Health Canada is advising Canadians that Novo Nordisk A/S has updated a voluntary recall of insulin cartridge holders used in certain lots of its NovoPen Echo and NovoPen 5 insulin pens. The company detected that the cartridge holders may crack or break if exposed to certain chemicals, such as some cleaning agents.
Background
Novo Nordisk A/S has advised that using a device with a cracked or broken cartridge holder can result in a smaller dose of insulin than expected, which may lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). According to Novo Nordisk A/S, the risk of experiencing high blood sugar with the use of a device with an affected cartridge holder is evaluated to be less than 0.1 per cent. This means that less than one in 1,000 patients with an affected cartridge holder will experience high blood sugar.
Warning symptoms of high blood sugar include: flushed, dry skin, sleepiness or tiredness, dry mouth, breath that smells fruity or like acetone (nail polish remover), frequent urination, feeling thirsty, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. It is possible that high blood sugar may only be seen by measuring blood sugar levels, and may not display any physical signs.
Novo Nordisk A/S has confirmed that the cartridge holder issue does not affect NovoPen Echo or NovoPen 5 devices with a lot number that is not mentioned above.
What consumers should do
- · Do not stop treatment without consulting your health care professional.
· Contact Novo Nordisk Customer Service in order to receive an unaffected cartridge holder for your NovoPen Echo or NovoPen 5 product, or if you have any questions about this recall. You can contact the company by calling 1-800-465-4434, emailing NNCI_CustomerCare@novonordisk.com, or by completing the form on the company’s website.
· In the event that you experience symptoms of high blood sugar or any health concerns involving this product, contact your healthcare professional for advice. Measure your blood sugar levels as instructed by your healthcare professional, and more frequently if symptoms of high or low blood sugar develop unexpectedly.
· Report complaints about health products to Health Canada by calling toll-free at- 1-800-267-9675, or complete an online complaint form.