Hi all,
I just wanted to say 'thanks' to Jedisurfer and Joel for bringing up the Solostars in numerous threads. I managed to get hold of some yesterday in both Apidra and Lantus flavours. In use, they feel to me like a cross between a Novopen and a BD pen. This statement won't make a whole bunch of sense unless you've tried all the pens mentioned!
They have 1u intervals (the previous Sanofi disposables were 2u only which is pointless for most of us) and they are really clearly labeled as to Apidra or Lantus. And they are different colours. Mechanism is really easy to dial and presses in very easily. Can't vouch 100% for their accuracy at the moment, but my BG is behaving as expected at the moment (i.e. badly!). Don't come with a case, and they don't fit in my Optipen pro box. Fortunately, I have one of the old Novopen soft pouches hanging around and it fits in that. Not ideal, but I'm sure I'll live.
For my money, they are much better than the Optipens I have been using (which are difficult to push down, sometimes don't lock in once depressed and jam like a thing posessed when you change the cartridge) and I cannot stand the 'sudden strike' whack in of insulin that comes with the Autopens. I like to push it in quite slowly so those things give me the heebee jeebies
So if you're frustrated with your current method of giving Lantus or Apidra, you have another vote here for these disposables. I'd rather have a 'propper' pen long-term, but I believe these do a better job than the refillables out there.
When my GP searched under Lantus, they didn't appear on his system. When he searched under Solostar, both the Apidra and Lantus versions showed up. The pharmacy got them in same day, so it was easier than I thought it would be.
Gary