• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Air bubble in insulin pen

M

Mervyn

Well-Known Member
Messages
149
Hi,
I have been on Lantus 24hr insulin just over two weeks. I notice that I have a reasonable sized air bubble in the insulin. I have tried tapping the pen and expelled 6 units to try and get rid of the air bubble but it is still there.
As it is only injected in the layer of fat just under the skin is it ok to inject or should I discard and start a new pen? Sorry if it sounds like a silly question but as I say I have just started and want to make sure I do everything right.

Mervyn
 
Hi, Just heard from my specialist nurse...as I thought...she said dump it!!! :-) I would like to know tho....as the rubber diaphragm is supposed to be one way...how did the air get into the pen???

Thanks
Mervyn
 
I always get bubbles in mine, I don't know how they get there but I would be dumping a huge amount of insulin if I took her advice, I use mine anyway as the air bubble goes to the opposite end of my needle when injecting, if it doesn't i just give it a little flick ,I think they only say that as if you inject a bubble you will not get the right dose of insulin, its not that its dangerous as air bubbles are only dangerous if injected into a vein not into fatty tissue where you inject insulin. I have been type 1 for 6 years now and it never done me any harm
 
I think you are right. I have only used this pen a couple of days and it already has air bubbles in it. Would cost the nhs a small fortune if I had to ditch them after a few units.
 
The only time I dumped one of my pens was when I injected through a vein and I actually got blood into my insulin :/ have no idea how that happened either but I have gone through a few viens over the years and that only happened the once, like I say as long as your bubble is at the top away from your needle when you inject I shouldn't worry too much. I too have tried to get them out but all I succeed in doing is squirting insulin all over the place and the bubble still stays stubbon bu**ers they are hehe :P
 
haha..yes I had to step outside as the wife complained when insulin went flying over her lovely carpet :-D she was not best pleased
 
Hi. Try air shoots into the sink, have tap running at same time to wash it and the smell of it away. [I dont like the strong smell of insulin its so strong to my sensitive nose!]
I was taught to flick the pen very firmly downwards first, do this about 3 times, then tap air bubbles up to the top of pen before air shoot bubbles out.
This technique always works for me I have to say.
It gets the stubborn bubbles up to the top of pen definetelty !!!
Hope this helps? Anna.x :D
 
You can use a sterile syringe (gather you have these as back ups) and poke it in the vile and suck the air bubble out if tapping and squirting isn't working. The only problem with the air bubble is it might change the accuracy of your dose.
 
I find my Humulin get more bubbles than novo rapid and Levemir did

If a small air shot doesn't get rid of it it just point my pen downwards so the bubbles are by the plunger, and inject with the pen at a slight downward angle
 
I'm new to this forum, I've been injecting for 3 years now. If a bubble was injected would it cause severe localised pain? My injection sites were often very sore but recently as I've become more aware of bubbles in my insulin pen, my injections seem to be more comfortable.
 
If the bubble doesn't break up by shaking the pen vigorously with Lantus or Novorapid pens, I'll inject with the pen pointing downward as the bubble ends up well away from the needle...
 
Back
Top