The Hindu : Karnataka News : Insulin delivery devices

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 14, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

Insulin delivery devices

With the rapid pace of modern life, the time required to optimally manage diabetes may be hard to find. New insulin and insulin delivery systems can make this easier while offering additional benefits of lifestyle flexibility and improved glycemic control. Quality of life, however, may be affected by the administration of 3 to 4 daily injections. Insulin pen devices – breaking barriers for early initiation and intesification

Syringes were the sole method of insulin delivery for decades. The original glass syringes and their large, reusable needles had to be boiled for sterilization.

Now to allow more flexibility and convenience, patients are seeking options other than the traditional vial-and-syringe delivery method. Insulin pens meet this need and also address issues of patient and environmental safety, social concerns, and more accurate dosage control. Insulin pen devices are unique in that they combine the insulin container and the syringe in a single unit. Their compact size allows discreet insulin administration but still provides extremely accurate insulin delivery. Two types of insulin pens are available today; pre-filled and reusable. Pre-filled pens are simply discarded when the insulin cartridge is spent, whereas reusable pens contain a replaceable insulin cartridge that is loaded into and removed from the pen by the patient. Most pens function on simple mechanical principles and are durable. The technique for insulin delivery is similar for both pre-filled and reusable pens.

Leaping forward in time

The world’s first durable insulin pen, NovoPen® was introduced in 1985. In the diabetes community, NovoPen® soon became a recognized brand that signified quality and innovation. NovoPen® 3 has proved to be an instant success and is now the most frequently used device worldwide with 3.5 million users. With the success of disposable devices, FlexPen® was introduced in 2001 as a natural evolution of NovoLet®. It is a unique device that combines the best of usability and quality. FlexPen® has distinguishable tactile and colour-coding features for different insulin solutions, making daily use easy. FlexPen® is the newest prefilled insulin pen designed by Novo Nordisk to let diabetes people get on with their life. Safety and convenience are key features of FlexPen®. Using FlexPen® requires a few simple steps: dialing the correct dose, inserting the very fine needle under the skin, and pushing a button to deliver the insulin dose (see below advantages of FlexPen®. Fewer and simpler steps enhance patients’ confidence in their ability to manage insulin injections.

Currently there are 3 different insulin pens available in the country - the durable pen device, the prefilled, disposable pen device and the newest prefilled, disposable insulin pen.

All patients with diabetes could benefit by insulin pen devices. Diabetes patients with erratic eating habits may especially benefit. The current pen devices do not require refrigeration, so they can be conveniently carried in a pocket, purse, or backpack for flexibility and proper timing of insulin dose. Insulin delivery devices are being introduced and research continues in areas of developing painless and noninvasive devices everyday. Pen devices that are easy and efficient to operate correctly and with minimal discomfort appear to increase patient’s acceptance and compliance with treatment regimens. This is encouraging, as enhanced compliance may also result in improved glycemic control and thus reduce diabetes complication

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