NeedleBay FAQs: insulin reminder, pen needle storage and safety

How does NeedleBay help prevent missed insulin doses and double-dosing?

Each used needle goes back into its own bay after your injection, so a quick look through the see-through lids shows which doses have been taken and which insulin doses are ready to take. Fresh needles still have their seal; used ones don't. That simple check helps prevent a missed dose or a double dose, with no apps or alarms.

Which pen needle brands fit NeedleBay?

NeedleBay fits most prescribed pen needles, including BD Micro-Fine, NovoFine, mylife and GlucoRx. If you're not sure about yours, email [email protected] and we'll check. For the KwikPen, see needles for the KwikPen.

Does NeedleBay need batteries or charging?

No. NeedleBay is 100% mechanical. No apps, no batteries, no charging cables. Nothing to go wrong.

Is NeedleBay a timer or an alarm?

No. Timer caps such as InsulCheck or Timesulin count the minutes since your last injection and fit one make of pen. NeedleBay shows whether the dose has been taken, by the used needle sitting in its bay, and works with any pen.

Does NeedleBay fit my insulin pen?

Yes, any insulin or GLP-1 pen. NeedleBay holds the pen needles, not the pen, so there is nothing to match to a pen model.

Where can I buy NeedleBay?

Direct from needlebay.com, made in the UK: single £14.95, twin pack £26.95, triple pack £34.95, delivery £2.95.

Is there a bigger NeedleBay that holds 8 needles?

Each NeedleBay holds four pen needles, which keeps it pocket-sized for work, school, travel or just a weekend away. If you'd like eight to hand, the Twin Pack gives you two NeedleBays: one for today and one loaded for tomorrow, or both in your bag for a weekend away. For a few days away, a Triple Pack carries twelve, preloaded before you go.

What if I can't remember whether I've had my insulin?

Look at your NeedleBay. A used needle sitting back in its bay means that dose is done; a needle still in its seal means it isn't. You don't have to rely on memory, or on anyone else's.

Is forgetting an insulin dose common?

Very. In a survey of people with diabetes in five countries, including the UK, over 9 in 10 said they'd had an insulin memory slip in the past month.
Source: Brod et al., 2014, Patient Intelligence.

Can NeedleBay help someone else check I've had my dose?

Yes. A partner, carer or family member can see at a glance which bays hold a used needle, without asking and without handling anything.

Does it help if I take a different number of injections a day?

Yes. The four bays suit a typical four-injection day, and on fewer injections the same four bays simply last longer. Load only the needles you need for the day.

I have stiff, sore or shaky hands. Can I still use a NeedleBay?

Yes. The needle is held in its bay, so you screw your pen onto it and lift it out; after your injection you screw it back in and unscrew. There's no tiny needle to grip, and the outer cap stays in its bay.

Do I ever have to touch the needle?

No. The needle stays in its bay while you fit it and while you remove it. You only handle the pen and the case.

Is NeedleBay a pen needle remover?

In effect, yes. The used needle unscrews back into the bay it came from and stays locked there, so your fingers do not go near the point and there is nothing small to grip. Up to four used needles stay inside until they drop into a sharps bin.

Is it easier than handling loose pen needles?

For most people, yes. Taking a used needle off a pen is the fiddly step, and it's the one NeedleBay does for you: screw the pen back in, unscrew, and the used needle stays behind in its bay.

How do the used needles get into the sharps bin?

Open the lids over your sharps bin, release the click-lock, and the used needles drop straight out. You never touch them.

Can I use NeedleBay if my eyesight is poor?

Yes. NeedleBay is a purely mechanical, tactile system. Every lid gives a positive click, the lift tabs can be found by touch, and a used needle has no seal, so you can tell which bays you've used by feel as well as by sight.

Is poor eyesight common with diabetes?

Yes. Nearly half of people with Type 1 diabetes and more than a quarter with Type 2 have some retinopathy, which can affect eyesight over time.
Source: RNIB, 2017.

I set my dose by counting the pen's clicks. Does NeedleBay work the same way?

Yes. People with poor sight already dose accurately by counting clicks, and NeedleBay lets you fit, remove and store the needle by click and feel as well.
Source: Williams, 2010.

What do the colours help with?

The bright, see-through green lids on a grey base give strong contrast, so the bays are easy to make out in poor light or with reduced vision.

Will it fit in my pocket?

Yes. NeedleBay slips into a jacket pocket, handbag or school bag alongside your phone and keys.

Is it hard to set up?

No. There is nothing to install, pair or charge. Load your pen needles into the compartments, close the lid, and it is ready.

Can a child open it?

The click-lock keeps your NeedleBay securely closed in bags and pockets. Like all sharps storage, it should still be kept out of the reach of young children.

Can I preload a week of needles? Do they stay sterile?

Yes. Pen needles sit in your NeedleBay with their sealed foils intact, so the sterile seal is only broken at the moment you use each needle. Preload as far ahead as suits your routine.

How many NeedleBays do I need for my routine?

Each NeedleBay holds four pen needles. If you inject four times a day, that is one NeedleBay per day. Many people run one for today and one preloaded for tomorrow, which is exactly what the Twin Pack and Triple Pack are for.

Is NeedleBay suitable for children at school?

Yes. A preloaded NeedleBay in the school bag shows staff and children which doses have been taken, keeps fresh needles clean, and locks used sharps away until home time. Many families run two: one in the school bag and one at home ready for the next day.

Can I take NeedleBay travelling or on holiday?

Yes. Preload before the trip and everything travels in one compact case. Each NeedleBay holds four needles, so a Twin Pack carries eight and a Triple Pack twelve, enough for weekends and a few days away.

If it gets dirty, is it washing-up liquid or the dishwasher?

Either. Warm soapy water is fine, or put it straight in the dishwasher.

How tough is a NeedleBay and how long will it last?

NeedleBay is made in the UK from tough, durable materials with nothing electronic inside to break. It is designed for daily use, year after year, in pockets, bags and school lockers.

How much is delivery?

Delivery is a flat £2.95 to any UK address by Royal Mail Tracked 48.

Do you deliver outside the UK?

Our online shop delivers to UK addresses. Shipping to the USA is available on request: duty and customs charges change often, so email [email protected] and we'll quote.