Insulin Pens
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For decades after the discovery of insulin, the only option for getting the lifesaving medicine into your body was with a vial and syringe. Today, while vials are still used, many types of insulin are also available in pen form, which takes some of the hassle out of injecting.
Insulin pens come in two basic varieties: disposable and reusable. The disposable kind comes prefilled with insulin and should be stored in the refrigerator before use, then stored at room temperature once opened. When the insulin is used up, these pens are discarded. Reusable pens are loaded by the user with insulin cartridges, purchased separately. While the cartridges can be stored in the refrigerator prior to use, the reusable pens should not be put in the refrigerator at any time. To use either type of pen, you screw on a special pen needle, dial in a dose, insert the needle under the skin, and press a button to inject the insulin.
Choosing an insulin pen may be dictated by what type of insulin you use. There are three makers of insulin in the United States: Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi-Aventis. Each company manufactures its own pens for use only with its insulin. (In addition, Owen Mumford Inc., a medical device manufacturer, makes a reusable pen compatible with Eli Lilly insulin cartridges.) However, some types of insulin are not available in pen form at all.
One thing to consider when selecting a pen is how much insulin you need to deliver at one time and how precise changes in your dose might be. Insulin pens can administer doses in increments of half a unit, one, or two units, with maximum doses ranging from 21 to 80 units. Children taking mealtime insulin, for example, may need a pen that allows dosing in half-unit increments, while someone who takes a daily injection of basal (long-acting) insulin may require a pen that can give a larger dose.
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Comments are subject to review and will not be posted immediately. If you have an urgent medical question, please consult a health care professional. If you have a question for the staff of Diabetes Forecast, please send it to replyall@diabetes.org.Insulin pens
I've used the Novo Nordisk FlexPen for years and have not had a problem with putting the cap on with the needle installed. There is a grey needle cover that fits over the needle and also fits in the cover.
Disposable pens for Lantus & Humolog Insulin
Disposable pens for Lantus & Humolog Insulin: Where can I find these two items & what is their cost as compared to standard vials ?
Does Humulin R come in the pen form?
Does Humulin R come in the pen form? I hate to go back to using a syringe, the pens are so much easier. Does anyone have the answer to my question?
I accidenly injected under the skin
I just started doing insulin and today when I gave myself the injection I accidenly did it under the skin, it instanly swelled up, is this dangerous? thank you
How much insulin can you inject in one spot?
I use Novo-rapid pen fill short acting and lantus long acting. I was injecting 60 units in one spot on my body, then a friend told me that you are only suppose to put 30 units or less in one spot, saying I should take two shots of 30 units (=60 I need) in two separate spots on my body. Is there any truth to this???
How many shots can you get
How many shots can you get out of one pen? I posed this question to my doctor today and he said that since I take 30 units I should get 10 shots since a pen holds 300 units. I was thinking that the pen holds 100 units. But he said it says 3ML times a hundred units is 300. He even asked a pharmasist. When you look on the side of the pen it goes up to 260 (still confused). With the price of this medication which for me is $200 for a 5 pack. I am really scared that when he ups the dosage I will no longer be able to aford it anymore. Thank goodness he gives samples also.
Regular Insulin
Today I saw an endocrinologist. NOT for my diabetes (Type II, insulin & oral meds)but for a tumor on my thyroid. Well he's decided to take over my diabetic care too. LOL. I'm on Lantus Solostar pen, 40 units at bedtime. I'm on Glyburide 10 mgs. at 9am and 5pm. Last week my Internal Med. doctor added Novolog mix 70/30, 5 units at lunch & 5 units at dinner. Well the Enocrinologist put me on a sliding scale (80-120, 5 units) and so on........with anything over 301 I'm to take 11. He wants me on regular insulin when I'm done with the novolog mix 70/30 pen. But he said doesn't believe you can get regular insulin in a pen. I will not switch from the pen. What is regular insulin versus novolog mix 70/30 ( I know the 70 is a long acting insuling with the 30 being fast acting)? Does anyone know if regular comes in a pen? Or a refillable pen? I have vision problems and I've tried to help my friends here in my apt. building with syringe & insulin.............doesn't work so well!) I need the pen too because I'm not always where I could refrigerate the insulin.....I'm not going to carry it around in those so-called refrigerated bags, they don't keep things cold after a few hours. Of course I just might stick with my own internist, the endocrinologist can't handle my other multiple problems. I have a medical condition called hemochromatosis, iron overload. The iron has destroyed much of my pancreas, liver...........and iron is in my joints & heart. I don't have "normal" diabetes. My e-mail addy: kat-citrusqueen@hotmail.com
LANTUS PEN
I AM TYPE ONE AND I NEED TOO KNOW IF MD MEDICAID PAY FOR ANY OF THE INSULIN PENS THAT ARE ONE THE MARKET?
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