[Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens

[Mike Freeman]

Although you'll get some argument on this issue, it is generally recommended that one change the needle after each injection. This is to prevent contamination of the insulin in the disposable pen or pen cartridge Also, one cannot easily put the cap back on the pen with a needle attached. While this may seem like a waste, needles are quite inexpensive.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Diane" <dianefilipe at peoplepc.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Monday, Jan 19, 2009 9:41:11
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens

>
>
> Thanks so much!
> Do you have to change the needle, or can you use it for all of the insulin 
> that is in the pen?
> Di
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 10:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens
> 
> 
> > Diane:
> >
> > I can give you a generic answer but to be truly helpful, it might be
> > nice to know what aspects of insulin pens and pen use you are wondering
> > about.
> >
> > In general, insulin pens look like and are about the size of an
> > old-fashioned fountain pen. You take the cap half off and the exposed
> > end has threads upon which you screw an insulin pen needle assembly. You
> > then tug on this assembly a bit and the needle cap comes off, leaving
> > only a slim plastic cylinder covering the needle. You pull this off
> > exposing the needle.
> >
> > On the other end of the pen is a dial which you turn to set the dose.
> > Usually, there's one click per unit of insulin although some pens click
> > in half-units and some in two-unit steps.
> >
> > To give yourself a shot, manufacturers tell you to dial in 2 units and
> > then push the plunger (usually part of the dial apparatus) and insulin
> > will squirt into the air. This is to get rid of air in the needle.
> > However, if one is giving oneself a dose over 5 units, it is possible to
> > dispense with the air shot even though manufacturers don't recommend it
> > (yet some engineers working for manufacturers will say this also).
> >
> > You then dial up the dose, pinch up your skin, insert the needle and
> > push down the plunger just as you do with a syringe. You then put the
> > larger needle cap on, unscrew the needle, put the pen cap back on and
> > voila, it looks like a fountain pen again.
> >
> > Pens come in two flavors -- disposable and refillable. The refillable
> > pens have cartridges which you put in the pens and use until the insulin
> > in the cartridge has been used, whereupon you throw the used cartridges
> > away and insert new full ones. The exact mechanism of cartridge
> > insertion depends upon which pen you're using.
> >
> > Disposable pens are pre-filled; you use them until all the insulin is
> > gone and throw them away.
> >
> > Pens can have rapid-acting, intermediate-acting and long-acting or basal
> > insulins; exactly what insulins are available in what pens can be
> > garnered from the manufacturer. I'm pretty certain that Novo Nordisk's
> > Novolog comes in both disposable pens and cartridges for the NovoPen
> > III; one can get a Novolin 70/30 mix for the NovoPen III "Penfill"
> > cartridges also.
> >
> > Lilly has Humalog in disposable pens and Sonophie Aventis has lantus
> > available in a cartridge pen (the OptiClik) and in a disposable (the
> > SoloStar).
> >
> > In the beginning, I think many Americans were worried that insulin pens
> > might be inaccurate; in truth, they are ininv* accurate and are
> > extremely convenient to use. Diabetics in Europe have been using them
> > for years; they're just now really catching on over here in the States.
> >
> > That's a general overview. I highly recommend pens. I own a Count-a-dose
> > so could use syringes if I had to but I'm quite content with pens.
> >
> > Let me know what I haven't answered.
> >
> > HTH!
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Diane" <dianefilipe at peoplepc.com>
> > To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 5:33 PM
> > Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens
> >
> >
> > I know we have discussed this subject many times, but often you don't
> > pay attention until it begins to impact your life.  My Dad is looking
> > into the pens, and I was just wondering what y'all can tell me about
> > them.
> > Thank you!
> > Diane
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> >
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> 
> 
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