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Problem with Nhs prescribing BD microfine plus , u100 syringes with needle attached

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K

Kearnspaula

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi, I have a dear friend, type one with many additional disabilities. She has been told by her GP clinic that it is not possible to prescribe the above as they are no longer available in the Uk. She has limitations using her hands and pushing a Pen system to release the insulin is very difficult and painful for her. I am thinking of contacting the BMC, but wanting to check the accuracy of what she is being told. Help.
 
I bought some over the counter at Boots a few years ago. I can also see them for sale online from independent chemists. I don’t know whether they can be prescribed though.

I don’t know if this would help at all, but not all insulin pens have the button at the end you have to push. The Autopen has a thing on the side that you just have to touch lightly. It’s a completely different technique. Just thought I’d mention it.
 
Must confess I am starting to have problems with my hands being stiff on a morning and holding and pressing the button is difficult but not sure I could manage with a syringe..... especially as I inject into my buttocks. Is it really easier to use a syringe?
Interesting about the Autopen Inka. I have been ignoring the problem with my hands becoming stiff but injecting my insulin first thing is something that I am struggling with and it has made me wonder what I would do if things got worse. At the moment I am hoping it is just a temp flare up but makes you think when you need them to administer critical medication.
 
I have BD Micro-Fine + hypodermic U100 single use syringes on my prescription and got some this year.
They are my short term pump back up so I rarely use them but they were available very recently.
 
Inka said:
I bought some over the counter at Boots a few years ago. I can also see them for sale online from independent chemists. I don’t know whether they can be prescribed though.

I don’t know if this would help at all, but not all insulin pens have the button at the end you have to push. The Autopen has a thing on the side that you just have to touch lightly. It’s a completely different technique. Just thought I’d mention it.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for the info, I will let her know about the alternative pen style just in case there is a choice, guessing just depends which insulin you are on. Thank you
 
Yes Ive seen them online and I have bought some from boots when my pen needle blocked. Unfortunately she does not have the funds to self purchase.
 
SuperBee said:
Just found this ad online:

www.medisave.co.uk

BD Micro Fine+ 1ml Insulin Syringe & Needle 29g x 12.7mm x 100

0.33mm (29G) x 12.7mm Graduated in 2 unit intervals Ideal for doses over 50 units
www.medisave.co.uk www.medisave.co.uk

I use the U50 ones. On occasion I have been told there are supply difficulties but in some ways there is a subplot to get one onto pens. But my I sin is unavailable in pens!
Click to expand...
Yes I to think it’s the GP practice in league with the pharmacy they are attached to, it has a poor reputation amongst hospital staff. It’s just not right, the nurse at the practice told my friend, ‘you either use a pen or go without’! Thank you so much for replying, so they must be available to prescribe if there are some insulin’s not available in pen format. Thank you
 
helli said:
I have BD Micro-Fine + hypodermic U100 single use syringes on my prescription and got some this year.
They are my short term pump back up so I rarely use them but they were available very recently.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for replying. I think further action will be needed! Not a nice thing to do I know, but neither is struggling and being in pain to take needed medication. Thank you
 
rebrascora said:
Must confess I am starting to have problems with my hands being stiff on a morning and holding and pressing the button is difficult but not sure I could manage with a syringe..... especially as I inject into my buttocks. Is it really easier to use a syringe?
Interesting about the Autopen Inka. I have been ignoring the problem with my hands becoming stiff but injecting my insulin first thing is something that I am struggling with and it has made me wonder what I would do if things got worse. At the moment I am hoping it is just a temp flare up but makes you think when you need them to administer critical medication.
Click to expand...
Yep, I’m dreading loosing my sight or use of my hands as I age as it would make me dependant on others! The nurse also suggested that her partner should do her injections with the pen! He’s a HGV driver so not at all possible, and not right either.

We are discussing using a pump but she also has loss of sight and we are not sure how easy it’s use would be for her with her hands and sight loss.

And yes the syringe is easy to push the plunger, smoother and glides. Her partner draws up different doses in a number of syringes before he goes to work. She is also unable to change needles on the pen due to problems with grip also. The more I type the more frustrated I feel. She is amazing, her glucose hba1c is 53, wish mine was there!

It is worrying, especially as there is no alternative, you either need to be able or have someone with you 24/7.
 
Kearnspaula said:
She’s on the same as me, it’s not that it’s not available in the pen, more that she has great diffulty physicaly using the pen.
Click to expand...

My question was to @SuperBee 🙂 (Unless you’re saying that SuperBee is the friend you’re talking about?)
 
Inka said:
My question was to @SuperBee 🙂 (Unless you’re saying that SuperBee is the friend you’re talking about?)
Click to expand...
I got confused as I am a boy! Super Bee is a muscle car! It was made by Dodge and had a 7.2 litre engine. I owned one for a few years in the nineties. My insulins are Porcine Neutral and Isophane.
 
SuperBee said:
I got confused as I am a boy! Super Bee is a muscle car! It was made by Dodge and had a 7.2 litre engine. I owned one for a few years in the nineties. My insulins are Porcine Neutral and Isophane.
Click to expand...

@SuperBee In that case I have good news for you - not about muscle cars, I’m afraid :D But about your insulin. Both Hypurin Porcine Neutral and the Isophane can be used in a pen - in fact the very pen I mentioned above.

It’s the Owen Mumford Autopen Classic available free on prescription if you’re in the U.K. You’ll need two pens obviously (one for each insulin type). You simply change your vials prescription to cartridges (both the porcine neutral and the isophane are available in pen cartridges, 5 in a box). Then open your nice shiny Autopen and drop a cartridge in 🙂

The Autopen is re-useable - you just replace the cartridge when it runs out and carry on. There are two different versions - a 1 unit increment one and a 2 unit increment one. The 2 unit one is for people on higher doses of insulin. It takes normal pen needles eg BD ones which are also available on prescription.

If you’re not in the U.K., then you’d have to see if you could obtain the cartridges, of course.
 
Got last BD syringes on ebay, cheap enough & quick delivery, use as back up for pump.
 
Inka said:
@SuperBee In that case I have good news for you - not about muscle cars, I’m afraid :D But about your insulin. Both Hypurin Porcine Neutral and the Isophane can be used in a pen - in fact the very pen I mentioned above.

It’s the Owen Mumford Autopen Classic available free on prescription if you’re in the U.K. You’ll need two pens obviously (one for each insulin type). You simply change your vials prescription to cartridges (both the porcine neutral and the isophane are available in pen cartridges, 5 in a box). Then open your nice shiny Autopen and drop a cartridge in 🙂

The Autopen is re-useable - you just replace the cartridge when it runs out and carry on. There are two different versions - a 1 unit increment one and a 2 unit increment one. The 2 unit one is for people on higher doses of insulin. It takes normal pen needles eg BD ones which are also available on prescription.

If you’re not in the U.K., then you’d have to see if you could obtain the cartridges, of course.
Click to expand...

I foresee a problem. I mix the insulins morning and evening with Neutral only for lunch and corrections. That upping injections from 3 to 5 a day. After 60 odd years I have areas I can no longer inject because of the longer thicker needles in days of old and probably some strange insulin products long gone.
 
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