GlucoRx Pen Needles - User Manual

How to use GlucoRx
Pen Needles
Head Oce
Distributed by GlucoRx Ltd.
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Tips When Using Pen Needles
Comfortable Injection
If your injections hurt, try the following:
• Let your doctor decide which pen needle size is best for you; consult them about using a dierent needle size/pen/
injection site
• Never reuse your pen needle; this can cause bacterial growth on the needle and dull the tip, resulting in painful
injection and risk of it breaking o / dislodging in your skin.
• Remove the outer and inner caps carefully so not to bend the needle
• Inject insulin when at room temperature
• Ensure correct injection technique (i.e. skin fold), penetrate your skin quickly and relax your muscles
• Injections of smaller insulin doses hurt less; ask your doctor if you can split large doses.
Bleeding at Injection Site
It is not unusual for the needle to puncture a tiny blood vessel so some blood appears when injecting. This can be
stopped by putting light pressure on the injection site with a cotton ball, without rubbing to prevent bruising. If a
bruise appears, do not use that injection site again until the bruise goes. If you bleed frequently, consult your health-
care professional on your injection technique and/or if you have another medical problem.
Blockage
If it is hard to press the pen button or plunger down, clogging may be due to:
• Small amounts of insulin caught in the needle from previous use - use a new pen needle for each injection.
• Clump in the insulin - properly mix insulin before drawing it up.
• Prematurely drawing insulin before ready to inject, causing some to dry inside the needle - ll syringe closer to
injection time.
• Dialling excess dosage than the amount of medication in the pen - start a new pen.
Leakage from the Pen or Skin After Needle Removal
If this happens, you may not be leaving the needle under your skin long enough - try to count up to 10 slowly before
withdrawing the needle. There may still be some leakage after withdrawing a needle anyway, but this should not
aect your blood glucose control.
You should also check that if using the skinfold technique, release the pinch before you remove the needle from your
skin.
Also never carry an insulin pen with the needle already attached; this causes air to enter the cartridge and slow the
insulin dosage time.
Skin Problems at Injection Site
These can sometimes occur at the injection site due to changes in the subcutaneous fat:
1. Lipohypertrophy - appears as soft, grape-like lumps under the skin from insulin reaction or needle reuse. Rotate
injection sites to prevent development.
2. Lipoatrophy - loss of fat under skin so it dips is a rare occurrence with impure insulins.
Although less painful, never inject into lumps because insulin does not absorb well there.
Do not forget your scheduled insulin injections as this can aect your glucose levels and overall health.
Reference - http://www.t4diabetes.com/les/6714/4293/6325/FIT_Injection_Technique_Recommendations_3rd_Edition_lo_res.pdf
FinePoint, CarePoint
and Safety Pen Needles

Summary

Tips When Using Pen Needles

Comfortable Injection

Guidance on minimizing pain and discomfort during insulin injections, including needle size and technique.

Bleeding at Injection Site

Explains causes of bleeding and management to prevent bruising and potential infection.

Blockage Issues

Identifies reasons for pen blockage and solutions, such as using new needles and proper mixing.

Leakage After Needle Removal

Addresses leakage concerns and suggests techniques to prevent them, like longer needle retention.

Skin Problems at Injection Site

Discusses lipohypertrophy and lipoatrophy, advising on site rotation and avoiding lumps.

How to Use GlucoRx Pen Needles

Insulin Pen Basics

General advice on insulin pens, including storage, not sharing, and selecting the right pen.

Needle Length and Injection Techniques

Guidance on selecting needle length and using lifted skin fold vs. no skin fold techniques.

Step-by-Step Injection Procedure

Detailed instructions for safely administering insulin, covering preparation, injection, and disposal.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

This manual describes the GlucoRx Pen Needles, including FinePoint, CarePoint, and Safety Pen Needles, designed for insulin injection. These pen needles are intended to provide a comfortable, safe, and effective method for administering insulin, with features aimed at improving the user experience and ensuring proper injection technique.

Function Description

The GlucoRx Pen Needles are designed to facilitate the subcutaneous injection of insulin using an insulin pen device. Their primary function is to deliver insulin from the pen's cartridge into the user's body. The needles are engineered for universal fit on all insulin pen devices, ensuring broad compatibility. They are available in various lengths (e.g., 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm) to accommodate different patient profiles and injection sites, as recommended by healthcare professionals. The FinePoint range specifically features 5-bevel pen needles, which are designed to enhance injection comfort compared to standard 3-bevel needles. The Safety Pen Needles (5mm, 8mm) incorporate additional safety features to prevent accidental needlestick injuries.

Usage Features

The manual provides comprehensive guidance on how to use GlucoRx Pen Needles effectively and comfortably.

