• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Small dilemma!

jessie

Well-Known Member
Messages
275
Location
Gloucestershire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone,

So I'm at work where I keep a NovoRapid Penfill. The cartridge had run out so I took a half used cartridge from my other Penfill which I keep in my handbag and it doesn't work… so I put the cartridge back in the original Penfill and that doesn't work either. Guessing you can't use a half empty cartridge then! Anyone tried it before?

I either eat nothing but cheese today or ask my boss if I can go home to sort it out!

Jessie. x
 
I have done this sort of thing before with my Novopen. I insert the cartridge and keep doing 'air shots' (can't think of another phrase to use) until insulin comes out, then I know it will work, and inject myself. I hope that very vague description makes sense and that I got the right end of the stick!
 
I have done the same with NovoPen Echo - should be OK if you do air shots until the plunger gets down to the rubber stopper in the cartridge.
 
jessie said:
Thanks Jo, I've done lots of air shots but will try some more! Keep you posted!
Click to expand...
Good luck! It's just trying to get that plunger towards the cartridge sometimes takes ages! Hope it works, if not a day of cheese is never a bad thing in my books! x
 
Thanks both - it has worked - yaaay! Obvious when you know how Now I can stop panicking and eat a biscuit...
 
jessie said:
Guessing you can't use a half empty cartridge then!
Click to expand...

You should be able to but it depends how long the cartridge has been in your handbag, if it's been several weeks and exposed to heat then the insulin may have deteriorated.
 
noblehead said:
You should be able to but it depends how long the cartridge has been in your handbag, if it's been several weeks and exposed to heat then the insulin may have deteriorated.
Click to expand...
Its a newish one - I generally have 2 on the go in case I loose one!
 
jessie said:
Its a newish one - I generally have 2 on the go in case I loose one!
Click to expand...


Good, as others have said keep doing the air-shots until the insulin flows through the needle before injecting. Good luck anyway.
 

Could you not just inject with it in the original pen to begin with? I don't understand why you needed to move it?
 
Because I keep one in the bathroom at work, and it had run out. I didn't want to use my 'handbag' one in case I left it at work by mistake. Complicated I know but seemed the simplest way, until it didn't work!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…