Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my insulin

Status
Not open for further replies.
phlika29

phlika29

Member Since 2014
So as the title says I have somehow got an air bubble in my insulin. It must have happened last night when I was in a panick about giving remi his dose. Alternatively maybe it was always there and I only just noticed? Do lantus cartridges ever have an air bubble in them?

Is it ruined? It's quite close to the tip I draw from. Could I try to draw it out? I am devastated about this not least because this stuff is expensive! :cry:

Many thanks

Sarah
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

Hi Sarah:

No, you have not ruined your insulin. I haven't heard about air bubbles in the vial or pen, but I'm sure it's just fine. Perhaps someone who has experienced it will be along to tell you what to do, but don't worry!!! It should be okay!
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

I wouldn't worry about it unless you notice you Lantus is no longer looking clear or you see you numbers start looking like the insulin is no longer effective.
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

The insulin is probably fine unless it starts to look cloudy or you see "floaties" in it. How do you store your cartridge? Since the cartridge is pressurized if you lay it on it's side the membrane can leak a little and you get bubbles. Now I store it cap end up and have had no more bubbles.
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

i've had air bubbles in pens. Didn't know about Ann's tip about storing it upright - good to know.

you can either try to withdraw the bubble with your syringe, or you can get one of the needles that fastens to the pen tip to do it. I asked the pharmacist and they just gave me a couple of pen needles to put on the tip. Then you aim the pen and needle to the ceiling so the bubble is on the top and "dial" a unit or so using the pen dial and press the button on the end. That's the way the pen was designed to be used and it can express the bubble out.

but no, it doesn't wreck your insulin - fortunately! you just don't want to draw it up into your syringe when you're trying to measure a dose because it makes the measuring harder.
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

Ann & Tess said:
The insulin is probably fine unless it starts to look cloudy or you see "floaties" in it. How do you store your cartridge? Since the cartridge is pressurized if you lay it on it's side the membrane can leak a little and you get bubbles. Now I store it cap end up and have had no more bubbles.
Click to expand...

Oh that's interesting. I was storing it on its side in the individual plastic case it came in. I will have to find something that will stand it upright. I will check for cloudiness and floaties.

I looked online and found a quite a few people moaning about the air bubbles they get in their pens and also a leaflet from the company telling how best to get rid of them with their kit. I am not sure how it got their but do t remember pushing insulin back into the cartridge but last night was a bit of a panick for me.
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

Thanks everyone for your reassurance. I left for work this morning thoroughly fed up after a stressful night and then the air bubble. Feel much better after lots of cups of tea and cake :-D
 
Re: Air bubble in my lantus cartridge. Have I ruined my ins

Put it in a cup in your refrigerator

That way it's up on it's end instead of laying down flat
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top