Wanted; A trick or tip to solve a potentially serious problem

[N5SBP]

My wife regularly uses two different insulins. One is fast acting and meant to be taken in small doses (I guess). Two times now she has gotten them mixed up and scarred the bejesus out of me. The first time she went into full insulin shock (?) with seizures etc in her sleep...very scary. The last time was the other night but she realized it before going to bed so she dealt with it OK.

My question is: does anyone have a simple technique for marking insulin bottles so she could see instantly that she had the wrong one in hand? My thought was a small diameter wide red rubber band.

[Penny]

My wife regularly uses two different insulins. One is fast acting and meant to be taken in small doses (I guess). Two times now she has gotten them mixed up and scarred the bejesus out of me. The first time she went into full insulin shock (?) with seizures etc in her sleep...very scary. The last time was the other night but she realized it before going to bed so she dealt with it OK.

My question is: does anyone have a simple technique for marking insulin bottles so she could see instantly that she had the wrong one in hand? My thought was a small diameter wide red rubber band.

Using a fast acting pen, like Novolog comes to mind for me. I use Lantus and a regular syringe at bedtime, and the pens during the day.

[Pumper2020]

How about if you were to but a "RED" sticker on the bottle of fast acting that way its kind of a reminder "Warning " fast acting becareful?

[N5SBP]

Penny, what is a "pen".

[N5SBP]

Yeah, I thought that would work too. Now just need to find one. I'll bet Staples still carries stuff like that. I used to see stick on dots that were about 3/4" diameter in international orange color - that would get her attention.
thx,
jim

[xMenace]

I always did the pen & syringe thing. It kept them separated nicely.

The best way is to go on a pump.

[Penny]

Penny, what is a "pen".

I use a disposable Novolog Flexpen for fast acting insulin. It looks like a fountain pen, and has a very small disposable needle. It is easy to carry with you and hard to mistake it for anything else.

[xMenace]

Yeah, I thought that would work too. Now just need to find one. I'll bet Staples still carries stuff like that. I used to see stick on dots that were about 3/4" diameter in international orange color - that would get her attention.
thx,
jim

Dots become too routine. Get a pen from your pharmacist. I always got mine for free, but I don't know what current practice is.

[Penny]

NovoLog® FlexPen® is easy to teach, easy to learn, and easy to use. (http://www.novolog.com/professional/starting-flexpen.asp) See if this works.

[N5SBP]

All good ideas. I will pass this link to her. Maybe she will join herself.
Thx agn,
Jim

[notme]

I purchased to two insulin bottle covers at Wal-Mart. One is orange and one is green. They are insulated and if you drop the bottles they are protected. They also distiguished between my two insulins (at the time). Ask the pharmacist at Wal-Mart. I bet they still carry them.

[BriOnH]

I always did the pen & syringe thing. It kept them separated nicely.

The best way is to go on a pump.

Ditto and 100% agree.

Sorry to read about your wife's mix up. A friend of mine that I play golf with did the same thing one night but luckily realized it and called 911 immidiatly.

It's an easy thing to do.

pens like:

The Opticlik for Lantus (long acting insulin):
http://www.diabsite.de/aktuelles/nachrichten/2006/061004.jpg

The novpens for Novolog insulin (the Novopen 4 is better then the 3 but have to admit I find myself using the Demi since it offers half units, which = tighter control for me)

Demi Pen:
http://www.novonordisk.com/images/diabetes/novopen3demi_actualsize.jpg

Numbers are hard to read and the delivery mechanism is rather clunky but accurate as opposed to the awesome Novopen 4:
http://www.diabsite.de/aktuelles/nachrichten/2006/060717.jpg

99 out of 100 diabets (it seems) LOVE the pump and it would undoubtedly be the best solution for insulin delivery.

[patricia52]

even restaurants distinguish between regular coffee and decaf. You would think the manufactors would have already thought about this. maybe if enought people complain then they will come in different color containers and maybe different shapes as well, then no one would ever have to second guess.

[Mich]

I used to use Lantus and Novolog. I kept a great big blue rubber band wrapped around my Novolog bottle several times. No mistaking it for anything else.

[babs2000]

I keep my Opti-click pens in two different drawers in the kitchen. I took 32 units of fast acting Apidra one night. Luckily I realized it and started drinking OJ and eating sweets. It still dropped. That's when I put the Apidra and Lantus in two drawers. Good luck! Beth

[duck]

Get a red "Sharpie" pen (the kind you write with, not the kind that you inject with :D ) and mark a few lines, from top to bottom, on the Fast Acting bottle. That way, you have a visual indicator, but the top to bottom shouldn't obscure seeing how much insulin is left in the bottle.

[N5SBP]

Thanks to all...some very helpful info, indeed!
My wife read the thread Friday and was very impressed with the whole forum. The pen that Penny and others commented on was one of those "I'm surprised I didn't think of that" moments for her. I encouraged her to join the forum. I think she will. My "over the top" avatar is enough reason for her to get her own login rather than use mine (but I loved Frank!!!)

Thanks again,
Jim

[DennisIDDM]

I pre load my syringes every week...
I keep The novalog syinges ( 50 u's in each) in one tray adn the Lantus in the others...
The Lanuts was the same dose every evening..thus 7 syringes

I would take a Black magic marker and draw in on the Organge cover Caps on the syringes for the Lantus
Thus I always new which was which..

Now, I have been approved ( VA) to get Levemire and that came in the Pen...

So, if you( your Ins. Co.) won't approve the Pen for Both your Lantus and Novalog, try to get the one for the Lantus...

One way to convience them to let you have the More expensive Pen Delivery system? If your taking Less than a total of the 1,000 u's in the 30 days before the bottle expires, your wasting alot of it, thus the Pen won't...
and for her & the Pen? Try to get the shorter Needle tips, the longer one's may go in too deep and cause Bruising..

Hope this helps:cool:

[dgrilli]

I keep my Opti-click pens in two different drawers in the kitchen. I took 32 units of fast acting Apidra one night. Luckily I realized it and started drinking OJ and eating sweets. It still dropped. That's when I put the Apidra and Lantus in two drawers. Good luck! Beth

Oh My 32 units of Apidra at one time and didn't even die? I once injected 20 of Apidra and it seemed like an Eternity I was dropping like a Lead Zep eating Tablespoon after Tablespoon of Honey Drinking soda and still dropped. I thought I was going to die at one point it felt like an elephant sitting on my chest and couldn't think straight. Luckily I know the Half life of Apidra in me is only at most 4 hrs. I ended up at BG of 136.

For awhile I did not think it was going work.

That was the most scarey feeling I bet I ver had. It didn't even come close to being shot at while on the job

[schmooot]

Can't say I've ever made that mistake. I use the full size vials for my long acting and the small penfill vials for my short acting