SugarMD - How To Use Novolog Flexpen? [Doctor Shows and Explains - 2020]

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Use the NovoLog FlexPen with a pen needle, priming it with 2 units before each dose, dialing the prescribed amount, and injecting into the abdomen or upper thigh at about 90 degrees, then waiting 5 to 10 seconds before withdrawing. The video says NovoLog is taken before meals, or occasionally on a sliding scale when blood sugar is high, and that doses should not be repeated hourly because insulin can accumulate and cause severe hypoglycemia.

Key Points

• The video walks through the basic FlexPen workflow: attach the pen needle, prime the pen with 2 units, dial the dose, inject, and dispose of the needle in a safe container.
• Injection sites named include the abdomen and upper thigh, and the speaker says to avoid areas very near the belly button, the upper buttocks, and the back of the upper arm.
• NovoLog's action profile as described: starts working in 10 to 15 minutes, peaks around 90 minutes, and wears off in 3 to 4 hours.
• Repeated dosing every hour is warned against because it can lead to accumulation of NovoLog and severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• The speaker advises following the doctor's instructions carefully and working with an endocrinologist or diabetes specialist, especially if blood sugar is hard to control.

Details Worth Noting

• Concrete instructions:
  1. Dial the prescribed dose on the pen (example given: 10 units).
  2. Remove the pen cap, screw a pen needle onto the pen, then pull off the needle's outer cap, leaving the inner needle cap for later removal as described.
  3. Prime the pen with 2 units: dial 2 units and confirm insulin appears at the needle tip before the injection.
  4. Dial the full prescribed dose again (example: 10 units).
  5. Inject onto clean skin at about a 90-degree angle, push the plunger all the way in, and hold for 5 to 10 seconds until fully delivered.
  6. Withdraw the needle, remove it using a safe needle container, and replace the cap for the next injection.
  7. Do not inject another dose every hour; follow the timing set by your doctor.
• The video treats NovoLog as a mealtime insulin, sometimes used on a sliding scale when blood sugar is high.
• The speaker frames the medication details as general guidance; the viewer should rely on the prescribing doctor for the actual dose and timing.
• The video is brief and does not cover storage, pen-needle changes, or what to do after a missed dose.

Bottom Line

Using a FlexPen correctly depends on priming, the correct injection technique, and strict dose timing, with NovoLog's roughly 3 to 4 hour action meaning doses should be spaced out rather than repeated hourly.