Cartridges

[sarah1282]

Ive been using novarapid cartridges but the last 2 cartridges ive had to change as they get to about half way used as the insulin just doesn't work. Has anyone else had this problem.
Thanks

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[Granville]

I've been using novo


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[Granville]

I've been using novorapid for 8years and never had that happen before it could be the pen I had a prob with one of mine and had to get a new one mine got hard to push to inject.


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[hale710]

No, I've only been on it 6 months but its all fine! First suggestion would be the pen probably, could not be administering the correct dose

 

[Daibell]

Strange. I've only been Novorapid for 6 months but had no problems. I assume you are not going beyond the 4 weeks out of the fridge and storing at less than 8 deg C in the fridge before use? You should be able to note the movement of the cartridge plunger by looking at the scale markings; a bit rough but should give some idea if working or not.

 

[faeoj]

yeah iv had the exact same a couple of times now :/ it feels like it's jammed! I asked for a new pen and still happened! not sure what's going on with them! z

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[Daibell]

Also, don't forget a blocked needle will have the same effect

 

[Robinredbreast]

Ive been using novarapid cartridges but the last 2 cartridges ive had to change as they get to about half way used as the insulin just doesn't work. Has anyone else had this problem.
Thanks

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Hi Sarah I use NovoRapid too and I have had to change my cartridge a couple of times because it appeared to be not working properly. I certainly had a better reading with a new one in place. So ................ :? ?

RRB

 

[Wullie]

Hey Sarah

My experience is similar to Robin.

ISTR it happened because I took my pen into extreme warm/cold environments and back again e.g. coming back from holiday abroad.

If it's more than half-way through, write it off and plug in a new one. It's not like we're paying for it

 

[LancsCarol]

Re: Cartridges - NovoRapid pens

I use a NovoRapid pen, pre-loaded with short-term insulin. Throughout the hot weather and when in hot climates abroad I have noticed that my after-meal bs climbs much higher as the pen gets emptier. It takes about 8 weeks to use up a pen, but the fade only happens in hot weather.
I wondered if it was because my body reacts differently in hot weather -- but changing the pen for a fresh one seems to get it more back on track for a very short time.
Maybe it's a combination of pen fade and body reaction. Difficult to experimentally separate the two concepts for testing definitively.
Same for the Solostar 24-hour insulin pens. They seem to be losing effectiveness as they empty, but only when the weather's hot or when abroad. I use about one a month, typically. During summer nearly all my bs readings have been much higher than during winter.
Will re-evaluate when the weather gets a bit cooler.
What effect winter central heating might have, I don't know.

 

[hale710]

Lancscarol you shouldn't be using a cartridge for 8 weeks, once opened they should only be used for 1 month

 

[Fairygodmother]

Insulin's sensitive to temperature and effectiveness can decline. Have you tried using a Frio pack when in a hot climate? Also, I had real difficulty with a novo pen and now make sure that it's delivering insulin by testing a unit without injecting - a drop should show.

 

[sue cope]

LancsCarol - how can a Novorapid pre-loaded pen last you 8 weeks? That's only about 5 or 6 units a day!!! A pen should only be used for 4 weeks, so no pen should be used for 8 weeks. I use one NovoRapid pen every 2 - 2.5 days !! I use 2 Solostar pens per week.
I would advocate the use of pre-loaded pens against cartridges as it is so easy to use, see how much Insulin you are using and no faffing about screwing in a cartridge, then finding the pen doesn't work !

 

[sarah1282]

Thanks guys im glad im not the only one it happens too

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