Types of Insulin Delivery Devices and How to Choose

In the daily management of diabetic patients, the choice of insulin injection equipment directly affects the therapeutic effect and quality of life. Currently,

insulin injection devices on the market are mainly categorized into four major types: insulin syringes, insulin pumps, insulin pens, and prefilled insulin pens.

In this article, we will analyze and compare the four major types of insulin injection devices in the market to help Diabetic Patient to choose the most suitable

device.

I. Detailed explanation of the four majorinsulin delivery devices

1. Insulin syringe (traditional type)

Applicable scenarios: economic basic treatment, first-time injectors

Working principle: extracting insulin liquid manually and injecting with disposable needles

Mainly types on the market:   U40 insulin syringe and U100 insulin syringe

Main Advantage:

Low cost (single injection costs about$0.3-0.8)

Simple operation, no electricity/special training required

Precise control of single dose possible (1IU accuracy)

Main disadvantage:

Repeated puncture required, prone tosubcutaneous fat hyperplasia

Inconvenient to carry, need to keepunopened insulin refrigerated

Time-consuming for multiple injections perday (4-6 times in total for basal-prandial)

2. Insulin pump (continuous infusion type)

Applicable scenarios: type 1 diabetes,gestational diabetes, perioperative blood glucose control.

Working principle: Micro computer controlsmicro motor, 24 hours continuous insulin infusion.

Main Advantage:

Mimic physiological insulin secretion,reduce blood glucose fluctuation by 30%-50

Flexible adjustment of basal rate andpre-meal high dose

Reduced incidence of hypoglycemia(especially at night)

Main disadvantages:

High acquisition cost (over $20,000 peryear for equipment + consumables)

Catheter system requires regularmaintenance (change every 3-7 days)

Potential risk of clogging/leakage, need tocarry a backup solution with you.

3. Insulin pen (portable)

Applicable scenarios: outpatient routinetreatment, patients requiring frequent injections

Working principle: preloaded insulincartridge, adjust the dosage through the knob and then press to inject.

Main Advantage:

Reduced operation time to less than 5seconds

Portable and discreet for one-handedoperation

Reduced dosage error (within ±2%)

Main disadvantages:

Requires regular refill replacement (every 28 days or when used up)

Compatibility issues between different brands

Micro-adjustment is not possible (minimum dose is usually 1 IU)

4. Prefilled insulin pen

Scenarios: travel spare, temporary emergency, specific dose requirements

Working principle: one-time pre-filled fixed dose insulin, no need to adjust the volume

Main Advantage:

Ready-to-use, avoiding the need to carrybottles and syringes

Aseptic packaging extends shelf life (28-56days)

Reduces operational error rate

Main disadvantages:

Fixed dose, not suitable for individualizedadjustment

Higher cost per unit (about $15-30/unit)

Need to use with specialized needles

Comparison sheet of the four insulin delivery devices

3. How to choose the suitable one for you?

1) Evaluate the severity of the disease

HbA1c>9% or recurrent ketoacidosis should give priority to insulin pumps

Newly diagnosed patients are recommended to start the transition from pen injections

2) Calculate the average daily injection frequency

1-2 times/day: long-acting insulin + oral medication combination

3-4 times/day: insulin pen + rapid-acting insulin regimen

More than 5 times: pump treatment is better

3) Economic capacity calculation

The annual cost of syringes is the lowest, and pump treatment requires long-term investment preparation

Public medical insurance coverage needs to be consulted in advance (for example, pump consumables in some areas can be 60% reimbursement)

4) Lifestyle adaptability

Those who travel frequently should choose pens or special charging devices

Sports enthusiasts should pay attention to the waterproof performance of the pump (IPX8 level is required for swimming)

5) Technical learning curve

Insulin pumps require 2-4 weeks of training, and pen injections can be mastered within 2 hours

Elderly patients are advised to choose products with large font display and sound prompt functions

6) Complication risk management

Those with a history of fat hyperplasiashould use short needles (such as 4mm)

Those who are prone to hypoglycemia shouldbe equipped with a real-time blood glucose monitor linked to the pump

IV. Can insulin needles be reused?

Insulin pen needle or needle for insulin syringes: Reuse is absolutely prohibited!

Infection risk: Needles used more than three times will cause the loss of needle lubricant, increasing the probability of skin infection by three times.

Dose deviation: The bending and deformation of the needle will cause the actual injection dose error to reach 20%-40%

Tissue damage: Repeated puncture of the same location will accelerate subcutaneous fat hyperplasia (annual incidencerate 12%-38%)

Correct operation specifications:

1. A new needle must be used for eachinjection

2. Needle length selection standard (adultsusually choose 4-6mm)

3. Use "90°needle insertion method" to reduce tissue damage

4. Immediately discard to a dedicated sharps box after use

V. Outlook for future development trends

Insulin delivery systems will present three major innovative directions in 2026:

Closed-loop insulin pumps: MiniMed 780G has achieved automatic blood sugar regulation, and the A1C compliance rate has increased by 15%

Needle-free injection technology: Afrezzaaerodynamic insulin, painless and faster absorption

Smart monitoring integration: Apple WatchThe ECG function can warn of hypoglycemia risks and synchronize with the pumpdata in real time

Conclusion

Choosing an insulin injection device requires comprehensive consideration of efficacy, convenience and economy. For most

patients with type 2 diabetes, insulin pens are still the mostcost-effective choice.

It is recommended that patients develop an individualized plan under the guidance of an endocrinologist and in

combination with their own blood sugar monitoring data. Remember: correct injection technique is more important than the device itself - no matter what tool you choose, standardized injection techniques and rotation sites

(abdomen, upper arms, thighs, buttocks)are the key to successful blood sugar control!