[Spock]

I'll be starting on Insulin via pen this Wednesday, instead of Metformin. My A1C and daily sugar level stays above 15

I have no idea yet concerning what taking insulin via pen is all about.

[xMenace]

An insulin pen is a variation on a syringe. Instead of drawing insulin from a vial with a syringe, you screw a disposbale tip on to the pen which contains an insulin cartridge, dial up your dosage, and inject. It's much more convenient and less noticeable than syringes. The pen tip's needle is uber-fine. You generally don't feel a thing.

[beau91]

[
here a picture of the novo pen easy to manage ,carry & looks like a real pen .So when
you inject in public places peaple don't notice
Bye Ricky
link for lot of pictures of pen & accessories
insulin pen - Google -- Recherche d'images

[Jill-O]

Pens make it so easy!!!

When I first started, I was on a premix (Novolog 70/30) that I took 2x a day. Now I take Humalog before meals and Lantus at night which I prefer to the premix. With the pens, if it's a mix, you roll it around to mix it, screw on the needle, do an air shot and inject. With a non-mix, just put on the needle, air shot, inject. Very easy and convenient

What kind of pens are you going to be using?

I bet you will really like them once you get used to it and after the first shot, you'll probably be smiling when you see how easy and how painless it is!

[Razo681]

Pens are awesome, and can even be called "dial in a donut " I use a novolog pen for my fast acting and it is much more descrete. Not to worry though they are uber accurate and work great as long as you remember to prime them first (dial in a 2 and shoot it to make sure a stream comes out). My first experience I didn't think it worked because I just used it on the first shot and didn't prime it first.

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by Razo681

I use a novolog pen for my fast acting and it is much more descrete. Not to worry though they are uber accurate and work great as long as you remember to prime them first (dial in a 2 and shoot it to make sure a stream comes out).

Yes Scott, Be shure to prime the pen as then you can be sure that you have the right dose. Pens are good because it looks like a pen so the genaral public would not be too alarmed buy it.
Even in resterunts it's less of a problem.

[George83]

I prime my pens before I inject, seems like a waste though, it all adds up

[Jill-O]

My doctor told me that I only need to use 1cc to prime? For me, though, my prescription is over and above what I actually need to use so I don't really worry about wasting it when priming.

[owlyn]

Originally Posted by Jill-O

My doctor told me that I only need to use 1cc to prime? For me, though, my prescription is over and above what I actually need to use so I don't really worry about wasting it when priming.

Some pens only need 1 unit, some 2- don't know why. Read the directions in the pen box. The Humalog and Lantus SoloStar pens both need 2 units.

[George83]

I push 1 unit out on my Novo Rapid

[UpNorth]

Pens are so convenient and easy to use Been using them most of the time since my T1 diagnose. Only times i haven't been on the pens is when on the pump... I've never used an insulin syringe

[Jill-O]

Originally Posted by owlyn

Some pens only need 1 unit, some 2- don't know why. Read the directions in the pen box. The Humalog and Lantus SoloStar pens both need 2 units.

Thank you! That is what I use and since I have more than enough each month, I will go back to the 2cc priming.

[Spock]

Thanks everyone.

[Alice]

I only prime when I open a new pen...it takes about 5 units to get the air out. I don't prime with each injection after that...have had no problems.

[pokie]

I use both syringes (for my lantus) and the pen (for my novolog) I like the covenience of the pen especially when we go to a restaurant. It would be awkward to pop out a vial and a syringe at the table, the pen is more discreet. When I prime a new pen, I do 2 unit increments until it squirts; the after I just do 1 u.