Insulin Conversions: U-40 and U-100   Cat Logo
 

 

 

  Cat Health and Supplies
   

A vial of insulin is a combination of insulin hormone and a sterile liquid, called the diluent. The concentration of the insulin to the diluent determines its strength.

Though U-100 insulin is the most common, insulin may be ordered in a variety of strengths, such as U-40. The "U" value of insulin indicates its strength - the number reflects the number of active insulin units in each mL of liquid. You could think of 100 "units" as 100 tiny pieces of insulin floating in each mL of diluent.

U-100 will have 100 units per mL, and U-40 has 40 units per mL. This means that U-100 has 2.5 times the amount of active insulin per mL, therefore 2.5 times as strong.

Appropriate syringes are made for use with the respective insulin, marked with the correct measure for dosage. We strongly recommend that you use matching insulin and syringes.

However, it is possible to use the below conversion chart to convert from U-40 to U-100 or U-100 to U-40 effortlessly. Simply find the amount that you need to use and find the appropriate conversion in the adjacent column.

Before deciding to use non-matching equipment, make sure you understand the concepts of dilution and units per volume - it is very important for understanding the actual amount of insulin your cat receives. When talking to your vet, make sure you're telling him the actual amount insulin you're giving. As an example, let us say you use U-40 insulin in a U-100 syringe and administer shots at the 10 unit mark. Don't get confused and tell your vet you're dosing at 10 units - because of the dilution, you're really only giving 4 units of insulin.

Print-friendly version of this chart

To administer this amount
of U-40 insulin
Draw to this level
in a U-100 syringe
  To administer this amount
of U-40 insulin
Draw to this level
in a U-100 syringe
0.2 0.5 6.2 15.5
0.4 1.0   6.4 16.0
0.6 1.5   6.6 16.5
0.8
2.0

6.8
17.0
1.0 2.5   7.0 17.5
1.2 3.0   7.2 18.0
1.4 3.5   7.4 18.5
1.6 4.0   7.6 19.0
1.8
4.5

7.8
19.5
2.0 5.0   8.0 20.0
2.2 5.5   8.2 20.5
2.4 6.0   8.4 21.0
2.6 6.5   8.6 21.5
2.8
7.0

8.8
22.0
3.0 7.5   9.0 22.5
3.2 8.0   9.2 23.0
3.4 8.5   9.4 23.5
3.6 9.0   9.6 24.0
3.8
9.5

9.8
24.5
4.0 10.0   10.0 25.0
4.2 10.5   10.2 25.5
4.4 11.0   10.4 26.0
4.6 11.5   10.6 26.5
4.8
12.0

10.8
27.0
5.0 12.5   11.0 27.5
5.2 13.0   11.2 28.0
5.4 13.5   11.4 28.5
5.6 14.0   11.6 29.0
5.8
14.5

11.8
29.5
6.0 15.0   12.0 30.0


Thanks to Janet and Binky for making this table easier to use.

Last updated 4/25/05
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