Confused about syringe options

[MelanieP and Ninja]

I am a little confused about the syringes. I know to use the U-100 with Lantus, but am having trouble eyeballing a 1 unit dose on the syringe (and I had magnifying glasses on). The drug store originally gave me syringes that held up to 100 units (really hard to see!!) but traded them in for syringes that hold up to 30 units. Do they make syringes that hold less.. like 5 or 10 units only? That would be easier for me to judge whether I have the right amount. Someone on this site recommended "syringes with a 3/10 CC capacity" but I don't know what cc means related to unit capacity. I googled pet syringes...and came up with a lot of referenced to "cc" but again, not sure how that translates. If any manufacturer makes U-100 syringes that hold less than 30 units, can someone direct me to a source for purchasing. Thanks!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

3/10 CC/30 units is the smallest syringe available. Some 3/10 CC syringes do come with 1/2 unit markings. Ask the pharmacist.

 

[squeem3]

I am a little confused about the syringes. I know to use the U-100 with Lantus, but am having trouble eyeballing a 1 unit dose on the syringe (and I had magnifying glasses on). The drug store originally gave me syringes that held up to 100 units (really hard to see!!) but traded them in for syringes that hold up to 30 units.

They gave you 1 cc (100 unit) insulin syringes? Yikes :shock: Those are definitely not suitable for diabetic cats.

Do they make syringes that hold less.. like 5 or 10 units only? That would be easier for me to judge whether I have the right amount. Someone on this site recommended "syringes with a 3/10 CC capacity" but I don't know what cc means related to unit capacity.

No, 3/10 cc (aka 30 unit) is the smallest insulin syringe size available. Supposedly 1/4 cc (25 unit) insulin syringes exist for diabetic children but I have never been able to find them online other than a reference to this size.

For Lantus, it is ideal to use the 3/10 cc insulin syringes with half unit markings. Sometimes you may need to dose a half or even quarter unit and it is easier to do that with a half unit marked insulin syringe.

CC stands for cubic centimeter, which is a size of volume. 1 cc is 100 units. 1/2 cc is 50 units. 3/10 cc is 30 units.

I googled pet syringes...and came up with a lot of referenced to "cc" but again, not sure how that translates. If any manufacturer makes U-100 syringes that hold less than 30 units, can someone direct me to a source for purchasing

Pet insulin syringes are U40 which cannot be used for Lantus. Lantus is U100 and you must use U100 insulin syringes.

Have you seen the close up pictures of how to measure insulin? http://steverapaport.com/jock/SyringeFineGradations/ There is a picture of 1 unit.

You may also want to buy an insulin syringe magnifier. It slips over the insulin syringe barrel and magnifies the markings for easier reading. Here is one: http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7002&id=7420

 

[MelanieP and Ninja]

OK. Thanks for the info! Will save me from googling all evening to try find a smaller size.

3/10 CC/30 units is the smallest syringe available. Some 3/10 CC syringes do come with 1/2 unit markings. Ask the pharmacist.

 

[MelanieP and Ninja]

Yes, I did see the pictures of how to measure insulin, but the tick marks are so close (and small) that it is really hard for me to make them out (maybe it's age). But that magnifier is EXACTLY what I need! Thanks for letting me know about it!!!!!! Great advice!

I am a little confused about the syringes. I know to use the U-100 with Lantus, but am having trouble eyeballing a 1 unit dose on the syringe (and I had magnifying glasses on). The drug store originally gave me syringes that held up to 100 units (really hard to see!!) but traded them in for syringes that hold up to 30 units.

They gave you 1 cc (100 unit) insulin syringes? Yikes :shock: Those are definitely not suitable for diabetic cats.

Do they make syringes that hold less.. like 5 or 10 units only? That would be easier for me to judge whether I have the right amount. Someone on this site recommended "syringes with a 3/10 CC capacity" but I don't know what cc means related to unit capacity.

No, 3/10 cc (aka 30 unit) is the smallest insulin syringe size available. Supposedly 1/4 cc (25 unit) insulin syringes exist for diabetic children but I have never been able to find them online other than a reference to this size.

For Lantus, it is ideal to use the 3/10 cc insulin syringes with half unit markings. Sometimes you may need to dose a half or even quarter unit and it is easier to do that with a half unit marked insulin syringe.

CC stands for cubic centimeter, which is a size of volume. 1 cc is 100 units. 1/2 cc is 50 units. 3/10 cc is 30 units.

I googled pet syringes...and came up with a lot of referenced to "cc" but again, not sure how that translates. If any manufacturer makes U-100 syringes that hold less than 30 units, can someone direct me to a source for purchasing

Pet insulin syringes are U40 which cannot be used for Lantus. Lantus is U100 and you must use U100 insulin syringes.

Have you seen the close up pictures of how to measure insulin? http://steverapaport.com/jock/SyringeFineGradations/ There is a picture of 1 unit.

You may also want to buy an insulin syringe magnifier. It slips over the insulin syringe barrel and magnifies the markings for easier reading. Here is one: http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7002&id=7420

 

[squeem3]

Yes, I did see the pictures of how to measure insulin, but the tick marks are so close (and small) that it is really hard for me to make them out (maybe it's age). But that magnifier is EXACTLY what I need! Thanks for letting me know about it!!!!!! Great advice!

No prob The BD website has this note: Sanofi-Aventis vials fit the device loosely and therefore the user needs to stabilize the vial with their hands. So be careful when using the magnifier with your Lantus bottle or pen. You might want to protect your Lantus bottle with a sleeve protector such as this one (comes in 2 other colors).

 

[LynnLee + Mousie]

fwiw, my eyes are changing now that i'm over 40 and while i've never had a problem seeing the syringe markings before, i'm noticing lately that i am. i have found that if i stand in front of the fridge while it is open (keep the insulin up on the top shelf anyway), and hold my insulin and syringe up to where the fridge light is behind them, i can see the markings and where my dose is no problem.

 

[MelanieP and Ninja]

Who would have thought that they made stuff like this? How great! Thanks for the tips. They will really help!

Yes, I did see the pictures of how to measure insulin, but the tick marks are so close (and small) that it is really hard for me to make them out (maybe it's age). But that magnifier is EXACTLY what I need! Thanks for letting me know about it!!!!!! Great advice!

No prob The BD website has this note: Sanofi-Aventis vials fit the device loosely and therefore the user needs to stabilize the vial with their hands. So be careful when using the magnifier with your Lantus bottle or pen. You might want to protect your Lantus bottle with a sleeve protector such as this one (comes in 2 other colors).

 

[MelanieP and Ninja]

I will try this tomorrow morning, since I don't yet have the magnifying device mentioned in another posting. Yes, I think my issue is "over 40" also. Thanks for the tip. There is a lot riding on my getting the dosage right, so these helpful suggestions are all appreciated!!!

fwiw, my eyes are changing now that i'm over 40 and while i've never had a problem seeing the syringe markings before, i'm noticing lately that i am. i have found that if i stand in front of the fridge while it is open (keep the insulin up on the top shelf anyway), and hold my insulin and syringe up to where the fridge light is behind them, i can see the markings and where my dose is no problem.