Educating yourself about injection pens and pen needles will help you to better understand and follow the recommendations of your diabetes health professional. From helpful illustrations to detailed tips, you'll find them here.
Diabetes Pens and Pen Needles - Rapidly Gaining Popularity
One of the easiest and fastest-growing methods for administering insulin and other injectable medication is the injection pen and pen needle. The medication either comes in a disposable pen, or in a cartridge for use with a durable pen. A pen needle is then attached to the pen. The user generally dials a dose of medicine, then injects it under the skin. Highly popular for more than 20 years in Europe, use of these pens is rapidly spreading in the U.S. Pens may also be used for such drugs as Byetta®, Symlin®, and other non-diabetes drugs.
The Advantage of Pens
Compared to the older vial/syringe method, pens and pen needles are easier to use, more convenient, discreet, and help deliver a more accurate dose. There's no need to push the needle through the rubber vial stopper, so the tip of the needle retains its sharpness and lubrication, for the most comfortable injection possible.
A Pen Needle's Simple Yet Exacting Engineering
Each Clickfine pen needle (cannula) is permanently fixed to a specially designed plastic needle hub, allowing either click-on or screw-on attachment onto a diabetes pen. Two protective caps (outer and inner caps) protect the user and the needle. The peel foil protects the sterility of the needle and holds information such as lot number, and needle length and gauge. Pen needles vary by needle length, diameter (gauge) and their compatibility with pens.
What's the Right Needle?
Our guide to Choosing Your Pen Needle can help you and your diabetes health professional select the Clickfine pen needle that best meets your needs.
