According to the manufacturer, the pen was "designed to meet the needs of people with diabetes who take several shots of mealtime insulin each day."
The unique pen can help prevent additional and unnecessary punctures due to its memory device. However, the pen must be used in conjunction with its top-selling insulin, Humalog, which can be very costly.
The pen is operated by a battery and uses a computer chip for its memory to record the last 16 insulin doses. The digital display allows patients to review these doses, which includes the priming doses.
The reusable pen was designed to look like a writing pen. It does not appear to be a medical instrument for a more discreet public injection use.
A clinical study was conducted with experienced pen users. From these study participants, 81 percent indicated their preference in ease and convenience with the new Memoir pen over the pen they were previously using.
One doctor interviewed by the AP referred to the pen as the "Lexus" of diabetic technology.
There are approximately 21 million Americans who live with diabetes. There are more than 4 million who require daily insulin injections. Of these, there are approximately 800,000 who use a pen. The remaining 3 million plus diabetics in the U.S. use the less expensive and prior method of the combined syringe/insulin vial.
The digital insulin pen is being marketed at a cost of $100. The cost for the insulin cartridges is separate.
Although the concept of the pen is wonderful, the price will stop one physician from even prescribing it to his patients, according to an interview conducted by the AP with a doctor at a diabetes center in Boston.
