Levemir clogging needles

Yes, I'll try my spare Novopen tonight.

Try swapping cartridges in the pens then if the QA seems to have same problem there is definately a problem with the pen itself? I also use Levimir and have never had this type of problem.
Regards Andy.

Sorry Andy, that won't work for me because the Levemir cartridges have the thread for the needle, where the Humalog cartridges don't, so the two pens are different.

I've used the spare Novopen for two days and had no problems - so it looks as if the old pen wasn't performing too well.

Hi alan,
Ive been looking for an answer to the same problem (levemir clogging). I changed from lantus a few months ago and havent been able use the same needle twice when having a morning and evening dosage. I frustrates me alot as i originally thought that it was a faulty echo pen so i got a new one and the same problem occured. With lantus i used to use the needle several times (at least 3 times) before changing it now i change every single time as when you prime it nothing comes out, i hope to get an answer to this puzzling problem

Hello Joanne,
Yes I'm still getting the 'clogging' problem if I try to re-use a needle. I have to use a new needle for each Levemir injection. I'm glad in a way, that you're getting the same problem - I thought it was just me!
As you can see from my previous posting, I tried using my spare Novopen 4, which was OK for a couple of days, but then it started clogging.
I use BD Micro-Fine 5mm pen needles - what needles do you use?

I use the BD 6mm but have also tried larger needles with no success i too thought it may be the needle but apparently its not. The ones i tried were 8mm. I defiantly think it has to be the insulin as this is this is the second pen ive used but the same result of no insulin unless i change needles

No, because I change the needle every time. Insulin solidifying in the needle is one of the reasons you're told to change it every time, as well as more apparent things, like injecting comfort (each use loses its lubrication some more and the needle loses its sharpness with each use).

All the best to you.

Alan Constable said:
Until recently, I was on one daily dose of Levemir. This meant I used one needle for my QA (Humalog) and one needle for my Levemir each day (hopefully saving the NHS a bit of money - plus I don't like wasting things) and this worked well.

My HCP suggested that my control could be better and I should change to 2 daily doses of Levemir. I intended to continue using one needle for my QA and one needle for my BI. I found that that when it came to my second dose of Levemir, the needle that I had used for my morning dose was clogged, so I had to use a new one.

Has anybody else noticed this?

Ive never noticed increased pressure, ive had diabetes 18years so im all too aware that the needles get blunt however im sure you can safetly use the needles twice. Ive never had infections or the like so i think this is just paranoia, yes its not wise to use them for several times but like alan i think you should be able to use one needle for the day. This is the fault of the company that makes levimir, most insulin pens are very durable.

Yes I get 'clogging' with levemir too. I use the disposable pens so it can't be a dodgy pen, unless there are a lot of dodgy ones!!
I reuse needles but am trying to stop - just easier to not have to faff about changing it sometimes