What size needle for a subcutaneous injection?

[briskate]

What size needle will I need for a subcutaneous injection in the stomach ( I am slim if you need to know this!)

What length and thickness?

Thanks so much

[Gambit62 Administrator]

if you are doing subQ you just need to get hold of an ordinary insulin needle - they are a standard size - you just need to look for 'insulin needle'

[briskate in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you!

[scorpiojo in reply to Gambit62]

I know this may sound thick, but what's the difference in needles. (being a coward I would want the smallest and joint to tube) .. Plus what's the difference with thigh jabbing yourself or in the tummy? Is it better in a muscle?.. Don't mean to highjack post... But when it came up I thought I would ask.. pm if need be.. Briskate you are brave... I'm still lingering about stupidly in denial thinking my sparse jabs will do... Good luck 😊 x

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to scorpiojo]

subcutaneously means delivery into generally fatty areas just below the skin - so shorter needles.

Intramuscular means into a muscle and requires longer needles - and is a more efficient way of getting B12 into the blood stream as more capillaries - tiny blood vessels - are found in muscle because muscles need more oxygen than skin - that's probably a bit simplistic but ...

subcutaneously can be done into the stomach or into the thigh - or probably anywhere on the body where there is a fatty layer under the skin though those are the two areas that get used most. Which you use is a matter of preference - I find thigh easier than stomach but others are the opposite.

Intramuscular needs to be done into one of the larger muscles - so into the muscles at the top of the arm or into the muscles at the top of the thigh. If you are doing it yourself I think it would be difficult to do it properly into the muscles in the arm (unless you are a very good contortionist) so that means you need to do it into the muscle area in the thigh.

Some do use intravenous as a means of delivery but you really need to know what you are doing.

[scorpiojo in reply to Gambit62]

I did take that in correctly then.. That's good.. My brain is not as screwed as I thought, re sub etc etc.. I saw the utube thigh injecting guides and feel that will do for me.. I now thankyou for clearing up which way would possibly get into you.. I don't think I could doa long needle either :/ .. I am going to post tomorrow my jab experience today at the GPs.. As it will touch on the fact that I feel I'm go it alone.. Thanks for your help... Jo x

[scorpiojo in reply to scorpiojo]

I meant going to help myself by self injecting.. X