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I am due to start insulin tonight

R

Rubette

Member
and am confused. I saw the nurse this morning and she told me what to do, how to use the pen, but when I read the info from the manufacturers o the pen, it was different. She didn't mention anything about setting it to 2 and tapping to rid the pen of any air and making sure I got the full dose. Any advice please. It's an INSUMAN BASAL SoloStar if that helps.
 
Hi. It's what's called an 'air shot' to remove the any air stored in the needle. I normally just a setting to1 which I find enough. After the air-shot you set the amount of insulin you need. I've read that it's best to keep the pen vertical when doing the air-shot to help any air get out.
 
Thank you... can I ask how often you test your bloods.
 
Rubette said:
Thank you... can I ask how often you test your bloods.
Click to expand...

I test and inject 4 times a day, before breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then again before bed when I inject a long lasting insulin.

As for your initial question I’ve more or less stopped the 2 unit squirt... but you should always do it when you start a new pen (maybe even 2 or 3 times) to make sure the needle is primed properly. The other reason to do it would be to check that the needle is working, in 5 years of injecting I’ve had several needles that don’t work, so yes maybe the 2 unit shot is worth while, maybe I’m just getting lazy.
 
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Can’t see anyone else bothering, where’s the support in that?
 
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