How to Use Your Insulin Pens

Contributed by Curtis Warren, PharmD | Associate Director of Specialty Pharmacy Services

Insulin pens make it easier than ever to administer insulin at home. They’re preloaded, premixed and ready to use. The MetroHealth Pharmacy can help you learn how to use your insulin pen.

The new style of pens are fairly simple to use:

Twist or snap on a new needle
Dial a dose
Wipe the injection site with an alcohol pad
Inject your medicine
Wait 10 seconds and pull out the needle

Tips for Taking Medications On Time

Take your medication at the same time every day.
Make taking your medications part of a daily routine, like after brushing your teeth or eating breakfast.
Use a pill container. Some types have sections for multiple doses at different times, such as morning, lunch, evening, and night. (MetroHealth offers free Compliant Dose Packaging, which sends medications to you in day and evening packs. See below for more info.)
Purchase timer caps for your pill bottles and set them to go off when your next dose is due. Some pill boxes also have timer functions.
When traveling, take enough of your medication, plus a few days extra, in case your return is delayed.
If you’re flying, keep your medication in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost.

Tips for Using Your Insulin Pens

If they’re refrigerated, take them out 30 minutes before you inject

Ask your pharmacist how to use the insulin pen if you have questions. They know how to use all kinds of pens and autoinjectors.

Dispose of your needles in a sharps container.

Video Help Via Smartphone or Tablet

Each prescription medication filled by MetroHealth Pharmacy has a special QR code that will link you to a video on how to use your medication.

Here’s how it works:

Open your tablet or smartphone camera

Hold your device over the QR code displayed on your prescription bottle

Click on the pop-up link

Watch and listen to a pharmacist tell you all you need to know about your medication and disease state

Interact with one-click access to your MetroHealth pharmacy, medication reminders and additional healthcare resources

“Patients love the instruction videos because they provide easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions on how to use your insulin pen or other medications,” said Curtis Warren, PharmD, Associate Director of Specialty Pharmacy Services at The MetroHealth System. “It’s particularly helpful to have 24/7 access to the videos in case you have questions after our pharmacies are closed for the day.”

Have Questions?

Contact the phone number on your prescription bottle or contact:
MetroHealth Pharmacy 216-957-6337(MEDS)
or visit one of our 11 MetroHealth retail pharmacy locations.
Refills can also be requested by logging into your MyChart.