Insulin is expensive and with Medicare cutting back on their benefits, I am concerned that I use my insulin supply efficiently as possible. One problem I have is how to get the last 20-30 units from the insulin vial into the reservoir and then to finish filling the reservoir from a new vial?
Is it better to just toss the last few units of insulin, or is there a trick to filling the reservoir from old vial and new vial of insulin?
I just pull it all out of the old vial and then push it to the top and get out the bubbles, then pull it out of the new vial. Same thing I do when I have some left in one cartridge and want to transfer it to the new cartridge then add some more from a vial.
I just push air into both bottles, use old bottle then the new one. I also will just use the small amount in a bottle to do corrections or a meal bolus... using a few syringes is no dig deal to me.
I agree that insulin is expensive. For the last few units in a vial, I try to pull most of it out into the new reservoir.
I do have another suggestion as well. I try to time changing my site when the insulin in the old reservoir is around 4-5 units, and use the old insulin to fill the tubing of the new infusion set. I told my endo that I do this, and she didn't object.
I may be saying the same thing a bit differently: I pull the remaining insulin out of the old vial just to measure it, then put it back. Then pull out of the new vial what I need to fill and add it to the old vial. So that’s a little confusing, huh?
So, you have one old vial that you use over and over, regularly refilling it from a new vial? I'm a little bit surprised that you haven't encountered polymerization problems doing that. But hey, if it works, it works -- that's what counts.
No, I do it only when I have vial A with less than 85 units and Vial B is brand new. I pull a little out of Vial B so that I make full use of my insulin. Then Vial A is tossed. Is that more clear?
Got it!
That is a great idea because, for me, having a little bit left in a vial fits in my purse/tote bag easily and can be used in an emergency IF my pump should fail when I'm away from home.