If you’ve recently noticed your familiar BD diabetes supplies arriving in different packaging, you’re not alone. BD has officially transitioned its diabetes care business to embecta — a change that has raised questions for many insulin users and caregivers.
The good news: while the branding and packaging may look different, the products themselves have not changed.
embecta now operates as a standalone diabetes-focused company, continuing to manufacture the same insulin syringes and pen needles previously sold under the BD name.
What Is embecta?
embecta is a diabetes care company created from BD’s former Diabetes Care division. The company specializes exclusively in insulin delivery products, including:
- Pen needles
- Insulin syringes
- Diabetes support and education resources
The transition allows embecta to focus entirely on diabetes management and future innovation within the diabetes care space.
Are BD Diabetes Products Being Discontinued?
No. BD diabetes products are not being discontinued.
The products are simply being rebranded under the embecta name. Customers will continue receiving the same insulin syringes and pen needles they have used before — now packaged with embecta branding instead of the BD logo.
What Changed With the BD to embecta Transition?
The biggest change customers will notice is the packaging.
What Stayed the Same
embecta has confirmed that the following remain unchanged:
- Manufacturing facilities
- Product materials
- Needle specifications
- Quality control standards
- Product performance
- Existing prescriptions
- Insurance coverage
In other words, the products inside the box are the same products users have trusted for years.
What Changed
Here’s what is different:
- New embecta branding and packaging
- Updated product labeling
- New NRC numbers added for pharmacy systems
- Standardized color-coding for some insulin syringe boxes
Why Did BD Become embecta?
BD separated its diabetes care division into embecta to create a company fully dedicated to diabetes care products and innovation.
According to embecta, this allows for:
- Greater focus on insulin delivery solutions
- Expanded diabetes education resources
- Continued product development for people living with diabetes
Although the company name has changed, embecta continues producing the same products using the same manufacturing processes and facilities previously associated with BD Diabetes Care.
New embecta Packaging: What to Expect
Many customers first notice the transition through updated packaging.
Pen Needle Packaging
For pen needle users, packaging colors remain mostly unchanged for easy recognition.
For example:
- 4 mm pen needles still use green packaging
Insulin Syringe Packaging
Insulin syringe packaging colors are now standardized based on needle length:
- 6 mm syringes = Orange
- 8 mm syringes = Blue
- 12.7 mm syringes = Pink
The updated packaging also includes:
- Product images for easier identification
- Removal of the BD logo
- embecta branding throughout
Do You Need a New Prescription?
No. Since the products themselves have not changed, most patients will not need a new prescription.
Pharmacies can continue dispensing the equivalent embecta product using the same prescription previously used for BD-branded products.
Will Insurance Still Cover embecta Products?
Yes. Insurance coverage remains unchanged.
embecta products continue to be covered the same way BD diabetes products were covered before the rebrand.
embecta Product Number Conversion Guide
Below are some of the most commonly referenced product conversions from BD to embecta.
Pen Needles
| Product | Previous NDC/HRI | New NRC |
|---|---|---|
| Nano 2nd Gen Pen Needles | 08290-3205-50 | 83017-0550-03 |
| Ultra-Fine Mini Pen Needles | 08290-3201-19 | 83017-0119-03 |
| Ultra-Fine Short Pen Needles | 08290-3201-09 | 83017-0109-03 |
| Ultra-Fine Original Pen Needles | 08290-3282-03 | 83017-8203-03 |
| AutoShield Duo Pen Needles | 08290-3295-15 | 83017-9515-03 |
Insulin Syringes
| Product | Previous NDC/HRI | New NRC |
|---|---|---|
| BD Veo 1 mL (100 units) | 08290-3249-12 | 83017-4912-03 |
| BD Veo ½ mL (50 units) | 08290-3249-11 | 83017-4911-03 |
| BD Veo 3/10 mL (30 units) | 08290-3249-09 | 83017-4909-03 |
| U-500 ½ mL (250 units) | 08290-3267-30 | 83017-6730-03 |
Final Thoughts: Same Diabetes Supplies, New Branding
For many customers, seeing the embecta name for the first time may be confusing — especially after years of recognizing the BD brand. However, this transition is primarily a branding update, not a product change.
The insulin syringes and pen needles remain the same in quality, design, and manufacturing standards. Patients can continue using their diabetes supplies with confidence, knowing the products themselves have not changed.
As embecta continues focusing exclusively on diabetes care, the company aims to build on the trusted legacy established under BD while expanding innovation for the future of diabetes management.
Official Resources
https://www.embecta.com/en-us/packaging
https://www.embecta.com/content/dam/embecta/docs/embecta_Product_Reference_Guide-EMBC_04736.pdf