Lately, I’ve had delayed bleeding from injection sites on my abdomen. In the last week, I’ve got blood stains on my clothes 2 times.
I always keep pressure on the injection site with an alcohol swab for a few seconds, longer if I detect any blood. These delayed bleeds were treated the same. Then they started bleeding later and one was a lot of blood, enough to make a stain 2 inches in diameter.
For the record, I don’t take any blood thinners or any meds at all except birth control pills. The injections were made with a Novolog insulin pen with a BD Ultra-Fine III short pen needle.
I always try to be carful to wait to the bleeding to stop. These times, maybe I got distracted but I really think it started bleeding again later. I’m wondering if the birth control pills act as a blood thinner. I’m going to call the doctor tomorrow and ask her.
Best way to take a shot is pinch the area (with your thumb and pointing finger) where u plan to take it and raise it about half an inch. Now give the shot at an angle (say 45 degrees)!!! U will neither feel pain nor will it bleed!!!
Chisaki,
In addition to the methods given by the others, there is a “z” technique, where one pulls the skin a half inch or so to one side, gives the shot, then lets the skin go back to where it belongs.
Even ibuprophen can give me bruises on my skin, so I wonder if you might be taking vitamins.
Have you found some fat on your body to inject into? Very little blood there.
How long is your current pen needle? Maybe a longer needle will help?
I use short pen needles, 32g x 5/16". The I am very thin, the longer needles sometimes hit muscle which can be painful and it’s not good to inject in muscle.
The longer needle will give you the opportunity to inject at nearly the same depth but with a much higher angle. This will make the injection canal longer and can prevent fluid from finding its way out. In my experience the shorter needles had the tendency to apply the insulin deposit at higher regions in the skin. This often led to knots and small bleedings for me (I just tested 20 needles).
Sounds unlikely that a longer needle will make bleeding less likely - seems it would be the opposite (greater chance to hit a blood vessel)? In any case, I almost always inject in my butt and almost never bleed (maybe once or twice a year - and it always stops with short-term pressure like you’re doing). But I am in the midst of a few week trial of a CGM, and the needles on those are huge (scary huge - at least to me who isn’t used to pump or CGM needles) and I got a bleeder in my abdomen with one of those. And I didn’t want to pull the sensor (since I would have had to discard it and start all over). I thought the bleeding had stopped, but it started up again and I looked down to see a fist-sized stain on my shirt that was still growing. Lets just say it surprised my co-workers - it looked like I had been shot in the stomach! The pressure worked that time (and I’m still using that sensor 7 days later).
Luckily I had run across a hint in the Bernstein book that really works. Namely, that hydrogen peroxide (the kind in your medicine cabinet) removes blood amazingly well. I couldn’t get to the hydrogen peroxide until about an hour later, so it was partially dried, but a good rinse removed ALL the blood. I can’t vouch for his diet advice (I’m not yet ready to consider a complete ban on all fruits and nuts and most vegetables, not to mention carbs I am willing to give up like sugar and flour and potatoes), but he is absolutely correct about the hydrogen peroxide (he says he carries some in a little bottle so he always has it with him).
I was at my boyfriends house when i got a big blood stain on an expensive top. I didn’t have anything else to wear so I had to keep it on. The blood was dried when I got home and it wouldn’t come out.
This bleed didn’t start right after injection. It started later from the injection site. That’s what I can’t understand, the only thing I can think about is that my blood isn’t clotting or is thinner than before.
I would still try the hydrogen peroxide, unless you’ve washed it with water in which case it is probably set and can’t be helped. Remember that trick though - I was really amazed at how well it worked. And a lot of people keep a bottle in their medicine cabinet so its worth asking if you’re out at someone else’s house.
I also wouldn’t be too concerned about your blood losing clotting or being thinner. I’ve never heard of that as a diabetic complication (it seems we have enough to deal with as it is!) If you see it repeatedly, then see if its only when injecting in your abdomen. I don’t have much experience injecting there, but from my limited experience with the CGM, I would say my abdomen is more likely to bleed. I’ve never bled more than a couple drops before. I was really shocked by the amount of blood I got on my shirt - and that was a delayed bleed too (although from a CGM sensor that was still inserted).
Also, you mention using an alcohol swab. From my experience that isn’t needed for a simple injection (though is suggested for a CGM insertion). I just press with my finger - maybe that works better?
I have recently switched to the new BD Nano needles and no longer bleed from the injection sites. You don’t have to pinch as the needles are very short. Perhaps those would help as they are easier and less painful.
I’ve read about those, they’re 32 g aren’t they? Is it hard to force insulin through them? It is sometimes hard for me to press the plunger on my Levemire, even with the 31 g needles I use. I think Levemire is thicker than other insulins.
They are 32G x 5/32 in. I also use Levemire and find that it is a bit thicker than the NovoRapid that I also take. I find the BD needles somewhat higher quality and with the Nano needles if I just push the plunger slowly it works just fine. Info from their website is below…
A delayed reaction usually occurs after the injection and the blood returns back to the surface almost instantly, then along with the added pressure of the insulin all of those fluids combined create a bubble no matter how small of a bubble it still re opens the tiny hold and bursts when you shift a certain way…I didnt read all of the replys to your question but sence I get that your skinny and you may have a type of anemia most likely an iron anemia thats commen in women due to a monthly visetor and the fact that you have very little fat to choose from. Your options are to get a longer needle…not too long and use your bottom for a location because everyone has fat there or you have to decrease shots in which case GET A PUMP…im not saying that your never going to hit a vein but you will stop hitting them less offen if you do chose this route. Ask your Dr. whats good for you hopefully you have a good one because I know its hard to find one these days. But I had a problem with shots doing that to me and ruining all my clothes even my legs/pants…It costs alot…so if you have the insurance I say use it because even though you dont like going on dates with a bulky thing on you it will help you alot from ruining your clothes. And anyways you shouldnt be with a guy who judges you for a problem you cant help, that what we call a boy and not a man. Hopefully he is understandable and you find the answers you need to solve your problem.
Do you bruise easliy in general? Do you get bruises easily?
If so, worth getting a blood test/blood count to check your blood cells , and platelets in particular, which help with blood clotting.
Yes, I do bruise easily, either from injections or trauma. I had my blood tests done about 3 months ago, they did do a white/red blood count, which was normal, but I’m not sure about a platelet/clotting test.
platetelet conuts are usually done as part of the ‘blood test’. maybe just look at the results again, as it may have actually been done