ANYONE TRIED AN INSULIN INJECTOR TO PUT YOUR INSULIN SYRINGE INTO?

[KUMA CAT]

My beautiful cat, Kuma, needed to start insulin shots twice a day about a week ago. His blood sugar was 412. The vet is having me start out at just 1 unit twice a day. I am the type of person that gets almost sick from just looking at needles. I initially was given by my vet, syringes called "Monoject 29 Gauge, 1/2" " . Kuma screamed in pain every time. I then got smaller needles (31 Gauge, 8 mm long). Those are better, but he is now so traumatized from the initial pain of the big needles, that I am having a complete struggle with his shots. He starts to yowl and growl, and tries to whip around at me when he knows what's going to happen. I don't think I am getting the insulin in half the time. I have been trying to research whether a the human-type automatic insulin injector might work - the type that you put your regular filled syringe into, and then you push a button and the needle automatically comes out and squirts the insulin in at the same time. Has anyone had experience with these? Would you have to push it quite hard against the skin? Once the needle goes in, would you have to leave it there for a moment to make sure the insulin had time to go in? (He would be struggling if I would have to leave it in for a bit.)

There is another automatic injector called "BD Inject Ease" that automatically pokes the needle in, but you manually push the plunger to squirt the insulin in yourself once the needle goes in. I am wondering if that type might be better? I am desperate for some help. Trying to hold him, get the needle in, in the right spot, and then pushing the plunger, all at the same time, with a cat that is trying to whip around to bite you, is getting terrifying. I don't think I am getting the shot in all the way half the time because he gets so upset. I really need help.

 

[Elysiabliss]

I've been using an insulin pen since my Elysia was diagnosed about a month ago. DH is a type 1 diabetic so its been a blessing in disguise as we had all the gear ready for her.

I cringed when the vet gave us a bag of syringes to use, but DH loaded up the vial in an old insulin pen and its been the best ever. The needle isnt automatic though, I use my thumb to press down on the button thing while shes muching away on breakfast or dinner, never heard a yike or a yowl from her.

 

[KUMA CAT]

Elysiabliss:

Is this the type of device that you put a regular syringe into, and then you click a lever and the needle pops out, and then you push the plunger down to inject the insulin? Here is a picture of what I am wondering might be the best thing. The syringe loaded with the insulin is simply dropped into this device. It does the job I hate to do (injecting the needle), and then I assume you simply push the plunger immediately to inject the insulin. (Is an "Insulin Pen" something completely different? I watched a video of an Insulin Pen, and the person had to leave the needle in while he counted to 10. I know my cat would not stand for that. That's why I am thinking maybe the little device I've copied below might be better?) I have only been giving shots for a week, so this is all so new and confusing.

 

[BJM]

You might work on desensitizing yourself to dealing with the needles. That means break down the level of exposure into small steps, starting very small, then getting progressively a little bigger. You can do mental visualization, for example, of going through the steps to dealing with the syringe while at the same time keeping your breathing comfortably slow and relaxed.

And your cat may pick up on your stress.

 

[Elysiabliss]

This is exactly what I use. You still need to manually insert the needle with this one, and use your thumb to press the button down, it's over fairly quickly.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

That's a Lantus Solostar pen...we don't use those with the special needles for several reasons. 1, you have to use the "dial a dose" with those needles and you can only give whole unit increments. Most of our kitties are on .25, .5. .75 doses that you can't get with the dial a dose. 2. We keep the pens in the refrigerator to keep the insulin good for as long as possible, and they don't recommend using it cold with their special needles because the needles clog and don't work right.

We just buy regular insulin syringes with half unit markings and pull the cap off the pen, and insert the needle from the regular syringe into the rubber stopper ....pull up the dose we want and put the cap back on

 

[Elysiabliss]

I've just realised that about my insulin pen, completely forgot about the .5 increments. I've only just started this journey myself, the vet as only advised us on whole unit increments. I'm a bit worried now :S