The insulin injection needles for personal use by patients are for single use only, but the vast majority of self-injecting insulin users at home often reuse a needle multiple times. This is mainly to save costs, and also because the needle can still be effective after several uses.

Risks of Reusing Insulin Pen Needles

Loss of needle resilience

Not changing the needle for a long time can cause the material to age, reducing resilience, deforming it, and even breaking off in the skin.

Needle clogging

Repeated use can lead to blockages, possibly causing inaccurate dosages, shortening the life of the insulin pen, and even causing blood accumulated inside the needle to backflow into the insulin cartridge, rendering the entire insulin injection fluid unusable.

Residual insulin crystals

These could block the needle, making injection impossible, affecting the next injection, and even preventing the medication from being dispensed.

Pain during injection

The needle becomes blunt, irritating the local skin, increasing pain, and even causing bleeding and abrasion.

Increased risk of infection

Reusing insulin pen needles increases the risk of infection, bacterial invasion, or cross-infection, which may cause inflammation.

KOHOPE recommends

One-time use: Replace the needle immediately after injecting insulin, and it is advisable to discard it after use to ensure personal safety.

Reasons for Regularly Replacing Insulin Pen Needles

Ensuring injection safety

Regularly replacing insulin pen needles can ensure the needle's resilience and sharpness, reducing the risk of breakage and clogging, thereby ensuring the safety and accuracy of the injection.

Improving treatment effectiveness

Using a new insulin pen needle can ensure a smooth outflow of insulin, making the injection dosage more accurate, thereby improving the treatment effectiveness.

Reducing skin infection

New insulin pen needles have a protective film on the surface which can prevent bacterial growth. Regular replacement can reduce the risk of skin infection and protect the patient's health.

The Choice of Insulin Pen Needles

Different types of insulin require different types of insulin pens, but insulin needles are universal. There are various insulin pen needles available on the market, which are compatible with various insulin pens, but they come in different lengths and thicknesses.

The letter G and numbers indicate the thickness of the needle

G denotes gauge, and the number represents the number of such needles that can fit into a tube of a given diameter. The larger the gauge number, the thinner the needle. For example, the diameter of a 32G needle is 0.23 mm, while the diameter of a 31G needle is 0.25 mm.

Needle length

Common lengths are 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, and 8mm. Choosing the length should consider the patient's individual needs, body type, physiological characteristics, and type of insulin. The shorter the needle, the higher the safety and better the tolerance.

Usage tips

Different lengths of needles need to be used in different injection areas. For example, 4mm needles can be injected vertically (pinching the skin is required for young children and very thin persons), while 6mm  and longer needles may require skin pinching when injecting into the upper arm, and 8 mm needles should be pinched and injected at a 45-degree angle.

Following the correct operational steps and making suitable selections when using insulin pen needles can help improve treatment effectiveness and reduce risks.