Development of an Insulin Pen is a Patient-Centric Multidisciplinary Undertaking: A Commentary

J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2022 May;16(3):617-622. doi: 10.1177/19322968211058707. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Abstract

The goal of human-centered insulin pen design is to relieve the treatment burden of a chronic condition and help affected individuals to feel free of disease. The patient as well as their entire ecosystem should be considered. At Novo Nordisk A/S, we believe that embedding human-centered design at the heart of our development processes is best achieved with multidisciplinary experts in-house to work alongside product development teams and, importantly, the end user. Novo Nordisk introduced the first commercially available insulin pen in 1985 and has continued to develop reusable/durable and prefilled insulin pens to meet different patient needs, through to the latest NovoPen 6 and NovoPen Echo Plus with SMART technology. Human-centered design is essential for delivering meaningful and practical solutions for individuals with diabetes.

Keywords: human-centered design; injection device; insulin; patients; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Ecosystem
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents*
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Insulin
  • Patient-Centered Care

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin