Faulty Novopens

I was out Saturday afternoon and when I went to take my insulin the Novopen failed to work correctly. I was able to dial up but not depress the plunger and take my insulin dose. As a result I had to rush home a get a replacement pen. Has anyone else had a similar problem and what do you normally do in such a case.

Unfortunately my blood glucose levels were very high so I had no choice but to go home to take a dose to get things back to normal. I think the pen may have been faulty at breakfast and may not have given me the correct breakfast dose as there was no other explanation for my high lunch time levels. If it had been normal I would have just skipped lunch.

The advice there is to have a couple of spare pens at your disposal! Before injecting dial up 2 units & depress! Checking for any faults!

Had a similar issue once and was able to get a syringe from a pharmacy and then dismantle the pen and use the insulin by syringe. From memory it was OK.
Helen

same happened to me with novo pen 4 I was recently diagnoised and was out of town staying with my daughter. Her surgery was very good and got me another presciption. I sent my pen back to novo disk and they sent me a replacement. I now have several spare dotted around

Justinjroberts said:
I was out Saturday afternoon and when I went to take my insulin the Novopen failed to work correctly. I was able to dial up but not depress the plunger and take my insulin dose. As a result I had to rush home a get a replacement pen. Has anyone else had a similar problem and what do you normally do in such a case.

Unfortunately my blood glucose levels were very high so I had no choice but to go home to take a dose to get things back to normal. I think the pen may have been faulty at breakfast and may not have given me the correct breakfast dose as there was no other explanation for my high lunch time levels. If it had been normal I would have just skipped lunch.

Happened a few times to me - usually after a change of cartridge. Plunger had been stuck so didn't depress rubber stopper - always double check now.

I've had this, but I've also had a cartridge fail, the plunger went down, but I knew none (or very little) insulin had gone in as the rest had come out the sides of the cartridge due to a small crack.

I too wasn't prepared, was working in London, living in Nottingham, had to go all day at work with little or no insulin and use a new cartridge when got home. I only keep a spare cartridge with me on a daily basis if I'm nearly out as I don't want them out of the fridge too long.

Do other people carry spares? Is it ok out of the fridge? Suppose it must be, once in my pen its out for a few days.

Insulin should be OK at room temperature for 30 days. I've never had a problem with my Novopen not working - my problem is forgetting to take it out with me!

Insulin should be OK at room temperature for 30 days. I've never had a problem with my Novopen not working - my problem is forgetting to take it out with me!

HelenP said:
Had a similar issue once and was able to get a syringe from a pharmacy and then dismantle the pen and use the insulin by syringe. From memory it was OK.
Helen

HelenP said:
Had a similar issue once and was able to get a syringe from a pharmacy and then dismantle the pen and use the insulin by syringe. From memory it was OK.
Helen