InsuJet vs Needle Use for Diabetics: Incidents, Disposal, and Waste (2023)

Living with diabetes requires careful management, including regular insulin injections. Traditionally, that would involve taking multiple insulin injections daily and disposing of the syringes safely out of other people's reach.

This is usually a hassle, plus all those syringes and waste products negatively impact the environment. However, thanks to advances in needle-free technology, jet injectors like InsuJet can save you all this trouble.

With InsuJet, you can enjoy the freedom of pain-free, needle-free insulin delivery, while also reducing your environmental footprint.

In this article, we'll compare InsuJet vs needle use regarding waste production, disposal methods, insulin delivery, and more!

InsuJet is a portable needle-free injection device that lets you take your daily insulin without using a hypodermic needle and a syringe.

It's among the most popular insulin jet injectors, especially among diabetic patients with needle phobia.

InsuJet provides precise and virtually painless insulin delivery with its unique needle-free injection system.

Unlike a traditional needle injection, InsuJet doesn't rely on a sharp needle to penetrate the skin and deliver insulin. InsuJet uses a fine jet stream that travels under high pressure to penetrate the skin while carrying the insulin dose.

All you have to do is set your insulin dose using the dial and insulin unit display. Then, simply press the button on the InsuJet device. The insulin instantly gets pushed into the subcutaneous layer of your skin, and absorption begins in less than a second!

You can also adjust the pressure of the jet stream by using Injuset's comfort ring. This is useful when injecting insulin into sensitive skin areas or if you're uncomfortable with the default pressure setting.

InsuJet also features a locking mechanism that ensures the nozzle remains securely in place before taking your insulin injection.

A tiny adaptor piece connects the insulin cartridge to the nozzle, and you can choose between 3ml and 10ml adaptors. InsuJet is highly customizable, and you can easily tailor it to your preferences and needs.

Insulin jet injectors like InsuJet have several advantages over traditional syringes and needles. Here are some of the most significant ones:

Studies have shown that insulin jet injectors, such as InsuJet, result in faster insulin absorption than traditional syringes and needles. In fact, insulin administered using Inusjet in particular, gets absorbed 40% faster than insulin administered by traditional methods. This means it starts working up to 45 minutes faster!

This is especially useful for overweight or obese patients since InsuJet has been proven to correct hyperglycemia in these patients much faster than a traditional syringe. In other words, it could be potentially lifesaving for obese patients with uncontrolled blood sugar.

Clinical studies have shown that InsuJet offers better early postprandial glucose control than traditional syringes. This means when you take rapid-acting insulin or rapid-acting insulin analogs with Insjuet, your blood sugar won't rise too high following a meal.

In other words, InsuJet offers more control over your mealtime blood sugar levels. You're much less likely to experience  hyperglycemia when you eat carbohydrate-rich foods.

This is because InsuJet delivers insulin to the correct layer of your skin quickly and efficiently. This helps the insulin reach your bloodstream faster, where it gets to work, lowering your blood sugar.

InsuJet uses a fine jet stream to deliver insulin into your skin. This jet stream has a diameter of 150 μm, about two sheets of paper thick.

This diameter is much smaller than that of a needle, so InsuJet infections are virtually painless! For reference, most hypodermic needles and syringes have a diameter of about 0.4 to 0.45mm, almost three times larger!

The CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that about one in every four adults is afraid of needles or has some kind of needle phobia.

Some people avoid taking their insulin altogether because of their fear of needle injections, which can be life-threatening.

As a needle-free injection device, InsuJet offers an anxiety-free solution for diabetics with needle phobias.

When calculating the cost of insulin therapy over the years, InsuJet saves you much more money than traditional syringes and needles.

You don't have to pay for disposable syringes, nor do you have to pay for safe syringe disposal. This saves you about $1 per syringe and $1 per syringe disposal!

If you take 3-4 insulin injections daily,

 imagine how much traditional syringes would cost you over three years, the average lifespan of an InsuJet device.

InsuJet, on the other hand, is reusable and all you need to do is replace the nozzle every two weeks or every 56 injections. You might also have to replace the adaptor with each new insulin cartridge but even then you're still saving hundreds of dollars in the long run.

InsuJet offers more accurate insulin dosing compared to traditional needles because it delivers and evenly disperses the insulin into the subcutaneous skin layer. With traditional needle injections, on the other hand, the insulin doesn't disperse and remains around the injection site for a longer period.

InsuJet also offers a handy one-unit increment dosing system that starts from 4 units and goes up to 50 units. This means you'll be able to precisely adjust your insulin dose no matter how small or large it is.

According to the CDC, about one in every 10 Americans is living with diabetes. Out of these 35 million or so diabetic patients, about a third require daily insulin therapy.

This means there are thousands, if not millions, of syringes, hypodermic needles, insulin pens, insulin cartridges, and other insulin injection components that must be properly disposed of.

