Not sure if I did an air shot before injection?!

[Bignewt]

This morning I started a new Novorapid cartridge but I was worrying about other things (I'm away from home on a course so my minds abit all over the place this week) and I'm not entirely sure that I did an air shot before injecting, should I be worried or be taking any action?

 

[robert72]

It's possible that you didn't get the full dose, so keep an eye on your BGs.

 

[Daibell]

The amount of air would be minimal so, yes, keep an eye on your BS. Whilst injecting air can be dangerous I suspect the amount in this case wouldn't be harmful but I'm not an expert.

 

[noblehead]

You'll be fine, I use a half unit pen (NovoPen Echo) and half a unit is enough to prime the needle prior to injecting.

 

[Diamattic]

I don't even know what an air shot is.. so i have likely done it many times in the last 8 months lol You will be fine.

The worst would be not getting a full dose, so you may have higher then expected sugars 2 hours into your bolus, i would just check if you are worried and if they are still high, maybe give yourself a bit extra to cover it.

If by air shot, you mean you didn't prime the new cartridge then you may have been short by 1 Unit, i can't see it being more then that (at least thats about what i see come out of my NovoPen Echo) if you didn't prime your needle then you may be short 0.5 units... which i wouldn't stress over, but i dont know any of the other dangers with injecting tiny amounts of air.. likely none, but I have never looked into it.

 

[jack412]

a pen or insulin syringe can't hold enough air to cause any problems. even if injected into a vein.
I googled it on another topic and it was a large amount of air

 

[Bignewt]

Thanks all for you replies and putting my mind at rest. I just remember from when I was first given instructions on how to use insulin, being told to always do a 2 unit air shot (or however many units until insulin comes out)

 

[jack412]

Thanks all for you replies and putting my mind at rest. I just remember from when I was first given instructions on how to use insulin, being told to always do a 2 unit air shot (or however many units until insulin comes out)

My guess...you would have had the pen at about 90 deg and any bubbles would be along the top of the cartridge and you would have only had what was in the needle
how did you go anyway? did you have to correct

 

[robert72]

Injecting small amounts of air is an urban myth.

Injecting a large amount into a vein is a bad idea as it could cause a heart attack, but it would need to be quite a lot of air.

 

[Bignewt]

I corrected anyway but as I'm away I've not been testing as I should, been feeling light headed in the last hour or so (but thats probably the hypochondriac in me!)