I can see just fine. I also agree they have slightly different widths and different plunger mechanisms.
But I did made the mistake of using one instead of the other, and only after that did I realize that they just look too much like each other.
I contrast with me using insulin in vials for nearly 40 years. Regular was clear, NPH was cloudy. That was always easy for me to tell the difference even though the vials were the same color. Then it was Humalog and Lantus. Different color schemes AND different bottle shapes/dimensions.
The new red stripe and bright red button on the Fiasp that ChrisP showed, thatās a good start. Itās not just a color, but a contrasting color stripe.
The Tresiba pen has really good distinct tactile and audible feedback, both dialing in and shooting up. When the whole dose is delivered thereās a final click that is very different than the previous clicks. I like it.
The Humalog Kwikpen sorta has some of the same clicks when dialing in but they sound and feel mushier. And it lacks the distinct final click when delivery is done.
Yeah both trueā¦ what I donāt like about the tresiba is you canāt count the clicks on the injection because itās spring loadedā¦ itās all just a blurā¦ and a lot of times it sounds like thereās only maybe 5-6 clicks even though youāre injecting way more units than that before you hear the final more distinct click. (I assume some of the teeth in the ratchet mechanism get skipped under the spring pressureā- which wouldnāt affect the dose amount just the audible soundā¦ that would make me uncomfortable if it was bolus
I had a bunch of novolog pens that got soaking wetā¦ I guess they must have some sort of powder or water soluble lubricant inside because they still worked after that but the injection wasnāt smoothā¦ Iād have to push really hard and then itād dump very quickly all at once when my thumb finally overpowered the sticky mechanismā¦ thatās kinda similar to why I think a flextouch pen would bother me if used for bolus. It drove me crazy
My CDE had the most useless tips on how to avoid mixing up insulins. āPlace the pens in different locationsā, she suggested, āput an elastic around the basal oneā, or āmake a point to pay attentionā, definitely my favourite one . Obviously, she did not have diabetes. The problem with insulin therapy is that we do it while also living our life, with distractions and events that break our routines. There is a need for a universal distinction between basal and bolus insulins across the board. Not just in terms of colour but in sound of clicks and/or feel of the delivery device. I used to use Lantus and Humalog in Canada in prefilled pens and their similarity in colour, clicks and feel was striking even though separate manufacturers made them. Refillable pens help in as much as they allow for colour choice but not all insulins are available in penfill cartridges. I ultimately switched to Levemir cartridges to fit a refillable pen with memory and I chose a loud red colour for my basal. I also split up my dose so that the units would be potentially easily matched with carbs in the event of a mix up.
I was out of my element and needed to change my pod. I put the insulin in the pod, took the needle cap off, took the tape off, applied the pod, and then stopped. I looked at the PDM, at the empty pod packaging, and realized I had forgotten to prime the pod!
It ended up working. It primed while it was on me and then I just proceeded with all of the prompts. So far, so good. But, wow, how easy - after six plus years of podding - I forgot to prime it before applying it, all because I was out of my element!
Hereās hoping Dex doesnāt wake me tonight because Iām high!
For instance me, once, and that was one time too many.
The other issue for me was that the Lantus pens were more expensive, and whereas a pen is vastly more convenient to carry around for bolusing throughout the day, thatās not an issue for once-a-day Lantus. So a fter getting them confused I went back to vial-and-syringe for Lantus.
Nothing much to add other than I have done the same thing - I think it was with Fiasp and Tresiba, though - it was in the middle of the night when my CGM went off. So frustrating!! I started keeping them apart after that. And now Iām back on a pump so it doesnāt matter anyway
. Obviously, she did not have diabetes. The problem with insulin therapy is that we do it while also living our life, with distractions and events that break our routines. There is a need for a universal distinction between basal and bolus insulins across the board. Not just in terms of colour but in sound of clicks and/or feel of the delivery device. I used to use Lantus and Humalog in Canada in prefilled pens and their similarity in colour, clicks and feel was striking even though separate manufacturers made them. Refillable pens help in as much as they allow for colour choice but not all insulins are available in penfill cartridges. I ultimately switched to Levemir cartridges to fit a refillable pen with memory and I chose a loud red colour for my basal. I also split up my dose so that the units would be potentially easily matched with carbs in the event of a mix up.