Help – my daughter refuses her injections.
Reasoning with a young child can be difficult, but explain in a way that she can understand that there isn’t a choice about having her injection. Tell her that she can help choose the injection site and spot, she can choose who does the injection for her (if possible) and she can choose where she sits. Ask her to choose a favourite book to look at or TV programme to watch while she has her injection, and see if she would like to help with the injection, eg by pinching the skin or pushing the plunger.
Although it’s fair to let her protest, you can’t let it go on for too long. Talk to your child’s paediatric diabetes team for advice. They will have some techniques that will help increase your child’s confidence. Diabetes UK produces great tailored information for children and teenagers.
How can I stop my child getting bruises from her injections?
If the needle punctures a capillary (small blood vessel), there may be bleeding under the skin that will show as a bruise the next day. Quickly pressing on the site – with a finger or a tissue – after injecting can help avoid bruising. Check your technique with your paediatric diabetes team.
My son says his injections hurt. What can I do?
Injections are more likely to hurt when a needle enters the skin slowly. So try pushing the needle through his skin quickly. Also, try holding an ice cube against the skin for a few seconds before you inject. This should ‘freeze’ and numb the area. Talk to your child’s paediatric diabetes team about techniques.