Syringe & Dosing Questions

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Amy & Herman

Amy & Herman

Member Since 2022
Hello…..I am having a heck of a time feeling confident in my dosing now that I’ve switched from Caninsulin (using u40) to Lantus (u100).
For the last 6 days I’ve been aiming for 1.25units but I find the design of the top of the plunger very difficult to definitively define a dose with. It seems almost “rough” and has a bit of a swell to it…vs the sharp edge I had on my previous syringe.
As I prepare to make the “leap” from 1.25 to 1.5 this weekend I thought I’d see what you all thought. I dread dosing and second guess myself every time now. The difference between 1.25 to 1.5 seems negligible on my syringe when trying to adjust the plunger but I know it makes a significant difference to my little boy.
Also….air bubbles. I flick and I flick and sometimes I just can’t get that last bubble out which with these tiny doses makes a difference I’m sure. Any tricks?
He also has started to get angry at shot time. I felt like with the u40 syringes and Caninsulin he mostly didn’t flinch or even notice if distracted enough …. Now I routinely get a hiss.
I’ve attached some photos!
Would love some input!
Amy and Herman


Ps my u100
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upload_2022-7-8_11-30-3.jpeg upload_2022-7-8_11-30-3.jpeg upload_2022-7-8_11-30-3.jpeg syringes are “elimedical” 3/10ml/cc 29gx1/2”
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Realized today that my wife and I looked at the syringe and pulled doses a bit different. Talked about it and decided on a ‘strategy’ so will hopefully match up on doses… doesn’t matter about the actual number as long as it’s consistent
 
Sugar’s Mama said:
Realized today that my wife and I looked at the syringe and pulled doses a bit different. Talked about it and decided on a ‘strategy’ so will hopefully match up on doses… doesn’t matter about the actual number as long as it’s consistent
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Yes, makes sense. I still find the top of the plunger on my u100 syringes to be a little inconsistent ….if I spin the plunger in the barrel the dose can look to vary based on angle of view and its a blurry edge. I need to get better syringes! I’ve also started taking photos of my filled doses before injection to refer back to as in the moment I second guess.
 
FrostD said:
I would go with the outside edge of the plunger. Consistency in what you call 1.25U vs 1.5U (etc, etc) is really what matters.
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Yes. Makes sense. Will still try some different brands of syringes to find out that I’m more comfortable with and has a sharper plunger edge if possible.
 
Amy & Herman said:
I’d like to try some different brands of syringes to find one that I’m more comfortable with and has a sharper plunger edge if possible.
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Hi I don't live in Canada but I did a search on our site and found this posted about where they buy U-100 syringes with half unit markings


Lyla said
I buy the u-100 syringes with half unit markings from https://diabetesexpress.ca/. These ones, specifically:https://diabetesexpress.ca/collections/syringes/products/bd-ultrafine-ii-syringe-3-10cc-6mm-31g

Another member noted
As for shopping for syringes, I got mine at the local Safeway pharmacy. After shopping around at a few stores, it was the cheapest. Cheaper than the link Lyla included at diabetesexpress.

Or you can just start a new post and ask where members from Canada buy their U-100 syringes with half unit markings and then Brand they use :cat:
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
So nice of you Shelley :cat:
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Shelley & Jess said:
I'm in the K-W area. I've got a stash of U100 syringes and would be happy to send you an unopened bag of each to check out.

I preferred the CarePoints. I've also got some BD's and some UltiCares.

PM me if you're interested

//Shelley

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That is so kind!!!!!! I will be out running errands tomorrow I could hit walmart and see if they have any of those to try and if I strike out perhaps I will DM you and arrange to grab a few bags off you, I can etransfer you for the syringes and shipping. Really so kind!
 
Chris and Checkers said:
To confirm what Diane said. You can get the BD ones at Safeway, Rexall and Walmart in Canada. I believe Safeway has the best price.:D

I have tried the Elimedical ones and didn't like them much. I am using the BD ones now.
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Great - i will run errands tomorrow and try Rexall and Walmart for the BD ones. Glad I am not the only one not thrilled with the elimedical.
 
