? BD micro-fine 0.3ml +0.5 30G syringes: changed? new ones "harder"

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

I'll add photos to this post from my phone, but these last days I've been having a really hard time inching the plunger of my syringes to the mark.

I found one of the old ones in my "needle trash" and indeed, the plunger moves much more smoothly on the old one. And there are some small differences in marking

I happen to have a photo of the packet the old ones were in, and checked to make sure the new packet was the same model. It is -- but there has been an "upgrade", it seems.

Anybody else noticed this?

Old package:

New package:

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I've been having a really hard time inching the plunger of my syringes to the mark.

Do you pull the plunger in/out several times first? There's a lubricant inside that needs to be spread around.

Also you can try "twisting" the plunger instead of pushing it to get it to the right place

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Love China's Christmas Kitty pic in your avatar, Chris!

 

[Critter Mom]

You can get variances between individual syringes: some plungers do seem more 'snug' than others.

I do the same as Chris recommends above ('prime' the syringe by sliding the plunger back and forth a few times before drawing the dose and then twisting the plunger to ease the plunger position when setting the dose). For info, I always draw up about 1/2 to 1.0 units more than I need for the dose because I found it easier to measure the dose accurately by easing out excess insulin.


Mogs
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[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

Do you pull the plunger in/out several times first? There's a lubricant inside that needs to be spread around.

Also you can try "twisting" the plunger instead of pushing it to get it to the right place

Doing all that already since the beginning

 

[rawia]

Did they chang it .

So far this is the best syringe i found, other brands are not as good as BD. Will i still have a stock but i will have to order new soon.

 

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

The way the plunger slides in and out in the "old" ones compared to the "new" ones can remind one of certain activities we shall not name with or without enough lube.

With the new ones I can barely twist the plunger.

Also, the scale is printed at a slightly different angle which makes it hard to hold the syringe well and see the half-measures (I'll make a photo when I'm more awake).

 

[Just-As-Appy]

Are these syringes available in Canada? I haven't seen the micro-fine ones.

 

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

Are these syringes available in Canada? I haven't seen the micro-fine ones.

No idea, maybe ask your pharmacist to look them up?

 

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

Here you can see the old one (left) and the new one (right). See how the scale is relative to the "handle"? I'm finding it very fiddly to hold the new ones and read the half-scales.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

The one on the left has half unit markings....the one on the right doesn't (unless they're on the side of the syringe that we can't see in that picture)

 

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

The one on the left has half unit markings....the one on the right doesn't (unless they're on the side of the syringe that we can't see in that picture)

It does have half-unit markings. The fact that they are hidden when you hold the syringe like that is the whole issue (well, half of it -- the other half being the stiff plunger).

I tweeted, fwiw: https://twitter.com/stephtara/status/944842994804576256

For people who use BD syringes interested in knowing if yours look like the one on the left or the one on the right.

 

[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

Here's a photo that shows the "new" syringe with the half-unit markings. Note that when you see the half-units, you can't see the numbers anymore. Also note the weird "fiddly" angle of the two protuding "wings" (what is that part called?) which help you hold the syringe. To see the markings you need to rotate the syringe in your fingers. It's a less good grip. And add to that a stiffer plunger, and you have a nightmare.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

For people who use BD syringes interested in knowing if yours look like the one on the left or the one on the right.

Mine look like your 'new' syringes. But I guess I'm lucky in that I've not found them to be a problem.
I always prime the syringe really well before use.
I draw more than I need, then twist the plunger down slowly to get correct dose. If I mess it up I start again. No biggie.
I only seem to use the wing thingies when ejecting insulin from the syringe (either getting rid of the excess, or when giving the shot), otherwise I seem to hold the syringe by the barrel.

Are you able to practice using the new ones by drawing up water into them (so you don't waste insulin)?
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[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

Are you able to practice using the new ones by drawing up water into them (so you don't waste insulin)?

Going to do that. I always prime them by going back and forth multiple times, etc. My process didn't change between the old and new ones, and what used to work with the old ones no longer does. The first time I thought I was squeezing the barrel too tightly for the plunger to move, or that I had made a mistake. After 3 or 4 syringes with the same issue, and a few "misses", I dug out the old syringes to check.

 

[Critter Mom]

I only seem to use the wing thingies when ejecting insulin from the syringe (either getting rid of the excess, or when giving the shot), otherwise I seem to hold the syringe by the barrel.

Ditto.


Mogs
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[Steph & Quintus & L & O]

FWIW I've opened another 10-pack from the box and the syringes are much better. Should have done that before! Maybe I got a "stiff pack" that was made when the bottle of lubricant was nearing the end