| Problem | Possible cause | Recommended action |
| Painful injection |
- Re-using the pen needle several times
- Injecting into a muscle
- Too superficial, hit a nerve in the skin
|
- Change the pen needle after every injection.
- Make a skin fold or use a shorter pen needle.
- Use a longer pen needle.
|
| Insulin leaks from the injection site |
- Pen needle too short
- Pen needle removed too quickly after injecting (incomplete insulin delivery)
- Injected too quickly, insulin could not be distributed correctly
|
- Use a longer pen needle.
- Inject slowly and do not remove the pen needle immediately (count to 10).
- Inject slowly and do not remove the pen needle immediately (count to 10).
|
| Insufficient insulin action |
- Unsuitable injection site (lipohypertrophy, scar tissue, skin hardening)
- Pen needle removed too quickly after injecting (incomplete insulin delivery)
- Incomplete mixing of insulin in the ampoule (only relevant for cloudy insulin)
|
- Avoid unsuitable sites. Inject slowly and do not remove the pen needle immediately (count to 10).
- Tip the pen gently back and forth a number of times before each injection.
- Use a new pen needle.
|
| Unable to press down the dose button on the pen |
- Rubber membrane of the ampoule not pierced
- Pen needle too loose
- Pen needle blocked
|
- Use a new pen needle.
- Ensure clicked on properly.
- Use a new pen needle.
|
