The VA is attempting to arrange an independent review of the study. One of the drawbacks of taking a dose of insulin for people with diabetes is that they typically have to wait 30 to 45 minutes before eating, or else they risk poor blood-glucose control. A new insulin pen, developed by Eli Lilly and Company, may change all that. The latter ingredient is a fast-acting insulin, and is absorbed within fifteen minutes of eating, so that it can be taken by the person just before they start eating. This helps the body to control glucose levels throughout the day.
Patients control the amount of insulin they administer by turning a dose knob on the pen.
This particular insulin pen contains 300 units of insulin, and needs no refrigeration. It is available by prescription only. Although the pens are very convenient, they raise concerns. If an individual's meal schedule or amount of food change, they are unable to adjust their insulin intake to account for these changes. This makes the insulin pen impractical for many people with Type 1 diabetes except those who eat on a very fixed schedule.