Amy & Herman said:
Great - i will run errands tomorrow and try Rexall and Walmart for the BD ones. Glad I am not the only one not thrilled with the elimedica
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If you go to Walmart members have said the employees there know nothing lol
This is what the box looks like either one
Open them up before you pay and make sure they are correct ones They are the Relion brand . They won't say it on the box so check them
I don't think Walmart carries the BD syringes
I think they are something like 12. 58 for 100
If Rexall has the BD syringes U-100 with half unit markings I would get them first
Or if you are near a Safeway pharmacy
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If you have a Walmart near you they have them, either packages are OK, just ch
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
If you go to Walmart members have said the employees there know nothing lol
This is what the box looks like either one
Open them up before you pay and make sure they are correct ones They are the Relion brand . They won't say it on the box so check them
I don't think Walmart carries the BD syringes
I think they are something like 12. 58 for 100
If Rexall has the BD syringes U-100 with half unit markings I would get them first
Or if you are near a Safeway pharmacy
84ebbd9e955b4348939878c2f671b8ed.jpg

relion-insulin-syringes-png.37311


If you have a Walmart near you they have them, either packages are OK, just ch
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I am not aware of any Safeway stores in my area but both Rexall and Walmart are in town. I’ll hit Rexall first. Thanks for this!
 
Amy & Herman said:
That is so kind!!!!!! I will be out running errands tomorrow I could hit walmart and see if they have any of those to try and if I strike out perhaps I will DM you and arrange to grab a few bags off you, I can etransfer you for the syringes and shipping. Really so kind!
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Sounds good! But, don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like to see what other brands are like & I don't want anything for them, just wanna help!
 
Ok so now I have gotten my box of new BD syringes and see that the needle part is half the length of what I’ve been using. Have I been using too long a needle this whole time or are my new syringes wrong??? I feel silly asking!

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All about preference, you do have the correct syringes. I actually prefer the shorter needles because less chance of going straight through the tented skin :confused:

I also maybe fumbled one with a long needle that stuck in my belly once....
 
FrostD said:
All about preference, you do have the correct syringes. I actually prefer the shorter needles because less chance of going straight through the tented skin :confused:
Great! These shorter needles look less scary! We had a better poke than usual this morning so hopefully that continues. Could be all in my head but I was more confident with short needle and he didnt hiss or try to bite me :cat:

I also maybe fumbled one with a long needle that stuck in my belly once....
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yikes…. I’ve been poked but not in the belly haha
 
There's less than a dozen Safeways in all of Canada now. I used Monoject syringes from either Shoppers or Metro pharmacies. The tabs at the top and the plunger under your thumb are much bigger and have a softer feel than any other syringe. Some people hated them but I love them.
 
Shelley & Jess said:
I'm in the K-W area. I've got a stash of U100 syringes and would be happy to send you an unopened bag of each to check out.

I preferred the CarePoints.

//Shelley
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Hi Shelley, would you mind saying where you found the CarePoint syringes? I'm trying to find some options online but shipping always makes it quite expensive and I don't want to buy 4 boxes of something I haven't tried out. :)

Thanks for your posts here, which opened my eyes to syringes beyond the elimedical ones I bought from the vet... :O
 
Manuel said:
Hi Shelley, would you mind saying where you found the CarePoint syringes? I'm trying to find some options online but shipping always makes it quite expensive and I don't want to buy 4 boxes of something I haven't tried out. :)

Thanks for your posts here, which opened my eyes to syringes beyond the elimedical ones I bought from the vet... :O
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I’m curious where the care point ones can be bought from as well. Although the BD ones I’ve gotten since feel like a big upgrade from the elimedical ones I started with!
 
I also wonder if people ever skinny or fatten (I think those are the right terms) a dose when you simply cannot get rid of a bubble in the syringe.
 
Hey guys - I'm away for the long weekend, will have to check where I purchased the CarePoints when I get home.

One of the reasons I preferred the CarePoints was because I was caliper dosing and the CarePoints don't have the bump out ring around the barrel like the BD's. The bump out got in the way when trying to get the large caliper arm on the zero mark.
 
@Diane Tyler's Mom Relion syringes are NOT available in Canada.
@Ben&Squirrel ADW does not deliver to Canada. Unless the caregiver has a US post box and hops across the border for pickups. I did that, back before COVID when border hopping was easier.

