1.Types of insulin pens:

(1).Classification of insulin pens by function of use: Reusable insulin pen: after the refill is used up, replace the refill and use it again, the insulin pen can be used for many years, even for life. This kind of insulin pen is currently available in our country.

Disposable insulin pens: Some insulin pens are single-use, and after use, the pen is thrown away with the core and replaced with a new one. These insulin pens are simple and hygienic. At present, there are fewer insulin pens of this kind in China.

(2).Dividing insulin pens by manufacturer:

Insulin pen（Becton Dickinson）

Auto pen（ Owen Mumford）

Different brands of insulin pens look and operate differently, and patients should follow the instructions for use when purchasing them, as well as learn to operate them with the help of medical staff.

 2.Advantages of insulin pens:

(1).Convenient, eliminating the need for patients to use a syringe to draw insulin from the insulin bottle. Instead of taking a syringe, insulin vial, sterilised cotton pads and a whole lot of other items with them, patients only need to take a small ‘pen’ with them when they go out.

(2).The insulin injection process is simpler and more discreet, saving patients from the embarrassment of injecting insulin in public. Some people even complete their insulin injections with one hand right under the dining table without the people at the table noticing.

(3).The insulin injection process is simpler and more discreet, saving patients from the embarrassment of injecting insulin in public. Some people even complete their insulin injections with one hand right under the dining table without the people at the table noticing.

(4).Insulin dosing is more precise, allowing insulin dose adjustments to be made in 1 unit. Whereas syringes are generally accurate to a minimum of 2 units.

(5).Essentially painless, their needles are thinner than those of specialised insulin syringes, and some patients who use them find them essentially painless.

3. Disadvantages of insulin pens:

(1).The insulin pen itself needs more than two hundred yuan to buy, but you need to use a special insulin pen cartridge, ordinary insulin can not be put into the pen to use. At present, we only have foreign-made insulin pen cartridges, insulin pen cartridges are more expensive than ordinary insulin.

(2).When considering cost, patients should likewise take into account that if they use an insulin pen, they will be spared the cost of purchasing plastic syringes for the rest of their lives.    

(3).When a patient needs to make a mixed injection of two insulins (e.g. Novalurin R + Novalurin N or Uvalurin R + Uvalurin N), the insulin pen cannot do it at once. In this case, it is better to have two pens for separate injections, causing inconvenience to the patient. In this case, a premixed insulin Novolin 30R or Ulorin 30R pen refill is often used instead, which can be done in one go.

Generally, one insulin is used with one insulin pen. So when you want to use an insulin pen to treat your diabetes, it's best to ask your doctor to adjust your insulin regimen to use only a particular type of insulin, such as premixed Insulin 30R or 50R, because premixed insulin contains both short-acting Insulin R and intermediate-acting Insulin N.

(4).These insulin pens and refills are not yet popular in our country, so you may not be able to buy insulin refills in some areas, and you need to take enough insulin refills with you when you go out for a long time. It will bring inconvenience to the patients.

4. Tips for using insulin pens:

(1).Patients who are thin should be considered for 45-degree needle entry (also consider 31G*5mm or 32G*6mm needles).

(2).Try to avoid having two or more injections in the same area (approximately 2*2cm) within one month.

(3).If you take turns injecting the abdomen, and the outer thighs, you should apply appropriate heat to the areas where you take turns to avoid hard nodules.

(4).Do not inject in areas with hard nodules.

(5).Details on the injection technique:

A.Pinch up the skin (use the right amount of pressure on your hand when pinching up, not too tight).

B. (The needles are usually inserted at 45 degrees (fast insertion is generally emphasised, but in my experience this is not necessary; a slower insertion of the needle should be better able to avoid needle breakage). (To avoid pain, you can try to stick the needle with the tip of the needle first, and change the position if it hurts too much).

C.Push the medicine (this should be appropriately slow).

D.Push the medicine while gradually relaxing the pinched skin appropriately (this step is the key point, and it is important to note that it is ‘gradually relaxing appropriately’, not relaxing all at once, or letting go completely).

E.Out of the needle (out of the needle is generally also stressed quickly out, even the experience is still not necessary. Out of the needles need to pay attention to is, should be in the opposite direction into the needle out, do not distort the needle, one is to avoid enlarging the wound, two is to avoid the needle to pouting broken).

The information is from the Internet and is for reference only.