[sparrow1]

Those of you who use Levemir and the Novolin Pen -I am wondering how often you change needles. My rep told me today that if you don't change needles each time, you can risk not getting enough insulin because Levemir (more so than NovoRapid) can block during delivery. I always test to see if it is working, but she said that even if it seems like it is, you may not get the full dose if you don't use a fresh needle.

Is this true, or just an attempt to sell more needles?

[shockme]

hi sparrow!i'm on lantus and the opticlik pen.i change every day[i inject once a day]re-using needles can cause them to become duller and the injections may hurt...trish

[JessicaD]

I'm not sure about how this would relate to insulin pens, but my diabetes educator once told me that a lot of the risk of not changing needles (when using a syringe and vial of insulin) is actually the bacterial growth. When you put the needle into your body a great deal of bacteria obviously attaches itself to the needle then of you put it back into the vial, which is a relatively sterile environment, the bacteria can reproduce quickly.

Again, not sure how that would come into play with pens since the needle doesn't go into the insulin, but I personally don't want to take the risk.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by sparrow1

Those of you who use Levemir and the Novolin Pen -I am wondering how often you change needles.

I don't reuse mine as i get my needles free!! and a needle exchange too .

[BriOnH]

Bacteria and debri are the main concern. As long as you prime your pen insulin amount shouldn't be a problem.

I used to use 2 needles for every cartridge. Now I change it nightly. You should change it every use.

[HelenM]

Use pens,was taught to change every time but I don't have to pay for them.

[shabbie6247]

i use levemir and novorapid pens.
i change my needles for both pens each morning. the novorapid one gets used up to four times (average 3 times). after about 3 uses it starts to hurt when i use it. i always prime them and never have any problems.

incidentally, i prime my pens with the needle down, i found that doing it the other way (needle up) doesnt discharge the air pocket. so doing it the other way i always know where that little sucker is and i know my pen is charged ready and working.

[Chris Graham]

I change my novolog about once a day (4-5 sticks) or until it hurts. Lantus every few days. Really, I'm just lazy...plus when I am out I never remember to bring something to put the old needle in.

[jeggeman31]

When I was on MDI I changed it for every jab.

[sofaraway]

I try to change my needles each night. I was taught to change after every time. I get the needles on the NHS, so it's not a cost problem it's a laziness issue.

[June91]

I found out the hard way that Levemir will block the pen each and every time so a change of needle is essential. I never had any problem with any other insulins, namely: Novorapid, Actrapid, Protaphane, Insulatard.

I did take the needle off the old long acting double-component ones after use, as the concentration could change if only one of the components (i.e. the clear part) leaked through the needle. I did re-use it though, without a problem, hopefully getting rid of bacteria and the like with a prime.

[Scratch]

I change the needle for my Novopen at the start of a new day. Or if something happens that it gets bent any.

[sparrow1]

Thanks folks. I'm convinced. I'll be changing the pen needle every day from now on. Now the testing lancet - that's another story. I'm told that if you keep the little see- through plastic protector on they do not go blunt. It is a little more painful though.

[Jill-O]

I use a Novolog 70/30 Flex Pen and a new needle for each injection.

[June91]

The re-use of testing lancets remains one of the unsolved mysteries of diabetes. I admit to doing it a lot.

They become painfully blunt and are dirt cheap even if you pay for them, so why do we do not bother to replace them?!