• Comfortable Injection: To minimize pain, users are advised to consult their doctor for the appropriate needle size, avoid reusing pen needles (as this can dull the tip and increase infection risk), handle caps carefully to prevent bending the needle, inject insulin at room temperature, use correct injection technique (e.g., skin fold, quick penetration, relaxed muscles), and consider splitting large insulin doses into smaller injections if advised by a doctor.
• Preventing Bleeding: If bleeding occurs at the injection site, applying light pressure with a cotton ball without rubbing is recommended to prevent bruising. Users are advised to avoid injecting into bruised areas until they heal. Frequent bleeding warrants consultation with a healthcare professional.
• Addressing Blockage: If the pen button or plunger is hard to press, blockage may be due to small amounts of insulin caught in the needle from previous use (emphasizing the need for a new pen needle for each injection), insulin clumps (requiring proper mixing), or premature drawing of insulin (leading to drying inside the needle). Dialing an excessive dose compared to the pen's remaining medication can also cause blockage.
• Managing Leakage: If insulin leaks from the pen or skin after needle removal, it may indicate that the needle was not held under the skin long enough (a slow count to 10 is suggested). Releasing the skin pinch before removing the needle when using the skinfold technique is also important. Carrying an insulin pen with the needle attached can cause air to enter the cartridge, slowing insulin dosage.
• Skin Problems: The manual highlights potential skin problems at the injection site, such as lipohypertrophy (soft, grape-like lumps from insulin reaction or needle reuse) and lipoatrophy (loss of fat). Users are advised to rotate injection sites to prevent these conditions and never inject into lumps, as insulin absorption will be impaired.
• Injection Procedure:
  1. Load an insulin pen cartridge if necessary. Remove the new pen needle seal and affix it onto the pen using the outer protective cap.
  2. Remove the outer, then inner protective cap.
  3. For cloudy or premixed insulin, gently roll the pen at least 10 times between palms to mix thoroughly.
  4. Prime the insulin pen to clear air bubbles/dead space and ensure free insulin flow. Dial in the required dose. Some pens may require gentle shaking.
  5. Avoid injecting through clothes or into areas with visible blood vessels. Ensure hands and the injection site (commonly stomach, thighs, buttocks) are clean.
  6. Check needle attachment. Penetrate skin quickly and inject slowly (counting to 10) into the subcutaneous layer at room temperature, with relaxed muscles, following healthcare advice. Accidental intramuscular injection can be painful and affect blood sugar control.
  7. If the needle is removed too fast, insulin may leak. If bleeding occurs, press gently without rubbing.
  8. Carefully replace the outer protective cap (for self-injecting only).
  9. Detach the pen needle and safely discard it immediately in a 'sharps' container according to local medical waste disposal rules.
• Needle Length and Technique: The choice of needle length should be determined by a healthcare professional.
  • Lifted Skin Fold Technique: For needles longer than 4mm in children and 8mm in adults, a lifted skin fold is recommended. Pinch the skin with thumb and index finger, avoiding blood vessels or muscle, and inject at a 90° angle.
  • Without Lifted Skin Fold Technique: For shorter needles (mostly 4mm in children, and 4/5/6mm in adults depending on injection site), a 90° angle can be used if there is sufficient fatty tissue. For slim limbs/abdomen, even short needles may still warrant a lifted skin fold.
• Injection Site Rotation: The manual emphasizes the importance of rotating injection sites to preserve skin health and reduce lipohypertrophy. Successive injections should be spaced at least 1cm apart. Sites showing signs of lipohypertrophy, oedema, inflammation, or infection should be avoided until resolved.

Maintenance Features

The manual implicitly addresses maintenance through proper usage and storage guidelines:

• Single-Use: Pen needles are strictly single-use devices. Reusing needles is discouraged due to the risk of bacterial growth, dulling of the tip, and potential for breakage or dislodgement in the skin. This also prevents blockage from dried insulin.
• Storage: Unused insulin pen cartridges and pre-filled pens should be stored in the fridge. Insulin pens and pen needles should be kept separate until ready for injection. Insulin should not be exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures, as temperature fluctuations can affect insulin compression or expansion.
• Hygiene: Hands and the injection site should be clean before injection to prevent infection.
• Disposal: Used pen needles must be detached and safely discarded immediately in a 'sharps' container, adhering to local medical waste disposal rules. This prevents accidental needlestick injuries and ensures proper waste management.

GlucoRx Pen Needles Specifications

General

Sterility	Sterile
Brand	GlucoRx
Needle Gauge	31G
Needle Length	5mm
Compatibility	Compatible with most insulin pens
Pack Size	100
Needle Technology	Ultra-thin wall technology for less pain