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How to get a Smart Pen

Insulin pens but smarter Learn how insulin pens have improved with smart technology.

Smart Pens are reloadable insulin pens and can be used repeatedly. They use Bluetooth technology to connect with smartphone apps to help people with diabetes keep track of their insulin use. These pens can tell you how much insulin you need, track how much insulin you use, and remind you when it’s time for more insulin. Smart pens come in a cap form, which can be added to your existing pen, while others are reusable and use prefilled cartridges instead of vials or disposable pens Tejera-Pérez C, Chico A, Azriel-Mira S, Lardiés-Sánchez B, Gomez-Peralta F. Connected Insulin Pens and Caps: An Expert’s Recommendation from the Area of Diabetes of the Spanish Endocrinology and Nutrition Society (SEEN). Diabetes Ther. 2023;14(7):1077-1091. doi:10.1007/s13300-023-01417-1| doi:10.1007/s13300-023-01417-1 Trecroci D. Everything You Need to Know About Connected Insulin Pens. Beyond Type 1. June 11, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://beyondtype1.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-connected-insulin-pens/|https://beyondtype1.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-connected-insulin-pens/ NovoPen® 6 and NovoPen Echo® Plus. Novo Nordisk. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/our-products/smart-pens/novopen-6.html|https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/our-products/smart-pens/novopen-6.html Sangave NA, Aungst TD, Patel DK. Smart Connected Insulin Pens, Caps, and Attachments: A Review of the Future of Diabetes Technology. Diabetes Spectr. 2019;32(4):378-384. doi:10.2337/ds18-0069| doi:10.2337/ds18-0069 Smart Pens in Diabetes Management. ADCES. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.adces.org/danatech/insulin-medicine-delivery/insulin-medicine-delivery-101/smart-pens-in-diabetes-management|https://www.adces.org/danatech/insulin-medicine-delivery/insulin-medicine-delivery-101/smart-pens-in-diabetes-managemen Sy SL, Munshi MM, Toschi E. Can Smart Pens Help Improve Diabetes Management? J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2020;16(3):628-634. doi:10.1177/1932296820965600| doi:10.1177/1932296820965600 .

Smart insulin pens are becoming popular because they are usually cheaper than automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, easy to use, and have many helpful features for managing diabetes What is a smart insulin pen? | American Diabetes Association. Accessed August 23, 2024. https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/devices-technology/smart-insulin-pen|https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/devices-technology/smart-insulin-pen . Smart insulin pens can help to [7] Heinemann L, Schnell O, Gehr B, Schloot NC, Görgens SW, Görgen C. Digital Diabetes Management: A Literature Review of Smart Insulin Pens. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022;16(3):587-595. doi:10.1177/1932296820983863 | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1932296820983863 MacLeod J, Vigersky RA. A Review of Precision Insulin Management With Smart Insulin Pens: Opening Up the Digital Door to People on Insulin Injection Therapy. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2023;17(2):283-289. doi:10.1177/19322968221134546| https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/19322968221134546 :

Calculate Insulin Needs: Figure out how much insulin you need based on your glucose level, how much food you eat, the size of your meal, how much insulin is still working in your body, and what your doctor recommends.

Provide Accurate and Precise Dosing: Give you the exact amount of insulin you need, even if it's just a tiny bit, like half a unit. They can also do the math to help you change your dose for a meal or if your blood glucose is high.

Reminders and Tracking for Doses: Help you remember to take your insulin on time and track how much insulin you use.

Check Insulin Quality: Tell you if your insulin is old or not stored correctly so you can get a new one.

Send Information to Doctor: Share your diabetes details with your doctor when needed.

Connect with Devices: Connects with CGMs, your smartphone or watch, and popular apps for tracking diabetes.

Choose a smart pen Compare the pens that are available currently

They each have pros and cons and have different qualities which may be good for some people and bad for others. To learn more about the available sensor options, please visit our device library.

Device Library

Understand your costs Choosing a smart pen may depend on cost - check out the estimated costs below.

The costs vary depending on your level of coverage and how your insurance classifies smart pens. 

Talk with your doctor and get a prescription You may need to help your doctor comprehend why this technology will be good for you and why you want it.

The main thing you need from your doctor is a prescription. You can share the links below with your doctor to help them understand the clinical benefits. To avoid delays, ask your doctor to make sure they write out important details in the prescription, such as the fact that you will use the device every day.

Tips for talking with your doctor

  • Remember, you are in charge of your body.
  • Advocate for yourself with a list of reasons why you believe it is best for your lifestyle.
  • Bring a family member or trusted friend to support you.
Get insurance approval Once you have the prescription, the process of getting insurance approval can feel like you're jumping through hoops (sometimes you are), but it will be worth it.

Smart insulin pens are available through pharmacies and may be covered by pharmacy or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) benefits, depending on your insurance plan. You'll need a prescription for both the pen and the insulin cartridges:

Contact the company you want a smart pen from

Insulin pen companies want your business and often have a helpful person on staff who understands the “ins and outs” of getting coverage. They will often walk you through the steps to confirm coverage. You will need your insurance card with your insurance policy number.

Pre-Authorization

Pre-authorization is the process that some insurance companies make you go through to get coverage for a smart insulin pen. The insurance or insulin pen company will let you know what is required if you need pre-authorization. Sometimes a letter of Medical Necessity may be required from your doctor, in addition to the prescription.

Preparation

Some insurance companies require your last month or more of blood sugar logs and/or A1c test results.

Wait time

Once you’ve submitted all your paperwork, you may be able to move the process along by checking up on the status every 1-2 weeks. After a couple of weeks, it is absolutely justified to make a check-in call.

JDRF Insurance Guide

Get your smart pen Where you get your supplies depends on how you get your supplies covered by insurance

If your insurance covers smart pens through “Durable Medical Equipment,” the best way to get your supplies is to call the smart pen company. If you’re getting your supplies through “pharmacy benefit,” you will need your prescription sent to the pharmacy. Call them to make sure they have ordered the smart pen or cartridges, and then go pick them up!

You can say, "Hi, I'm interested in getting a smart pen. Can you help me with that?"

Lilly Diabetes: Tempo Pen

1-855-545-5983

Medtronic InPen

1-800-646-4633

Abbott: Unity Pen

(408) 716-5600

Novo Nordisk: NovoPen Echo & NovoPen 6

1-800-727-6500

Pharmacies

Your local pharmacy has the ability to call to order sensors for you. Costco, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and Krogers also do.

Get support and training When you get your smart pen, you can ask your clinic or the device company if they offer training sessions to people starting new diabetes devices.

Youtube has a lot of great videos of people who are trying smart pens for the first time. You can also check out our wisdom pages to see some tips and tricks people have come up with through experienced use.

Question for Your Doctor