? Using U100 insulin with a U40 syringe

Discussion in 'Lantus / Levemir / Biosimilars' started by Hilary B, Oct 9, 2021.

  1. Hilary B

    Hilary B Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2021
    Hey there,
    My cat Blizzard was diagnosed last week. He was originally put on 5 units of Caninsulin twice a day. After his first shot he went hypo and it was quite scary. I now have him on what I thought was 0.5 units of Lantus. However, I was still using the U40 syringes I got from the vet. I've been using them for a few days and just read that I may have been messing with his dose?

    How much have I actually been giving him if I have been giving him 0.5 units of Lantus in a U40 syringe?
    Thanks!
    Hilary
     
  2. Bandit's Mom

    Bandit's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2019
    Hi Hilary

    Welcome to FDMB! :)

    My understanding is that U40 syringes have 2.5X the volume per unit as compared to U100 syringes. I think you may have been giving 1.25U of Lantus when drawing 0.5U using a U40 syringe.

    But let me tag a few experienced members to confirm that.
    @Bron and Sheba (GA)
    @tiffmaxee
    @Wendy&Neko
     
  3. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    Hi Hilary! Glad to see you over here from the FB group!

    Yes, if you've been drawing to .5 with a U40 syringe, that's the equivalent of 1.25 of Lantus.
     
    Bandit's Mom likes this.
  4. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    If you have a WalMart near by, you can get the correct U100 syringes with half unit marks for $12.58/100.

    You want 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge insulin syringes. The box will look like one of these (packaging differs from place to place)
    upload_2021-10-9_1-36-4.jpeg

    They will have a purple "stripe" on the box.
     
    Bandit's Mom likes this.
  5. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2015
    Just seeing tag. Glad Chris was able to clarify this.
     
    Bandit's Mom likes this.
  6. Hilary B

    Hilary B Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2021
    Thanks everyone! I got the right needles now! No wonder my little was seeing such low numbers.
     
    Suzanne & Darcy and tiffmaxee like this.
  7. Sienne and Gabby (GA)

    Sienne and Gabby (GA) Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    I'm VERY glad. you have U100 syringes now. Could you put a note on your spreadsheet regarding using the U40 syringes and when you started using the U100 syringes?
     

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