Wrong syringe delivered today, help me convert?

[CAB7712]

I ordered U40 Syringes online and they got delivered today. I thought I ordered the right ones, but turns out I ordered the U40-29G-1/2"-1/2cc when I needed to get the 1cc syringes. So the ones I needed held 40units, and the ones I got hold 20 units.
My brain is exhausted and I can't seem to do the conversion.
On the 1cc syringes, we would fill it halfway between the top line and the one mark. On these 1/2cc syringes, would we just fill to the 1 mark?
I have 2 of the correct ones left, so I am ok for tonight and tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to swing by the pharmacy to pick up correct ones (a small pack so I can order bulk in the ones I need on Amazon) but if I can use these, I may as well save the money.

Thanks guys...this RN should know these things but like I said, I am so tired...I don't want to make a mistake!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

All U40 syringes are the same no matter what the capacity. Since there's no way you'll ever be dosing higher than 20 units you'll be fine.
A unit is a unit anywhere on Earth.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

It will probably make it harder to work out the smaller doses. I would ring them and ask for the right ones. Ill tag @FrostD and @Suzanne & Darcy as they use those syringes and may be able to help more.
I’ve never used those syringes.
How many of the correct syringes do you have left?

 

[CAB7712]

All U40 syringes are the same no matter what the capacity. Since there's no way you'll ever be dosing higher than 20 units you'll be fine.
A unit is a unit anywhere on Earth.

We only does .5U right now. So do I just fill to the halfway between the top of barrel and 1 unit the same I would on

It will probably make it harder to work out the smaller doses. I would ring them and ask for the right ones. Ill tag @FrostD and @Suzanne & Darcy as they use those syringes and may be able to help more.
I’ve never used those syringes.
How many of the correct syringes do you have left?

I have 2 left so I'm ok for tomorrow.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Sorry, I never considered you'd be using such a small dose. If it's a box and isn't opened there should be no problem returning them.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

We only does .5U right now. So do I just fill to the halfway between the top of barrel and 1 unit the same I would on

I would be very careful that you are not giving the wrong dose until you hear from someone who uses those syringes.
Can you go out and buy some correct ones or get them from a vet?
It would be better to reuse one of the syringes you already have than use one of the new ones and give the wrong dose…….and I don’t advocate reusing syringes.

 

[CAB7712]

I would be very careful that you are not giving the wrong dose until you hear from someone who uses those syringes.
Can you go out and buy some correct ones or get them from a vet?
It would be better to reuse one of the syringes you already have than use one of the new ones and give the wrong dose…….and I don’t advocate reusing syringes.

I have enough to do tomorrows doses, and will hit up pharmacy on my way home from work. I opened one of them so I could make sure it was correct, and so I can't return the box. But it's ok. I will drop them off at our local humane society as a donation.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

1cc u-100 syringes ones hold 100 units of U-100 I believe? I have 0.3 cc syringes for u-100 insulin and they hold 30 units, you might wanna just double check. The ones I use are BD Ultra fine 0.3 cc, u-100. They cost me about 40 CAD for 100.

@chuckstables
U 100 syringes are different syringes entirely and are used for different insulins that are U100 insulins, and are not used for U40 insulins.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I have enough to do tomorrows doses, and will hit up pharmacy on my way home from work. I opened one of them so I could make sure it was correct, and so I can't return the box. But it's ok. I will drop them off at our local humane society as a donation.

I don’t know if pharmacies stock them…..you might want to check. I think vets stock them. I could be wrong but please check so you don’t get caught.

 

[CAB7712]

I don’t know if pharmacies stock them…..you might want to check. I think vets stock them. I could be wrong but please check so you don’t get caught.

Yeah, I decided I am just going to swing by the vet that gave us the small pack and see if they can sell me another pack until my Amazon order arrives (I just ordered the correct ones). They may also take the wrong ones off my hands, so I am going to take the box as well.
Lesson learned here: don't make important decisions on very little sleep, crippling anxiety and lack of food!!!

 

[CAB7712]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I guess I can delete this thread now? (If that's an option)

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I guess I can delete this thread now? (If that's an option)

Don’t delete it. It’s good for others to see.
It’s very easy to order the wrong thing when you are tired! Don’t worry….it’s just good you noticed!

 

[FrostD]

Correct - you want the 1/2cc syringes. 1/3cx are better, ideally with half unit markings but those can be a little hard to come by.

Were you able to get the correct ones today?

 

[JL and Chip]

I ordered the U40-29G-1/2"-1/2cc when I needed to get the 1cc syringes. So the ones I needed held 40units, and the ones I got hold 20 units.

We only does .5U right now.

Not to be blunt, but why on Earth are you using 1cc insulin syringes??

If the dose is 0.5u (one-half unit), then you’re making your life unnecessarily hard by using the 1cc syringes.

You can be much more exacting when drawing the dose by using either 1/2cc (holds 20 units) or, better yet, 3/10cc (holds 12 units) syringes with half-unit markings. Just make sure they’re u-40, which it sounds you’re doing.

I most definitely wouldn’t trade in the 1/2 cc syringes in lieu of 1cc. I had a high-dose cat and even I used the 3/10cc u-40s.

 

[JL and Chip]

turns out I ordered the U40-29G-1/2"-1/2cc when I needed to get the 1cc syringes. So the ones I needed held 40units, and the ones I got hold 20 units.
My brain is exhausted and I can't seem to do the conversion.

