Tresiba insulin problems

There has been plenty of information about this - Diabetes UK has been reporting the shortage of Tresiba PENS since May. I am surprised your doctor has not been on the ball with this and prescribed the (far superior) reusable NovoPens so you can use cartridges. Unless you have dexterity problems, I am always surprised when environmentally unfriendly, flimsy, simplistic single use pens are prescribe as default and hope this is an opportunity to update people to the more robust pens with reminders of your last dose on the top and free space in fridges as the cartridges take up far less space.

If your doctor was on the ball, this (enforced) upgrade should not cause delays in your prescription and enable you to continue to self-manage.

Hi @TerriH , you posted about this shortage in early september.
Almost 3 months seems a very long time for your GP to get your repeat prescription for refillable pens and cartridges in order.

Are you completely out of Tresiba right now or do you still have some stock to tide you over until you can get your repeat prescription?

If you don't have any left, please call your hospital, your GP or 111 to get some emergency insulin, even if it's a different brand, not having any basal insulin can turn into an emergency pretty quickly.

Don't mention the word Tresiba! I've had so much trouble with the surgery and getting the cartridges instead of the pens. Back in June the manufacturer said there would be a shortage of pens until February 2024 but in October when I put in a repeat prescription with only three weeks of Tresiba left the surgery told me to leave it until nearer the time I was due to run out as the pens might come in again, so I did. Twelve days later I put in another prescription stating cartridges not pens and they actually did prescribe a reusable pen and the cartridges. The next time I needed some insulin, even though the repeat still said disposable pens I stupidly assumed that they would give me the cartridges. I was wrong, when I went to the Tesco pharmacy to see if they'd got the insulin in I was told that the surgery had requested the pens so on my behalf they put in a request for the cartridges. After six days I went to Tesco again and the surgery had only done exactly the same thing again, asked for disposable pens. I had found out that the manufacturer has announced that they won't have disposable pens available until DECEMBER 2024. Armed with a print out I went to the surgery, they looked at the print out, went off to see the prescribing team and I was told I would be able to pick the prescription up that afternoon. I didn't believe it until I saw it but I did get the cartridges! As I don't trust them to prescribe the right ones again the next time I will write on the repeat prescription CARTRIDGES not pens and see what happens. The way things are going I think you need to tell a little white lie about just how much medication you have left, just to allow for them not getting the message. They don't know it but I have one spare disposable pen left just in case they get the prescription wrong next time. I sent off nine empty pens to the manufacturer to be recycled but I think that is a drop in the ocean compared with how many they really need but at least I have done my bit. The surgery have funny ways of prescribing other things. They give me a two month supply of tablets that have to be taken once a day and yet insulin needles which I use four times a day they give me one box of 100 which will last me 25 days. I did ask if I could have two boxes but that fell on deaf ears so I think I will have to buy some myself.

@Gloucestergirl I cannot comment on your Tresiba problems. As don’t have issues myself. But was interested in the fact that you only use 4 needles a day. What about corrections and split doses?

@TerriH sorry to read about your problems but glad you have it sorted now.
I have a couple of questions
- Why did you buy a pen? This should be funded by the NHS.
- Do you have a spare pen? Although reusable pens are more robust. they can fail over time so it is important to have a spare which I recommend taking with you when you go away overnight.

Sorry to potentially add to your frustrations with your GP but I recommend recommencing your fight and demand the NHS funds a second reusable pen.
Good Luck.

Your woes with Tresiba supplies have just started again here (W Wales). After three weeks waiting for a text from Boots I went in to see if the prescription was ready (30 mile round trip) "No, I'm afraid it's a MCS" Apparently 'Manufacturer can't supply' Though they did have my Fiasp - when were they going to let me know??... I shall go back to the GPs to request cartridges - though I must say I prefer the flextouch pens, they are so much better at delivering the full dose compared with cartridge pens.

The cynic in me reckons the shortage is down to the Novo 'diet' drug injections using the same flextouch pens draining the supplies for insulin injections.

becca59 said:

@Gloucestergirl I cannot comment on your Tresiba problems. As don’t have issues myself. But was interested in the fact that you only use 4 needles a day. What about corrections and split doses?

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Hi Becca59, I'm probably going to be flamed for this but I only use one needle per cartridge. I've been doing this for over 20 years with no problems. As long as care is taken, dexterity and vision is sufficient to recap the needle and the environment is clean. If I accidently touch the tip of the needle onto something (that might contaminate it or blunt it) then I do change it immediately.

agwagw said:

Hi Becca59, I'm probably going to be flamed for this but I only use one needle per cartridge. I've been doing this for over 20 years with no problems. As long as care is taken, dexterity and vision is sufficient to recap the needle and the environment is clean. If I accidently touch the tip of the needle onto something (that might contaminate it or blunt it) then I do change it immediately.

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That sounds like me ! one needle per cartridge that last about four - five days , been doing it for years without a problem .

agwagw said:

Hi Becca59, I'm probably going to be flamed for this but I only use one needle per cartridge. I've been doing this for over 20 years with no problems. As long as care is taken, dexterity and recap the needle and the environment is clean. If I accidently touch the tip of the needle onto something (that might contaminate it or blunt it) then I do change it immediately.

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Each to his own. But as someone whose stomach and legs are covered in bruises I want as sharp a needle as possible going into my flesh.

Hi Becca59, I'm sorry to hear about the bruising. I used to get a lot of bruising because the needles were too long : 8mm and even longer - they reached down to where small blood vessels live. I was moved onto 4mm, 0.23mm (32G) BD Micro-Fine Ultra and hardly ever get a bruise nowadays. I only inject in the stomach area, which sadly, does have ample adipose... My thighs are quite skinny so I don't inject there.