold. (My little brother is T1)
Jacob’s mom, her doctor told me about the angle technique. I may try it. I may have forgotten to mention my darling daughter is very thin. LOTS of muscle and not a whole lot of fat to work with. 
Julie you are lucky ( in a way) for your daughter to have a T1 role model in her uncle, it is not an easy go all alone, this is why i joined tudiabetes, it has been very helpful and great to feel supported. It is awsome that she listens to his input more than your own oh so typical! my son uses the omni pod becuase he was no way going to be tied up with tubing and everyone could see it, he never wanted a pump until my husband showed him a utube clip of the omnipod, it is not something to rush into it took him a while to come to that point but we are mostly happy with the product. Hang in there and hope the school year goes well. Amy
I do feel lucky she feels she can talk to my brother about anything. They have “diabetes secrets” HA! What is really nice is I have him to call and ask questions for myself. I don’t know what it feels like to have high blood sugar or low blood sugar, and I don’t understand the mood swings. Jeff understands.
I know dancers who pump. Unless she’s doing exotic dancing (<–joking), I can’t imagine that it can’t be covered or disconnected when necessary. I’ve pumped for 11 years now and am a professional singer, so I’ve met many dancers in my time.
As for the site rotation, you can also use arms, buttocks, and lovehandles. When I was a child, I used my legs for my basal/bolus combination injections (pre-breakfast and pre-bedtime) and my arms for the smaller pre-lunch and pre-dinner bolus only injections. (I was scared to use my stomach until I was about 18, so that’s why I avoided that area.)
For the bruising, I agree that a 45 degree angle, pinching up as much fat as possible, and delivering the injections at a slow speed can help with the bruising. I personally preferred syringes to pens as a child, but I know they make lots of different needle gauges and pen needle lengths now. Have you explored other sizes?
She actually uses the BD Mini pen needles. I know there is one gauge smaller but goodness I can barely see the ones she uses now. hahaha She is very skinny with probably more muscle than fat so we will try the angle technique (if I can convince her to let me do it). hahaha
I talked to my little brother about the different sites for the pump. Allie does, tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, all the normal types of dances, however she has a very flexible back and has LONG flexible legs. She is constantly doing back bends, heel stretches, crazy chin stand stuff, acrobatic type junk…if she were a tad more flexible I think she would be a contortionist. hahaha SO all the normal sites would be pulled or yanked and she dances 3-4 times a week for 2 hours at a time. Just not sure that pumping with all the crazy stuff she does and being disconnected for long periods of time while dancing would be a good thing. But you never know what the future brings. She has only been on the pen for a couple months now.
Thank you very much for all the help and advice!!
No problem.
There is no rush to begin pumping, but it can help with both the bruising issue (especially since there would be no more Lantus which tends to cause bruising in some people from what I hear) and help with control overall in most people. If her control is good on MDI, there’s no reason to pressure yourself to get a pump.
Have you considered Omnipod? I’ve tried three brands of pumps and am currently using Omnipod. It would not have to be disconnected and there would be no tubing to yank. I know a dancer who is starting the pod soon. I usually wear mine on the small of my back. It’s popular with some swimmers and athletes. Might be right for you. Might not be.