Drawing uplevemir insulin early

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Clancey's Mom

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I am not familiar with posting on this board and I think I PM'ed peopled instead so I am hoping this time my topic will post to the board.

I am going on vacation On April 19 for 2 weeks. For the first 10 days I have a nurse looking after Clancey & for the last 5 days my sister in-law who is not familiar with giving injections.

Clancey was in remission for a yr and then back on insulin Jan/12 due to a urinary infection. We have been gradually reducing from 1.5 units since Jan & hoping he will go into remission again. He has been on .25 units since April 2/12 and his AM & PM preshot numbers range between 80 & 120. I have the syringes that measure 1/2 u as well.

Because the amt is so small I am wondering if it is possible to draw up & refridgerate the insulin for the 5 day period rather than risk that he will get too much.
If anyone has any suggestions, that would be great.
 
It is not recommended to draw the insulin early and leave in a syringe.

How about taking a used syringe and colored water draw it to the level you want used and keeping that as a guide/example for your SIL to follow when it's her turn.
 
On the contrary, several of us have drawn Levemir in syringes for several days ahead and it has been fine.

5 days is not that long. In this case, drawing up the insulin ahead of time would be safer, because you wouldn't want someone to accidently draw 2.5U.

We also recommend home-testing, will your caretaker be able to do that for Clancey?
 
We have taught the blood testing to the person looking after Clancey for the first 10 days but I am not asking them to make any insulin adjustments. That is just too scary. I think it is better that he remain with the .25 units. I have called the vet , pharmacy, Diabetic Clinic. The vet said to call the pharmacy, the pharmacy said to call diabetic clinic. The nurse at diabetic clinic said that the insulin could not be drawn up early. But people have PM'ed me and said it worked fine drawn early. So I guess I'll have to decide, either draw it early for the person looking after Clancey for the last 5 days or risk that he is given too much.

I find it difficult to draw at this level myself and I am used to it.Thanks all for your replies.
 
I was told not to draw insulin early because the silicone lubricant inside the syringes can contaminate/degrade the insulin. Maybe it is different with Levemir. I use Lantus.
 
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