What Is My Insulin Dose
Your insulin dose will help you decide on the capacity and graduation of your syringe.
An essential part of achieving good glycaemic control is accurate dosing. All of our 0.3ml and 0.5ml insulin syringes have a one unit increment allowing you to deliver the correct dose more accurately. It is important to choose the size of the syringe according to the volume of insulin to be injected.
BD Insulin Syringes with Ultra-Fine needles are available in 0.3 mL, 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL capacities to optimize dose.
0.3ml
How To Choose The Right Insulin Syringe
Using a syringe for your insulin injections is still the most widely used way of delivering insulin in the United States.
A syringe is a hollow plastic tube with a plunger inside and a short skinny needle attached. You have to use the syringe to draw the insulin out of a vial and then inject it.
You want to choose the right syringe for the type of insulin that you use, and the first thing to check is if the concentration of your insulin matches the syringe.
Its indicated on the syringe what insulin concentration the syringe is for. Insulin concentration is measured in Units/mL and indicated as U-100, U-200, or U-500.
Make sure your syringe matches your insulin concentration or you might end up injecting the wrong amount of insulin.
Secondly, you want to choose the syringe size thats appropriate for you. If you use large amounts of insulin at a time, youll want to choose a larger syringe so that you dont have to cut your doses up in smaller amounts.
- 0.3 mL syringes are for doses under 30 units of insulin and are numbered at 1-unit intervals.
- 0.5 mL syringes are for doses of 30 to 50 units of insulin and are numbered at 1-unit intervals.
- 1.0 mL syringes are for doses of more than 50 units of insulin and are numbered at 2-units intervals.
Finally, you want to consider which size needle is appropriate for you. Just as with pen needles, shorter needles sizes are generally recommended.
What Size Needles For Socks
Knitting needle sizes: 1-3 The sock sneaks up on all us knitters at some point. Most socks are knit using a size 1 or 2 needle, but you can also find sock patterns that are designed for heavier non-sock yarns. In addition to socks, you can knit up beautiful shawls using sock-weight yarn and these small needles.
You May Like: How Does Diabetes Cause Blindness
What Is The Smallest Insulin Needle Size
How do I choose a needle for injection?
The optimal needle length to choose would be 25 mm. For the subcutaneous injection, the needle size should be 1/3 of the tissue, about 10 mm. The correct needle to choose is the 10 mm, to inject the right tissue, to get the right effect of the medicine and reduce the risk of injection site reactions.
What are common syringe sizes?
The 1/2 and 5/8 inch needles are the two most common needle lengths and span both intradermal and subcutaneous injections.
How big of a needle do you need for diabetes?
Did you know? Needles come in many lengths from 4mm to 12.7mm long. New research of the skin shows that on average the skin is only 1.6-2.4mm thick in all people living with diabetes.1, 5 This means that 4, 5 and 6mm needles are suitable for all people living with diabetes who inject.4
Whats the average length of an insulin needle?
Needle length. Common needle lengths are 12.7 mm and 8 mm . The 8-mm needle is called short and is the length that most people prefer. Barrel size: The barrel size determines how much insulin the syringe can hold.
Administration Of Insulin Shot:
Insulin shots can be administered subcutaneously to various sites. Patients that require daily insulin shots must alter the target spots regularly to avoid discomfort and other complications.
Arms, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs are some of the most common insulin injection sites to choose from.
- Step 1: First of all, make sure that the chosen site is clean.
- Step 2: Pinch your skin with the index finger and thumb, and enter the needle making an angle of 45° with the skin surface.
- Step 3: After entering the needle, slowly push the plunger to inject the insulin into the fat tissue.
- Step 4: Wait for five seconds and slowly remove the needle out of the skin and cover the area with a finger or thumb to avoid insulin leakage.
- Step 5: Dispose vial, syringe, and needle to a safe place to avoid any contamination or spread of any infection.
Furthermore, it is highly advisable to seek expert medical advice in case of any complications during the procedure.
You May Like: Why Is My Glucose Level Low
Where To Buy Insulin Needles
Insulin needles can be purchased online or at pharmacies and stores including Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS. In some cases, the products are located behind the counter in the pharmacy area.
The American Pharmacists Association has long supported over-the-counter sales of needles and syringes to help prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases.
How To Dispose Of Pen Needles
These needles may be tiny, but theyre still considered hazardous medical waste and should be disposed of in official sharps containers. Local communities and states have varying disposal rules, sometimes allowing you to include these in sharps containers to put out for recycling just like insulin syringes.
You can read our DiabetesMine guide to disposing of used diabetes supplies, which includes these important tips:
- Never throw loose pen needles into the trash or directly into a recycling container.
- Put the used pen needle into a home sharps container, or something similar that follows your local rules on properly disposing of used sharps objects.
- You can clip the needle with a special needle-clipping device, such as the BD Safe-Clip. Those can be picked up your local pharmacy or ordered online.
- If you inject someone else or dispose of their pen needle, use extreme caution to avoid getting pricked, which can transmit infections.
