New user, question on syringes and doses

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Aili

Aili

Member Since 2023
Hi, I'm Aili, I'm from Barcelona, Spain.

My cat was recently diagnosed he didn't have any symptoms other than drinking too much, two weeks ago, I decided to wait to give him insulin because my vet doesn't explain things much and there's no emergency vet where I live, so I wanted to look for information and learn how to test, which this site has been of invaluable help.

I though I had things clear on what to do, so I went to the vet today to get the insulin, I asked the vet to give me lantus or prozinc, but since he uses caninsulin with all the pets, he didn't know lantus, but he has heard of prozinc, so he gave it to me, he said I should give him one unit, but then he gave me 2 different kind of syringes and I'm totally confused.

he gave me 1ml syringes with 0.1 ml to 1ml markings, no mention of u40 or anything else.

jeringa-de-insulina-100-ui-acofar-1-ml.jpg

the confusion comes since I though one dose of prozinc would be 0.1 ml, that is what my vet said that one those of insulin is at the 0.1 ml mark.

but from what I've read one dose of prozinc is 0.025ml, so the 0.1ml mark on my syringe would be 4 units.

so that is my confusion, when you guys talk about giving one dose, is it from a different syringe graduation so you choose the 1 mark, and in my syringe is the 0.1 mark, or I'm totally confused and didn't understand a thing? because it's totally posible, I'm really bad on math and with all the things on my head, my mind is very diffuse

my cat get high numbers very late at night, I check his glucose at 2 or 3 at dawn and he's at 250-260 and then I wake at 8AM and check his blood and he's at 370-400(human glucometer).

he doesn't have food available from 1 at dawn to 8am and he's lowering glucose numbers through the day, he's on a mostly moist food with added fiber, with a very little amount of of applaws dry supposedly low on carbs (no indication of how low) on the afternoon.

is the one dose of prozinc correct to start or should I try with less at least until I see how he handles it?

I would really appreciate the help, I don't have anyone to ask and I don't trust my vet too much since he doesn't use prozinc and doesn't really say much.

thanks,
 
Welcome Aili
If you can take a look at this link and tap on it and add your signature, it's information we need , it's at the end of everyones post in gray letters

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

For your signature tap on your name above and tap on signature and add what the link no I gave you asks for.
The link will also explain how to create our spreadsheet where we track our cats BG numbers. If you need help setting up the spreadsheet just ask we have a member who will be happy to do it for you.
I am going to tag a prozinc user for you
@Suzanne & Darcy

When you do your signature can you please put from Barcelona Spain
 
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1 unit of Prozinc is 0.025 ml. That means there is 40 units in the syringe that the vet gave you.

0.1 ml on the syringe that the vet gave you = 4 units.

So my best guess is 0.025 mls would be 2 1/2 of the short lines up. That's hard to measure. You might want to start at 0.02 (two of the short lines up). NOT 0.2ml
 
@Chrispooky12 Can you check my math please?

I used this as a guide:
It is possible to “convert” and mix and match the insulin syringes. It is generally not recommended because it can lead to deadly mistakes.
​
        • One unit of U-40 insulin is 0.025 ml in a regular syringe.
 
Red & Rover (GA) said:
@Chrispooky12 Can you check my math please?

I used this as a guide:
It is possible to “convert” and mix and match the insulin syringes. It is generally not recommended because it can lead to deadly mistakes.
​
        • One unit of U-40 insulin is 0.025 ml in a regular syringe.
Click to expand...
I have no idea how to do the math. My boy was on prozinc last year but I had the U40 syringes. Sorry I can't be of any help. Not sure if Amazon delivers in Spain, I got my syringes through them & I think I got them through ADW & also chewy.
 
Thanks Diane!
Red & Rover (GA) said:
1 unit of Prozinc is 0.025 ml. That means there is 40 units in the syringe that the vet gave you.

0.1 ml on the syringe that the vet gave you = 4 units.

So my best guess is 0.025 mls would be 2 1/2 of the short lines up. That's hard to measure. You might want to start at 0.02 (two of the short lines up). NOT 0.2ml
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, that is what I though, do you guys think I should start with those 0.02 dose that would be 1 dose?

I have spent a lot of money these last days, and on top of all the water heater broke, real fun this month, so I'll have to wait for those u40 syringes that are not cheap, the vet gives me these syringes for free even though apparently doesn't know the dosage.

about food recommendations is not easy, my cat has stomatitis and I tried more than 20 varieties of moist food and only found one that he accepts to eat if I pass it with the grinder, is 60% chicken with minerals and broth, but has no added vitamins or taurine, so I give him some vitamins and fiber added and he eats a bit of dry food around 20 pieces at the most since I mix low carb treats so he it's more of that.

Iv'e seen the same brand for sterilized cats and it has the same ingredients plus vitamins and taurine, so I'll try to give it to him
 
Chrispooky12 said:
I have no idea how to do the math. My boy was on prozinc last year but I had the U40 syringes. Sorry I can't be of any help. Not sure if Amazon delivers in Spain, I got my syringes through them & I think I got them through ADW & also chewy.
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Thanks a lot, i've seen them on amazon, not many, apparently pet owners here give large doses of insulin or have a really good vision to calculate low doses, they are hard to find.
 
I wouldn’t use the 1ml syringes, that defines the barrel size, so on those I believe that would be 2 units per interval for U100 insulin, That makes the conversion from ProZinc which is a U40 insulin more complicated.
 
