I have the choice to either start the insulin pen tomorrow (December 7th) or to wait a little longer and continue the normal syringes. I'm scared and I know that after I get used to the pen i will like it a lot better.But i'm just the kind of person who likes to keep things at their own pace, and the pen is just like a robot who does it for you and i cant TELL the pen i'm nervous,its my first time, and all that stuff. I want to do it but only because if i don't i know that everyone will be disappointed in me. And Mrs.Davis (my helper at school) was really excited to hear i might be getting the pen tomorrow. I just don't know what to do. Any advise? -Hannah
Hi Hannah,
I really think you will love the insulin pens, you simply just turn the knob on the pen to the desired dosage and inject, basically just like what you are doing with regular syringes. Only difference is you dont have a vial of insulin, dont have to inject air into it or draw it out into a syringe. I understand the need to not be rushed, but the insulin pens are pretty similar inection wise to a regular syringe. I think too it will be easier managing with school as well.
The most important thing is though, this is YOUR disease and you need to be comfortable with how your managing it. Some people need a little longer dipping their toes into the water before they feel more secure and THAT is ok. The important thing at this point is getting your blood sugar under control and keeping it under control. There is plenty of time for regular syringes, pens and if or when you decide it might be something you are interested in a pump. LOL I've had this for 28 years and I've only JUST now decided that yes I want a insulin pump. Now I wish I had done it years ago, but years ago, I wasnt ready or comfortable yet with that opition.
Hannah, I’ve been using the pens for 6 months and LOVE them. It’s so easy to just screw in a new needle each time and 1 pen usually lasts me almost 3 weeks. I think you’ll be really happy once you get use to them. Good luck!
Christie is absolutely right. The pen makes it a little easier, but it's really not much different than the syringe. I understand you're new to the whole diabetes thing, so every change is a big one. If you're comfortable with what you're doing now, and it's working for you, I see little reason to change.
What kind of insulin are you using? The Eli Lilly pens (Humalog) have a spring-loaded button that you press to inject the insulin. Nothing visibly moves as you do it, and that can be intimidating since you can't see or control what's happening. With the Novo-Nordisk pens (Novalog), the button actually moves out as you dial-up the dose, so pushing the button in is a similar motion to pushing the plunger on a syringe. You can control how fast or slow the insulin goes into your body.
When I first switched from Humalog (Eli Lilly pen) to Novolog (Novo Nordisk one), I thought the newer one seemed more low-tech, lightweight, and more cheaply built. But I grew to like it even better because of the button-push feel.
Thankyou for the helpfull advise. What my problem is though is that I want to be able to control the speed to push the plunger at i dont know why im just so uncomfortable with it but every body is cheering me on to do it i feel like if i dont i will be giving up and i cantgive up now. i dont know how i feel about all this. Thankyou again :)
Thanks. I know im just really uncomfortable im not really sure why its just difficult.
Thankyou. Oh okay yeah i feel a little better about it now because i use novolog so i will be able to control it! I still dont know though its just going so fast again. But thankyou very much this was VERY helpful (:
Hannah, everyone is cheering you on to try something new because they love you and think it will be easier. I know they'd want you to tell them if you don't want to try it. You certainly don't have to, not ever if you never want to.
Have you seen the pen? I think you can make a better decision if you can actually see it, hold it in your hands, and play with it some. I did that when I was thinking about a pump and deciding which to get. It was pretty easy once I got to handle them all.
Doctors usually have loads of sample pens. Why not ask for one or two and just play with them (inject into the sink!) so you have hands-on experience to help you choose. What I liked about pens when I used them was how easy they were to just toss into my purse with a little bag of needle tips. I liked not having to worry about a vial breaking - just screw on the needle, dial a dose and go.
Please don't make any changes just to please other people - your body is YOUR body.
I agree, new diabetes technology is both exciting and scary. We know it can make our lives easier (even for a mom) but will I hate it. With pens, you can try and if you don't like, go back because there not much invested. With pump and cgms the same thing applies but you must do more research, because there will be a lot invested. Take your time if you want, they'll understand, your next visit is probably in three months anyway, have them show you how they work tomorrow than tell them you want to wait if you do. The pens are loads quicker than filling up a syringe, come to think of it, I kind of miss my son being more low tech. Diabetes gives us sooo much to consider doesn't it. Be opened minded but follow your heart. ; )
I would like to encourage you to use the pen. I have used syringes from 1987 to around 1993 and found them okay but clumsy to use. In comparison pens are more convenient and integrate better into daily activities. Foremost it is discreet and many people will not realize anymore that you are about to inject insulin. No need to excuse yourself to the bathroom. You just pull the cap, dial and inject under the table into the belly. It is a small step and at any given time you can switch back.
The pens are really convenient. I take my insulin when and where I need it. So if I am in a restaurant, I inject at the table. I found it much more difficult to discretely use a vial and syringe. A pen is much easier to carry around and quickly dial in and bolus. That being said, there is something you should consider when looking at pens. I was always able to get syringes with half unit markings and with a syringe you can inject an actual 1/2 unit dose if you want. It can be hard to find pens that inject half unit doses. I believe the Novo Pen Jr does, but it has a minimum 1 unit dose. Perhaps others know of additional pens that have half unit doses, but I am not aware of any.
+1! I totally agree! Goodness knows that this diabetes forces us to use "unnatural" means to get the insulin our bodies need (injections). You will be able to control diabetes just as well with a syringe as with the pen. You get to choose what works best for you. Don't every let anyone pressure you into a decision you are not comfortable with! I am always more confident in my own choices when I actually made them :)
I also resisted the pen (and then the pump) over my syringes, because I only knew syringes. That being said, I really liked switching to pens once I learned more about them. Pens work very similarly (they just take out the step of drawing from a vial). The needle size is the same as the syringes.
Where I think the pens are better is when I would inject in public. I enjoyed not having use a vial (which looks SOOO medical). The pen just looks like a pen, so it's more discrete.
I agree with jrtpup - ask for a sample from your dr and play around with it (not even injecting). It may help you make up your own mind in one direction or the other. Good luck!
I use the new NovoPen Echo and it has 0.5 units and it not limited to a minimum dose. It also has a memory like the Lilly Memoir Pen.
If your pen does not have the possibility of 1/2 units, you can use the half unit marking syringe to withdraw that dose (or just eyeball it). The next time you use the pen after that, you'll want to prime the pen. Pens are so much nicer to use away from home than the syringe/vial, and very likely you'll be able to round off most of your doses.
Thanks! That is good to know. It appears the Echo is available in the US. It is geared towards kids. I don't know how insurance companies cover these pens. Mine does not have it on the formulary.
Hi Hannah,
How did your visit go? Did you get a chance to look at any of the pens and get a feel for how they are? Just remember there is no hurry to jump into using a pen if you don't feel comfortable with it just yet. They really are more conveinent than a vial and syringe, BUT the outcomes are still the same, your still getting your insulin both ways. One doesn't give you any better control than the other.
I would go for the pen. They are what I use and I love them!