9/9-Blaze AMPS 365, +5 288, +10 260, PMPS 211, +2 141, +3 107, +3.5 86, +4 98, +4.5 107, +5 124

Sarah and Blaze

Sarah and Blaze

Member Since 2019
Blaze’s AMPS is 365, gave him 1.25U. Not sure if I will have enough time to go home on my lunch to get a test in, we’ll see!

Does anyone have pictures/videos/advice of drawing up insulin from the Lantus solostar pen? I feel like I’m having a hard time, I have to pull the syringe past the amount I need because it looks like it’s not pulling in insulin at first, but air instead and then insulin. I’m wasting insulin because I’m drawing up more than I need and then squirting out excess insulin to get the plunger to the 1.25U.

Do you hold the Solo Star pen upside down to draw up the insulin, like with a vial? Do you start with the plunger pushed all the way up? Any advice is appreciated! I just want to make sure I’m drawing up the insulin properly and not wasting insulin every time.
 
Yes, I always hold the pen upside down, and I have the plunger pushed tight before I insert the syringe. I do still have to draw up some excess to get rid of bubbles, but I don't have the experience of it seeming like all air that I'm pulling up at first.
 
since the pen is pressurized, I don't know if the orientation matters, in videos I've seen insulin drawn both vertically and horizontally

only thing is, don't push anything back into the pen, not insulin, not air, not nothing ... LOL
 
Nan & Amber said:
Yes, I always hold the pen upside down, and I have the plunger pushed tight before I insert the syringe. I do still have to draw up some excess to get rid of bubbles, but I don't have the experience of it seeming like all air that I'm pulling up at first.
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Okay it sounds like I’m doing it right then, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing it wrong since I’m drawing up a little more then I need and getting rid of any air bubbles by squirting the excess out until I have the correct amount in the syringe.

I did read to NOT push anything back into the syringe though! So I’m definitely following that rule and made sure I told DH the same!
 
I use the Solostar pens for Lev...
I work the plunger back and forth a few times to make sure it's smooth and that the lubricant inside has allowed the plunger to move easily.

Then I lay my insulin flat on the surface - then while holding the syringe plunger in as tight as possible - not much pressure to do that - insert needle into the Lev - pull back slowly on the plunger and wait a few seconds - it seems to fill in to the point where I want it to - measure with calipers to see if I'm close - if a little over, I remove the syringe from the pen; raise it up to the light with calipers in the other hand - remeasure - if too much I twist the plunger gently until I see a drop - sometimes a little drop, sometimes a fat drop form on the end of the needle, measure again with calipers - repeat until I have the exact measurement on the calipers - I rarely have a 'squirt' although sometimes it seems the syringe is stiff and prevents me from squeezing out that drop or three until I've reached the point that I'm working toward.

I hope this is helpful.
 
Sue and Luci said:
I use the Solostar pens for Lev...
I work the plunger back and forth a few times to make sure it's smooth and that the lubricant inside has allowed the plunger to move easily.

Then I lay my insulin flat on the surface - then while holding the syringe plunger in as tight as possible - not much pressure to do that - insert needle into the Lev - pull back slowly on the plunger and wait a few seconds - it seems to fill in to the point where I want it to - measure with calipers to see if I'm close - if a little over, I remove the syringe from the pen; raise it up to the light with calipers in the other hand - remeasure - if too much I twist the plunger gently until I see a drop - sometimes a little drop, sometimes a fat drop form on the end of the needle, measure again with calipers - repeat until I have the exact measurement on the calipers - I rarely have a 'squirt' although sometimes it seems the syringe is stiff and prevents me from squeezing out that drop or three until I've reached the point that I'm working toward.

I hope this is helpful.
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Yes very helpful, thank you Sue!
 
Nan & Amber said:
Be good, Blaze!
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I feel like I’m going to be getting some tests in tonight!
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Nan & Amber said:
OK, just don't fill him up too much with these snacks, in case you need him to eat later! 1T should be enough.
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Okay! That was just a guess, I didn’t measure anything, but it was definitely not more than two tablespoons. I will do 1 if he needs more after +3 test.
 
Aw, Blaze! Didn't we already talk about timing?