Even if you don't take insulin regularly, you probably still need to measure and monitor your blood glucose levels. This involves lancets, needles, and blood test strips, all of which need to be disposed of.

Proper disposal of syringes, needles, and diabetes care waste products is vital for preventing disease transmission and needlestick injuries.

A needlestick injury occurs when someone accidentally pokes themselves with a used needle, often while handling garbage or recycling materials. This is fairly common in healthcare settings, but can also happen at home with your loved ones.

The CDC estimates that about 385,000 needlestick injuries occur in hospitals annually. That's equivalent to about 1,000 needle sticks per day!

Improperly disposed of syringes can pose a significant risk to others, especially children and pets, who may accidentally come into contact with them.

These used needles can transmit diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne pathogens. Needlestick injuries are one of the most common problems with improper needle disposal but are also the easiest to solve.

Proper disposal of insulin syringes using designated containers, such as sharps disposal containers, can greatly reduce the risk of needlestick injuries.

Alternatively, you can use a needle-free injection device, such as InsuJet, which saves you the hassle and also minimizes the chances of a needlestick injury.

The NHS (National Health Service) has shared several important insights on safely disposing of needles. Here are some of the most significant methods to try:

These containers are designed specifically for holding sharp objects and feature a secure lid to prevent spills or accidents.

You can purchase sharps containers at pharmacies, medical supply stores, or online retailers. Make sure to label the container clearly to avoid confusion.

Many communities offer needle exchange programs or drop-off locations where you can deposit your used needles. You can also purchase special containers for needle disposal and when these containers are full, you can take them to different healthcare facilities or clinics that offer needle-disposal programs.

Some pharmaceutical companies offer mail-back programs for disposing of sharps and needles. These programs typically provide prepaid return envelopes or boxes that you can use to send your used needles back to the company for proper disposal.

Could you check with the manufacturer or supplier of your needles to see if they offer a mail-back program?

Needle-free jet injectors, such as InsuJet, offer several advantages over traditional needles when it comes to disposal methods.

The most obvious advantage is the lack of needles. As an insulin jet injector, InsuJet relies on high pressure to deliver insulin into your subcutaneous skin layer, so you don't need a needle to penetrate the skin.

No needle means you're left with fewer waste products and won't have to worry about getting a sharps disposal container.

Another major advantage of InsuJet is the fact that it's reusable. Depending on your prescribed insulin dose, InsuJet can last up to three years or 5,000 injections without buying a new jet injector.

Imagine how many syringes you'd need to buy if you were taking regular insulin injections for three years. Now imagine having to dispose of each syringe or needle separately and the hassle it would cause.

The only part you need to regularly replace with InsuJet is the nozzle, which holds the insulin. Luckily, this nozzle doesn't have any sharp edges or any kind of hypodermic needle so there's no risk of a needlestick injury upon disposal.

One of the unique features of InsuJet is its battery-free design. Unlike traditional insulin pumps and other medical devices, InsuJet does not rely on batteries to operate. Instead, it uses a spring-loaded mechanism to push the insulin out under high pressure.

This innovative approach makes it easier to use and contributes to a more sustainable future by reducing electronic waste.

Not only do needles run the risk of disease transmission and needlestick injuries, but they also generate large amounts of waste which can harm the environment.

On a global scale, the WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that about 16 billion injections are administered annually, and a large portion of the syringes and needles produced need to be disposed of properly.

Improperly disposed syringes can end up in landfills and oceans, which can take hundreds of years to decompose. This can lead to pollution and harm to wildlife, which can have long-lasting effects on our planet.

Using a needle-free jet injection device, such as InsuJet can make your life easier while minimizing diabetes care waste products.

The main reason InsuJet produces minimal waste is that it's reusable. Since it can be used for up to 5,000 injections, there are virtually no waste products being produced every time you take your insulin.

On the other hand, imagine how many syringes and needles you would throw away with 5000 injections. Now imagine how many of those syringes might end up in the ocean or cause harm to the environment if improperly disposed of.

Even if the syringes are properly disposed of and incinerated as the WHO recommends, they still produce chemical emissions that can harm the environment.

This is why InsuJet is an environment-friendly option. You don't have to worry about waste disposal or its environmental impact.

Furthermore, InsuJet's minimalist design only results in a few waste products because it's made from a small, lightweight, and durable material designed to last for an extended period.

By minimizing the resources required to manufacture and operate the device, InsuJet helps decrease the carbon footprint associated with diabetes management.

InsuJet offers a promising solution for diabetics who want a safer, more convenient, and more environment-friendly alternative to traditional insulin injections.

Not only does it produce fewer waste products, but it also saves you the troubles that come with safe syringe disposal.

By choosing InsuJet, you improve the quality of your life and contribute to a more sustainable future!