Minimum Bolus

Yes, the 2 IU "air shot" is to try and get rid of any bubbles that may have formed in the cartridge/pen/vial.

I often bolus for 1 IU and it does it's intended job of covering a snack of correcting a slight high.

Agree with @1abRat

if you are regularly only requiring 1u or 2u bolus injections -- it might be worth asking your Diabetic nurse if she can give you a 1/2 unit pen -- this will allow even more fine tuning with your bolus doses .

and always do an air shot first and see insulin coming out of the needle -- this makes sure that you are getting the dose dialled on the pen.

Hi. I find only 1 air-shot is needed with my 1/2 unit Novo pen to see insulin ejected.

Ledzeptt said:

I'm fairly new to bolus injections, hence this basic question:

Is it still worthwhile injecting a small amount (in my case Novorapid)? Eg if I calculate that I only need as little as 1 unit, given that I need 2 units to prime the needle. Is 1 unit effective?

Click to expand...

Yep - 1 unit can be very effective, depending on your insulin sensitivity.

The two units for an airshot is just to push a reasonable amount through to avoid air bubbles. So it's perfectly ok to airshot the 2 units and then bolus 1 or even 1/2 unit

I take 1/2 unit with meals. I shoot 1.5 to get a good stream.
The way I look at it is even though I am wasting more priming the needle, I still end up throwing out the cartridge with insulin in it at the end of the 28 days so what does it matter if I throw 1/4 or 1/3 out. I certainly waste and toss more than I use but I need the 1/2 unit with meals or I will never come back down.

I too would look into a half unit pen. When I had to take one unit I had to eat more than my stomach could handle to avoid a hypo. Love the 1/2 unit. I wish lantus came in half units here in the us. No such luck