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Insulin pen recommendations please

IZ THE LEG END

Well-Known Member
Messages
169
Location
East Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes!!!
Hi, I'm just looking for personal opinion t s on types of insulin pens and pros and cons of any there are to them?

I have managed to control my BG much better of late and although my consultant and I have had a few disagreements regarding me starting bolus, to which he still isn't happy to let me... But that's another story basically I won't to be able to fine control my basal as I am jumping from 1 unit to another to take control and with my level of training presently it can sometimes be a little off...

I am going to ask for a pen with the ability to give 1/2 unit doses my question is does anybody use these and are they good? And are there any preferences to type?

Thanks in advance
 
I've used the Novolog/Novorapid Echo Pen and the Humalog Luxura Pen. Both inject in .5 unit increments.

I think you'll have better luck getting the Novorapid Echo on the NHS system. I haven't seen many people in the UK use the Luxura. Didn't notice any sort of a difference between the two and both were built pretty solidly.

Note: the Echo pen does have a (very) basic memory function which can tell you when your last bolus was. I've never had to use it, but I suppose it's good if you can't remember if you took your insulin or not.
 
@TorqPenderloin I'm in the UK and I have the Humalog HD Luxura Pen I got it free on prescription. It's a nice looking pen

I found my GP wasn't familiar with half unit pens but prescribed it no problem once he knew what I was asking for.
 
DBolding said:
I use the Luxura pen in the UK but it doesn't have half doses. Only full units at a time
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I just amended my post when I saw that to add the 'HD'. There are two Luxura pens - the normal one that does units and the HD pen that does half units (HD=half unit). If you want the HD one it is available but many GPs haven't heard of it. I had no problem getting it.
 
DBolding said:
Oh a HD one. Maybe the manufacturer rep would give it for free?
Click to expand...

Maybe, but you could also ask your DSN or get your GP to,prescribe it. It's full name is HumaPen Luxura HD. It should appear fine on your surgery's prescription item list if they search under the correct name.
 
IZ THE LEG END said:
I am going to ask for a pen with the ability to give 1/2 unit doses my question is does anybody use these and are they good? And are there any preferences to type?
Click to expand...

I was using the NovoPen Echo prior to moving to a pump. nothing but praise for it and have to say it was the best pen I'd ever used, using a half unit pen lets you fine-tune your diabetes control.
 
Thanks for everyone's input it's much appreciated... I will head down to see the doctor when I get home from work... They both sound great, so hopefully they will let me, if not I shall just buy my own and have the doctor change my insulin prescription to suit the pen if not...

Thanks again really appreciate the input
 

I use the Echo pen and it has 1/2 doses which is invaluable for me. Easy to use, and by pulling out the end and pushing it back in, it brings up the last dose taken and the timescales too, like a sundial, a thumbs up from me. I had a 1/2 unit Novo Nordisk pen, but when I asked for back up pens, they were discontinued, hence the fab echo pens.
Good luck.
 

If your under the care of a hospital diabetes team your DSN should be able to give you the NovoPen Echo, that's where I got my first pen so worth asking if you don't have any luck at your Dr's.
 
Hi. I use the NovoNordisk Penfill Echo 4 and it's excellent and does 1/2 units, I wonder why the consultant is being obstinate about the Bolus; presumably cost?
 
Daibell said:
Hi. I use the NovoNordisk Penfill Echo 4 and it's excellent and does 1/2 units, I wonder why the consultant is being obstinate about the Bolus; presumably cost?
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Firstly, Thanks for taking the time to reply...

The consultant I have met for all of around 30 seconds... He was (I can't write it here
) not very interested in what I was looking to try and achieve by closer control. He said that with my level of training that I would eventually come off insulin and there would be no requirement for that... Laughable in the instance that no matter what you read LADA which I have would never correct itself from everything I've read up on the condition... So I'm trying to take a different approach if I never see the consultant again it will be too soon!!! Hopefully I can persuade them on the 1/2 unit option for basal for the time being...

Thanks again
 
@IZ THE LEG END if you private message me your address, I can send you an Echo pen. My GP seems to like handing them out so have a couple of spares.

More than happy to send you one.
 
MH2010 said:
@IZ THE LEG END if you private message me your address, I can send you an Echo pen. My GP seems to like handing them out so have a couple of spares.

More than happy to send you one.
Click to expand...

Firstly thank you very much for your kind offer its greatly appreciated.

I will however decline if that's ok with you and without causing offence.

Thank you though for your kind offer
 
If you have to buy one they're not terribly expensive (relatively speaking). I paid $70usd/each for my two Echo pens.
 
TorqPenderloin said:
If you have to buy one they're not terribly expensive (relatively speaking). I paid $70usd/each for my two Echo pens.
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Thank pal, I did look online before I posted on here originally and like you say There not expensive, I'll see what the consultant says when I return
 
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