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Novopen 5

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Claire91

Claire91

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I originally had the novo pen 4 , but it sometimes played up by no insulin coming out for a few units then was fine again. So I stopped using the needles from that box, changed my insulin cartridges and changed my pens to novopen 5 . So my pen mainly the one I have my levemir in plays up most days but I'm
Not sure what it could be ? As it can't be the batch of needles or insulin cartridges because this has even happening for months on end, and surely cannot be the pens either as this happened with my novopen 4 too . Anybody else have this problem ?
 
Claire91 said:
I originally had the novo pen 4 , but it sometimes played up by no insulin coming out for a few units then was fine again. So I stopped using the needles from that box, changed my insulin cartridges and changed my pens to novopen 5 . So my pen mainly the one I have my levemir in plays up most days but I'm
Not sure what it could be ? As it can't be the batch of needles or insulin cartridges because this has even happening for months on end, and surely cannot be the pens either as this happened with my novopen 4 too . Anybody else have this problem ?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what the problem can be Claire, I've never had any problems with my novopens. When you say 'novopen 5', do you mean the novopen echo? Do you do an 'airshot' of a couple of units before injection to check that the needles are OK and the pen operating OK?
 
I'm the same as Northerner. Never really had a problem with any of them and I've had the lot right from the original. As Northerner says if you do an airshot and nothing comes out then there is a problem with the equipment If it is when you inject and then your bg runs high then this may be an absorption issue rather than a problem with the pens.
 
Matt Cycle said:
I'm the same as Northerner. Never really had a problem with any of them and I've had the lot right from the original. As Northerner says if you do an airshot and nothing comes out then there is a problem with the equipment If it is when you inject and then your bg runs high then this may be an absorption issue rather than a problem with the pens.
Click to expand...

I always do air shots and it won't do it for a few units sometimes up to ten then loads of insulin will just be released
 
I'm now using Novo Flexpens now but I sometimes get that at the start of a new pen as the piston (plunger) has to reach the cartridge. I would sometimes get 4 or 5 units of air if the piston had slipped but I wouldn't normally get 10 units of air whilst it was in use though. It sounds as if the piston is not sitting in the cartridge properly. I would try another new pen but it may be one to raise with Novo themselves.
 
If you have a DSN, I'd ask her/him if I were you - all manufacturers are rather protective of their equipment - even when it is a real equipment failure, they talk you though it MORE than thoroughly and it takes quite a time.

However - being on the Users side, and seeing such a lot of them - if it is a failure your DSN will more than likely have seen it before!

Have to say I never had a prob with any of my Novopens either, (using two like you) and I don't think we've had anyone else mention it on here, have we?

You ARE removing the needle each time straight after you jab though? Cos air can get into the cartridge via an old needle, if you don't - I've done that myself - just have to prime it out as you say - and remember to unscrew the needle immediately after use so it doesn't happen again!
 
The only time I've ever had an issue with my novopens was when they changed my needles from novofine to glucoRX needles. The GRX needles quite often don't let insulin through so I just change it and the next one is usually fine. Have you had your needles changed?
 
Is that the recommended pen for Levemir? It's not for Lantus, but is for Novorapid, so I just wondered. I don't know about Levemir, which is why I ask. Could it be that you need a different make of pen altogether? Just a thought.
 
Tina63 said:
Is that the recommended pen for Levemir? It's not for Lantus, but is for Novorapid, so I just wondered. I don't know about Levemir, which is why I ask. Could it be that you need a different make of pen altogether? Just a thought.
Click to expand...
Yes, levemir is made by the same company as novorapid (Novo-Nordisk), so the pens can be used for both insulins 🙂
 
I love my novopen 5, I just wish my solostar had the digital readout that the novopen has, its such a nice thing to be absolutely sure what you took and when. when I am confused its all too easy to double dose and unfortunately I have a couple of friends who are no longer with us because that's what they did before breakfast on morning while its assumed they where quite low to start with, both single men living on their own quite remotely, before skype and mobile phones kept us all in each others' pockets.
 
I use the glucoRX needles in the Novopen 4, and I sometimes get these issues.

Could it be the needles? What do you use?

Before I was on these 4mm ones, until June 2015 I was still on 8mm! So I am not going to complain about these even once!
 
I honestly think they just decide to do whatever they want when I went on to the novo echo ( I was on pre filled pens before) the first cartridge I put in took about 10 shots before it decided to give anything out yet the last time I changed it first 2 units came flying out x
 
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