Whether at home or on the go, insulin pens are the type 1 diabetic's everyday companion. Insulin pens provide diabetics with accuracy, convenience, and confidence in taking their insulin.
Choosing an Insulin Pen
The brand, model, and category of pen used will depend on several factors. It is important to discuss this with a doctor before you purchase them.
Some general aspects to consider when choosing insulin pen include:
Type and brand of insulin available in the market
Insulin Dosage, which varies between pens
Increments by which the dose of insulin can be adjusted
Material and durability (if reusable)
How it indicates remaining insulin levels
Ability to re-adjust insulin doses
Numbers size on the dose dial
Level of dexterity required to use the pen
Pros :-)
Research has highlighted the benefits of using insulin pens, particularly prefilled disposable pens. People with diabetes are happier using insulin pens than the vial and syringe technique, as indicated by recent studies.
One reason for this is that insulin pens have many features that make them feel safe and convenient such as: greater dose accuracy and autoshield needles. In addition, other research shows that people who use pens are more able to read the dosing scale than other. This is compared with those using the vial and syringe method.
Knowing that Insulin pen help people stick to their insulin therapy routine, it it important to highlight its advantages and some of its benefits:
Ease of use, particularly for older adults and children
Ability to fine-tune and deliver highly accurate doses
Portable, discreet, and convenient nature of the pens
Small and thin needle sizes that reduce fear and pain
Ability to accurately pre-set doses using a dial
Time-saving benefits due to prefilled and pre-set insulin levels
Memory features to show when and how much the last dose was
Range of accessories to allow for easier storage and use
Cons :-(
Although there are many benefits to insulin pens, there are also some drawbacks. These include:
Not all types of insulin can be used
It’s not possible to mix two different types of insulin
Can only be used for self-injection
More expensive than the vial and syringe method
Some insulin is wasted with each use
Not universally covered by health insurance carriers
