Answers to Your Questions About Insulin Pens

They’re usually not much larger than a marker, but insulin pens have proven to be a powerful ally for people with diabetes.

Used with special pen needles that are sold separately, a diabetic insulin pen carries insulin in a self-contained cartridge, providing a discrete, safe and easy way to administer insulin injections when you are on the go. Some people have found insulin pens so convenient that they use them for all their injections.

A reusable insulin pen requires a separate insulin cartridge (typically 150 or 300 units). Depending on the size of your doses, a cartridge may give you enough insulin to last for several days of injections. When the cartridge is empty, you throw it away and load a new one.


A disposable insulin pen comes pre-filled with insulin and is discarded when empty. Most disposable pens hold 300 units of insulin and are sold in boxes of five. While they generally cost more to use, disposable pens are typically more convenient (there are no cartridges to load).

Q: How can I be sure I’m getting an accurate dose?
A: An insulin injection pen has a special dial used to set an accurate dose. This is especially helpful for people who have vision or dexterity problems. Just look for a pen with the dose adjustments you prefer (e.g., in two-unit increments, one-unit increments or half-unit increments). 

    
Q: Does the type of insulin I use come in a pen cartridge?
A: While most standard insulin types are covered, not all are available for use in insulin pen cartridges.

Q: Can my spouse use an insulin pen to provide my injection?
A: A diabetic insulin pen should only be used for self-injection. The special pen needle must be removed from the insulin pen after each injection. The person giving the injection could get accidentally stuck by the needle while he or she is removing it from the pen.

Q: Can I mix insulin types?
A: Insulin pens do not allow you to mix insulin types. If the insulin mixture you need is not available as a pre-mix, you’ll need to make injections — one for each type of insulin. 


Q: Is an insulin pen cost-effective?
A: Insulin in pens and cartridges is often more expensive than bottled insulin for use in syringes. Also, one to two units of insulin are wasted with an insulin injection pen when the pen is primed before injection.

Q: I noticed insulin dripping from my pen needle after injection … did I do something wrong?
A: If insulin drips from the insulin injection pen after you remove the needle from the injection site, you haven't received the full dose. To get your complete dose, wait at least five seconds after you inject before removing the needle (10 seconds for doses of 25 units or more, or when 30 or 31 gauge needles are used).

Diabetic Seniors Team

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