Better Insulin Therapy

In a recent five-year study, researchers followed 1,300 diabetes patients who received insulin therapy using either syringes to inject insulin extracted from a vial...or insulin pens, which contain a needle and a premeasured dose of the drug. The insulin pen group had average annual health care costs nearly $17,000 lower than those who used syringes (due to lower total hospital costs, for example, and fewer trips to emergency rooms).

Theory: When using an insulin pen, there is less risk of getting an incorrect dose.

If you use a syringe for insulin therapy: Ask your doctor if switching to an insulin pen would be appropriate for you.