Tons of Safeways out west, but they've been bought by Sobey's, try there instead. Actually, just ask around, I found prices varied a lot, almost all universally a lot cheaper than the online place Diane listed. Costco also a good price.
 
@Wendy&Neko thanks for letting me know I was going by what I saw/on their web site
International Shipping Information
If you are located outside the United States or Canada, please email service@adwdiabetes.com with all your contact information and the products you would like to purchase. We are working to expand globally in the near future and may be able to service your needs.

About the Relion syringes I saw that Amy & Herman said in her post #17
I am not aware of any Safeway stores in my area but both Rexall and Walmart are in town. I’ll hit Rexall first. Thanks for this!
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
@Wendy&Neko thanks for letting me know I was going by what I saw/on their web site
International Shipping Information
If you are located outside the United States or Canada, please email service@adwdiabetes.com with all your contact information and the products you would like to purchase. We are working to expand globally in the near future and may be able to service your needs.

About the Relion syringes I saw that Amy & Herman said in her post #17
I am not aware of any Safeway stores in my area but both Rexall and Walmart are in town. I’ll hit Rexall first. Thanks for this!
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Jus fyi the Rexall store I went to carried bd syringes but not exactly the one I wanted and had limited stock. I ended up getting bd syringes from Amazon and paid $60 for 100. No idea if that was reasonable price or not but drawing small dose with the elimedical syringes was stressing me out. Still curious to try the carepoint ones one day. I haven’t made it back to Walmart to check yet what they have.
 
AbbottTheCat said:
How do you like these? Bubbles?
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I did not like the Eli medical syringes at all wasn’t so much the bubbles rather the plunger tip that seemed rough and too convex. I have bd now and am happier. i’ve had bubble issues with both syringes but I’ve just now figured out how to get rid of them… I make a really strong effort to push the plunger in as hard as I can before turning the vial upside down and drawing out my dose very very slowly. I think I wasn’t pushing the plunger in deep enough before and there was a little bit of air at the tip and then I just had trouble getting rid of it once it was there.
 
Amy & Herman said:
I did not like the Eli medical syringes at all wasn’t so much the bubbles rather the plunger tip that seemed rough and too convex. I have bd now and am happier. i’ve had bubble issues with both syringes but I’ve just now figured out how to get rid of them… I make a really strong effort to push the plunger in as hard as I can before turning the vial upside down and drawing out my dose very very slowly. I think I wasn’t pushing the plunger in deep enough before and there was a little bit of air at the tip and then I just had trouble getting rid of it once it was there.
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Yep I do that as well but lately my technique has been failing me with the SureComforts and bubble every time
 
AbbottTheCat said:
Yep I do that as well but lately my technique has been failing me with the SureComforts and bubble every time
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Sometimes I read you should “pressurize” the vial by shooting in air equivalent to the dose before each draw….but I also read conflicting advice. Might be worth looking into though if you are having bubble issues….
 
Amy & Herman said:
Sometimes I read you should “pressurize” the vial by shooting in air equivalent to the dose before each draw….but I also read conflicting advice. Might be worth looking into though if you are having bubble issues….
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I’m using a pen, but funny story: my wife rarely shoots but I watched her draw up insulin today and she took the syringe and —without pulling plunger out and in to lubricate like everybody says— she simply pushed the plunger in 3 times, then followed the rest of the technique, holding plunger in while inserting into pen, etc. and guess what?! No bubbles! o_O

I asked her why she does it that way and she said she just got lazy and didn’t want to lubricate the plunger. :)
 
For any fellow Canadians (specifically GTA'ers) following this I just got the BD syringes at Costco in Newmarket today for $40. Not sure if that's competitive but it's less than the $60 Id been paying through Amazon (although I think the prices varies by day on Amazon...convenient:confused:). (My local Walmart and Rexall didn't have stock of BD syringes in the size needed - well, Rexall had them but was selling them by the 10-pack and of those still only had a bag or two left on the shelf).

I also get my strips and lancets at Costco and the last two times I bought strips there they offered me a free glucometer without me asking. I've found some pharmacies ask alot of questions before giving a free glucometer and I cannot lie - so the "well it's for my cat" explanation has gone two ways; cat lovers have been over the top helpful giving me free glucometers lancets and cotton swabs while other have just said "No - no free glucometers for cats!".
 
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