Christie & Maverick said:
I wouldn’t use the 1ml syringes, that defines the barrel size, so on those I believe that would be 2 units per interval for U100 insulin, That makes the conversion from ProZinc hunch is a U40 insulin more complicated.
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yeah, but like I say, I have no other option at this time, just like to be sure of the dose, since my vet told me to give him 0.1 ml and that appears to be a lot for one unit of prozinc.
 
Christie & Maverick said:
Can you take a picture of the syringe? It would be good to see what line you are drawing up to.
Click to expand...



jeringa.jpg



the syringe packet is just a paper, it says 1ml ins 3-c syringe 25G 0.5 x16m pyrogen free syringe.

my vet gives these for free, so he has the cheapest, the u40 syringe are not widely sold, don't know why.

he also has u-100 syringes but they start at 10 so I guess it would also be hard
 
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Sorry, had to get my pen and paper, I’m old school :). So, @Red & Rover (GA) is right in her math, and looking at the conversion sheet, if you were to give 1u of ProZinc with U100 syringe, that would be to 2.5u line, BUT you have these fun 1ml syringes.

Prozinc has 40 units per milliliter.

on these 1ml syringes then, we need to convert from units to ml, This chart shows additional back up How to convert U100 to ml

so with previous conversion chart where 1u ProZinc is 2.5u on U100 syringes, and applying the chart calc, you’d only draw up between the very first line and second short lines which would be 0.025 ml. Actually only a smidge below the first line since the second would be .04ml. Note first line at top is zero.

1u of ProZinc is a good starting dose with dry food in the mix.
 
does the starting
Christie & Maverick said:
Sorry, had to get my pen and paper, I’m old school :). So, @Red & Rover (GA) is right in her math, and looking at the conversion sheet, if you were to give 1u of ProZinc with U100 syringe, that would be to 2.5u line, BUT you have these fun 1ml syringes.

Prozinc has 40 units per milliliter.

on these 1ml syringes then, we need to convert from units to ml, This chart shows additional back up How to convert U100 to ml

so with previous conversion chart where 1u ProZinc is 2.5u on U100 syringes, and applying the chart calc, you’d only draw up between the very first line and second short lines which would be 0.025 ml. Actually only a smidge below the first line since the second would be .04ml. Note first line at top is zero.

1u of ProZinc is a good starting dose with dry food in the mix.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, I'll see if I can manage until I can buy better syringes, one more thing if it's not too much trouble, I found one syringes that are u-40 that have good reviews on amazon in my country, could you check if these are good?

sorry for bothering you, and thanks again

https://www.amazon.com/-/es/SY57515...ngas+de+insulina+para+mascotas,aps,198&sr=8-5
 
Oh gosh no bother, the math keeps my brain cells working :p. Those look right and will be much easier for you to dose with I think. On those 1 unit is 1 unit :)
 
Christie & Maverick said:
Oh gosh no bother, the math keeps my brain cells working :p. Those look right and will be much easier for you to dose with I think. On those 1 unit is 1 unit :)
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Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it, I got my brain cells working too, luckily I didn't inject 0.1 ml like the vet suggested, can't understand why my vet doesn't have other syringes, if the insulin he usually is also u40, anyway have a great rest of the weekend, I'm a lot less anxious now.

take care! :kiss:
 
Just want to confirm (agree with) math. :)

The long line marked 0.1 will be 4 units of Prozinc.
The 0.2 line would be 8 units of Prozinc.

To give 1 unit of Prozinc, you draw to just shy of first short hash mark.
 
JL and Chip said:
Just want to confirm (agree with) math. :)

The long line marked 0.1 will be 4 units of Prozinc.
The 0.2 line would be 8 units of Prozinc.

To give 1 unit of Prozinc, you draw to just shy of first short hash mark.
Click to expand...

Thanks, great to confirm it, you guys are the milk, like we say in my country, which means you're great, don't know what milk has to do with it though.:p
 
De nada :). If you get a moment to read through the info on ProZinc I sent earlier, that will help you get more familiar with the basics on the insulin including dosing etc, and of course please ask any other questions as they come up, there are a lot of members here who will be happy to help as you go through this with Nyan.

hasta luego y tenga un buen fin de semana
 
not very good editing on my part, but you get the gist. :)

upload_2023-3-18_19-43-26.jpeg
 

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Christie & Maverick said:
De nada :). If you get a moment to read through the info on ProZinc I sent earlier, that will help you get more familiar with the basics on the insulin including dosing etc, and of course please ask any other questions as they come up, there are a lot of members here who will be happy to help as you go through this with Nyan.

hasta luego y tenga un buen fin de semana
Click to expand...


I've bee reading a lot of the site these days, until I feel confortable to test him and give him insulin, I think I have half the site on bookmarks, hehehe.

I got a magnifier glass, not a good pulse and 20 ml syringes to test my patience, hahaha

I'll see you around surely, more questions are bound to come up, when doing Nyan's glucose curve.

by the way great Spanish, I'm impressed!

JL and Chip said:
not very good editing on my part, but you get the gist. :)

View attachment 66487
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you couldn't have explained it better, wish my vet had at least paint, would have saved a lot of time, hahahaha.

thanks a lot, see you guys around.
 
My Spanish is limited to "Jeronimo esta en la universidad" from the year we shared a house with a professor from Spain. His sister was always calling from Madrid.

Waving from Canada. Welcome.
 
Red & Rover (GA) said:
My Spanish is limited to "Jeronimo esta en la universidad" from the year we shared a house with a professor from Spain. His sister was always calling from Madrid.

Waving from Canada. Welcome.
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Not bad, at least you remember something, I studied french in school and only learned to say, "where is the toilet", and " chicken , which it turns out, was very useful when I got lost in France on the end of school trip. :smuggrin:

Nice to meet you!!!
 
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