? What Do I Call These Doses?

Michele A & Christy

Member Since 2022
I have the "Fine Dose Gradation" images but they're not really helping me understand what dose I am giving Christy if the top of the plunger is:
  • lined up perfectly with the top of the syringe hash mark
  • lined up in the middle of the syringe hash mark
  • lined up perfectly with the bottom of the syringe hash mark
This is my best attempt at drawing what I mean for "lined up in the middle" and "lined up with the bottom". (Yes, I know that the 0.0u mark is actually a full line on the syringe, and that the 0.5u mark is 1/4 of a line, but drawing it this way better demonstrates what I'm asking):

upload_2022-9-11_8-43-6.png


One of the positions (top, middle, or bottom) is "0.5u" but I don't know which one.

And I don't know what to call the other two ("0.4u"? "0.6u"?)
 

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The easiest way to deal with the fine dose interpretation is to call the dose either "fat" or "skinny." If you are dosing more than the 0.5u (for example) dose, call it a "fat 0.5u." If it's less, then it's a skinny dose.

Does that help?
 
The easiest way to deal with the fine dose interpretation is to call the dose either "fat" or "skinny." If you are dosing more than the 0.5u (for example) dose, call it a "fat 0.5u." If it's less, then it's a skinny dose.

Does that help?

So with the top of the plunger in the middle of the hash mark, I'd call that 0.5u? Then if the plunger top is even with the top of the hash mark, it's "skinny 0.5u"; and if it's lined up with the bottom of the hash mark, it's "fat 0.5u", correct?
 
It's entirely up to you what you call the dose. (I know -- you want a definite answer!) What is important though, is that you're consistent. Decide on how YOU'RE measuring and do it the same every time. For me, if the amount of insulin in the syringe was more than a 0.5u dose but not 0.75u, it was a fat 0.5u.

If you want to be very consistent, using digital calipers will help. This is a link to the post on dosing with calipers.
 
Thank you.

We're not at a stage yet where I can lock in a dose using calipers. I thought we were, at 0.6u, and then she dipped to 65 so I lowered the dose a smidge. (Not a full 0.25u because we're already at such a small dose).

And then she had an entire day at numbers she only reaches when there's been a fur shot. I know that I didn't fur shot the PM dose the night before or the AM dose, so I'm raising it a smidge again.

I was about to ask for dosing advice but realized that my numbers -- "0.45u?", "0.55u?" -- were probably going to confuse people. :-) And because there's no way for me to be that precise with these syringes. My kingdom for micro-dose syringes!
 
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