Novo nordisk half insulin pen

[Sugarcoated]

Hi all, hope you are well.
I just went to take my insulin & after i injected my dose, i pressed the top to double check how much insulin i took & it said END. I did prime needle first for airbubble & it was ok.
I think or hope i took adequate insulin but i don't have a spare. Obvs battery must be running low.
Does anyone know if i can still use & trust pen will give me proper dose?
Hopefully my gp will give me another but doubt i will get it much before early next week.
Xx

 

[Inka]

I don’t have that pen, but if there’s insulin in the cartridge then it seems it should be ok to use hee

https://www.novonordisk.com/content...ts/pdf/novopen5/NovoPen 5_Digital Display.pdf

.

 

[Sugarcoated]

Thank you very much for that.

 

[Boom]

Although the battery expires on the pen, the pen itself will still deliver the requested dose.
If you have any doubts you can check your pen by doing a test injection into the cap of your needle.
1.Do an air shot.
2. Dial in 20 units.
3 . Screw on outer needle cap.
4 Pen / needle facing directly down inject 20 pre dialled units into the cap.
5. 20 units will fill cap upto fluted lines.

 

[rebrascora]

Is it the Novopen Echo? The battery only operates the timer to show when your last injection was and how many units. I have never seen it read END but then I don't actually look at it all that often, only on the odd occasion when my readings don't match what I expect and I wonder if I actually did inject or recorded what I was going to inject and then got distracted... it happens too easily, especially when injecting becomes second nature! I know @Kaylz had a Novopen Echo that was on it's way out with the battery the other day so perhaps she knows what END means but I am very confident that the pen will continue to deliver the dose you dial up. You just won't be able to check afterwards. It is a good idea to have a spare pen regardless so that if it breaks for whatever reason, you still have a means to deliver your insulin, so perhaps once you get a new pen from the Doc's, keep this one as a standby in case you have a proper breakage and need a back up.

 

[rebrascora]

@Inka that was the info that I was mentioning the other day on another thread but I incorrectly said I thought it was 10 units. I will remember from now on thanks. This is only the second time I have ever heard it mentioned. presumably it is true for all needle caps.

 

[Sugarcoated]

Although the battery expires on the pen, the pen itself will still deliver the requested dose.
If you have any doubts you can check your pen by doing a test injection into the cap of your needle.
1.Do an air shot.
2. Dial in 20 units.
3 . Screw on outer needle cap.
4 Pen / needle facing directly down inject 20 pre dialled units into the cap.
5. 20 units will fill cap upto fluted lines.View attachment 16643

Thank you i will try that. I'm still anxious coping with my insulin as it still feels very new to me. I'm sure in time i'll relax more & trust I'm not over dosing my insulin.

 

[KARNAK]

Hi @Sugarcoated does sound like the battery has gone down but the unit will distribute the insulin
all the same, if you have access to your DSN they`ll just run you through it and email the surgery to
issue a new one, any trouble I will send you one just PM me.

 

[helli]

It is VERY important to have a spare pen for both your bolus and basal insulin.
Whilst the problem appears to be the battery this time and dose not affect the dosing of insulin, a pen can fail more severely. Insulin pens do not last forever.

 

[Sugarcoated]

T

Is it the Novopen Echo? The battery only operates the timer to show when your last injection was and how many units. I have never seen it read END but then I don't actually look at it all that often, only on the odd occasion when my readings don't match what I expect and I wonder if I actually did inject or recorded what I was going to inject and then got distracted... it happens too easily, especially when injecting becomes second nature! I know @Kaylz had a Novopen Echo that was on it's way out with the battery the other day so perhaps she knows what END means but I am very confident that the pen will continue to deliver the dose you dial up. You just won't be able to check afterwards. It is a good idea to have a spare pen regardless so that if it breaks for whatever reason, you still have a means to deliver your insulin, so perhaps once you get a new pen from the Doc's, keep this one as a standby in case you have a proper breakage and need a back up.

Ham

Hi @Sugarcoated does sound like the battery has gone down but the unit will distribute the insulin
all the same, if you have access to your DSN they`ll just run you through it and email the surgery to
issue a new one, any trouble I will send you one just PM me

 

[Sugarcoated]

Thank you for that lovely offer. I've spoken to GP receptionist who said they will ask GP to write me a prescription for a new pen. Hopefully i'll get one later today or Monday as it takes 47hrs to sort prescription out.

 

[Sugarcoated]

It is VERY important to have a spare pen for both your bolus and basal insulin.
Whilst the problem appears to be the battery this time and dose not affect the dosing of insulin, a pen can fail more severely. Insulin pens do not last forever.

My cf dr is prescribing me a spare pen that i can get at clinic next week. He was shocked i wasn't given one when i started insulin.

 

[Northerner]

My cf dr is prescribing me a spare pen that i can get at clinic next week. He was shocked i wasn't given one when i started insulin.

The battery normally last for a couple of years, then says 'End'. Pen is still perfectly usable, but it's usually an indication that it's time to replace the pen anyway 🙂 I keep the pen as my spare when I get a new one 🙂

 

[helli]

My cf dr is prescribing me a spare pen that i can get at clinic next week. He was shocked i wasn't given one when i started insulin.

Please make sure he prescribes TWO spares. You need one for bolus and one for basal.

 

[Kaylz]

@helli they may not be using reusable pens for both types of insulin but I agree if they are they need a spare for both

As the others have said its just the battery in the memory function that's worn out (although they are supposed to last for at least 3 years) but spares are really needed in stock, as anything can happen to render it useless! This happened to me in 2019 while screwing the needle off! xx

 

[Boom]

I’ve still got about 40 syringes from the good old days. Emergency, emergency back ups

 

[trophywench]

I’ve still got about 40 syringes from the good old days. Emergency, emergency back ups

Yeah - but syringes have a 'Use by' date on the plastic bags too and sadly need chucking eventually (said she; still using a box of pen needles about 2yrs? out of date for the occasional pen jab when she's hit a non-absorbent spot with her pump cannula)

 

[Boom]

Yeah - but syringes have a 'Use by' date on the plastic bags too and sadly need chucking eventually (said she; still using a box of pen needles about 2yrs? out of date for the occasional pen jab when she's hit a non-absorbent spot with her pump cannula)

True but given the choice of DKA or using a never used/ out of date syringe I know which option I’d take and it isn’t DKA.

 

[trophywench]

You and me both @Boom ! 😉

(only sayin' ....... being as anyone can read our posts on here, hence important)

 

[Boom]

You and me both @Boom ! 😉

(only sayin' ....... being as anyone can read our posts on here, hence important)

. Totally. Hence the emphasis on emergency twice and no recommendation to actually do as I would.