Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Can Use V-GoDosageUsing V-GoSide EffectsWarnings
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Can Use V-Go
Dosage
Using V-Go
Side Effects
Warnings
V-Go is a prescription-only insulin delivery system for people withtype 2 diabeteswho require insulin in order to control their blood glucose (sugar).
Like a traditional insulinpump, V-Go is a convenient alternative to needles and syringes for injecting insulin multiple times throughout the day—with one big difference: Whereas traditional pumps consist of an insulin reservoir (a device about the size of a small cellphone) that connects to the body with tubing, the V-Go is a credit-card size patch that adheres to the skin.
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V-Go has been on the market since 2012. In research, V-Go was found to be as effective as multiple daily injections of insulin in controlling blood sugar and lowering the amount of total amount of insulin needed per day.
Your health insurance company may cover the cost of V-Go; be sure to check if you and your healthcare provider decide it’s right for you. Note that according to studies of the efficacy of V-Go, the device was found to be less costly than multiple daily injections of insulin.
The patch is appropriate for adults 21 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It is not prescribed for people withtype 1 diabetes.
Overview of the Types of Insulin
V-Go comes in three versions: V-Go 20, V-Go 30, and V-Go 40. The numbers refer to the amount of basal insulin that each delivers continuously during the 24 hours the patch is worn:
Insulin Options
The patch is easy to learn to use. Your medical professional or healthcare provider can show you how, and theV-Go websitehas detailed instructions and videos detailing how to apply the patch, activate the flow of insulin, give yourself bolus injections, and store and dispose of the individual parts of the system.
Applying the Patch
To use V-Go, simply fill it with insulin and attach it to your body. This process should take only a few minutes once you’ve mastered it.
Here are the steps:
Activating Pre-Meal Insulin
A button on the patch will administer the bolus insulin you need before meals to cover the spike in glucose that occurs when food is eaten. You can press it discreetly through your clothing.
If while administering your bolus insulin you lose count of the number of units you’ve injected, stop, monitor your blood glucose, and follow the plan you and your healthcare provider established for this situation, or call them for guidance.
While Wearing the Patch
V-Go is designed to be worn day and night under nearly any condition. You can shower and even swim with it on, although after it’s exposed to water or you go into water that’s 3 feet, 3 inches deep or more, check that the patch is still securely in place.
There are a couple of specific situations in which you’ll need to remove the patch:
V-Go should not be exposed to direct sunlight; dress to cover it when you’re out on a sunny day.
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Removing V-Go
Before taking off the patch, you will need to retract the needle from your skin—again, a simple matter of pressing a button.
Once the needle is out, you can safely and painlessly peel off the patch. It might leave a sticky residue behind on your skin that you can remove with warm soapy water and your fingertip.
Safe DisposalLike all needles used to inject medication, V-Go should be disposed of according to local requirements. V-Go needles are designed to retract back into the patch after they have been removed. Even so, check to make sure the needle is covered; if it’s not, press the same button you used to retract it from your skin.
Safe Disposal
Like all needles used to inject medication, V-Go should be disposed of according to local requirements. V-Go needles are designed to retract back into the patch after they have been removed. Even so, check to make sure the needle is covered; if it’s not, press the same button you used to retract it from your skin.
Note that the EZ Fill should not be used for more than 30 fills. It, too, will need to be disposed of according to local regulations, with the last insulin vial used attached.
You’ll get a new EZ Fill every 30 days with your prescription.
Storage
Every time you fill a new patch, leave the insulin vial attached to the EZ Fill and place it in a clean, dry area of the refrigerator. Find a dry place to store your unused V-Go patches that’s out of reach of children and pets.
There are two potential adverse reactions from using V-Go.
As with any supplemental insulin, there is a risk ofhypoglycemia(low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) associated with using V-Go.
As such, the manufacturer notes the product is not appropriate for patients who must make regular adjustments or modifications to their basal rate during a 24-hour period, or whose insulin at mealtimes requires adjustments of less than 2-unit increments.
Hyperglycemiacan progress to a potentially fatal condition calleddiabetic ketoacidosis(DKA), in which the blood becomes acidic and damage to cells can occur. Again, this is very unlikely to happen, but it’s important to stay well hydrated and to know the signs of hyperglycemia so you can call your healthcare provider if you think you may being developing it.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Raval AD, Nguyen MH, Zhou S, et al.Effect of V-go versus multiple daily injections on glycemic control, insulin use, and diabetes medication costs among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2019;1-14. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2019.18438Sutton D, Higdon CD, Nikkel C, et al.Clinical benefits over time associated with use of V-go wearable insulin delivery device in adult patients with diabetes: A retrospective analysis.Adv Ther. 2018;35(5):631-643. doi:10.1007/s12325-018-0703-3Additional ReadingVGO.V-Go: Wearable Insulin Delivery.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Raval AD, Nguyen MH, Zhou S, et al.Effect of V-go versus multiple daily injections on glycemic control, insulin use, and diabetes medication costs among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2019;1-14. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2019.18438Sutton D, Higdon CD, Nikkel C, et al.Clinical benefits over time associated with use of V-go wearable insulin delivery device in adult patients with diabetes: A retrospective analysis.Adv Ther. 2018;35(5):631-643. doi:10.1007/s12325-018-0703-3Additional ReadingVGO.V-Go: Wearable Insulin Delivery.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Raval AD, Nguyen MH, Zhou S, et al.Effect of V-go versus multiple daily injections on glycemic control, insulin use, and diabetes medication costs among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2019;1-14. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2019.18438Sutton D, Higdon CD, Nikkel C, et al.Clinical benefits over time associated with use of V-go wearable insulin delivery device in adult patients with diabetes: A retrospective analysis.Adv Ther. 2018;35(5):631-643. doi:10.1007/s12325-018-0703-3
Raval AD, Nguyen MH, Zhou S, et al.Effect of V-go versus multiple daily injections on glycemic control, insulin use, and diabetes medication costs among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2019;1-14. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2019.18438
Sutton D, Higdon CD, Nikkel C, et al.Clinical benefits over time associated with use of V-go wearable insulin delivery device in adult patients with diabetes: A retrospective analysis.Adv Ther. 2018;35(5):631-643. doi:10.1007/s12325-018-0703-3
VGO.V-Go: Wearable Insulin Delivery.
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