[BriOnH]

In the world of Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring this might seem pretty insignificant to most, but to pen users I hope not. I ordered my novopen 4 from a pharmacy in Canada which liz32 gave me the number too(Thanks again Liz!). It took around 4 weeks for them to get it to me, but it was well worth the wait. In comparison to the Novopen 3, the 4:

- is a tad bit shorter, little nicer for the pocket
- BIG unit display; reading the amount of units is super easy, and still have the clicks to count when you are in the dark
- when changing the cartridge simply press on the plunger to get it back down, instead of having to twist it down on the 3
- lid snaps on and off in any position, dont need to line it up with grooves
- I can actually feel a (better) difference with the new delivery system
- can tune the dose down without wasting insulin
- MUCH easier to push the units in - with the 3, giving it in my arms was kind of a pain because I had to get it just right to twist down, but the 4 you just press
- the blue is a super cool color (lol) and the pen in general just looks nicer and like an actual pen.
- the number 6 tips are great, much thinner(and shorter which is "eh"), but you can get them for the novopen 3 too.
- comes with a better carrying case. On over nights / vacations I'll be using this to bring my lantus and my other meds.

The oooonly cons are:
-I can't press down or twist, just a tad, so I could "kind of" get in half units like with the 3. It's pretty much an all or nothing delivery.
-The delivery is slower. I have to leave it in 1-2 seconds longer when pushing in >10 units.


All in all, I really like this pen!
-B

[kgm0612]

Before pumping, I was a pen user and loved them! Good luck!

Karen

[rzrbks]

Pen should saty in for 10 seconds, at least, I generally leave in for count of 1 thousand and 1, 1 thousand and two...........................1 thousand and 10 is actually about 15 - 17 seconds.

[KickStart101]

Glad to hear that you Really like your Novo Pen 4, Brian. It seems
to have many pluses. I still have my Novo Pen 2 and 3 from years ago.
I did like the Novo 3. Good Luck with it.

[JasonJayhawk]

How much did you have to pay for the pen?

The reason I ask is that I "purchased" a Novopen Junior pen from a person living in Canada on eBay (called "Novolin Jr." over there). I paid about $18 USD, and then kicked myself when I discovered that Canadians get them for free!

The person selling to me just had to go into a pharmacy at any time and pick them up, so long as she/he had an insulin prescription. I asked the seller about this process, and he responded in email, "I thought I was just helping you out..." -- meanwhile, he was selling several more of them, along with many other Canadian profiles. Easy money, I guess!

[drewgolden]

Originally Posted by BriOnH

In the world of Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring this might seem pretty insignificant to most, but to pen users I hope not. I ordered my novopen 4 from a pharmacy in Canada which liz32 gave me the number too(Thanks again Liz!). It took around 4 weeks for them to get it to me, but it was well worth the wait. In comparison to the Novopen 3, the 4:
-B

Allrighty then! Spill your guts; where can we get one too!!!

-drew

[BriOnH]

Jason,
It was rather pricey. I bought two pens, with two boxes of the number 6 tips for $200 american. The Jr pens are cool because they have half unit increments, which can often come in handy. That's pretty cool you can get them free in Canada!

Drew,
I'll send you a PM, I don't think I am allowed to post the store info<?>. The Novopen 4's will be available in America at the beginning of August.

[JasonJayhawk]

BriOn,

I just have to ask... Why'd you pay that much!!

Are they really worth that much? Or do you like being the first in your state to have new things?? (Just as long as you don't live in Kansas... hee hee)

[jillsp]

Ok, as an out of the loop pump user, why do you use NovoPen 3 and 4 instead of their FlexPens? I hear people raving about the flex pens and I just assumed that was all they offered. Have any of you tried the flex pen? I'm curious of your feedback between them....

Thanks!

[JasonJayhawk]

Originally Posted by jillsp

I'm curious of your feedback between them....
Thanks!

I've used the Novopen 3, Novopen Jr., and FlexPens.

The Novopen Jr.'s feature is half-unit increments, but the disadvantage of the NovoPens is their bulkiness and weight. I've even had one yanked from my pocket from a person looking to "borrow" my pen! Also, when you "rewind" your insulin dose (if you dialed up too much), you have to pull the device apart in order to lower the dose, or else, insulin will be expelled. Not a big problem. I think this "issue" was resolved in the Novopen 4, though (Brion??).

The thing about the FlexPen is that you can toss it out when you're done with it! One bad thing is that they cost more than the cartridges used for refilling the Novopen, and obviously, the environmental waste for tossing out the entire pen, instead of just a small cartridge.

[jillsp]

Aha! Thanks. I remember my first pen was a novopen...way back in 1994 (I think) It was really cool looking...silver and heavy. Looked like a real pen. I think I kept it...I'll have to dig it up from the archives.

[lgvincent]

Is that price just for the pen or are you talking about the cartridges of insulin?

[BriOnH]

Yup, you can now correct a dose with the novopen 4 if you dialed up to many units, without doing anything other then turning the knob in the opposite direction, and no insulin comes out.

The price was just for 2 pens and 2 boxes of #6 tips, no cartridges. I make a good wage as a software architect, and like having the best tools I can for my diabetes.

[BriOnH]

Biggest problem with this is it must be primed every shot!

[2high]

Thanks Bri...

But you can wind back units on the 3 as well... all you have to do is pull the barrell out a liitle, and it winds back really easily. My pen is navy blue