What Are Diabetes Pens?

Diabetes pens are an alternative way of injecting insulin that have been used around the world for years and are slowly catching on in the United States.

Unlike using a syringe and vial for insulin, a diabetes pen has a reservoir that holds the insulin and a disposable needle at the ‘tip’ of the pen.

To use an insulin pen, a person sets the amount of insulin they need, usually by turning a dial, attaches a new needle, inserts the needle under the skin, presses a button to inject the insulin and holds the needle in place for five seconds before removing it. After each injection, the needle is removed and thrown away.

Insulin pens have several advantages over the traditional syringe and vial. The pens allow more accurate dosing, they are easier to carry in a purse or pocket, they can be used discretely, and are easier to use for people with motor control problems or poor eyesight.

The one major disadvantage of insulin pens is they do not allow mixing different types of insulin, so people using more than one type of insulin may need to double the number of injections they have. However, manufacturers are addressing the problem, and some companies are offering diabetes pens that have mixed insulin in the reservoir.

There are two kinds of diabetes pens, reusable and disposable. The reusable pens use insulin cartridges that get replaced when they run empty. Disposable pens have their reservoir built in and the whole pen is thrown out and replaced when it runs out of insulin.

A few companies make special diabetes pens for children that come in bright colors and fun designs, such as the NovoPen Junior, a refillable diabetes pen made by Novo Nordisk.

Insurance coverage for diabetes pens varies widely in the United States with some companies covering them just like syringes and vials, and other insurance policies not covering them at all.

Diabetes pens are an alternative way of injecting insulin that have been used around the world for years and are slowly catching on in the United States.
Unlike using a syringe and vial for insulin, a diabetes pen has a reservoir that holds the insulin and a disposable needle at the ‘tip’ of the pen.

To use an insulin pen, a person sets the amount of insulin they need, usually by turning a dial, attaches a new needle, inserts the needle under the skin, presses a button to inject the insulin and holds the needle in place for five seconds before removing it. After each injection, the needle is removed and thrown away.

Insulin pens have several advantages over the traditional syringe and vial. The pens allow more accurate dosing, they are easier to carry in a purse or pocket, they can be used discretely, and are easier to use for people with motor control problems or poor eyesight.
The one major disadvantage of insulin pens is they do not allow mixing different types of insulin, so people using more than one type of insulin may need to double the number of injections they have. However, manufacturers are addressing the problem, and some companies are offering diabetes pens that have mixed insulin in the reservoir.

There are two kinds of diabetes pens, reusable and disposable. The reusable pens use insulin cartridges that get replaced when they run empty. Disposable pens have their reservoir built in and the whole pen is thrown out and replaced when it runs out of insulin.
A few companies make special diabetes pens for children that come in bright colors and fun designs, such as the NovoPen Junior, a refillable diabetes pen made by Novo Nordisk.
Insurance coverage for diabetes pens varies widely in the United States with some companies covering them just like syringes and vials, and other insurance policies not covering them at all.