Can you get insulin needles with half unit measures?

grace girl · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 11:21 AM

The needles I use only show units...and with the precision that's involved with the whole carb ratio thing I think it would be easier with a needle that shows half units as well. My DE raised this question this morning, and she's looking into it, but I thought someone else out there might could tell me sooner.

lelggren · #2 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace girl

The needles I use only show units...and with the precision that's involved with the whole carb ratio thing I think it would be easier with a needle that shows half units as well. My DE raised this question this morning, and she's looking into it, but I thought someone else out there might could tell me sooner.

You sure can

The 3/10 cc needles show half units on them. They are the ones that hold 30 units.

mark-TN · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 11:46 AM

BD Ultra-Fine II catalog #328440(click2view) is a short needle syringe with 1/2 units markings. I’ve used this syringe before and I would highly recommend it. I’ve since switch to a Rely-on syringe from Wal-Mart that are almost identical to the BD syringe but are 30 gauge instead of 31 gauge (still very comfortable though and costs me a lot less than the BD).

I believe CVS also has a brand name syringe with 1/2 unit markings. I have never used it though.

Mark

lilituc · #4 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 03:58 PM

BD syringes can come with half unit markings, however the package looks almost exactly the same as the regular ones. Be sure to double check that they're the right ones before you leave the pharmacy - I didn't!

Cyborg · #5 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 05:03 PM

The BD syringes with 1/2 unit markings are the ones I use for Symin. They were introduced to me in the Symlin starter pack.

JasonJayhawk · #6 (**permalink**) 07-18-2006, 05:33 PM

Make sure to get the BD product number that Mark points out. Most pharmacies will have the 30-unit (3/10 cc) BD syringes with the single unit markings, but if you ask the pharmacist to order what you want, they can do it. (If not, try a different pharmacy -- my local ma-and-pa shop pharmacy was able to do it, whereas my local Walmart pharmacy could not).

You'd be best showing up wth the NDC (National Drug Code) for these syringes, which can be obtained by looking the BD website for them for the product number that Mark pointed out. Without the NDC number, it makes it harder for the pharmacist to find it.