Hi Zoe -
When I draw insulin from a pen for my cartridge, I end up with a pen that doesn't work. The plunger seems to get messed up. Is that your experience? Any hints?
Maurie
Hi Maurie:
It's actually been awhile since I did that as I stopped getting pens after the last ones were used up. I do believe, though, that I did successfully use the pen a couple times after drawing from it when I decided to correct a high with a shot.
Zoe,
Don't know if it's a difference with the animas vs the Spirit cartridges (really what the Combo is on the pump side) but it just is too difficult. Tried it more than once. The risk is that if you jack up the pen then you are out the insulin. Just transfer it too a vial and you have no risk. Why complicate things?
Mike
I no longer use pens, Mike, so it isn't an issue for me. But it sounds like other people have the same problem you do. Perhaps it is a difference in the cartridges, I don't know!
Maurie, you can get insulin from a pen by using a syringe. In fact, I use 1/2 marking syringes for my pen (rather than a pen needle) because I need half units often. I never use the plunger.
I think they were talking about drawing insulin out of a pen with the needle of a pump cartridge, Trudy. It worked fine for me when I still had pens, but other cartridges seem to cause problems with the pens.
Hi, Zoe, I see what you mean. I never did try to do that when I used a pump.
I've actually successfully put some insulin into a reservoir from a pen and then was able to still use the pen! The secret that I found (I'm not sure if it's well known or not) is to dial the pen up like you were going to do a manual injection with it, only dial it up to the max while it is connected to the reservoir. Then simply push the pens dial down. It acts like the pen is suppose to without breaking anything functionally in the pen, like pulling the plunger on the reservoir might do in the same situation.
I'm not sure if I explained this well or totally bombed it. But there are some good youtube videos worth checking out with that method!
HUGE hugs coming your way from Canada. I'm so sorry to hear of your insurance troubles, but stay strong. Good health is worth fighting for.
As a diabetic, you "do not require any sufficient medication"....did I really just read that? If you hadn't actually received that, I'd think you were joking. I think it's more along the lines of, "This is not within our budget." Good thoughts coming your way.