Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
Being on MDI, having the ability to see how much IOB I have is fabulous! With my insurance, the InPen has only cost $35/year. Well worth it!
I have used an InPen for years and LOVE it!!
Hi Kim, some questions, if you have time to answer: how does the InPen compare to pumping, in your opinion? What do you do about basal insulin? Do you take an injection of long-acting morning and night? What about exercise? There’s no way to do any kind of temporary basal rate, obviously, and am wondering if this would be a deal braker for me. Thanks so much!
I’d love to!
I used the inpen before my pump and although I loved the half doses, I found the calculator always round down. So I ended up never using the recommendation!
I used the InPen briefly. It was awkward to use. After dialing up the desired dosage (1-7 units), the barrel would protrude so far that my small adult hands could barely push it back in. Looking at the amount recorded, it would be either half a unit over or under what I thought I had dialed. Unlike the Echo pen, it doesn’t click for each half unit and lands somewhere between. I use pens with half units because half a unit too much or too little will need to be corrected later. The most important criteria for an insulin delivery device, whether pen or pump, is that it deliver insulin. The InPen failed.
I took a pump break for two years and as pleased to find the InPen. If you have to/want to do MDI, I think this is the way to go. However, your basal is a shot of long acting insulin so you simply don’t have the pump advantage of varying your basal.
I was already using a pump before the smart pens were available.
I was involved in a trial run about 8 or 9 years ago and at the time I didn’t really understand the need for it. I’m not sure how it’s evolved since then and I’m hoping that it has.
Ive been using a pump for 10 years. Being able to have different setting for the basal through out the day is crucial to me.
I started on an insulin pump in 1984. Can’t imagine using any other way to manage T1D well for me.
Just started my second year using the InPen. Love it! I especially like knowing how much insulin I have on board.
I tried a “pen” twice but not like it because was unable to give half units of fast acting lispro insulin. It was marked only in whole units. I continued injecting basal (long acting glargine) two doses 12 hours apart.
I used to use an insulin pen – and then switched over to the insulin pen…. Have never heard of a ‘smart’ insulin pen.
The battery died and then went t wasn’t very smart.
I can’t remember how long it lasted but it wasn’t very long. I can’t remember what kind it was either. It only remembered the one last shot and was not all that helpful for me. I think there might be better ones out now.
I love my InPen. Based on some of the comments some do not know about smart pens. I am MDI and enjoy that it records my doses and has half units. IOB is helpful too. I use the calculator very little as I also take into consideration for dosing my CGM trend line, my exercise, etc.
If you are on MDI, the InPen is the way to go. I love it because it logs my injections and shows active insulin. It also gives half doses. I feel out of control or wondering how my control was doing without it.
I have been using an InPen for about 3 years for my quick acting (bolus) insulin and adore it! I have a G6 dexcom and love it also! My skin cannot tolerate 2 sets of adhesive so a pump doesn’t work for me, but the InPen gives me all the same data help and dose recommendations & time tracking that a pump does. Of course it’s still shots but having started T1D 61 years ago with glass syringes and needles we sharpened and boiled, the improvements in treatment have been mind-boggling over the years! Wouldn’t give up CGM for anything! Also InPen has half units which is great. I’m surprised more regular insulin pens don’t have this. As I get older, I love the tracking more and more!