This article is a general education one, but it’s also reference material for an upcoming discussion on insulin availability. In Australia most insulins have been available in up to three formats: 10 mL vials. Traditionally used for syringe injections and filling pumps. 3 mL pen cartridges. Put into pens for injections. Some people also use …
When travelling I used to take insulin containers (vials/cartridges) plus pump reservoirs, and fill them as needed. The YpsoPump has changed my habits. Its glass “PumpCart”-format reservoirs are glass, and approved for holding insulin a lot longer than the plastic reservoirs of other pumps. In some countries NovoRapid and Fiasp are sold in pre-filled PumpCart …
Emergency backups: a pen that can use PumpCart insulin Read More »
As I’ve previously written, the “ultra-fast” insulin Fiasp from Novo was added to PBS’s schedule as of June 1 2019. But everyone was surprised when we found it was only going to be supplied in two forms: vial and pre-filled pen. Incidentally, a year ago I spelt out the common usage of terms such as “vial”, “pen …
Insulin is supplied in three forms of container: Vials. Usually containing 10 ml each. Pen cartridges. Usually containing 3 ml each. Novo calls these “PenFill”: that is trademarked and not appropriate for other makes. Pre-filled disposable pens. Again usually containing 3 ml each. Note that the currently-accepted spelling is “vial”. “Phial” is a very archaic …
In April there was big news as Sanofi’s long-acting Toujeo U300 insulin was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and thus became accessible to many people. It had received TGA approval some time beforehand and was available under private prescription, but the cost was significant. But at the time I failed to mention another new …
For a change I’m not going to write here about the latest insulin pumps, CGMs, and closed-loop systems. This is about insulin pens, and possible compatibility between some models that the manufacturers won’t tell you about. Before I started using an insulin pump, I used injection pens for both my short-acting (“bolus”) insulin and my …