Don’t Miss: A1c Blood Glucose Conversion Chart
Does Needle Length Matter For Insulin For Dogs
In order to deliver the insulin into the subcutaneous area, needles must be long enough to get to the appropriate space for proper absorption. AAHA recommends using a ½ length needle for most dogs. We do know that smaller dogs can get away with using the 5/16 length needles without problem.
Hi, I’m Kelly. I’ve been a dog trainer for 12 years, working at all levels of competition, from basic obedience to competition obedience, and in a variety of venues. I’ve also been an instructor at the National Dog Trainer’s Association and have given seminars on basic dog training to several local pet store chains. My articles have appeared in a variety of magazines including Pets Magazine, Action Dog and Puppy Love.
Syringes Vs Pen Needles
Most diabetics are aware that there are two methods for administering insulin: syringes and pens. Unfortunately, there is no correct or incorrect answer as to which is superior. Insulin syringes and pen needles both have their benefits and drawbacks. “Which one will help you manage your diabetes the best?” is the question. Let’s look at each option and the differences between using insulin pen needles and utilizing insulin syringes to answer that question.
Also Check: Best Blood Glucose Monitor 2021
How Should One Select The Correct Needle
After you’ve determined whether you need syringes or an insulin pen for your diabetes treatment, there’s one more crucial step to make. What are the most effective and comfortable needle lengths and gauges for you?
Many people with Diabetes will claim that the needle size is the most crucial factor to consider when creating an insulin injection regimen. After all, the needle is the instrument that penetrates the skin and enters the fatty tissue. As a result, it can cause discomfort and, worse, it may not offer the necessary quantity of insulin absorption into the body if it isn’t the right size for your body type and delivery needs.
Here are a few things to think about while choosing needle lengths and gauges.
According to a long-held belief, Longer is better for both insulin syringe needle sizes and pen needle sizes. Unfortunately, it is not the case when it comes to diabetic treatment. Insulin works best when injected into the layer of fatty tissue beneath the skin.
The longer needles can penetrate the muscular tissue and travel right through this layer. It not only causes more significant pain and bruising, but it also causes the insulin to get used up more quickly than most doctors would prefer, perhaps leading to hypoglycemia.
Insulin Pens And Pen Needles
Pens and pen needles for insulin are unquestionably handier and worry-free than traditional vials and syringes for administering insulin. There are two sorts of insulin pens- reusable and disposable. A cartridge in reusable insulin pens allows the user to dial up the correct dosage. When a cartridge runs out, it gets replaced. Disposable insulin pens that are pre-filled with a single dose are also available. The pen gets tossed once it has been used.
Also Check: Role Of Insulin In Body
What Are The Advantages Of Using Pens And Pen Needles For Insulin
First, using a pen makes the operation simple and significantly less prone to human mistakes than using a vial and syringe. You can also take pens anyplace. Finally, they’re far more accessible to transport than vials and syringes, so you may bring your diabetes supplies with you everywhere you go.
For many people with Diabetes, the expense of using pens is an issue. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay a premium for the increased convenience. Pen needles are also not included with the cells and acquired from a reputable diabetic healthcare vendor.
When To Pinch The Skin
There are different ways of successfully doing a subcutaneous injection and the right technique comes down to what length of needle you choose.
If your needle is 4 mm or 5 mm, you can do the injection at a 90-degree angle. That means you dont need to pinch the skin, and you can do the injection one-handed if you like. This can be practical if youre injecting into the arm, lower back, or glutes.
Children from 2 to 6 years old or extremely lean adults may need to use a pinch-up technique regardless of needle length.
If you opt for a needle longer than 5 mm, you will want to do the injection with a pinched-up skinfold or a 45-degree angle to avoid intramuscular injection of insulin.
Read Also: Pen Needle Sizes For Insulin
How To Choose The Right Insulin Pen Needle Or Syringe
If you live with insulin-dependent diabetes and manage your blood sugars with an insulin pen or syringe, youre most likely taking 2 or more insulin shots a day.
Thats a minimum of 730 times a year that youre piercing your skin with a needle to do an injection.
I do a lot more than 2 injections a day. Im closer to 7 doses a day, which isnt unusual for people living with diabetes. Thats 2,555 injections a year!
I dont mind and it doesnt hurt. But one of the main reasons it doesnt hurt is that I use the right needle, the right injection technique, and I change my needles frequently.
In this article, youll learn how to choose the needle or syringe size thats right for you to minimize pain, avoid scar tissue buildup, and ensure that a full dose is received every time you inject.
What Is The Procedure For Preparing An Insulin Dose Utilizing A Pen
Don’t Miss: High Level Of Sugar In The Blood:
Why Syringe Length Matters
Studies on insulin needle size have shown that body mass index doesnt matter when it comes to the length of the needle to get an accurate insulin dose. BMI is one way to estimate body fat based on height and weight.
Needles as short as 4 millimeters have shown to provide accurate dosing. This may be important for your comfort with giving yourself insulin injections every day if you dont like big needles.
Thinner gauge needles may also be less painful, so if you need daily injections, this is something for you to consider and discuss with your doctor.
Your technique for giving insulin injections, the syringe size and needle, along with rotating injection sites, all matter when it comes to managing your blood sugar levels and avoiding complications.
