Smart insulin pens and pen caps
What are smart insulin pens and pen caps?
Smart insulin pens and pen caps offer people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) a different way to use technology to manage and deliver insulin.
Smart insulin pens and pen caps are devices used to administer and track insulin doses for people who use insulin pens to take multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin.
How do smart insulin pens work?
Smart insulin pens and pen caps pair with corresponding smartphone apps that allow a person with diabetes to keep track of insulin doses, blood-glucose levels (via data from a compatible CGM or blood-glucose meter), as well as receive reminders, alerts, and reports.
How do smart insulin pens make managing T1D easier?
Smart insulin pens and pen caps have many features that can make managing T1D easier, including:
- Built-in insulin dose calculators that simplify insulin dosing
- Alerts to help prevent skipped or missed doses
- Automatically track the time and amount of every dose
- Reminders for the next insulin dose
- Alerts about expired insulin or heat exposure
- Simplified data sharing with your healthcare team at any time
- Ability to sync with smartphones or watches, as well as popular diabetes data-tracking platforms
Smart insulin pens and pen caps available in the U.S.*
The following are FDA-approved smart insulin pens and pen caps available for use in the U.S.:
| Device name | More information |
|---|---|
| Bigfoot™ Unity | https://www.bigfootbiomedical.com/bigfoot-unity |
| Lilly Tempo™ | https://www.lillytempo.com |
| Medtronic InPen™ | https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/inpen-smart-insulin-pen-system |
Other ways to administer insulin
In addition to smart insulin pens and pen caps, insulin can be administered via insulin pumps, artificial pancreas systems/automated insulin delivery systems, or inhaler.
Smart insulin pen FAQ
Smart insulin pens and pen caps are devices used to administer and track insulin doses for people who use insulin pens to take multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin.
Smart insulin pens and pen caps pair with corresponding smartphone apps that allow a person with T1D to keep track of insulin doses, blood-glucose levels (via data from a compatible continuous glucose monitor or blood-glucose meter), as well as receive reminders, alerts, and reports.
Smart insulin pens and pen caps have many features that can make managing T1D easier, including:
- Syncing to smartphones and watches, as well as popular diabetes tracking platforms.
- Calculating insulin dosage based on current blood glucose level, how much insulin is on board (IOB), carbohydrate count, and more (similar to how an insulin pump calculates dosage).
- Sending alerts for missed insulin doses.
- Tracking the time and amount of every dose and issuing reminders for the next dose.
- Indicating whether insulin has expired or has been exposed to temperature extremes.
- Providing data to your healthcare team at any time.
Like conventional insulin pens, smart insulin pens and pen caps can be used to administer certain long- or rapid-acting insulin. Your healthcare provider will help to determine what works best for you.
More T1D technology
An automated insulin delivery (AID) system has three main components: an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and an algorithm that determines the best insulin dose to help keep you in range.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are small, wearable devices that continuously measure a person’s blood-glucose levels. They are largely used in place of glucose meters and finger sticks.
Health Insurance Guide
If you think a smart insulin pen or pen cap might be right for you, speak with your healthcare provider. Consult the Breakthrough T1D Health Insurance Guide to learn about insurance coverage for T1D management tools and therapies.
