Out of curiosity

[Gemstone]

For the ones using insulin: Do you use syringe or a pen? Why?

While reading the newsgroups, I noticed that many more people seem to use syringes and wonder why since the use of the pen is so easy and seems cheap to me.

Any comments?

Gemstone

[Sharah]

My daughter, who is T1, uses both. She uses a syringe in the morning to take her basal and bolus in one shot, but uses a pen -for convenience- for her other bolus injections.

[Anita]

I think that many pepole are using the syringe because they're used it. The pen is easier and cleaner.

Sharah,
It's obvious that this is not the case with your daughter. Do you know why she uses both?

[Sharah]

I think that she prefers the pen but uses a syringe in the morning so as to have only one injection intead of using a pen for each insulin type.

[Gemstone]

I think that she prefers the pen but uses a syringe in the morning so as to have only one injection intead of using a pen for each insulin type.

I didn't know you could mix more than one insulin in a single injection. I do understand the need to have as few shots as possible.

Gemstone

[Sharah]

I would need to ask my daughter for the details but as I recall her doctor said she couldn't mix two insulins in the syringe but her diabetes specialist at the diabetes clinic said she could.

You are right about wanting to reduce the number of injections. She has a 10 month old adorable (my first ond only grandchild ) baby girl and prior to and during her pregnancy she was keeping her T1 under very close control. She is breastfeeding now and still eating little and often -and test test test.

[Anita]

I didn't know either you can mix insulin types in the same syringe.
Logically it makes sense (it's mixed in the blood anyway isn't it?), but can you please check it with her?
I'll ask my doctor too.

[Sharah]

I shall ask her what insulins she is using.

Coincidentally there is a thread on this topic currently active at ASDUK.

[csr18]

I've always used a pen, wouldnt like to have to mess about with filling syringes. Always found the pen fine to use, but never felt that sure about the accuracy of the dose.
I used to use a mixtard for my long acting which was really difficult as it made me have severe nightime hypos.

[karen1976]

Hey alll, Just found this thread... I've been on a few different insulin's since my diagnosis, and my doctor told me that with some combos I could mix it in one syringe, but in others not. Definitely ask your physician.