Complications from Insulin Pens

An insulin pen is a portable and discreet way to administer insulin injections, but like all medical devices, they carry some risk. Luckily, most pen-related complications can be avoided by adopting some basic safety and prevention practices.

Hypoglycemia

• The most common complication from insulin pens is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which is the result of using a pen to inject more insulin than was needed and/or not eating the full amount of carbohydrates that were anticipated when calculating your insulin dosage. Failing to dial the correct dosage on your insulin pen can lead to the delivery of too much or too little insulin.

Hyperglycemia

• An insulin pen with a leaky cartridge, a blocked needle or an incorrectly configured dial can result in less insulin being administered than expected, resulting in hyperglycemia (or high blood sugar). Switch to a different insulin pen or a regular insulin needle if you are experiencing unexplained hyperglycemia and suspect your insulin pen may be defective.

Allergic Reactions

• Some insulin pen users experience allergic reactions at the injection site, ranging in severity from a slight rash to a life-threatening situation.

Disease Transmission from Shared Needles

• Never share your insulin pen with another person. Blood-borne diseases such as AIDS can be transmitted via insulin pen needles the same as with any other type of needle. The risk may increase with an insulin pen because they are designed to be re-used, while most insulin syringes are disposed of after a single use.

Infection

• Insulin pens are designed with disposable, single-use needles coupled with a pre-filled insulin cartridge. Always use a new, sterile needle for each injection and wipe the site with an alcohol swab prior to injecting. Reusing the same needle for multiple injections increases the chance of infection.