I have recently been told I need to use insulin, but am completely averse to using hypodermic needles. Has anyone tried anything else? For example, on the web I found a device that injects using air pressure (micro-ject), and also read about pharmaceutical trials on inhalable or transdermal methods.

The micro-ject, so I've heard is expensive, and can be painfull. I don't like using needles, and when I had difficulty injecting myself, I was given a special device. If you ask your specialist for a NovoPen PenMate. What you do is insert an insulin cartridge into the PenMate, and after setting it up, you press a button, which puts the needle in for you, you just inject the insulin. You don't see the needle, and it's absolutely painless. It's the only realistic alternative. The hardest part is doing it for the first time, believe me, after that it's easy.

I was given a Novopen, which doesn't do me any good -- I still won't use a needle, even it it doesn't "look" like a needle!

How are you taking your insulin at the moment? OK they gave you a Novopen, but did they also give you the penmate? where you unscrew the pen and insert the end with the mechanism into the penmate, so that you only have to press a button to inject yourself?
Believe me, I was the worlds number one coward when it came to injecting myself, but the penmate does take a lot of the anxiety out of it, and if I can do it, then anyone can. Follow the link, and scroll about half way down the page to take a look at one. http://www.novonet.co.nz/patientedu.htm

I personally know many people who have gotten off their insulin treatmenst with natural remedies.

[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-22-2001).]

If you are an insulin dependent diabetic, and stop taking your insulin in favor of the "alternative" therapies, what you are is dead. Ask for honest to goodness, controlled studies. Insist on those, and not antecdotal evidence before going off insulin.

Try losing weight and closely controlling your diet. IF your pancrease is still producing insulin it may be enough to get you by on oral meds. If your pancrease is not producing insulin, the only alternative at this time is insulin.

Hello Wolf, Listen to LisaTx....please. You'll get used to it. I used to chase my wife down for her shots. She has no problems with it now. May God bless and help you, Oldguy

I'm not averse to using insulin, I just can't use needles -- I'm looking into getting a Mediject device (despite some advice to the contrary) until some other method is available. Also hoping to use Lantus so I only have to inject once daily.