I’ve been using the Medtronic InPen for years to do my bolus shots. It’s worked very well for me. The big advantages it has are: (1) half-unit dosing, and (2) a nice app that automatically registers when you injected plus an estimate of total insulin on board (very useful for planning workouts and other activity). The app it pairs with, however, is being discontinued and replaced with one called Medtronic Go, which does not support the G7 sensor. In order to keep using the app, and thus to get full access to the InPen’s functions, you need to change to a Medtronic sensor. Needless to say, I’m not about to do that, so I guess it’s goodbye InPen.
This is infuriating for a number of reasons. Mainly it sucks to be at the mercy of companies that can jerk us around so arbitrarily. Another is that the only half-unit pen still around is Humalog Jr, which isn’t strictly covered by my current PBM’s formulary, although my endo did write a letter of necessity to plead for an exception. Finally, the app was damn useful and helped my daily routine a lot. If anyone happens to know of another good IOB-tracking app, let me know. I can always just vibe it out, but if I do several shots it gets hard to keep track of the overlapping durations and I’d rather have a more precise estimate.
Hi @needlesandmath,
I understand the frustration with companies buying other companies, and then changing the product. And also the fact that they are forcing people to switch to the Medtronic sensor. That really sucks.
In case you did not know - you can refill a KwikPen Junior! I usually buy them from Canada (because they are much cheaper!) and then reuse them over and over until they die.
I know the Canada buying option is dicey right now. But if you suck it up and buy one here, you can refill it over and over. And in that way, it ends up being a very cheap pen!
I posted a thread on refilling it, if you want I can try to track it down.
Also, I have some new KwikPens that I have not used yet. I can send you one if you would like.
That’s the ask. The only way I can see to do this is to use a pump; so far as I know the inpen is unique in this regard.
The AIDS apps, like AAPS, will support MDI scenarios, indeed that’s their default mode of action. However the issue is getting the bolus data in. I don’t think it is on the radar for any AIDS implementation; it’s hard enough to deal with the pumps.
I think you’re fucked.
EDIT: xDrip+ has “experimental” InPen support under “Insulin Pens” in the “Experimental Section”.. That Insulin Pen section contains entries for the NovoPen (via NFC), InPen, “Downloading dosages” (this might be automatic if switched on - it’s not clear) and the Pendiq 2.0
My xDrip+ is displaying IOB and that number does not seem to be coming from AAPS; xDrip+ says I have 0.62IU on board, AAPS is saying 0.76IU and the two numbers are not changing in a consistent way.
Since xDrip+ does support most sensors that may be a way forward, but since it’s marked “Experimental” it may not work that well.
I use the Novopen Echo - it’s refillable and has a digital display that shows how much the last dose was and how long ago it was. Unfortunately in the US it does not allow connection to phones to track the data. Currently I’m not tracking IOB, but when I was, I used the Gluroo app and it was great.
I should have been more cautious–“automatically” is what InPen does, but I’d be satisfied with anything that lets me manually enter a bolus and just does the math of calculating total IOB at any moment based on what I tell it.
That’s really interesting! I didn’t know about that one. Very strange and annoying about not pairing with phones in the US, though. I will give Gluroo a look. I will put up with entering information manually as long as the tracking functions do what I need.
Definitely check out the Novopen - I forget how long I’ve been using it, but over a year I think and the battery is still working.
Gluroo is still in testing so is free for now, but I have a feeling they will be charging for it before long. It was really helpful when I quit my pump and went back to MDI over 2 years ago!
FWIW, I completely feel you on this topic. I really liked the idea of the InPen too but don’t want to have to use Medtronic’s sensors, either.
Just pay attention to the direction of the pushing and turning, etc.
Inevitably get a small bit of air in there. The small amount of air is not a problem because if you are holding the pen downward when injecting, the air will be up at the plunger not the needle. Also, you can suck the air bubbles out with a syringe if you want.
If you are using Android xDrip+ is worth a trial; don’t set it up for the CGM at first because only one thing on the 'phone can talk to the CGM. It is likely to be true that the “InPen” has a unique connection too so you might lose an InPen testing it (if it doesn’t work) but if Plan B is a different pen then you may well have an InPen to sacrifice.
If you are on iPhone I don’t think the iPhone port xDrip4iOS offers IOB support in any form, I may be wrong; I know nothing about the iOS port.
I couldn’t deduce what the xDrip+ behaviour is with InPen for sure when I wrote my response but, reading the xDrip+ documentation, it is automatic and it will download data from the last 3 days:
Hum. I should berate myself for failing to RTFM (Read The [Fine] Manual); I’ve berated others often enough.
When I’m on a pump break I use Jade Insulin Dose Calculator. If there is any downside to the app it would be that it does so, so much, that it can be overwhelming for some users. From what you’ve said it will meet your needs. It does involve a paid subscription but the app has been around a long time and is actively supported. https://app.jadediabetes.com