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Semglee pens jam

W

Woodyp

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi. My Semglee pens keep jamming and becoming unusable. Anyone else having the same problem? I have had a couple jam with more than half the insulin left. It's the corkscrew/button that's jamming as I've tried replacing the needle after a jam and still nothing comes out.

I'm a newbie, so could be doing something wrong, but I've not had an issue with my bosul pen.
 
Keep telling whoever prescribes the pens for you, and Yellow Card every single one. It's not acceptable.

However have you requested the doctor who prescribes these to check your 'injection method' to make sure you're not doing summat wrong - just 'in case'.
 
Hi. I’ve mentioned the pen jams to the pharmacist at my GPs and to my diabetes doctor. From what little I know, the Semglee pen is a new product.

Good suggestion on getting my injection method checked, I’ll definitely do that next time I get the chance.

Thanks
 
Woodyp said:
Good suggestion on getting my injection method checked, I’ll definitely do that next time I get the chance.
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Just a thought - it might be easier to get some time with a pharmacist than a doctor.
A pharmacist should be able to help with how to use the medication they dispense and check your technique.
 
You Tube can also sometimes be a helpful option in watching tutorials of other people using the insulin pen you use.
Do you need a particularly large dose for your Semglee? Just wondering if you are trying to dial up a dose larger than the maximum and need to inject it in 2 doses or if perhaps you are dialing it up too aggressively and that is causing it to jam? It shouldn't be a problem but just trying to think what might cause it to jam.

Up until now I don't think I have read of anyone else having this issue on the forum and I believe Semglee has been on the market for a while. Do you have a reusable pen or are they disposable pens that are jamming?
 
It’s a disposable pen. My dose is 18 units, so below the max. My bolus pen is fine, but maybe I’m pressing too hard on the Semglee
 
Could it be that you are not screwing the needle on far enough and it isn't penetrating right through the rubber seal to allow the insulin to flow out? Do you do an air shot first each time and see insulin come out of the needle before you dial up the dose?
 
Hello, appreciate this would be a waste of insulin. Have you tried a test of 18 units into the sink or a bowl?

rebrascora said:
Could it be that you are not screwing the needle on far enough and it isn't penetrating right through the rubber seal to allow the insulin to flow out? Do you do an air shot first each time and see insulin come out of the needle before you dial up the dose?
Click to expand...
Good point. If the insulin can’t get out via the needle. The pen can jam.
 
Always do an air shot to test. If I was struggling with both pens, I’d be more worried it was me. Also, I've tried a new needle after a jam and the pen was still jammed. Pretty sure I'm screwing the needle on all the way, but haven't had anyone else check it.
 
Woodyp said:
Always do an air shot to test. If I was struggling with both pens, I’d be more worried it was me. Also, I've tried a new needle after a jam and the pen was still jammed. Pretty sure I'm screwing the needle on all the way, but haven't had anyone else check it.
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If it was a reusable pen? It would be easier to remove the insulin cartridge & check the smooth action on the mechanism with a dialed dose.
 
Just to be clear, do you always see insulin shoot out of the needle when you do the air shot? I appreciate that you say you do the air shot but just want to be sure that you always see insulin some out? If the needle isn't screwed on completely and the insulin can't get out, the pen can likely cope with the 2 unit compression of the insulin in the pen, but not the 18 units afterwards.
I am sorry if I am stating the obvious but some people might see the air shot as expelling air and not realise that it is also a check that insulin is flowing through the needle.
 
It may just be that the Semglee pen has a very slightly thicker rubber seal and the needle just needs to be tightened down a tiny bit more for the needle to fully penetrate it and allow insulin to come out, so if you don't see insulin come out during the air shot, try carefully tightening it a little bit more and do another air shot until you do see insulin before you dial up your dose to inject.
 
Is there a reusable you could switch to @Woodyp ?

I’ve always preferred the relative solidity of a reusable pen.

And I think @trophywench ’s suggestion to Yellow Card each of the failures is a good one too. The manufacturers need to know that these are problematic for users.
 
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I’ve had only one call with my diabetes support team, so not a clue what I can and can’t change. Hopefully once I have a proper plan in place I’ll have a better idea
 
Nowt wrong with Lantus, in this context at least.
 
Oh - and I had a look for 'who makes Semglee?' and failed to find a UK contact to ring or email hence why I said Yellow Card it. All very well the NHS wanting to save money which yes I'm in favour of generally - but if the cheaper article can't every single time be immediately used - they're wasting money!
 
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