Does anyone use the vials and syringes? What is your opinion of them? What about the pen? Pros and Cons of both? I would think that the syringe and vail would be less portable and harder to carry around and use in quick situation.
I have used both. Pens are defintiely more portable. Sone people prefer to "see the insulin going in" when injecting with a syringe versus a pen.
I use both the pen and the vials although I find the pen much more convenient and easier to use -- fewer steps. The vials are a little less expensive. I use it when I'm at home and have the time.
I like my pen. It makes travelling easier since you don't look like a heroine addict carrying around needles. And I can pull it out in restaurants, injust just under my shirt and put it back in my purse. With the needles you have to draw it all up. Pros with pen - portable, easy, not questioned by boarder security when travelling. Cons you can't draw every single drop out.
Needles Pro - gives you insulin (but so do pens) Con - have to draw dose out, a pain to carry around, if they fall out of your purse people look at you weird, security issues.
Those are my thoughts.
Pens are much more portable, convenient and discrete when on the go. Vials have a cheaper co-pay and since I'm at home anyways when dosing Lantus I get it in vials. Humalog I get in pens, much easier when out and about.
I used Lantus in vials for several years. Since I was only giving myself one or two shots with the Lantus (and always at home) it was no big deal to use the vials. You actually waste less insulin with the vials, and depending on how you pay, they might be cheaper.
I started Novolog with the pens and I find them much easier to use when out and about. You do waste one or two IU every time you prime the pen, but most of the time, no one will even notice that you're bolusing with the pens -- unlike holding up a vial and syringe to the light and the whole two-handed balancing act I used to do when drawing down the correct amount from a vial -- an ordeal in a dim room with my blurry eyesight.
One more thing: someone on these threads mentioned getting accused of "injecting drugs" in a coffee shop once while using vials/syringes. I've never heard of that happening with a pen.
Ditto on airport security -- I've never heard of anyone having trouble when traveling with insulin pens.
I wish someone had accused me of injecting drugs w/ a syringe. Syringes are sexy as %$&#!
LOL!
I have never heard of doing an IV correction. Huh.
Well, I know that they give IV insulin in hospitals, but don't they drip it in with a flush of sterile saline? I'd be afraid of doing some damage with a too-large dose hitting me somewhere undiluted. Oh, well, I guess if you're injecting tiny amounts it will get diluted in your blood fairly quickly.
Still, you and Dr. B are both wild things! I'd be too afraid to try!
I would think that the main danger to the IV method is that if you take too much insulin, you could really crash. Be careful!
I take big corrections in a syringe (whether or not I'm on the pump), but take small shots in more than one place with that syringe. If that doesn't work, chances are my insulin has gone bad or at least is losing its potency.
Super Sally, good luck as you wait for your new little one.
I use a syringe & vial...but I've used pens in the past. I'm currently using syringes for two reasons. The first is that they are cheaper on my current insurance plan. Sadly, the cost of medicine dictates which medicine I take very often. The second reason is that I'm on a really low carb diet and sometimes find myself needing to inject 1.5 units or 2.5 units...and the pen does not allow for half units.
The syringe/vial isn't difficult to carry around, but a pen does fit in the pocket much easier. If you live in a place with sever weather (like I do...Phoenix) then it's nice to know that your pen could fit into a pocket and you don't need to carry a diabetes "purse" everywhere you go. I really hate carrying my little bag of supplies.
Good luck!
I've used both. There are some advantages and disadvantages to both. I think syringes hurt less and it is easy to get syringes in half unit incerments. And in some cases, vials have longer storage times. But vials also need better protection. They can break (I am always dropping things) and they can be exposed to light (light destroys insulin). Pens do a better job of protecting the insulin from light. And then there is logistics and waste. If you ever go on travel, try carrying syringes enough for a week, you might as well just bring a box of 100. And I have a little sharps container, it is easy to drop my little pen needles, but if I am on travel, I always end up with a bunch of used syringes looking for a place to properly dispose of them.
And I'll mention reuse although I never reuse syringes or pen needles (and I don't recommend it). Reuse of syringes does seem a bit easier, you can just recap it and use it next time. But it is not a good practice to just keep the pen needle on the pen and I think it is very cumbersome to take the pen needle off and store it for reuse.
ps. If I have a syringe/vial or pen/pen needle in hand, I can use either just as quickly to inject, it just takes a little practice.
I really don't recommend an IV correction. IV and intramuscular injections are different, I don't really suggest IV. IV injection requires some real technique and repeated IV correction can lead to scarring of your veins, not a good thing. I do use an intramuscular (IM) injection, it is nearly as fast and is quite safe for rapid correction. Bernstein has a good video on the technique, he likes to use the delts, but I prefer to just inject in my quads (from of my legs).
ps. You can do IM injections with both syringes and pens.
This is my situation as well. I use syringes and vials for Lantus and Humalog for the same reasons as Mike - cost and the ability to dose in half units. I agree that the pens are more portable, but limiting my prescription costs is more important to me.
I have a diabetes kit that I keep my meter, strips, insulin and syringes in and stick it in my purse. It's actually a pen case from medicool but it has enough different compartments in it that I can make it work for my vials and syringes.
I've never had a problem going through any type of security even right after 9/11 with my diabetes kit with syringes and vials. I leave it in my purse and have never been questioned about it.
I inject wherever I am when I need to...restaurant, coffee shop, car, office. If I'm in public, I will be discrete but sometimes the light is an issue and I have to hold the vial up to get the dosing correct. I've never had anyone imply that I'm a druggie...but if they did, it wouldn't stop me from doing what I need to do.
I use syringes with 1/2 unit markings. I had bad bruising with pens. I put insulin & syringes in my meter case, so portable. You can also prefill syringes. Pens are large, more expensive & wasteful.
I've only used pens, for about 3 weeks now for Novolog and 10 weeks for Lantus, and I love them. I don't look like an addict when I use them, except when the guys walks into my bathroom stall when my shirt is up and the pen is in my side...the look on his face was priceless when I asked him if he wanted some...:-)
I agree with everything mentioned here and would like to add one thing. You (and your doctor) may want to consider a pen for more accurate dosing. Dialing up a number instead of pulling a syringe to a number leads to less dosing errors. Especially if you are half asleep, lighting is poor or you are on the go.
I started with the pen a couple of months ago, first time on Insulin. I tried all the needles as well. With the pen you can get the BD 32G/4mm the smallest available which is good for me is certain areas as I don't have much fat anywhere but a little around the belly. I just renewed for the month and asked for the vial and syringes. With the syringes the length is not as short so I use those in my stomach at night. The only difference is I use Levemir and many times it burns when I inject it. With the syringe I find there is less of that, it may be because I am going deeper which also may be better absorption. For now if I can do it with insurance I will continue to use both, if I could only chose one though it would be the pen just for convenience and even less waste as your only tossing a needle for a few days as opposed to a whole syringe with needle.