9/27/11 Milo's AMPS 289 Needle Help Please

[milo]

I am all of a sudden confused at the units I am giving Milo, I use the 3/10 (dose up to 30 units) gauge 31 8mm length short needles, but I think I am calling each little line 1 unit when in fact each little line is .50, am I correct in this>>if so I have screwed up royally!! This would mean I have been doing it wrong all along, when the vet's tech came in to show me how to do his shots etc.. it was explained to me the way I have been doing it, but as I look over others spreadsheets, it got me thinking, If I have been doing it wrong what do I do now?? ugh

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Yes, each little line on the left is a .5 mark and each line on the right is 1.0U. I use the same needles. At least you weren't giving Milo too much. You will need to change your dose on your spreadsheet. I don't think you want to just switch over and use twice as much juice now. Hopefully someone with more dosing experience will come along and chime in.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Take a look in the "New to the Group" sticky. There are pictures of syringes. The first line is "0" units. The shorter, 2nd line is 0.5u, the third longer line is 1.0u. I would not double your dose. Like Melissa suggested, I would change the amount on your SS if, in fact, you were giving half the insulin you thought you were giving.

It's possible that the syringes at the vet's office were not marked in 1/2 unit increments so that every line on the syringe was 1.0u. Because we change doses in 0.25u increments, the 1/2 unit syringes make it easier to measure doses consistently.

Is there a reason you are giving Milo less insulin in the AM and more in the PM? It's going to have a negative impact on his numbers.

 

[milo]

OMG, I feel soo stupid, I can't believe I just realized this now. And my vet said to give him less in the AM because he eats more in the evening, but from reading the stickys and other posts I do know now that they should be the same, I will make these changes.. you guys are so helpful, I'm so glad I found this site!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I would not suggest increasing (or decreasing) by 1.0u. Rather, how about averaging the dose and shooting half? In other words, if you are shooting a total of 11.0u, then you'd give 5.5u at each shot. (Or, if you're really shooting 5.5u, then you'd give 2.75u.)

Please link your current condo (thread) to your last condo. This helps if we have to go back and look at something you or someone else posted. You copy the http location from your browser, click on the URL button above the text box, then past the location between the brackets. Here's the link to your last condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=52965&p=571412#p571412

 

[Anne & Zener GA]

You're doing great! This can all be very confusing, especially when you are getting different info here and from the vet. That's great that you caught it and can adjust. Enjoy you Tuesday with your wonderful kitty. Milo is lucky to have you as his bean.
Liz

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

if you're just calling it the wrong amount, that's a minor mistake. the important thing is for you to be giving the same amount, not what you call it. we had the wrong type of syringes resulting in punkin getting 2.5 times the amount of insulin we thought - instead of getting 3 units per shot he was getting 7.5! it's all one great big learning experience, isn't it?!

don't worry, you'll make other mistakes too! but eventually you'll get it figured out and milo will settle down. it's all part of learning it and we've all done it. hang in there!!!! :YMHUG: