Drawing advice

[Sarah and Baby]

Does anyone have any good advice on how to draw up doses without getting bubbles in the dose? Or how to get the bubbles out after they are in? I'm using Lantus Solostar Pens so I can't shoot the insulin back in the vial. I am having a lot of problems with bubbles at the top of the syringe (needle end) and i am worried that this is affecting her dose.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

You can overdraw the insulin and shoot the excess into the sink to get out the bubbles. you can also try to tap the syringe to get the bubble to the top and squirt it out.

Or you can forget about the bubbles and just draw up to your dose and shoot.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

What brand syringes are you using. BD seems to be best. I have some Relion and I have trouble with bubbles.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

I push the plunger up firmly and hold it while putting it in the pen, then draw the dose up slowly, I also over draw the dose, then squirt the excess into the sink, that usually takes care of the bubbles.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

My method:

Begin by drawing the plunger of the new syringe back a few units, then
push firmly to the needle. Hold it there while inserting the needle into
the vial. This insures you are starting from 'zero' and with no air already in
the syringe.

Draw dose and a tiny bit more....guesstimate based upon how much air you think
you have to compensate for.

Remove syringe from vial, and now draw in a tiny bit more air...2-3 units.

Hold the syringe horizontally, and tap the area with where the air is trapped with
a firm object, like the handle of a table knife. The idea is to get all the
air into one bubble at the tip. I find using an object rather than your finger
is more effective (sharper tap).

While continuing to tap, slowly raise the needle end until it is pointing to the ceiling.
The air should collect at the tip.

Now expel the air and any excess insulin to your desired dose. If the dose is too small, you
can insert the same syringe into the vial for more, and repeat the process if you have to.

 

[Sarah and Baby]

Do any of you reuse your needles? If so, how many times?
Thanks for the advice. I am using Easy Touch needles because I can't afford BD needles.

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

Do any of you reuse your needles? If so, how many times?
Thanks for the advice. I am using Easy Touch needles because I can't afford BD needles.

Not generally.

I did re-use needles if I was going to run out. Only did that a couple
of times and used each syringe only twice.

You can get Reli-On brand needles at WalMart for around $13-14 per box of 100.