We can help and support you and your very cute boy. I love that smiley face in your avatar.
O m g what a cute face!!!! Welcome to the best message board, people in the world. As they told me in here, it's a marathon not a sprint race. Patience and be gentle on yourself. I still spend all day reading the info!
Hello MrWorfmen's mom...I will always remember all your help with Elliott..THANK YOU AGAIN!Your meter is fine. Your measurements are and should be in mg/dl.You had quite the baptism by fire the other day. If you are concerned about your meter, try it on yourself. Some meters will give you strange readings (the 245 vs. 30) if there is an insufficient blood sample or the battery is weak so you might want to change the battery to be sure. See how big a sample your meter requires and consider a human meter needing a smaller sample if need be.
Lantus is a long acting depot insulin so feeding main meals with shots and snacks in between shots often helps keep kitty on a more even keel. The snacks ensure there is food on board as the insulin is working throughout the cycle.
You had quite the baptism by fire the other day. If you are concerned about your meter, try it on yourself. Some meters will give you strange readings (the 245 vs. 30) if there is an insufficient blood sample or the battery is weak so you might want to change the battery to be sure. See how big a sample your meter requires and consider a human meter needing a smaller sample if need be. [/QUOTE]
Yes. When using Lantus, most of us use U-100 syringes marked with half units because dose adjustments are generally made in increments of 0.25 unit. It's just easier to eyeball a quarter unit when you have half unit markings. Half unit syringes have the smallest measurement readily available to us. There are no syringes marked in quarter units or less.
A micro-dose is simply a dose which is less than a half unit. Some people eye-ball the dose. Some use calipers to measure doses. Some count the number of drops in a unit to figure out tiny doses.
No one can give you a specific BG number where you'd give a "micro-dose" when using Lantus because Lantus dosing is based on nadirs (how low the dose is dropping kitty) with only some consideration given to preshot numbers.
I agree with Janet. How about setting up a spreadsheet for Kitter? If you need help just holler.
Hi Sheli! We should really be having this conversation on the Health Forum, but I wanted to try to provide you with some simple answers to your questions where you'd find them.
Yes. When using Lantus, most of us use U-100 syringes marked with half units because dose adjustments are generally made in increments of 0.25 unit. It's just easier to eyeball a quarter unit when you have half unit markings. Half unit syringes have the smallest measurement readily available to us. There are no syringes marked in quarter units or less.
U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings are the best to use for drawing Lantus or Levemir from vials, cartridges, and pens. BD Ultra-Fine, CarePoint Vet, Monoject, GNP, UltiCare Vet Rx, Sure Comfort, and ReliOn (Walmart) are just some of the brands available with half unit markings. Needle gauge and length is your preference. Syringes come in ½ inch or 5/16 inch needle lengths. Needle gauges are 29, 30 or 31 (31 being the thinnest).
A micro-dose is simply a dose which is less than a half unit. Some people eye-ball the dose. Some use calipers to measure doses. Some count the number of drops in a unit to figure out tiny doses.
Here are some examples of how to figure out fine dosing:
Fine Dose Pictorial Guide
Fine dose gradations:
Pictorial guide using a U-100 syringe marked with half units :
- 0.5U = exactly half a unit
- 0.4U = skinny 0.5 touching the line
- 0.3U = skinny 0.5 with daylight under the line
- 0.2U = fat zero with daylight over the line
- 0.1U = fat zero barely touching the line
When it comes to micro-dosing, there's no way of knowing if the dose is entirely accurate. For example, my 0.25u dose and your 0.25u dose may not be exactly the same... and that's ok. What's important is consistency... replicating that same dose (same amount of insulin) so you can consistently shoot the same dose as long as kitty is getting that particular dose.
Measuring fine doses (micro-doses) and more can be found in the LANTUS & LEVEMIR - SYRINGE & INSULIN INFO: HANDLING, DRAWING, & FINE DOSES sticky.
No one can give you a specific BG number where you'd give a "micro-dose" when using Lantus because Lantus dosing is based on nadirs (how low the dose is dropping kitty) with only some consideration given to preshot numbers.
As kitty is methodically and systematically coming down the dosing scale after "earned" reductions, eventually the caregiver will find themselves measuring doses which are less than a half unit.
I agree with Janet. How about setting up a spreadsheet for Kitter? If you need help just holler.
Since this forum is strictly for welcoming new members, let's move over to the Health Forum. Your questions will receive more exposure on Health. See you there!
Once you have a spreadsheet set up, please join us in the Lantus & Levemir Insulin Support Group!
