[Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens

Sat Jan 24 17:36:01 UTC 2009

to put the platic caps of the needles, and then there is a smaller covering 
over the needle itself, that is what the second hole is for.

Cheryl Echevarria

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens

> I get the purpose of the second hole. But why the first?
>
> The only times I've stuck myself were when Mr. Coordination here poked 
> himself in the hand on the way to giving an injection! (grin)
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Monday, Jan 19, 2009 3:10:07
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Insulin pens
>
> >
> >
> > There are also disposable recepticles that I get from the pharmacy which 
> > is safer than just uncrewing the top of the pen, it is put out b-d and 
> > on the top of the contained are 2 holes one is to get rip of the screw 
> > top of the pen and the part that covered the needles the other hole is 
> > to stick the pen it self at a 45 degress angle and insert the needles, 
> > which has the threads that match the needle and you twist to uncrew the 
> > needle and it falls into the container without sticking yourself.
> >
> > Cheryl Echevarria
> > Treasurer
> > National Federation of the Blind Greater Long Island Chapter
> > Member NAGDU, NYAGDU and DAN
> >   ----- Original Message ----- 
> >   From: Mike Freeman<mailto:k7uij at panix.com>
> >   To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> >   Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 12:56 AM
> >   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<mailto:dianefilipe at peoplepc.com>>
> >   To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" 
> > <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto: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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