Comparison Of Two Needle Sizes For Subcutaneous Administration Of Enoxaparin: Effects On Size Of Hematomas And Pain On Injection
Abstract STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether use of a smaller needle size for subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin would reduce the size of injection-site hematomas and/or decrease the pain of injection. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. SETTING: Community hospital in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-four patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction who were administered enoxaparin for anticoagulation. INTERVENTION: Each patient was randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received enoxaparin injections with a 30-gauge, 5/16-inch insulin syringe, and the other group was injected with a 26-gauge, 3/8-inch tuberculin syringe. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participating nurses used standard measuring tape to determine the largest diameter of each hematoma. Pain was assessed with a 10-unit numeric scale. The two groups did not differ significantly with regard to either the mean size of the largest hematoma/patient or the mean pain score . CONCLUSIONS: Use of a 30-gauge, 5/16-inch insulin syringe instead of a 26-gauge, 3/8-inch tuberculin syringe does not significantly reduce either hematoma size or pain of injection. A larger study is required to determine whether needle size affects the frequency of hematoma formation.Continue reading > >
Also Check: Freestyle Lite Glucose Test Strips 50 Count
Does Insulin Syringe Needle Length Matter
Although longer needles are often prescribed for patients with increased body fat, this practice actually has no clinical basis.
When it comes to diabetes therapy, insulin is pharmacists most valuable weapon.
Although oral therapies can offer convenience and reduce hypoglycemia risk, the glucose-lowering effects of insulin remain unrivaled. Simply put, insulin is diabetic hormone replacement therapy. Patients with hypothyroidism receive levothyroxine, while patients no longer making sufficient insulin can replace it exogenously.
A variety of needle lengths are available, ranging from 4 mm to 12.7 mm
Unfortunately, patients may resist starting insulin for many reasons, one of which is a fear of needles. Injecting insulin can be painful, especially when using longer needles. Painful injections are not only unpleasant for patients, but can also lead to medication noncompliance and poorer health outcomes.
Although longer needles are often prescribed for patients with increased body fat, this practice actually has no clinical basis. Insulin is meant to be injected into subcutaneous tissue, human skin is only 1.6 mm to 2.4 mm thick, on average. Because skin thickness doesnt increase significantly in overweight and obese patients, a 4-mm needle is sufficient to deliver insulin to subcutaneous tissue in patients of all sizes.
Related Content:
How To Find The Appropriate Needle Gauge
The needle gauge is the measurement of a needle’s thickness. For example, insulin syringe needles are usually between 28 and 31 gauge, while pen needles are generally between 31 and 32 gauge. So, the thinner the needle is, the higher the number.
So, how can you know which gauge is best for you?
The finer the needle gauge on an insulin syringe or a pen needle, the easier the needle will penetrate the skin and the less pain you’ll feel. However, the correct needle gauge depends on your level of comfort as well as the amount of insulin you’ll be administering.
A more significant, lower-gauge needle may help deliver the drug faster and more effectively if your treatment plan calls for a considerable dose of insulin. So while you may have some little discomfort as a result of the treatment, the efficacy of the treatment may be worth it.
Recommended Reading: Glucose Test In Pregnancy Fasting
Getting Ready For The Insulin Shot:
The patient must prepare themselves for the insulin shot before administration. Also, it is important to gather the supplies that can be required during the whole procedure. Patients can follow the steps mentioned below to prepare the insulin shot
- Step 1: Make sure you have all the required items ready. It may include a fresh needle, insulin vial, spirit of alcohol, and cotton swab.
- Step 2: Shake the insulin vial well and take off its protective covering.
- Step 3: Now, sterilize the top of the vial with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to avoid any kind of contamination.
- Step 4: Remove the needle cap from the syringe and pull the plunger back up to the mark of insulin dose.
- Step 5: Now, inject the needle into the insulin vial and push the plunger to inject air.
- Step 6: Turn the syringe and vial upside down and pull back the plunger up to the desired dosage mark making sure that there are no air bubbles in the syringe.
Now, your insulin shot is ready and you can proceed with its administration.
Unifine Pen Needles By Owen Mumford
British medical device maker Owen Mumford is the other big name in pen needles, though not as well-known in the United States as BD. Their products currently on offer include:
Unifine Pentips. The most common brand name from Owen Mumford, which has been around since the late 1990s. The company says theyre designed to lower penetration force to support patient comfort and reduce the sensation of trauma, with a thin needle wall technology that limits how much thumb force is needed to inject insulin through the pen. This feature is designed to help reduce thumb arthritis. These are available in 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 mm sizes and each has various gauges to choose from.
Pentips Plus. This variety of Unifine pen needles offers an extra integrated needle removal safety feature. Using whats called Safe Click Technology, the pen needle has an extra chamber so you can more easily dispose of the needle after use. This can be especially helpful when youre on-the-go and not able to immediately put the used needle into a medical sharps container. This pen needle also comes in 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 mm lengths and gauge options of 32 to 29 mm.
Also Check: Low Blood Sugar Levels After Eating