Insulin Pens

An important advance in insulin treatment, insulin pens can offer a variety of advantages for people on the go:

Insulin pens can be more discreet,¹ often making them preferable in an office or schoolroom.
Their size—similar to a fountain pen—makes insulin pens easy to take anywhere.
Shorter, smaller-diameter needles¹ can be more comfortable to inject.
Dosages are more accurately "dialed" on the pen,¹ compared to traditional injections.

Types of Pens

Pens fall into two categories. Pre-filled pens are disposable—replaced whenever they're empty. Reusable pens are filled with interchangeable insulin cartridges. In general, pens are all used in the same manner.² It's just a matter of personal preference and what's available for the type of insulin you use.

Using a Pen

Preparing and giving a dose using an insulin pen is simple.² Just be sure to clean the injection site with an alcohol pad to help prevent infection, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific pen. Your doctor or Certified Diabetes Educator will help answer any questions you may have and will be happy to give you pointers for making the process easy.

¹ Jerry Meece, RPh, FACA, CDE. "Dispelling Myths and Removing Barriers About Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes." The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 32, No. 1:9S-18S, 2006. Available at: http://tde.sagepub.com/cgi/content/full/32/1/9S. Accessed September 24, 2007.
² Diabetes Monitor. "Insulin Pens." Available at: http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/pens.htm. Accessed November 8, 2007.

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Last modified: December 05, 2008