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Issue getting insulin out of Novopen

J

Jeekyneeze

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I have been unable to get insulin out of my Novopen as it’s broken, so for the last couple of days I have only managed to inject my slow release insulin at night..
I have today spent the day in my local hospital trying to locate a new pen of an alternative method of being able to give myself insulin.. my sugar levels were 32.7 when I got there and keystones 0.7. I was then given 8 units of insulin by the nurse, ate my sandwich and waited 1 hour, I was retested and my sugar levels came down to 21.3, I was the given another 4 units of insulin, waited 30 minutes, I was retested and my sugar level was 18.6. My question is if anyone out there has issues getting insulin out of a pen and the pen then stops working, what do you do in an emergency to give yourself insulin or bring your sugar levels down.. thank you
 
You should always have a spare Novopen or disposable syringes. Can you ask GP to prescribe. Can also phone Novopen as pens come with a guarantee.
 
I ALWAYS have a spare pen.
If you are struggling, could you get a prefixed pen from the pharmacy to tide you over.

When you get hold of a replacement pen make sure you get two for your bolus and a spare for your basal.
 
Jeekyneeze said:
I have been unable to get insulin out of my Novopen as it’s broken, so for the last couple of days
Click to expand...
Not having access to your insulin is an emergency, please don't leave it for days!
If anything happens to your pen again and you find yourself without an extra, you should at least be able to get a disposable pen to save you from becoming very ill and ending up in hospital.

For now, I'd request a second pen to be safe.
 
When you see the doctor for your reminder prescription ask for both pens to be added on your prescription as you can order when you need them and when you get the new one order your next one as I have at least 3 and that is because of the doctor putting in a couple of prescriptions in for me and that way I have what I need for now but they are on repeats when I need them
 
Jeekyneeze said:
I have been unable to get insulin out of my Novopen as it’s broken, so for the last couple of days I have only managed to inject my slow release insulin at night..
I have today spent the day in my local hospital trying to locate a new pen of an alternative method of being able to give myself insulin.. my sugar levels were 32.7 when I got there and keystones 0.7. I was then given 8 units of insulin by the nurse, ate my sandwich and waited 1 hour, I was retested and my sugar levels came down to 21.3, I was the given another 4 units of insulin, waited 30 minutes, I was retested and my sugar level was 18.6. My question is if anyone out there has issues getting insulin out of a pen and the pen then stops working, what do you do in an emergency to give yourself insulin or bring your sugar levels down.. thank you
Click to expand...

Hi,

OK, I always have more than one spare Novopen.. (As well as pens for my basal too.)
They should be itemised on your repeat prescription. (If you are in the UK. Other regions may vary.)

Did you try changing the needle & performing a test air shot?
Sometimes the pen needle can drift outwards & not puncture the rubber membrane on the cartridge when screwing it down, thus not allowing the dose...? (& seemingly causing a "jam.")
 
I have a packet of disposable syringes on hand. If a pen breaks I use the syringes to draw the insulin direct from a cartridge.
 
Hi, I have also previously swapped the cartridges, so take the basal cartridge out and put the bolus in to do the relevant injections. This might help while you wait for another pen?

My experience is that my diabetes centre at the hospital usually had spares ready to give newly diagnosed patients. I have the novopen echo on prescription but also have old novopens as back up as I was only allowed 2 echos (one for bolus one for basal) originally (was told they were £90 each and on guarantee so if anything happened to claim it).

I have also got prefilled pens on prescription which I take with me on holiday as spares. I usually get one box of 5 pens every few years as they have long use by dates but also don't do half units so I don't like using them. And they cause much more rubbish too! Haven't had them for over a year now obviously though...

Hope that helps and you've now got a bolus pen working? Good idea to try a new cartridge and new needle incase those are the culprits?
 
Have to agree with the consensus , having spare pens is a must , I like others here have swapped cartridges but I have way more than 1 spare as I lose things constantly , well not lose just forget where I put them .I have them everywhere in the car by the side of my bed in my gym bag ,they are available on prescription, let’s face it the keep us alive.
 
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