# MDI: saving all your priming insulin
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493
**Category:** Tips
**Tags:** insulin
**Created:** [November 13, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493 "2018-11-13T18:05:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493/1 "2018-11-13T18:05:45Z")
> [@Disposable Pens - getting all of the insulin](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/disposable-pens-getting-all-of-the-insulin/4371/5):
>
> With the price of insulin these days, the only unused insulin around my house is the amount needed for those pesky priming shots!
If you wanted to _really really really_ save as much insulin as possible, I can save you a few units per pen…
It might be over-the-top, but it’s easy.
You can get sterile vials for very cheap.
For example, here is a 10-pack of sterile vials for $14.
> **[10ml Sterile Clear Vials 10 Pack: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific](https://www.amazon.com/10ml-Sterile-Clear-Vials-Pack/dp/B01N6ODDF1)**
>
> Made in USA. Sterility Tested in USA and processed and Packaged in USA. Beware of extremely less expensive vial suppliers from China. Their sterility testing protocols are not like USA.
Prime into the vial. You can label the vial with a date or whatever. At the end of a few pens, all of that primed (and otherwise wasted) insulin will be in the vial, which you can use.
(Make sure to remove a few units of air from the vial every once-in-a-while, so there is no pressure in there…)
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### Author:  [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493/2 "2018-11-13T18:11:28Z")
> [@Disposable Pens - getting all of the insulin](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/disposable-pens-getting-all-of-the-insulin/4371/6):
>
> Prime into the vial.
This is sheer genius!
We prime probably 7-8 times per day…
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### Author:  [@DaveJ](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/DaveJ)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493/3 "2018-11-14T01:28:25Z")
> [@Eric](#):
>
> Prime into the vial. You can label the vial with a date or whatever. At the end of a few pens, all of that primed (and otherwise wasted) insulin will be in the vial, which you can use.
>
> (Make sure to remove a few units of air from the vial every once-in-a-while, so there is no pressure in there…)
I love it!! I had actually looked at something similar when I first went to MDI therapy, with the idea of getting smaller ones to use so that I was not transporting full vials when out and about. But it never dawned on me that this was also a way to achieve as little waste as possible. Looks like my preferred dosing area is about to get some new friends to join in on the action.
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Pianoplayer7008](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Pianoplayer7008)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2018, 3:51am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/mdi-saving-all-your-priming-insulin/5493/4 "2018-11-14T03:51:48Z")
This is _such_ a good idea. I’d say you’re amazing, but we all already knew that. 😆