As long as you are using a U-40 insulin with U-40 syringes, there is no conversion necessary (and never will be). For a 0.5u dose, you would continue to draw half way to the “1” mark, just as you did on the other syringes.

Just to expand a bit more on my earlier reply…
here’s the breakdown of all those numbers for the syringes (and yes, it can be confusing, especially in the early days, so don’t feel bad).

U40-29G-1/2"-1/2cc

U40 = the strength of the insulin — in this case, 40 units of insulin per ml. Likewise, a U-100 insulin would hold 100 units per ml, a U-300 insulin 300 units per ml, and so on.

29G = 29 gauge, the diameter of the needle. The larger the number, the finer the needle (seems backwards, I know). So, for example, 31gauge is thinner than 29 gauge, which is thinner than 18 gauge. I was once given 16 gauge needles to administer subQ fluids and they were virtual harpoons (poor cat), so it was easy to remember after that.

1/2” = the length of the needle. It’s a personal preference and has no impact on dosing. I liked the shorter needles, was just was easier for me to inject and had fewer fur shots.

1/2cc = the volume of insulin that fits in the syringe. In the case of U-40 syringes, a 1cc syringe would hold 40 units of U-40 insulin (remember, U-40 means 40 units per ml), a 1/2cc syringe would hold 20 units, and a 3/10 cc syringe would hold 12 units. But regardless of that, the “1” hash mark on each syringe is still one unit, it doesn’t matter whether the syringe holds a total of 12 units or 40 units. To look at it another way … if I have two liquid measuring cups in my kitchen — one that holds 1 cup, one that holds 4 cups, the line marked “1 cup” is still one cup, regardless of how full the container is.

It is very important to match your insulin with the appropriate syringes — U-40 insulin with U-40 syringes, as you are doing. If you’ve seen references to “conversions,” it’s likely because someone is mismatching insulin and syringes, such as using U-100 syringes with a U-40 insulin. I won’t go into that here, it’s only going to muddy the waters, but please remember that if you switch insulins, you might also need to switch syringes ( ask and we’ll help you!)

 

[Larry and Kitties]

It will probably make it harder to work out the smaller doses.

That is incorrect. When using 1/2cc syringes it is easier to draw out small doses compared to using 1/2cc syringes. Some ½ cc syringes have ½ unit markings.

We only does .5U right now. So do I just fill to the halfway between the top of barrel and 1 unit the same I would on

Thus CAB7712 needs to determine if the 1/2 cc syringes she received have 1/2 unit markings. If they do then 1/2 unit would be to the 1/2 unit maring on the syringes. If she is unsure then she should post a photo of the 1/2 cc syringes she has.

For the future better would be 0.3cc syringes w/ ½ unit markings. That way it is easier to draw up in ¼ ujit increments.
.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

You can order these in the future they have the half unit markings
https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/18553/ulticare-u40-pet-29g-3-10cc-1-2in-half-unit

Or these
https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/16363/carepoint-vet-u-40-syringe-29g-half-unit

EDIT Half unit pic please IGNORE this photo, but the syringes I posted from ADW Diabetes are the correct ones

DIA10

10% off your next order!

 

[JL and Chip]

Half unit pic

Ignore this photo. It shows the markings for a 3/10cc U -100 insulin syringe, which is not what you need. However, the links included for U-40 syringes were correct.

For future reference insulin syringes can be bought at any pharmacy, Walmart or CVS.

In the U.S., that’s not necessarily true. Pharmacies carry U-100 syringes (used with most human insulins) but not always U-40 syringes (for pet insulins).

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Ignore this photo. It shows the markings for a 3/10cc U -100 insulin syringe, which is not what you need. However, the links included for U-40 syringes were correct.

Hi JL I could have sworn I read that a member said you can show this just to show the half unit markings,

 

[JL and Chip]

Hi JL I could have sworn I read that a member said you can show this just to show the half unit markings,

Oh I don’t doubt that, but with how easily confusion can occur around syringes, I’d prefer the correct photo or none. For example, U-40 syringes have a number next to every whole unit with a hash mark between for half unit (if the half units are marked). The U-100s only show a number next to every 5 units. Anyway, just my effort to be clear for the original poster; others might disagree. I know your heart is in the right place so please don’t take my comment wrong. One of these days maybe we can make a comparable image for U-40 syringes.

 

[CAB7712]

Not to be blunt, but why on Earth are you using 1cc insulin syringes??

If the dose is 0.5u (one-half unit), then you’re making your life unnecessarily hard by using the 1cc syringes.

You can be much more exacting when drawing the dose by using either 1/2cc (holds 20 units) or, better yet, 3/10cc (holds 12 units) syringes with half-unit markings. Just make sure they’re u-40, which it sounds you’re doing.

I most definitely wouldn’t trade in the 1/2 cc syringes in lieu of 1cc. I had a high-dose cat and even I used the 3/10cc u-40s.

We were just dx last Wednesday were given the 1cc syringes from the ER in a pack of 20. We needed time to gather all supplies, so we were using what we were given.
Thanks for the advice

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Oh I don’t doubt that, but with how easily confusion can occur around syringes, I’d prefer the correct photo or none. For example, U-40 syringes have a number next to every whole unit with a hash mark between for half unit (if the half units are marked). The U-100s only show a number next to every 5 units. Anyway, just my effort to be clear for the original poster; others might disagree. I know your heart is in the right place so please don’t take my comment wrong. One of these days maybe we can make a comparable image for U-40 syringes.

Hi JL I gotcha ya thanks so much I definitely don't take your comment wrong at all