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

at the end of a levemir pen

B

boris von hessen

Member
Messages
21
Location
Germany
Hi all, I am at the end of my second levemir pen, and there is not enough for the dose left in (the first one somehow timed itself perfectly!) Should I use what's left in the pen and top up with the new pen to the right amount, or discard the left overs?
I'm not sure if it works the same if there are two doses in different areas (roughly half and half from each pen), or if the insulin from two different pens, even though its the same product, should be mixed?

ON a related topic, what constitutes a "different" injection site, how far away should they be from each other so as not to cause any problems? The doctor predicts that sooner or later I'll probably need a 4 shot a day routine rather than the current once only, so am trying to be a bit systematic about where I inject. On the other hand, probably a good sign that the panic is diminishing when I can no longer remember where I did it the time before!

Thanks in anticipation,
bruce
 
Hi Bruce,
To be honest, I ditch the pen...as I don't fancy 2 injections rather than 1. I know that this is wasteful..but doing 5 injections a day is enough!
As for the injection sites...I admire your thoroughness. I just try and alternate between thighs. I have not heard of any rule of thumb on this though. I guess it depends on which bits of your body you use...thighs, stomach, bum, arms etc? I guess that it is best to keep swapping...and keep the less intimate places for when you are out and about.
Sorry, not a lot of help!
 
Hiya,
You can use what's left in the pen and do another injection of the rest if you feel like it. But you can also throw it away to avoid another injection. It's the same product so no problem with mixing the two.
It would work the same if you do the 2 injections in the same site (belly for example), if you do one in the belly and the other in the leg, the second shot of insulin will take much more time to be used by the body. It's just slower to get to the system.
It goes in that order: the belly is the most efficient and quick site to inject, then the arms, the legs and finally the bum.
I was always injecting in the belly for my first year and lumps appeared. The doc told me to change the site to the hips (for quick acting) and leg (for the background). My bruises went away :x:)
She told me to avoid the belly for 6 months! (they were very tiny lumps!)
So i guess if you start to see that you have bruises or lumps just avoid the area for a few months. Just bear in mind that some parts of your body will take longer to transmit the insulin to the blood.

Have a nice...skin! ;)
 
Thanks everyone, thats really helpful information. I was feeling a bit of a baby for wanting to throw it out and avoid an extra shot but think I'll take that option now :-) Its only a matter of a few units in any case.

and PS to Erroneous, thanks for the qualification that they were tiny lumps!! You seem to know the way my mind works and the BP is sinking back to normal, inspection for elephant man symptoms abondoned :mrgreen:
 
Teehee - I know of people who at the beginning especially, drew maps on themselves in pen to remind about injection sites.

One good technique I've heard of so far is to think of your tummy like a clock (btw, tummy is a better place for injecting your rapid acting as it is absorbed faster - leave thighs for basal insulin) with your belly button as the centre. Work round from there and try to remember (or write down) which o'clock you were at. You can start off quite near the centre of the clock, then when you've been round the 12 points move out a bit further and go round again...

LJ
 
Back
Top