Anyone familiar with daily insulin?

[Girls Scout Leader]

I care for my Grandmother, 84 yrs, and her blood sugar levels have risen higher and higher, even with the doc increasing her medications. Since I prepare almost all her meals, etc, it is not her diet. The doc feels that the disease is progressing. So he has ordered insulin. Since I am her primary caregiver, I get the honors. And I just got used to poking her finger for the bloodtests! I am very nervous, because I just am so scared of hurting her. She has a high tolerance but I don't!!! I looks like she will be needing a set amount each evening. I wish that another family member would learn this also, so that I am not tied quite so much, but you know how families are. Has anyone else had experience with this? I am greatful for her twice - weekly nurse that will be helping with this. She is also my Assistant Leader that is going on "The Big Girl Scout Adveture To Walt Disney World" next year. I am trying to think of something speccial that I can do for her there. Nurses are priceless.

 

[FOJMO]

GirlScoutLeader --

I have had to give myself insulin injections 2x/day for the past 2 years. I knew if I they were going to release me from the hospital (with pancreatitis) that I'd have to do it.

I was amazed at how easy it was! I thought I was going to be really nervous, but I made my mind up I had to do it and it was simpler than I thought!

The needles are subcutaneous (sp?), which means they are very thin and short. They will show you how to do it, I'm sure. It really isn't hard at all.

Don't feel you're going to hurt your Grandmother. Like you said, she has a very high pain tolerance, and you're really not hurting her. Once you do it a few times, you'll be more comfortable with it. Keep reminding yourself that it will HELP her and that may get you through it.

Are you sure that you are preparing her meals correctly? I don't mean to presume you are doing anything wrong, but sometimes people don't understand that carbs (especially pasta, potatoes, rice, crackers, pretzels, bread) can cause your blood sugar to rise. I can't even have a few pretzels without it affecting my reading within a few minutes! Ever since I've been on the Jenny Craig program, my sugar levels (as well as cholesterol and triglyceride levels) have been TERRIFIC! A world of difference!

Good luck and if you need any help, just PM me. Of course, your nurse friend will be invaluable in helping you through this. Good Luck! You are wonderful for taking such wonderful care of your loved one! VAL

 

[buffett010]

I used to give myself insulin shots 4 times a day (thank God I had my tumor removed and no longer have to do this!). Make sure you get the smallest, thinnest, shortest insulin needles available - your pharmacist will be able to get you set up there. The best advice anyone ever gave me was to give myself shots in my abdomen. I was unsure of doing this as I was afraid that it would hurt more than the gluteus, leg, or arm. HOWEVER, the abdomen was the best place - I could barely feel it! Also, make sure you just jab right in, otherwise it will make it harder on both of you - the sooner you do it, the sooner it's over with. I know that the longer I tried to talk myself into sticking the needle in, the harder it was for me to do. The first couple times will be more difficult, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you'll be.
Also, I don't know how much insulin she will need, but you might look into the insulin pens for your trip as they are much handier than a bottle of insulin, syringes, swabs, sharps disposal, etc.
Good luck!

 

[gshoemate]

With my last pregnancy I had gestational diabetes and had to give myself shots. And this is a person that is so terrified of needles that I gave birth twice natural because I was not going to have them stick a needle in my back, I would rather deal with the pain. But the insulin shots were nothing!! I also did them in the abdomen and rarely felt them. Make sure when you give them that the alchol is dry, if it is still wet this can cause some stinging. And I agree with buffett010, make sure you do it fast. She will feel it more if the needle is put in slowly.

I'm glad that FOJMO brought up the food issue. When I was in the hospital with my last pregnancy (was there for 7 weeks with preterm labor so I had a nutritionist to help me deal with my meals)that is where I learned about the carb counting. My FIL has diabetes, he doesn't take insulin but has to watch his diet and his doctor still has him on the no sugar diet. The doctor hasn't told him anything about carb counting.

Hang in there...I know you will do fine.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I used to have insulin injections years ago. There was a little gadget that you could put the syringe in and press a release for the needle to go in a split second. It was great. I haven't found any recently. DS was just diagnosed in April and has to have 3 shots a day. I'm the elected person to give them. He does his own glucose tests, but I give him the shots. Did the hospital staff teach you how to do it? DS was in the hospital 3 days where they trained him and retrained me.

