Part used Pens

[Mark Rawlinson]

I am just curious when an Insulin pen is coming to it's last dosage do people use what is left and then make up the full dose from a new pen or just discard the old pen and use a full dose from a new pen ?

 

[grantg]

I was told to discard whenever a full dose was not available. Pharmacy also took back used pens alongside cartridges to dispose of if asked. Was told when changed insulin types to hand back unused to pharmacy to dispose of.

Instruction was given by DSN was to discard if not full dose. Was also within leaflet of one of past insulins I used.

Full dose from new pen/cartridge only.

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I was told to discard whenever a full dose was not available. Pharmacy also took back used pens alongside cartridges to dispose of if asked. Was told when changed insulin types to hand back unused to pharmacy to dispose of.

Instruction was given by DSN was to discard if not full dose. Was also within leaflet of one of past insulins I used.

Full dose from new pen/cartridge only.

I never knew that ! I always made the dose up from a new pen, like this morning 35u left in old pen and 9u from new to make full amount

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I never knew that ! I always made the dose up from a new pen, like this morning 35u left in old pen and 9u from new to make full amount

Re the empty pens I het a recycling envelope )sent to me) from reconomy.com affix the return label to i and send a dozen empty no needle pens to them for recycling.

RePen - | Sanofi Diabetes Patients Website

RePen Recycling - A Sanofi Initiative - Give your used insulin pen a second life

www.mysanofiinsulin.co.uk

 

[grantg]

Some insulin pen/cartridge instructions are different. Alongside some people use very large doses where it might not be possible in single injection. Would refer to DSN on clarity for your own needs if doesn't mention if leaflet info. Bear in mind I'm not good with needles so was more likely to perhaps make mistake.

My mum t2 6 units novarapid all meals checked night before when nearing end was enough for following day if was going away, if not if enough for the next dose. So knew if to take pen out from fridge.

Injecting straight from fridge was more stingy for me.

I made couple silly mistakes called DSN advice as forgot to include 2 extra units prime.. was told not to worry about it and do correctional dose later if needed at next meal following correctional guidance.

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

Some insulin pen/cartridge instructions are different. Alongside some people use very large doses where it might not be possible in single injection. Would refer to DSN on clarity for your own needs if doesn't mention if leaflet info. Bear in mind I'm not good with needles so was more likely to perhaps make mistake.

My mum t2 6 units novarapid all meals checked night before when nearing end was enough for following day if was going away, if not if enough for the next dose. So knew if to take pen out from fridge.

Injecting straight from fridge was more stingy for me.

I made couple silly mistakes called DSN advice as forgot to include 2 extra units prime.. was told not to worry about it and do correctional dose later if needed at next meal following correctional guidance.

I always check amounts left when nearing end as to get new pen out of fridge, was told originally by Pharmacist to do this to avoid pain on injection, I just always have used what's left in old pen unless it's 3 units or a low amount like that. Will ask pharmacist re old/new pens next time I am getting something. I always allow 2 units to clean the pen first even though being told there is no need by DN

 

[grantg]

If discarded the leaflet for whatever insulin pen using you can usually find them online at the manufacters page: eg for troujeo 300 (which i used) https://www.toujeo.com/dam/jcr:6cc6...f9184cacb/toujeo-getting-started-download.pdf splitting dose between pens is ok according to the info leaflet. actually one part of the leaflet surprised me.

below are a couple of quotes taken from above pdf file.

Always perform a safety test on a new pen and before every injection to ensure the pen and needle are working
OK, this is really important: Always perform a safety test before each injection.

A. Max SoloStar: Select 4 units by turning the dose selector until the dose pointer is at 4.
SoloStar: Select 3 units by turning the dose selector until the dose pointer is between 2 and 4.

B. Then press the injection button all the way in. When insulin comes out of the needle tip, your pen is working correctl

If there aren’t enough units left for your full dose, the selector will stop at however many units are left. So you may need to do a 2nd injection to get your full dose. To prevent jamming, don’t play with or press the dial before use.

apparently i followed wrong advice and trusted dsn for the long acting insulin was always told 2 units for prime. :O

edit: fixed quotes.

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

If discarded the leaflet for whatever insulin pen using you can usually find them online at the manufacters page: eg for troujeo 300 (which i used) https://www.toujeo.com/dam/jcr:6cc6...f9184cacb/toujeo-getting-started-download.pdf splitting dose between pens is ok according to the info leaflet. actually one part of the leaflet surprised me.

below are a couple of quotes taken from above pdf file.





apparently i followed wrong advice and trusted dsn for the long acting insulin was always told 2 units for prime. :O

edit: fixed quotes.

I also have used 2 units for checking never noticed that, and I had not seen the part about splitting doses (just looked) thanks for posting this, I suppose different companies may have different guidelines. Both my pens are Sanofi. Trujeo and Trurapi

 

[Antje77]

I use the old if there's still more than a couple of units in it and top up with the new pen.

The general advice to not do this is for safety. Those pens are used by all different kinds of people, including those who are likely to make a calculating mistake when having to subtract the first dose from the second. Better to waste a little insulin than to do a massive over or under dose.

If you are confident in your calculations, using up the last bit is perfectly fine!

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I use the old if there's still more than a couple of units in it and top up with the new pen.

The general advice to not do this is for safety. Those pens are used by all different kinds of people, including those who are likely to make a calculating mistake when having to subtract the first dose from the second. Better to waste a little insulin than to do a massive over or under dose.

If you are confident in your calculations, using up the last bit is perfectly fine!

If Il have only a few units left less (than 10) then I get rid otherwise I use them