The Pros & Cons of Insulin Pens

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.

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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

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

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