All Star Pro Pen Fridge Question and Auto Pen Talk

There are three auto pens on the market. They are not the same as the auto-injector pens like the branded ones. With regular pens you dial the dose and push the end yourself. With these you dial then just press a button and the pen delivers the dose. You still insert the needle yourself. The Autoject 2 is more like the branded auto-injectors and not as nice. The other two are versions of existing pens. My favorite is the one that feels the nicest to use.

My guess is a calibration concern. How many times can a pen cycle and still deliver exactly ten units? How many injections does a T1 diabetic do in three years? That is over a thousand days. Or maybe durability of the parts before something breaks. As for the fridge, if there is a metal spring it could rust from condensation. If you take it out, dose, and put it back cold it should be fine. Humidity makes a difference depending on where you live.

You have to replace them because the mechanics wear out after repeated use. Most pens carry an expiration date.

They can and do go in the fridge. These pens are meant for insulin. The recommendation is to store the pen in the fridge until first use. Once opened it should stay out and be used within twenty-eight days. Cold insulin hurts going in and the compound does not like big temperature swings. It is considered better to keep the pen at room temperature for that four-week period rather than warming it up and cooling it down repeatedly.

I have the Autoject 2. I have never used the others but I do not think they are the same class. The Autoject is not really a pen at all. It is a plastic housing around a disposable syringe that creates a mechanized action. I have not tried it yet but plan to next week. I do not feel confident injecting myself in the abdomen because of the angles, so this seemed like a reasonable option.

I just recently tried a syringe instead of my normal pen because I ran out of cartridges. I had to use the syringes I originally bought or skip my scheduled dose. The syringe hurt more. I think the needle gets dulled from going into the vial. The pen is also more convenient. What do you mean by buying once? Are you not using a new syringe each injection?

New syringe, alcohol wipes, and follow all safety steps each time. I am curious how often a new pen is needed at that price range. Someone mentioned the bird pens are lower quality.

Usage determines how long they endure, often three to five years total. Internal components degrade over time. I figure the expiration markings indicate the producer ensures proper operation up to then. Being unused probably means they'll perform adequately. Plastic construction does not imply quicker breakdown, only that the texture and appearance fall short of expectations. This remains a good pen for me even if it's not the top choice.

I found both versions of these pens offered at quite affordable costs from various sources. What sets them apart is pressing the top to control how quickly or slowly the substance goes in. This method suits me better because I enjoy managing the speed and giving the fluid a chance to absorb properly. Plus the appealing shades help me distinguish which one I'm using for each injection.

So far none of my automatic pens have required replacement. There was one that separated during an injection, leading me to discontinue its use. No other device has been set aside for that reason. Since approximately a year ago I have been relying on eight of them each day. Claims suggest they endure for three years, but since I haven't used any that long I can't verify. When a cartridge runs out I put in a fresh one, and that tends to occur monthly or so according to how frequently I dose. Each needle gets thrown away after a single application, just like with regular syringes. Additionally these devices hurt less.

My experience with these started only recently so I can't confirm whether they truly hold up for that long. To keep the discussion going I'll accept the timeframe as correct for now. It's true they run higher in price overall. Based on the models the yearly outlay for one seems greater than the alternatives which vary by type. Even so I feel the lower discomfort along with simpler handling justifies spending the bit extra.

I tried checking these out using water by inserting a thin needle from an insulin syringe directly into the cartridge rather than the standard pen attachment. I set the mechanism to the amount I wanted and pressed down. When I applied too much force, it would jump ahead, resulting in less than the intended amount being delivered.

Yeah that would interrupt the flow for sure. Trapping everything inside builds force until the casing splits open from the strain. That turns out to be a quick route to wrecking my pens.

You could pin into a luer lock without a needle to check. No added pressure. I do not want to waste my luer locks or cartridges though.