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Administering insulin can be a challenging task. Carrying the supplies, keeping the insulin cool, getting the right dose, and enduring the pain of injection are some of the daily changes that one has to overcome when taking insulin. Choosing the right method to administer insulin can be a huge help in meeting these challenges.
Available methods
There are a few methods available for administering insulin, the most common of all in the U.S is injection via a needle and syringe. Of the remaining population, 20% wear a pump, 15% use insulin pens, and less than 1% use jet injectors.
Despite insulin pens not holding the spot of most common method of insulin injection, they are a highly convenient and easy-to-use option. Because of their ease of use, many people who switch from a vial and syringe to an insulin pen find that managing their diabetes becomes much easier. Moreover the pain, bruising and anxiety associated with the injections can be further minimized by using a revolutionary device called TickleFlex.
Three main benefits contribute to this satisfaction with insulin pens: ease in preparation and use, easier dosing, and less pain.
1. Easier to Prepare and Use
Insulin pens are small and easily portable, ideal for those constantly on the go. Additionally, the pens are preloaded with medication in a syringe, so the user only needs to attach a new insulin pen needle, dial the correct dose, inject, and dispose of the used needle. It’s a very quick process, and the user can easily go back to their day afterward.
According to the American Diabetes Association diabetic patients using insulin pens tend to be happier than vial and syringe users. They are also more likely to stick to their insulin therapy routine because of the convenience and ease of use.
2. Easier Dosing
Insulin pens, and the easiness of dosing, make them ideal for those with vision and dexterity challenges who may struggle with placing the needle into the syringe and then extracting the correct amount of insulin.
With insulin pens, the user dials the correct dose by twisting the end of the pen until the number prescribed to them appears in the window. The numbers are large and easy to see, and the twisting motion does not require as much fine motor movement as using a syringe.
Also, insulin pens can be easily adjusted if a user accidentally dials too high of a dose. Some pens will release the excess through the needle in a way that does not enter the skin, while others let you reset the pen to zero units and start over.
This method of dosing out insulin increases confidence in dosing accuracy, with a study finding that 73% of those using insulin pens are confident about their dose accuracy.
3. Less Pain
While those who use insulin pens still have to poke themselves with a needle, the gauge of the needle used with insulin pens is smaller than a needle used with a vial, resulting in less pain from the injection.
The smaller needles can also help reduce fear of the injection, which can also help to reduce pain as the muscles are not as tense.
TickleFlex: Minimizing the injection pain
The pain of injection with a pen can even be further minimized with an accessory called TickleFlex. It is a simple device that attaches to the end of the insulin pen making the injection less painful by stimulating and saturating the local nerves so you don’t feel the needle as much.
Insulin Pens: Superior to the Vial and Syringe Technique
The choice of method is often dictated by insurance. However, when users are given a choice, insulin pens prove to be a more convenient and accessible option compared to the vial and syringe method. Those who use insulin pens are often more likely to stick to their insulin therapy routine due to benefits such as easy preparation and use, easy dosing, and less pain, promoting better health in the long run.
Jessica is a medical writer with an unquenched thirst to discover something new. She believes that medical content should be accessible to everyone and strives to write content that every single person can understand. When Jessica isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading a book with a dog cuddled in her lap.