Did I pick the wrong needle?

[snow]

OK so I am really, really tired and over thinking again.

I read everything over and over prior to switching my dog to NPH from Vetsulin. I made sure I got the u 100 needles.They are 1 cc 31 gauge short needle u100 syringes.

The u100's are measured by 2 units increments, and the u40's by one. So, am I stuck increasing/decreasing his NPH by 2 units? Did I get the wrong needles?

I must say those thin needles make his shots easier.


snow<--person
Devon<--"don't like shots"

[BestBuddy]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

Usually the smaller volume needles have better markings so only get the 1/2 or .5 (max of 50 units) or even the 3/10 or .3cc (max of 30 units). I could only get needles with 1 unit markings but I believe that there are ones that measure in .5cc. It just means with the marking being every 2 units you will have to "eyeball" half way between to change by 1 unit.

Jenny

[brittanyt]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

when i bought my first box of syringes, i got home and had the same problem. since he was on such a low dose, i had to go buy another box that had 1 unit increments. when i ran out (today) i went to walmart and asked for ones that were 3/10 and were marked in half unit increments.

i've had trouble the past couple of times with the walmart pharmacy so i just took in a piece of the box with me and told them i needed that exact kind but 3/10.

i knew there was no way i could use those 1cc (like you got) so i had to get more. i do use them only when his dosage is an even 2 or 4.

i'd advise getting another box because it's really difficult to look at that syringe and guess at the correct dose!

brittany

OK so I am really, really tired and over thinking again.

I read everything over and over prior to switching my dog to NPH from Vetsulin. I made sure I got the u 100 needles.They are 1 cc 31 gauge short needle u100 syringes.

The u100's are measured by 2 units increments, and the u40's by one. So, am I stuck increasing/decreasing his NPH by 2 units? Did I get the wrong needles?

I must say those thin needles make his shots easier.


snow<--person
Devon<--"don't like shots"

[We Hope]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

You can compromise and get 1/2 cc syringes which hold up to 50 IU. Depending on who makes them, some are marked with one unit lines:

http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Syringe#Barrel

The only ones with half unit markings are the 3/10 cc syringes which are labeled as having half-scale markings.

The ReliOn 1/2 cc ones have 1 unit markings:

http://www.relion.com/information/fa...delivery.htm#4

"What kinds of markings are on your syringes?

"Our markings range from ½ unit to 2 unit increments, depending on the volume of the syringe. Here is the breakout:

1cc - 2 unit increments
1/2cc - 1 unit increments
3/10cc - ½ unit increments"

http://www.relion.com/information/fa...delivery.htm#2

"What does the gauge number (and other size numbers) mean?

"The higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle. Gauge numbers for insulin syringes are 27 to 31. We have 29, 30 and 31 gauge in our line. The length of the 29 gauge needle is ½ inch. The 30 gauge and 31 gauge needles are shorter, measuring 5/16 inch. Use 3/10cc syringes for up to 30 units of insulin, 1/2 cc syringes for up to 50 units and 1cc syringes for up to 100 units."

HTH!

Kathy

[snow]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

Kathy, Jenny and Brittany -

Thanks so much, I did get the "wrong" ones but since they are so much slimmer and there's so much less fluid vs the Vetsulin dosage I didn't notice at first.

I will get the 3/10 cc ones later to day, I want to up/down by .5 increments.

Thanks again, I don't know why I have such a blind spot in my head about this.


snow<---sticker
Devon<--- stickee

[k9diabetes]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

It seems like Walmarts like to give out the 1cc syringes... I'm guessing they are popular with people?

Lots of people have done the same thing over the years.

I got my insulin from Walmart but ordered syringes online so I could pick exactly what I wanted. I loved the ones with the half-unit marks. Chris did not use much insulin, usually 7-8 units per injection, so I adjusted his dose sometimes by as little as 1/4 unit.

Natalie

[Fishslayer]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

The Relion syringe boxes all look the same. Combine that with a combo of specs like ".5cc, .3cc, etc....1/2" 5/16 needle" and you have completely exceeded the comprehension skills of most of our local WalMart pharmacy employees...

I have a box of .5cc syringes stashed somewhere that I bought before learning to double check. They don't let you return syringes, even if still sealed and even if it was their eff-up.

Rick

[brittanyt]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

hey snow & devon

you may have already bought the syringes but if not, i thought i'd give you a little info to tell them.

i just bought these yesterday and before i left i had them show me a syringe so i could check to make sure it was exactly what i wanted.

ask for the relion 30 gauge 3/10 short needles and the box is lined in purple.
i think it's the only one with purple on it so that should help a little bit, i hope! i love these because it allows me to increase by just a quarter of a unit without guessing if i have the right amount drawn up.

[snow]

Re: Did I pick the wrong needle?

hey snow & devon

you may have already bought the syringes but if not, i thought i'd give you a little info to tell them.

i just bought these yesterday and before i left i had them show me a syringe so i could check to make sure it was exactly what i wanted.

ask for the relion 30 gauge 3/10 short needles and the box is lined in purple.
i think it's the only one with purple on it so that should help a little bit, i hope! i love these because it allows me to increase by just a quarter of a unit without guessing if i have the right amount drawn up.

Hi Brittany

I ripped the top off the box and wrote on it in marker exactly what I wanted and handed it to the clerk. She still asked me what gauge I wanted, LOL

So next time I'll know better and I have a friend who can use the other ones for her dog, so that works out. Lesson learned :-)

snow