If there is bubbles in an insulin PEN, what does it mean?

Question

I know there is air bubbles in it! What i wanna know is, does it mean that the insulin has expired?

And what if after many attempt the bubbles says in there?

Answer 1

Hi, Mee,

Air bubbles in your insulin pen does NOT mean that it's expired. You'll find that information on the box that your insulin cartridges come in ... that's if you're using a pen where you change the cartridges yourself. If not, the box that the pens, themselves, come in should contain the same information.

As others have already explained, attempt to remove the air bubbles prior to injecting yourself, otherwise you get a reduced amount of insulin injected into you.

Do an 'air shot' where you tap the pen to free any air bubbles present. (That is, dial in 2 units), hold the pen vertically (you may have to flick with a finger to ensure the bubbles are uppermost in the pen) and press the plunger. Hopefully, this should get rid of the air bubbles. Again, as others have already explained, don't get 'hung up' on tiny amounts of air entering your system. They're not going to be large enough to do any real damage.

Best of luck.

Mick
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Answer 2

1

Answer 3

It means nothing except you've got air trapped inside. It happens to me a lot but there's nothing to be concerned about. You can remove it but if you do that the pen registers that you've used that much insulin and you waste one or two shots when the insulin runs near the bottom. The pen mechanism keeps track that there's only 300 units total, so when you try to remove the air, the mechanism will not dispense the full 300 units. So, you loose a shot or two depending on the amount of insulin you need to take. If you happen to has one or more of the syringes, then you can use a syringe to remove the insulin when it runs down to the end and there's more inside than the pen device will release. That's what I have to do every once in a while. You can get about 15 + units of insulin left inside the pen that you can't get out.

Answer 4

Before I switched over to the insulin pump (the best thing that has ever happened to me), I was on the pen. I often noticed bubbles in it, and it wasn't ever anything that concerned me. That's why they tell you to shoot out about two units before injecting it. If you aren't doing so already, start. Dial about a two, and shoot out to avoid injecting air. It doesn't cause harm because it isn't injected into a vein, but it may cut down on the amount of insulin you're receiving, causing hyperglycemia.

Answer 5

No, it does not mean the insulin is date expired. It occurs at the point of filling the syringe. As you are injecting into the subtutaneous fat layer there is no danger whatsoever. I wouldn't like to say how many times I've inject air into my leg and I am still here. Better to empty the syringe completely rather than try to avoid injecting the air. That bit of insulin you leave in the syringe by trying, could make a big difference to your treatment.

Answer 6

don't inject the bubbles.

tap the insulin pen to get them to go all to the top and try to inject a few units into the air to get the bubbles out - or just be careful not to inject them into you.

Answer 7

Bubbles not good - if injected into vein can cause problem. Hold pen upright in air and push plunger until liquid squirts out - then (and only then) inject.

Answer 8

Are you keeping the needle on it all the time? You need to remove the needle and put a clean new one on it each time.
No, bubbles are just trapped air, you need to expel them before you inject your self, its no big deal to get a very small one.

Answer 9

nothing ,hasnt expired and small air bubbles do you no harm you wouldnt get air embolism from the bubbles in a pen

Answer 10

The air is not a big deal. Even id a small amount of air goes into the vein it's not a big deal. It happens all the time