[anon125]

the instructions that came with the lantus solostar insulin pen is to leave the pen in for a count of 10.
any idea why?
thanks

 

[mbuster]

My guess would be that pressing the plunger on the pen creates pressure within the pen, which in turn creates flow through the needle. The needle being pretty small, causes resistance to that flow, so that the pressure created within the pen takes time to equalize with the pressure on the other side of the needle. When pressures equlizes the flow then stops. The time allowed should let the full dose you set on the pen go in ya and not on ya. Now there still may be a slight differential in pressure in the pen versus the pressure on the outside of your point of injection, so there could be a small droplet form at the end of the needle. Their 10 seconds may need to be 15 seconds or you may want to withdraw the needle partway before pulling it completely out.

I'm not on insulin, but my work does utilize the principles of differential pressures and flows of liquids and gases, and I have stayed at a couple of HI Expresses.

 

[anon125]

thanks for the explanation

 

[rsfletcher]

the instructions that came with the lantus solostar insulin pen is to leave the pen in for a count of 10.
any idea why?
thanks

Are you serious? I should start reading the instructions before trying things out :surprise:. I've been using that pen for quite some time and have never done that before.

Thanks for asking. Maybe I should change my technique because as soon as I finish plunging out comes the needle.

 

[Hearts Jounrey]

that was as good an explanation as Dr Albert Einstein could have delivered. Saved me plunging into the archives of Einstein on astrophysics and pressure

 

[mbuster]

that was as good an explanation as Dr Albert Einstein could have delivered. Saved me plunging into the archives of Einstein on astrophysics and pressure

LOL They say even an old blind sow finds an acorn every now and then. Talking about me of course.

 

[div2live]

Will few of us can explain things are well as mbuster....that's for sure!

But I can tell you that when I was trained to do my injections, the 10 second delay was taught. Therefore, I have always done it! I have also noticed that even with the delay, sometimes, if I press the injection real fast, my needle will be dripping insulin when I take it out. If I inject at a slower rate, with the delay, I do not lose any Lantus....

 

[Bunjee]

I was taught the 10 second delay as well, but find with 40 something units of Levemir, I need to leave it in 15 seconds or it will drip insulin. So, the 10 seconds is just a starting point - add more time if you need it.

 

[xring]

It's my understanding that pulling the needle out right away can cause some of the insulin to be sucked back into the needle. But I've never heard of waiting more than 5 seconds.

 

[Bunjee]

It's my understanding that pulling the needle out right away can cause some of the insulin to be sucked back into the needle. But I've never heard of waiting more than 5 seconds.

It's possible that your diabetes educator glossed over that. Diabetes educators at both places (clinic and endocronilogist's offices) told me to wait 10 seconds. If you have a lot of edema in your belly, you have to keep it in for 30 seconds or the insulin might spurt out (my bro's issue).

 

[div2live]

It's my understanding that pulling the needle out right away can cause some of the insulin to be sucked back into the needle. But I've never heard of waiting more than 5 seconds.

Odd? Seems like considering the pressure caused by the injection and small needle, you would never get a vacume pressure, pulling something back into the needle... It isn't logical, but most of us have heard other 'illogical' ... instructions from medical educators...e.g.how many were told to do your finger stick on the tip of the fingers? OUCH!:vs_OMG:

 

[xring]

Odd? Seems like considering the pressure caused by the injection and small needle, you would never get a vacume pressure, pulling something back into the needle... It isn't logical, but most of us have heard other 'illogical' ... instructions from medical educators...e.g.how many were told to do your finger stick on the tip of the fingers? OUCH!:vs_OMG:

That's right. I also don't see how some insulin would get back into the needle; especially when I keep forward pressure on the plunger when I pull the needle out.

 

[Squawkx]

My guess would be that pressing the plunger on the pen creates pressure within the pen, which in turn creates flow through the needle. The needle being pretty small, causes resistance to that flow, so that the pressure created within the pen takes time to equalize with the pressure on the other side of the needle. When pressures equlizes the flow then stops. The time allowed should let the full dose you set on the pen go in ya and not on ya. Now there still may be a slight differential in pressure in the pen versus the pressure on the outside of your point of injection, so there could be a small droplet form at the end of the needle. Their 10 seconds may need to be 15 seconds or you may want to withdraw the needle partway before pulling it completely out.

I'm not on insulin, but my work does utilize the principles of differential pressures and flows of liquids and gases, and I have stayed at a couple of HI Expresses.

Very good analysis in my estimation, and even if it is wrong, it sounds right.:devil: Just kidding, I could not have up with a better explanation if I tried. I am in the habit of holding the plunger, until I count to 10. And I am sure, that I will do so, until I die.

{PS: One need not stay at a Holiday Inn, in order to be ingenious. But it helps, and it beats sleeping in your car.}:wink2: