BD AutoShield Duo Safety Pen Needle FAQs

  1. What is an insulin pen?
  • Insulin pens are the size and shape of a large INK marker. They carry insulin in a self-contained cartridge. Insulin pens are easy to use and growing in popularity.
  • Some people use insulin pens for all their injections. Most insulins are now available in pen form.
  • Insulin pens are used with pen needles that are sold separately. A new pen needle should be used for each injection.
  • Insulin pens are not sold or distributed by BD. They are sold or distributed by insulin companies in the US such as: Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk. BD manufactures and sells pen needles that can be used on any of these insulin pens. Visit our website for additional compatibility information
  1. Why are insulin pens now being used in hospitals?
  • In recent years, pens have become popular among people with diabetes. To provide continuity of care, hospitals are now increasing their usage of insulin pens.

Insulin pens may contribute to cost savings. Pens contain 300 units of insulin, a good quantity for patients who are admitted for a 2-3 day hospital stay. By contrast, most insulin vials contain 1,000 units of insulin; any excess insulin must be discarded after the patient is discharged.

Today in the US, hospitals have limited options of safety-engineered pen needles to choose from. BD has the only, safety-engineered passive pen needle with dual-ended protection, the BD AutoShield™ Duo Pen Needle.

  1. What is the BD AutoShield™ Duo Pen Needle?
  • BD AutoShield™ Duo Pen Needle is a safety-engineered pen needle using BD Needle Technology... your trusted choice from a worldwide leader in insulin delivery and safety-engineered devices.
  • Its dual-ended protection, featuring both front and back end needle safety mechanisms that activate passively after use, provides the highest level of protection against accidental needlesticks.
  • Needle length: 5mm
  • This product has been 510(K) cleared for use on all pen injector devices.

  1. What makes the BD AutoShield™ Duo Pen Needle a safety needle?
  2. BD AutoShield™ Duo Pen Needle has been designed to virtually eliminate accidental needlesticks.
  3. Safety pen needles currently on the market have the back end exposed. BD AutoShield Duo Safety Pen Needle features both front and back-end safety which minimizes the risk of exposure to contaminated needles.
  1. Is it possible to get an accidental needlestick after the BD AutoShield Duo has been used ?
  2. The BD AutoShield Duo virtually eliminates the risk of exposure to contaminated needles as it features dual-shields, both front and back safety mechanisms that automatically lock after injection making the pen needle safer to handle and dispose of properly.
  1. Is BD AutoShield Duo available in longer sizes?
  2. BD AutoShield Duo is ONLY available in a 5mm length.
  3. Recent injection guidelines recommend shorter needles such as 5mm pen needles for insulin injections enabling a no pinch up, single-handed injection technique.
  4. Several studies have shown shorter needles provide glycemic control equivalent to longer needles for all patients, including those who are obese.
  1. Why should our hospital use BD insulin pen needles?

Your facility can use BD products with confidence because BD is the leader in healthcare worker safety:

  • Pioneered safety products: BD introduced the world's first safety-engineered syringe.
  • Hospital leadership: More hospitals in the United States use BD insulin syringes than any other brand.*
  • Track record in multiple technologies: BD offers the most extensive array of safety-engineered injection products available.
  1. What are the catalog numbers for BD AutoShield Duo?
  2. The catalog number is 329515

* Data on file.