Syringe Confusion

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tracy0504 and Zarley

Tracy0504 and Zarley

Member
I was using U-40 syringes to give Zarley Vetsulin. Tomorrow I'm starting him on Lantus, using U-100 syringes. I have absolutely no idea how to measure 1 unit on the new syringes (worse yet, the pharmacy packaged the new syringes with the Lantus and I brought them home to find they are short needles - not ideal for a long-haired cat). There's a bad storm coming. I'll shave part of his back if I have to until I can go back for longer needles on Monday.

I'm going to start him on 1 unit. However, I'm already confused. Here is a pic I just took of my syringe. I see there are ten tiny marks until you get to the "5." I numbered them to make it easier for someone to explain. What is one unit? Is it the first mark or is one unit two marks?

007-2.jpg


As some of you already know, asking my vet for help isn't an option.

Thank you, as always.
 
Does the packaging say U-100 0.3 ml (or 0.3 cc) 1/2-unit marked insulin syringe? Does the highest number go up to 30? If yes, your 1 unit would be where you marked '2'.
 
No. It only says 3/10mL cc, .3/30G 8mm. Nothing about half units.

:YMSIGH: I wish it just SAID "one unit" on it. Simple for people like me.

It does go up to 30 though.

Does your answer still stand though? "2" as marked on the pic is one unit?
 
The 3/10ml is the proper syringe for a U100 insulin. The 30g means the needle is a 30 gauge needle -- it refers to how thin the needle is. The higher the gauge the thinner the needle. (The lancets you use are also marked in with reference to their gauge). 8mm is probably referring to the length of the needle (I may be wrong with this).

Usually the packing will way if the syringes are in half units. It might help to call the pharmacy and ask if the syringes they gave you are in half units so you are certain. The pharmacist can also tell you where the 1.0 unit mark is.

Like CF said, I think you have syringes that are in half units so you would fill the syringe to the place where you marked a "2". If you're not certain, call the pharmacist.
 
"Does your answer still stand though? "2" as marked on the pic is one unit?"
Yes, that is correct.

After you get the syringe ready, try parting his hair by blowing on it.
 
From that picture, I believe you have syringes that are half unit markings so that the large 5 that is printed on
your syringe means 5 units. or 5.0u
Each little half mark is one half of one unit....
So the 1=.5u
2=1.0u
and so on....counting up then to the large 5

8mm is the length 5/16" short needle
Capacity 1/10ML or cc does up to 30 units.....

If you separate the hair, you will be able to see I think....
(I just switched to the longer needle which are 12.7mm or 1/2" and it is 29 gauge thick so it is thicker than what you have.
Does that make sense?
 
Tracy0504 said:
I'm going to start him on 1 unit. However, I'm already confused. Here is a pic I just took of my syringe. I see there are ten tiny marks until you get to the "5." I numbered them to make it easier for someone to explain. What is one unit? Is it the first mark or is one unit two marks?

007-2.jpg
Click to expand...


No, the picture is incorrect. Well, at least the markings you made to it.

Here is a correct pic ture of half unit markings (the one on the left):

resource.aspx


The big bold 5 is 5 units. On that same side of the scale the lines are the whole units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. The little lines on the left side that are in the middle of the whole unit lines are the half unit markings.

1 unit is the line you had incorrectly marked as 2.
 
I wasn't marking units in the picture. I was just counting lines 1 through 10 in the hopes that someone could tell me which line was 1 unit. :-|

I think what you're all saying ultimately though is where the second line ("2") is on the syringe -- that's one unit.

I still don't understand why I'm using these syringes and not the ones that just have four marks before the 5, but I'll get used to it.

Thank you, all of you.
 
Tracy, these syringes are actually better when you get to the point where you're doing half or quarter doses. I've been shooting .75 which is between the 1 and the 2 on your photo. Without the syringes with the half unit markings, it would have been much more difficult to measure the .75 dose.
 
^ ^ Those syringes look like the ones I used for Vetsulin.

I'm confused again. On the pic I posted, I AM supposed to fill it up until the point where I marked the number "2" (for 1 unit)?

I think I'm gonna be sick. His first dose is tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm doing. 4 inches of snow headed this way and I probably can't get out to get other syringes. Maybe I should just keep him on the Vetsulin until I can buy other syringes that have normal markings on them. Or maybe I can just give him up to the first line so I don't overdose him. Did I mention I'm gonna be sick?
 
Yes, the 2nd little line in your photo is 1 unit. Try not to panic. We've all been there, including feeling ill about the whole process. I switched Donovan from Vetsulin to Levemir a few months ago. You won't regret it!
 
Roni and Moonie said:
Tracy I know this is very confusing--Please see these photos that I still refer to even though I am here a long time--I find them very helpful--It is a different brand syringe than you have--See the left side of the pix for dosing photos.
http://www.romlin.com/jock/SyringeFineGradations/
Click to expand...

That's only confusing me more. I know how to guage 1 unit on other syringes, I know how to count to five (someone here decided to make sure of that), and I had no issue with the U-40 syringes I used for a year. It's just that I have never seen a syringe with this many lines before. Several people told me where the 1 unit is on my syringe so I'm good (I think). As soon as I can though (depending on how much snow we get) I'm getting longer needles and syringes that look more like yours!

What you posted helped me another way. The vet and the pharmacist said it's "very, very difficult" to use a pen or cartridge and a syringe (they both said a special "gun" is needed for use with cartridge and I can only get one from a doc). Your photos proved otherwise.

Thanks.

SYRINGE CONFUSION ISSUE RESOLVED (for now!)
 
One of the things most of us have done prior to starting to shoot and when ur dose changes is take a few extra syringes and practice by filling them with water, wine, grape juice, whatever u got that is coloured liquid would be fine.

This allows u to practice measuring up to the right mark for ur dose.

Just remember to make sure u dont put them back with your fresh syringes, so either put some tape on them or mark them with a marker so they dont get mixed up.

And yes, tell phamacist u want 3/10 cc's syringes with 1/2 unit markings. I used the 30 gauge, short ones.

As long as they are 3/10cc's with 1/2 unit markings.
"BD" is another brand many here use as well as Relion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top