You can read more about injecting insulin and the different types of insulin pens available. Which smart insulin pens are available? Manually logging data is time consuming. It typically did not show the exact time that insulin was administered, for example, before or after a meal was consumed. Smart connected devices reduce this time spent logging and provide more precise data.” Novo Nordisk has signed collaboration agreements with Glooko, Roche and DexCom to support the future integration of its NovoPen 6 and NovoPen Echo Plus insulin pens with digital health solutions.

NovoPen® 6 | Hypodermic insulin injection pens | Medical NovoPen® 6 | Hypodermic insulin injection pens | Medical

Suliqua (which is insulin glargine combined with a medicine called lixisenatide) comes as pre-filled pens. It's used by some people with type 2 diabetes who need both medicines to manage their blood glucose. The deal with Roche will also see similar work, where Novo Nordisk insulin data will be synched with Roche’s diabetes management platforms, such as mySugr and Accu-Chek Smart Pix. If you are prescribed a Novo smart pen and wish to use it like a standard insulin pen without the connectivity function, then you can discuss this with your clinic or healthcare provider - for example, so you can see if a different pen may suit you better. How can smart insulin pens affect diabetes management? Smart insulin pens can also connect with certain apps that let you keep your insulin dosages and blood glucose data in one place. This means you can look at the timing and dose of your insulin in relation to any food you’ve eaten or activity you’ve done to see how it has affected you. The data can also tell you how much insulin is still working in your body which can help you make decisions for unplanned activity or unexpected sugar readings.

Toujeo comes as pre-filled pens. Toujeo contains 300 units of insulin per 1ml of liquid which is 3 times more concentrated than the other brands. Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring ( CGM) data will be combined with Novo Nordisk connected insulin pen data and “guidance information” to “give advice” that makes diabetes easier. The press release notes broadly that this will happen “in the coming years.” Dexcom recently acquired TypeZero, a startup that has insulin dosing advice algorithms for injection users. One day, it’s very possible Dexcom CGM users on injections will get personalized dosing advice based on their patterns.

Smart insulin pens: How they work, and your experiences of

Along with the smart pen news, Novo Nordisk announced data partnerships with Roche, Dexcom, and Glooko. These partners (and likely more to come) will integrate insulin injection data into their apps/platforms, and in some cases, including dosing advice based on it. Besides the connected insulin pens launch, the company intends to provide connectivity for its disposable, pre-filled injection pens next year.

Diabetes is a difficult condition to manage and the number of people living with it is on the rise. When diabetes is poorly controlled and not managed properly it can lead to health complications for people. Xultophy (which is insulin degludec combined with liraglutide) is available as a pre-filled pen for people with type 2 diabetes who need both medicines to manage their blood glucose. Key facts It will allow for more tailored and informed advice on optimisation of glucose levels, with the ultimate goal of improving future outcomes.” When asked if there was one thing he’d like to see improved, James adds: “Currently, on the FreeStyle LibreLink app a person must select if they have given an air shot or not. It would be useful and less time consuming if this could be automatically detected by the app.”