# Recapping a pen in the dark **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips, Tech & Gear\ **Created:** [April 7, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389 "2017-04-07T15:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/1 "2017-04-07T15:16:58Z")
Any suggestions on the best way to re-cap a pen after using it, when in a dark room? I don’t mean when using it during the day, I mean when taking a shot at night. When I have to take insulin in the middle of the night, I don’t turn the lights on. I just count clicks on the pen. But when re-capping it, sometimes I hit the side of the cap with needle, dulling it and possibly bending it. Just wondering if someone has a trick for doing this better. Doing things when half asleep is not as easy… BTW, posting this in Tips, Tech & Gear. Is this is a place for “asking” as well as “telling”? ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/2 "2017-04-07T15:33:22Z")
@Eric. Same problem here. I always have my phone close by, so I made a flashlight on /off toggle shortcut and turn it on to recap. I still just use the clicks in the dark for dosing. If you use the Dexcom G5 receiver, you can easily use that as a torch 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/3 "2017-04-07T15:35:20Z")
> [@Eric](#): > > BTW, posting this in Tips, Tech & Gear. Is this is a place for “asking” as well as “telling”? I think this is the right category too. I suggest that we use the Treatment subcategory for anything that has to do with M.O. as opposed to gear (although Tips subcat also has MO). So I would put this question, or any other question, in the Treatment subcategory. ---
**Author:** ![TiaG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/tiag/32/594_2.png) [@TiaG](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TiaG)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/4 "2017-04-07T15:49:07Z")
so maybe because I’m new to pens but aren’t you supposed to discard the needle tip every time with a pen? ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/5 "2017-04-07T16:02:04Z")
I always change the needle each time. ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/6 "2017-04-07T16:05:01Z")
I think the supposed to change each time, goes right along with changing lancets with each finger poke. Ideally and the real world often collide in unusual ways. ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/7 "2017-04-07T16:06:45Z")
> so maybe because I'm new to pens but aren't you supposed to discard the needle tip every time with a pen? @TiaG Sure, right along with the lancet after every time you poke your finger 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/8 "2017-04-07T16:16:04Z")
> [@TiaG](#): > > aren’t you supposed to discard the needle tip every time with a pen? Ideally yes, but not at 3 am! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lh378](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/lh378/32/601_2.png) [@lh378](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/lh378)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/9 "2017-04-07T16:17:51Z")
I even have problem recapping in daylight :-). That said, yes, some light from the cell phone is good. I’ve been in situations where it’s difficult to discreetly measure BG or “shoot up” insulin (LOL) and have been thankful for the cell phone lighting that it provides. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/10 "2017-04-07T16:30:33Z")
> [@TiaG](#): > > aren’t you supposed to discard the needle tip every time with a pen? You are, but many don’t. Many use the same practice as a testing lancet – jettison it at the end of the day (or later). They become blunter after a few uses, so it’s not too good to reuse them too much. FYI – we reuse lancets for a full day, but don’t reuse needles, in part because we use a needle snipper, so we don’t have a disposal issue. I don’t have any ideological problem with reusing needles though (only on a single patient though – obviously absolutely no sharing). ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/11 "2017-04-07T18:30:04Z")
Big fan of “ACCU-CHEK FASTCLIX LANCING” ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/1X/fffe6ddb312ed7ef058a8898020c8e26b2a590f8.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![drbbennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/drbbennett/32/604_2.png) [@drbbennett](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/drbbennett)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/12 "2017-04-07T18:38:11Z")
> [@docslotnick](#): > > If you use the Dexcom G5 receiver, you can easily use that as a torch Yup. I don’t use pens anymore but I do use the Dex receiver as a light source when I have an alert in the middle of the night and have to do a fingerstick to confirm and don’t want to turn the lights on. ---
**Author:** ![drbbennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/drbbennett/32/604_2.png) [@drbbennett](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/drbbennett)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/13 "2017-04-07T18:40:44Z")
> [@TiaG](#): > > aren’t you supposed to discard the needle tip every time with a pen Absolutely. I think I even did that for the first month or so when I started using 'em. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/14 "2017-04-07T18:43:22Z")
> [@docslotnick](#): > > Sure, right along with the lancet after every time you poke your finger I did this until I read you guys laughing at people like me (noobs in general) over at the other place. 😛 Now I change them out every few days or a week…or when I remember to do it? lol ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/15 "2017-04-07T19:55:01Z")
I will say that using them instantly makes it a little more dull–and slightly more painful for those with low pain tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![drbbennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/drbbennett/32/604_2.png) [@drbbennett](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/drbbennett)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/16 "2017-04-07T20:19:34Z")
One of the things I loved about the short-lived and lamented Assante Snap pump: it had a built-in LED flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/sam/32/10595_2.png) [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/17 "2017-04-07T23:59:58Z")
I’d like to find a discontinued Asante snap on eBay so that I can use the built in led flashlight to put the cap back on my novolog pen… 😉 Eric, why not just a small and not obnoxiously bright flashlight on the night stand that won’t bother the wife ? Call me old fashioned but I think it might work ---
**Author:** ![drbbennett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/drbbennett/32/604_2.png) [@drbbennett](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/drbbennett)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/18 "2017-04-10T14:13:46Z")
TUD did an interview with the Asante CEO and he said the engineers wanted to ditch the light feature but he insisted on keeping it. One of the things that convinced me I wanted to give it a try–user centered design! ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/19 "2017-08-20T02:51:30Z")
I’ve been re-capping needles for 20 years without being able to see them. What I do is take the small inner cap and place the end of it near the end of the pen, move it until it’s resting against the shaft of the needle (so at this point the sharp end of the needle is pointing 90 degrees away from my hand, and I’m starting from “behind”, so no risk of poking myself), then “skim” the cap lightly up the needle until I feel the resistance of the needle disappear (which means I’ve gone just past the end), and then turn the cap 90 degrees and recap. I don’t think I have ever poked myself with the needle doing this. It’s not quite sterile because you do touch the needle with the end end of the needle cap, but you don’t touch the needle with your fingers. I have re-used needles many times without problems (not recommending anyone else do this, though). Hopefully this makes sense… ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/recapping-a-pen-in-the-dark/389/20 "2017-08-20T03:35:11Z")
> [@Jen](#): > > Hopefully this makes sense… Thanks Jen. Will give that a try next opportunity.