ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsInsulin Pens Usage

A friendly reminder from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that insulin pens must never be shared among two or more people.

The Agency's experts warn using insulin pens on more than one person puts people at risk for infection with blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis viruses and the aids virus, HIV. They say, infection can occur even if an insulin pen's needle is changed.

Insulin pens are injector devices that contain a reservoir for insulin or an insulin cartridge. They're intended for single-person use.

The FDA issued an alert in 2009 for health care professionals.

However, there have been continuing reports of patients put at risk through inappropriate reuse and sharing of insulin pens.

The CDC says, an incident last year required notification of more than 2,000 potentially exposed patients.