Insulin Shots, for Future Reference...

Last night I gave myself my first insulin shot of this pregnancy. My body is doing pretty much what it did with Mina- Blood Sugars are fine when I am able to eat a low carbohydrate diet, but they spike when I sleep. This time around they seem to be spiking higher than last...

So I was instructed to take 7 units of Lantus before bed. I was totally cool with this, and in fact excited because having my sugars out of whack makes me feel really bad- it is like having the flu. The idea of feeling better is a big motivator- until I got the needle loaded and ready to go- then I fell apart.

Damon said it was a carbon copy of what happened 2 years ago- I cried uncontrollably, I wished for my mom to be there, I wished for my step-dad (who used to be an EMT) to be there. Damon was shocked by my reaction, and frankly, so was I. I did this every night in the end of my pregnancy with Mina... What the hell was my problem?

Its a mind over matter thing- You see a needle, you see where the needle needs to go: INTO YOUR BELLY. DOES.NOT.COMPUTE.

I do finger-sticks to check my blood sugar at least 4 times a day- those bastards hurt, but it is short lived. I was expecting this kind of pain, but in my belly- WHERE MY BABY IS. Did I mention the needle has to stay in my skin for 10 seconds?

I spent about 30 minutes freaking out and sobbing like someone had asked me to saw off one of my toes. I went back and reread my blog from the last time. It did not offer any tips, only highlighted that I was doing EXACTLY what I did the first time.

When I finally got the gumption, I practiced holding my breath and bringing the needle close to my skin to see how "sharp" it was. Barely even a pinch- I was able to work from there and slide it in deeper and give myself the shot without crying anymore.

Its mind over matter. Plain and simple. It did not hurt at all. Once I got past the shock of putting a needle in my skin, I was fine. Though it still feels unnatural when I think about it now, even.

SO FUTURE ME- should you be reading this because you are freaking out over a damned mini-needle the width of a couple human hairs, remember this... Just put it up to your skin and see how it feels. It is not as bad as you think it is going to be- I promise.