Type 1 Running out of insulin?

[mayannaise]

I'm often finding myself running out of insulin or running close to barely being able to make the month with the amount I have. I use about 5 pens a month( lost my sensitivity to insulin, it's been almost 11 years). I was wondering if it would be possible to just low carb the rest of the month? I have 2 pens left to last me until the 30th of April. Last month I had to get my insulin early, because I had run completely out. I don't believe they'll let me do this again, and will simply tell me to wait until the 30th. But any advice on how to conserve insulin/low carb my way through? Or any other advice because I'm freaking out. Thanks in advance!

 

[tim2000s]

Hi @mayannaise, whereabouts are you based. In the UK, no-one should be telling you you can't get insulin when you need it, and if you are in the UK, you have every right to go back to your GP and politely ask them why they are trying to kill you.

 

[azure]

I'm often finding myself running out of insulin or running close to barely being able to make the month with the amount I have. I use about 5 pens a month( lost my sensitivity to insulin, it's been almost 11 years). I was wondering if it would be possible to just low carb the rest of the month? I have 2 pens left to last me until the 30th of April. Last month I had to get my insulin early, because I had run completely out. I don't believe they'll let me do this again, and will simply tell me to wait until the 30th. But any advice on how to conserve insulin/low carb my way through? Or any other advice because I'm freaking out. Thanks in advance!

If you're running out then clearly your surgery isn't giving you enough.

Speak to them and explain that you need more. Try to work out roughly how much you'd need before you speak to them.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Yes, you have aright if in the UK to whatever amount you need. Are you already reasonably low-carbing? A bit irrelevant, but would it be cheaper for the NHS/surgery if you used pens with replaceable cartridges rather than disposable pens? When I started insulin I had a choice of either.

 

[mayannaise]

I'm in the U.S . I'm not already low carbing. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and try to explain that the amount of pens I'm getting is really low, though I'm unsure of when my prescription will be filled if they change the amount. Also, I didn't know they had replaceable cartridges for pens, the ones I've seen are almost mostly disposable. I already know the amount I need though, I'd only need one more pen to last the entire month which doesn't seem like it would cost a lot more

 

[Robinredbreast]

I'm often finding myself running out of insulin or running close to barely being able to make the month with the amount I have. I use about 5 pens a month( lost my sensitivity to insulin, it's been almost 11 years). I was wondering if it would be possible to just low carb the rest of the month? I have 2 pens left to last me until the 30th of April. Last month I had to get my insulin early, because I had run completely out. I don't believe they'll let me do this again, and will simply tell me to wait until the 30th. But any advice on how to conserve insulin/low carb my way through? Or any other advice because I'm freaking out. Thanks in advance!

Hi mayannaise, to get more Insulin, which you seem to need, you would need to speak to your GP and get the amount changed asap. You are entitled to use as much Insulin as your body needs, so please don't cut back just for the sake of 'saving Insulin'
I'm sure you can it sorted out very soon, good luck.
RRB

 

[azure]

I'm in the U.S . I'm not already low carbing. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and try to explain that the amount of pens I'm getting is really low, though I'm unsure of when my prescription will be filled if they change the amount. Also, I didn't know they had replaceable cartridges for pens, the ones I've seen are almost mostly disposable. I already know the amount I need though, I'd only need one more pen to last the entire month which doesn't seem like it would cost a lot more

Low carbing isn't compulsory. We all eat varying amounts of carbs

What insulins are you on? Most have re-useable pens which you put cartridges in. That's what I used. I don't know if it works out cheaper but I'd guess it might.

Let me tag @TorqPenderloin for you as he's also in the US and Type 1.

 

[Daibell]

I'm in the U.S . I'm not already low carbing. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and try to explain that the amount of pens I'm getting is really low, though I'm unsure of when my prescription will be filled if they change the amount. Also, I didn't know they had replaceable cartridges for pens, the ones I've seen are almost mostly disposable. I already know the amount I need though, I'd only need one more pen to last the entire month which doesn't seem like it would cost a lot more

Hi. It all depends on the insulin you are on. If it's Levemir or NovoRapid then the makers NovoNordisk do cartridge pens (e.g. the Echo 4 ) and I think they sell in the US.

 

[TorqPenderloin]

In the US we call it Novolog instead of Novoraid and yes, the Echo pens and cartridges do exist.

As far as price, it's a matter of what your insurance covers. I pay $50 for a 3 month supply whether my doctor decides that's 3 cartridges or 15 (fortunately it's 15).

I paid $70 for each of my Novolog Echo pens but chose to pay that out of pocket because I prefer them to the flex pens (although I have those too)

 

[mayannaise]

Thank you all for replying! I use Novolog Flex pens, as well as lantus(though I have like 30 pens of lantus that aren't opened). My insurance is quite pesky with what they'll pay but I have enough cash atm that I'm willing to pay the extra for just a pen or two more. Would it cost the same to as the echos? Or are the flex pens more expensive?

 

[CarbsRok]

I'm often finding myself running out of insulin or running close to barely being able to make the month with the amount I have. I use about 5 pens a month( lost my sensitivity to insulin, it's been almost 11 years). I was wondering if it would be possible to just low carb the rest of the month? I have 2 pens left to last me until the 30th of April. Last month I had to get my insulin early, because I had run completely out. I don't believe they'll let me do this again, and will simply tell me to wait until the 30th. But any advice on how to conserve insulin/low carb my way through? Or any other advice because I'm freaking out. Thanks in advance!

Quite simply you need to ask your GP for more insulin to be prescribed. I can not in all honesty see why anyone should have a set amount of vials or cartridges a month for a life saving hormone like insulin, it should be prescribed as PRN which means order when ever needed.

 

[TorqPenderloin]

The echo pens themselves are just devices to put the cartridges in. They're the red pens in the picture and cost $70 from Walgreens.

I can't remember the retail price on the cartridges but I think it was around $450 for a 5-pack without insurance and believe that was about the same price as the flex pens.

This sounds like a doctor issue more than anything. You shouldn't have to worry about running out of insulin. What happens if you accidentally forget a pen somewhere? If the insulin goes bad? Something else that would cause an even longer reason you would go without insulin?

Those are things your doctor should account for with you prescription quantity. My prescription may need adjusting, but it's better to have too much than not enough in this case.