I've used pens and syringes over the years, depending on what I could get or what my insurance covered. I don't find either more or less convenient or better than the other. For me, they're about equal.
For pens, everything is in one, little container. In most cases, the cap is large enough to permit you too keep the needle on when you cap the pen.
I do find it easier with a pen to dose in a larger variety of areas. For example, I find it much easier to use the back of my arm with a flexpen. With a syringe, I have to do kind of a Yogi-bear shuffle against a corner to get up a roll of skin on the back of my arm.
That being said, I experience leaks more often with the pen. (where the insulin oozes back out of the injection site) That can mess with dosing a little. (I usually count to 10 or 20 before I pull the needle out)
Jr. pens usually have smaller increments, but I find it easier to do small increments with a syringe.
There's also cost. Pens tend to be more expensive than syringes, unless pens are what your insurance prefers.
I don't remember what a pack of my Humalog cost, but the last time I bought Lantus Pens it was going to be over $300 for a box of 5. A vial of Lantus is roughly $139.
If you want, doctors usually have samples they can give you to try. See if they can give you enough pens to try it out for a while.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for your time in responding. I know insurance is a big factor on which you can use. My son currently has 2 insurances. One through my husband and one from the state. My husbands usually covers everything but copays. We were paying 250 a month just for his insulin and supplies until we got him on state insurance. Depending on your state you are eligible for it. No matter your income.
My daughter was diagnosed two months ago. She used the syringes for a month, then a sample pen, which was not disposable...it had a vial you change each month. She loved it.....
Then we got disposable pens...about a week ago. I was thrilled. Our insurance gave us a box of five...mind you we have excellent insurance, I paid zero for them, so I was thrilled because that was considered a month supply, knowing we have to dispose of them after 28 days, it is actually a five month supply. BUT I started thinking of how wonderful it would be to have one at school with a meter and glucagon, one at home/on the go. No forgetting THE bag when we are half way to school....
It is really nice, and compact. The syringes were so long, harder to dispose of on the go, had to carry a small sharps container, we used a glasses case, and a container for new needles. Now the container that holds the pen and three needles is very compact....but we got that with the sample pen and I am told we can't get the vials, only disposable pens. So bottom line, we like the pens. BUT see my new post about issues she is having with her pens.