Well, if you can stay up another couple of hours, you could just do some more LC until he makes you pull out the big guns. Feeding some MC now is also a decent option. It might keep you from seeing your first green tonight (maybe not; he's pretty close!), but then again you probably don't want to be up too late on a work night. I tend to be a lot freer with the carbs in these situations than most, but that's because I really don't do well when I'm short on sleep.
 
@Nan & Amber

I don't do well when I'm short on sleep either! :banghead::coffee:
I have to be up at 6 am tomorrow morning for work so I can stay up for MAYBE two more hours. I'm going to get a test in at +3.5 and see where he's at (hopefully his first green) and then most likely give some MC food and test again at +4.
 
AmandaE said:
Blaze looks so handsome in his red collar! Red is totally his colour in real life ( not on the SS though :p)

Is that a painting!?

I hope his drops are slowing at 3.5
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Totally agree that red is his color, except on his SS:facepalm:

It was a picture I had taken a while back with some kind of filter that makes it look like a painting!

And I hope so too. I haven't fed him a snack between +3 and +3.5, wanted to see if he could get a green!
 
Normally, the goal would be to get him to surf as long as possible; in this case, needing sleep, you'd probably prefer that he gets started on what is likely to be an epic bounce asap!

I can stay up to the +4, I'm hoping some of the folks in other time zones (it's almost 1am for me) will be around later?
 
Nan & Amber said:
Normally, the goal would be to get him to surf as long as possible; in this case, needing sleep, you'd probably prefer that he gets started on what is likely to be an epic bounce asap!

I can stay up to the +4, I'm hoping some of the folks in other time zones (it's almost 1am for me) will be around later?
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I wish I could stay up all night and help him surf, but with work in the morning, it’s not possible :( I’m bummed to set him up for a giant bounce but need to get to bed some time soon. I will just keep testing and giving him MC food until he’s heading back up. If there are two tests in a row that his numbers are going back up, is he safe for the night?
 
Technically you want at least one test that is not food influenced before calling it. If he isn't up at +4 I'd give him a little HC to hold him. He's not in any danger but you don't want him dropping more. Sometimes you go for the big guns (higher carb) so you can go to bed.
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
Technically you want at least one test that is not food influenced before calling it. If he isn't up at +4 I'd give him a little HC to hold him. He's not in any danger but you don't want him dropping more. Sometimes you go for the big guns (higher carb) so you can go to bed.
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Okay sounds good, thank you Linda! Grabbing a +4 test now!
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
Technically you want at least one test that is not food influenced before calling it. If he isn't up at +4 I'd give him a little HC to hold him. He's not in any danger but you don't want him dropping more. Sometimes you go for the big guns (higher carb) so you can go to bed.
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Okay +4 is at 98, should I give him some HC food at this point and test at +4.5?

ETA: or give a little more MC and test at +4.5??
 
Personally, I'd give him a tsp or so of HC to get him up a bit more and leave some LC out for him to eat overnight. That rise might just be food rather than natural rise. Yes I'd retest at +4.5
 
What's BG now? Not sure if you need a snack at 5 or not. Want to keep the surf going as much as possible not shoot him to the moon. ;)
 
And that's after HC!?! He's being stubborn. Ok put a bit of HC in the feeder for +5 and LC for +6 and +7.5/8. I think he'll be fine. Really thought he'd come up a bit more than that. Ideally I'd test him at least once more to make sure he's holding. Sorry!
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
And that's after HC!?! He's being stubborn. Ok put a bit of HC in the feeder for +5 and LC for +6 and +7.5/8. I think he'll be fine. Really thought he'd come up a bit more than that. Ideally I'd test him at least once more to make sure he's holding. Sorry!
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Yes but I didn’t give him very much HC though. I will test one more time at +5.
And then will leave food like you said in the feeder! Will post his +5 test in about 20 minutes!
 
I know how badly you wanted that green tonight and that's fine... I know how that feels but in the future if you see a good size drop early in the cycle, feed Blaze LC to slow him down early and lengthen the slide. It's easier than holding PJ parties on a work night and you'll get another green on a weekend, hopefully a day cycle, soon enough. Feeding early might also lessen some bouncing because quick drops can bring on bounces just like lower numbers do.
 
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