 

[piratesmate]

I've been on insulin for 30 years. The syringes they routinely prescribe are very thin - nothing like for a flu shot or for taking blood. Although they may tell you that the disposable syringes are re-usable, keep in mind that the more you do re-use, the duller they'll get.

You may occasionally hit a spot that hurts a bit, but not very often. And yes, fast is better!

Re: using the abdomen - keep in mind that the area around the navel should not be used. It hurts like crazy! Try to stay at least 3" away in all directions. Also, try to stay below the waist - yes, I know that the abdomen is there, but trying to find more usable area when I was pregnant I went too high & had severe hypoglycemic reactions!

A good reason to use the abdomen is that the insulin is absorbed better there. Also, it is always absorbed at the same rate unlike the leg or arm which changes every time you walk or exercise your arms.

One last thing - insist that someone else learn to give injections & keep in practice by doing it once a week. If you should become incapacitated or simply unavailable at the right time, your grandmother will still need her insulin.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

So this is going to be ok! I am trying to positive twoards her, so she won't get freaked or anything. I guess it's one of those roll reversal things. I feel more like the parent. She gets confused easily, now, and was worried that she would have to drag around an iv pole for the rest of her life. I figure if I make it no big deal, she won't either.
No, he hospital did not show me, because she was not in the hospital. But the nursing provider is sending out someone this evening to start me up.
And, by the way it is the nurse, not my Grandmother going on this big trip.
Thanks bunches to all.

 

[Kaybee]

If you are going to be the primary care giver I would recommend
that you attend a diabetic class at your local hospital. All of them
have them. They will consul you on the disease itself, diet, giving
insulin, etc. They are good resource people too. I would highly
recommend that you call your local hospital and talk with the
diabetic instructor.

 

[kbeverina]

The device Pin Wizard is talking about is the Inject-Ease. I used to be able to buy them at the pharmacy counter (the first thing I do when I hear of someone with a newly diagnosed child is go get one of these and send it to them), so start by calling around and asking if anyone carries it. If not, and if they can't order one and have it there quickly, you can order one from the website:

http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/product/injectease.jsp

It's not expensive, only about $30, and my first one lasted 5 years. The only drawback is that you can't use the WalMart ReliOn syringes with it, but otherwise it's the best thing ever for someone who has to give shots to someone else. Psychologically, you don't have to jab a needle into someone, just put the syringe in, find a fatty area on the arm, leg or stomach, and push the button. It injects the needle very quickly and pretty much painlessly (I give my son his morning shot while he sleeps and he never even moves, much less wakes up). You then slowly push the plunger down to inject the insulin. It's so easy that my son has been doing his own evening shots since he was 7.

I also agree that learning all you can about carb counting would really help. Check out www.childrenwithdiabetes.com , they have great info for adults with Type II as well. Good luck!

P.S.--I noticed when I went to close out that window that you can't order from that site anymore. Try this one:

http://www.diabeticexpress.com/cgi-bin/dexpress.cgi/search.html

 

[wovenwonder]

You said that you control her food. In addition to watching 'sugar' intake do you also severly limit cereals, flour, rice, pasta, fruit, potatoes - anthing with carbohydrates?

Even if it doesn't say 'sugar' on the label --- if it is a carbohydrate it will turn to sugar in the bloodstream.

 

[Dodie]

My mother has been on insulin for 30 years. When she first went on it - both my father and I learned how to give the shots (even though I was only about 12) - just in case we would ever have to.

It's not that bad. You just need to learn how.

A good site with information about diabetes and insulin is:

http://www.lillydiabetes.com/Education/DiabetesInformation.cfm

 

[Laura]

...maybe an insulin pump would be a good idea? My husband is a Type 1 diabetic and has to give himself injections every day. He didn't like the idea of being hooked up to a device all the time (even one the size of a pager) so he turned down his doctor's suggestion. It's really for people who are more active, I think, but it may make things easier on you.

The pump distributes insulin throughout the day and you can program it to put out more at mealtime. It basically works like the pancreas does. It's really up to her doctor to decide how to regulate the insulin.

Anyway, it was just a thought. It still has needles and you still have to check blood sugar, you just don't have to poke her in the stomach every day.

 

[piratesmate]

Laura,

I've been on a pump for 16+ yrs and I have to say that I have much more freedom with the pump than I ever did with multiple injections. No more being tied to an eating schedule & getting sick with a stomach virus, etc is no longer an ordeal! It's very easy (& legit) to unhook for a shower or swim for an hour or so. If you'd like to talk about it further, feel free to PM me.

Deb