? 7 Oct | Girlie | AMPS 304; +2=308; +4=124 Insulin ruler questions

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Girlie's mom

Girlie's mom

Member Since 2017
Condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/6-oct-girlie-amps-297-2-193-4-171.185004/

Girlie threw in pinks and then decided to dive 184 points at +4. I don't know what she's doing here!

I decided to try the insulin ruler and was really surprised to see the dosage differences. One one syringe, there was a difference up to 5 units. I put this question in @Fiona & Ruby post but thought I'd put it here as well in case others who've used it could chime in with their thoughts as well: "Currently, Girlie's been getting 0.1, which is a tiny amount. But it looks like it's just a big drop of insulin. I just find that the ruler vs. the markings on the syringe - even up to higher numbers like 5 units - are clearly, clearly so different. Are you finding that the case, too? @Tara & Ivana , as you went OTJ, you must have given tiny doses like the 0.1 Does a fat drop sound like 0.1 to you? I'm just wondering whether I'm measuring correctly... if I am, then the doses that Girlie has been getting are nowhere near what I thought they were!"

I do find it challenging to get the syringe exactly in the middle of the line on the ruler, so I went for the top of the plunger as a measure instead. That means that instead of giving Girlie 0.1 unit as I have been, I think I gave her 0.2. Still, she went to pink this amps and +2. I'm assuming, though, that the important thing is to be consistent with the dose I draw, rather than focusing on the exact unit number.

Any thoughts on the insulin ruler and what I'm doing? And any thoughts on why she decided to add a new colour into the mix today? Could be the slightly elevated dose last night using the new ruler, perhaps? This is cylce 14 on the 0.1 (now cycle 2 on the 0.2 with the ruler) and 10 cycles since we last saw green. @Wendy&Neko , just wondering whether you think I should bump her back up to 0.25 or still wait this out?
 
As far as I know the insulin ruler is specifically for BD syringes. It won't work with other brands. As far as the lines on the syringes being all over the place. This is a fact of life. Many of us have found that the only way to measure accurately is to use digital calipers and measure from the disc at the top of the syringe. Forget about the lines!
Tiny doses are the most difficult to measure. I have this problem, too. With some syringes you can approximate 0.1 U by pushing the plunger in hard and then releasing it (without consciously drawing up any insulin).

Marje's instructions on dosing using calipers can be found here.

Good luck!!
 
I use Relion syringes and they definitely are not accurate. I just started using the digital calipers a couple weeks ago and have found some of the syringes are off by as much as .5u! Rarely are any of them right on the money like they should be. I guess for beans the doses are large enough that a bit of variation isn't an issue, but it sure is for our kitties.
 
The BD syringes I used for the last several months of dosing Neko had horribly placed marks on them. Most of the time her dose, as measured by calipers, was below the "zero" line at the top of the barrel.

I think you've got room for an increase.

BTW, when you have dose questions, it's best to put it in the subject line instead of tagging someone. I am currently on duty as caregiver for DF since DM broke her hip three days ago. My time on board is spotty. You never know when life will interfere.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
The BD syringes I used for the last several months of dosing Neko had horribly placed marks on them. Most of the time her dose, as measured by calipers, was below the "zero" line at the top of the barrel.

I think you've got room for an increase.

BTW, when you have dose questions, it's best to put it in the subject line instead of tagging someone. I am currently on duty as caregiver for DF since DM broke her hip three days ago. My time on board is spotty. You never know when life will interfere.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, Wendy. I have put Dose increase question in the subject line before, but I'll make sure to do that in future, as well, rather than tag you. I'll put her up and see how she goes; she might decide she wants a dose decrease again straight away as she did last time!

I hope your DM gets better soon...I know you've been pretty busy with your family; a broken hip is no joke for an older person. I've had two hip replacements as a middle-aged person (grand old age of 55), and it's no fun, so my sympathies!
 
The insulin ruler is specific to the BD 0.3 ml 31G x 5/16" (8mm) with 1/2 unit markings. It also needs to be printed on A4 paper. I am on like my tenth print out. Good thing my work has the A4 paper.

That said..the markings don't mean anything if you use the ruler. To be consistent on approach I have used the ruler for all the 0.1 u doses.
I actually have been using it for the 0.25u dose and that has some interesting results as well. And it was really cool to watch the vets heads turn when I explained the 0.1u dose and what it looks like. Then they bring a syringe that isn't right and try to make it work so they can see what that is on a bigger syringe. It doesn't.
 
Tracey&Jones said:
The insulin ruler is specific to the BD 0.3 ml 31G x 5/16" (8mm) with 1/2 unit markings. It also needs to be printed on A4 paper. I am on like my tenth print out. Good thing my work has the A4 paper.

That said..the markings don't mean anything if you use the ruler. To be consistent on approach I have used the ruler for all the 0.1 u doses.
I actually have been using it for the 0.25u dose and that has some interesting results as well. And it was really cool to watch the vets heads turn when I explained the 0.1u dose and what it looks like. Then they bring a syringe that isn't right and try to make it work so they can see what that is on a bigger syringe. It doesn't.
Click to expand...

I've printed mine on coloured paper and laminated it so they last a bit longer. It still disconcerts me to have the doses be so different on each syringe (using the proper BD 1/2 unit syringes that the ruler was made for), though... today's syringe at 0.25 was almost identical with the insulin ruler, but the previous three syringes have been very different - wow! I figure, though, that at least she's getting a consistent dose now every day. The number isn't that big a deal to me as she's on such low numbers - I'm keen on the consistency of dose. So I just look at the ruler and try to ignore the syringe's markings so I don't feel queasy... :-) Something's right, though, as her numbers are looking good, so I'm okay with that.
 
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