Insulin Pens

Hi Whimsi, Ive been using the Huma Pen since March this year, I have two pens, one for fast acting insulin and the other for long, they are different colours which helps select the right one without looking at the cartridge.

Ive not experienced the problems you describe, I just dial in the units I need to inject, select an injection site and insert the needle, then press down the end of the pen which I can hear clicking, one click for every unit, then after a slow count to ten I withdraw the pen. I have never found that some of the dose has not been delivered, and once the pen end has been pressed fully down it cant pop back out until I dial in the next dose.

As I have only been using the pens for a short time I have no idea what previous models where like, but the ones I use seem both accurate and easy to use.

Hope this helps

Have you tried using a longer needle? I used to have a NovoPen and from distant memory the needles came in lengths of 6, 9 and 12mm, which can make a big difference. I'm sure other manufacturers would offer similar alternatives.

Also what are your injection sites like? It almost sounds like there's some hardening of the tissue where you're injecting, which would make the insulin less easy to absorb...

Hi Whimsi

Don't worry about being an "old-school" diabetic - its what works for you to manage your diabetes & I know from experience when the pen injectors first came out I resisted - now I would not want to use anything else but I do have "fond" (!) memories of the old glass syringes kept in an enamel kidney dish covered in methylated spirit! :lol:

Occasionally between use the piston mechanism on the pen injector disengages from the rubber bung on the cartridge of insulin - even though technically the piston should be up against the cartridge rubber ready to administer the next dosage. Hope that makes sense. :?
I have noticed occasionally in the past with the Novopens this has happened. I currently use Autopen Classic.

Do you dial up a few unit and with the needle cap on inject and if you see insulin coming out from around the needle cover the piston is engaged with the cartridge of insulin - this can easily be done at a table and you don't need to hold the pen injector upright.
If you are doing this then the problem might lie with

Needle Depth - as kegstore asked what size pen needles are you using? :idea:
Angle of injecting :idea:
Where you're injecting - :idea: sorry as in body area not where you physically when injecting! :lol:
What are your injection sites like :idea:

Play detective and I'm sure you will get to the bottom of this.

best wishes

Old Diabetic Tracey xx