Why we recommend the InPen for fast acting insulin
As people using pumps it is easy to forget our days on Multiple Daily Injection (MDI) therapy. Some people diagnosed as children may never even have had the experience of managing their blood sugar without a pump. Pumps offer a ton of benefits, not the least of which is the bolus calculator with Insulin on board (IOB) tracking.
But what happens when we suddenly have that tool taken away?!
Some of us would become crippled by our lack of knowledge and experience. This is why it is important for even the highest techie to be familiar with good old fashioned pen and paper bolus calculations and insulin on board tracking. These are skills we teach here at IDS whether you’re on a pump or not! But there is also a great tool!
We always recommend having long acting insulin and the ability to inject insulin on hand as emergency backup for pump use, but you can take it a step farther. The InPen by Companion Medical is a bluetooth connected pen for fast acting insulin that we recommend to just about anyone on MDI. It links to an app on your phone to track doses, calculate insulin on board, calculate boluses and even make corrective recommendations! And insurance will cover two InPens per year, even for people on pumps! This means if we have to switch to MDI, or choose to (White water rafting on a pump can be a new and different kind of thrilling! and bikinis in Cancun don’t leave a lot of places to hide your Omnipod) you still have all the smarts of a standard pump at your disposal.
You can find more information and get started ordering your InPen here: https://www.companionmedical.com/get-inpen
Inpen is covered by most insurers and requires a prescription. currently available in the US only on iphone and Android devices.
**Users would need to get their insulin in cartridge form. For emergency back-up use you can ask your prescriber to write you a one time “PRN” prescription for fast acting insulin in cartridges. This may require a prior authorization for coverage form some insurance companies (They will baulk at covering the same fast acting insulin twice in one coverage period).
I have been using InPen for several years. Over the past 2 years it’s been a complete nightmare. The InPen is a great product when it works. Once you have a problem it’s completely impossible to get a rep on the phone and or a replacement. This means you have vials and no way of injecting. I have stopped using the product as this is a very dangerous situation for a type one diabetic. The company has no regulars to customers or priority’s to the life binding need of insulation injections. I have sent countless emails and left messages on every number that can be found. This is the 3rd time i have encountered this situation of the need for a replacement Penn with absolutely no responses. VERY Dangerous situation!!!
WOW Chuck that is really scary to read! I’d love to connect with you and reach out to Medtronic to hold them accountable. We noticed that when the InPen was bought out by Medtronic that their customer service dropped significantly and problems with the system increased. If you’d be willing to send me your contact info I’d love to facilitate a discussion between yourself and one of the senior members of the medtronic team to get these kinds of care gaps closed!