Using an Insulin Pen??

[nwnews]

Hi, I have a question - I notice some people say they use insulin pens? I was told that because of half unit dosing you had to manually fill syringe and give the shot. If your cat is on a full unit dose can you use a pen instead?? I'm doing the big bottle of Lantus because of the pen sticker shock but if I could use a pen I'll save up to switch. Thanks, Jan

 

[squeem3]

If your cat is on a full unit dose can you use a pen instead?? I'm doing the big bottle of Lantus because of the pen sticker shock but if I could use a pen I'll save up to switch. Thanks, Jan

You *could* use the pen for whole unit doses. But I've read that doing so doesn't quite give you the exact amount of insulin because of some reaon (leakage from something I think?). Nearly everyone here use insulin syringes with the pen, regardless of how much insulin their cat needs

The 10 ml bottle ends up being a waste of money, IMO. You might get as little as a month's use out of it, maybe a few months at best. And you're still throwing away a barely used bottle when the insulin does poop out.

Some pharmacies may sell a single pen. I think there is info about that over on one of the Lantus ISGs.

 

[Mary and Sumo]

I started Sumo on Lantus on 11/11. My vet told me that if I was very gentle with the bottle, and kept it in the refridge, that it should last me 4 or 5 months. I have never tried the pens, but it it my understanding that people who use them with draw insulin into a regular insulin syringe before dosing (whether it is a full or half unit dosing) I will continue to use my bottle until I see high numbers or feel it isn't working.
Mary

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

You use the pens in the same manor you use the bottle with the same syringes, you don't get the needles made for the pens. When you take the cap off of the pen, you will find a little rubber stopper where you insert the syringe in to draw out the insulin.

I am finding myself conflicted about the cost savings of the vial vs the pens. Costs around here are a little different because of state laws on ownership of pharmacies so there isn't big competition for the cheap chains, but I am finding that my pens are pooping out in less than the 28 days where my via lasted around 3 months. The pens cost about 150% of the vial cost and I am going to be getting about the same life out of them. I know my cost of the pens is higher than most people pay. I like the fact that you are only handling 1/5 of the insulin at anytime so if something should happen you still have insulin there you can use - like if you were to drop and break it or lose it when travelling, or like we did this weekend and packed it in an unaccessable cooler, then realized we were leaving late and would need it on the road so I was able to just grab another pen - but it is frustrating to see numbers drop every time we switch pens and wonder if bad insulin might be affecting our progress.

 

[squeem3]

Here's a picture:

One of the Lantus ISG stickies has additonal pictures of how to use an insulin pen.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I tried using a pen with my Tonis. He was on 8 units on Levemir. I found using one very awkward. You have to leave the needle in for while to get all the insulin the cat and I just had little control on the injection since you hand is away from the cat. I just went back to using a syringe to draw insulin out of the pen.