If you have diabetes and are insulin dependent, it is important that you have syringes that can accommodate the dosages that you need to inject. The syringes that you use should also be easy to handle and to read so that you can be sure that you are always properly dosing your insulin. If you are getting too much or too little of the medicine, this could have a negative impact on your blood sugar levels. Learning more about a 1cc syringe ensures that you have the knowledge necessary to determine if this is the best syringe size for you.
READING A PLASTIC SYRINGE
When you get your insulin syringes, it is important to look at the markings carefully. Different manufacturers may design their syringes differently, causing the markings to look different. It is important that you can read the markings clearly so that you are drawing up the proper insulin dose each time. If you switch to a different brand, look at a syringe when you are still at the pharmacy so that if you have questions, the pharmacist can help to ensure that you are reading the markings correctly.
One cubic centimeter (cc) equals one milliliter (mL). So, when you draw up one cc of insulin, you are drawing up one mL of insulin. Since insulin is typically measured in units, it is important to know how these numbers translate to units of insulin. When you draw up one unit of insulin, this is equal to 0.1 milliliters. One cc or one mL of insulin is equal to 100 units of insulin.
IS YOUR INSULIN SYRINGE THE RIGHT SIZE?
An insulin syringe that can hold 1cc is ideal for those who need to inject 50 to 100 units of insulin in a single dose. To determine if 1cc is the right size for you, make note of the insulin doses that you inject regularly. If your average dose is 30 to 50 units of insulin, for example, a ½-cc syringe is generally sufficient. However, if you are administering higher doses at least a few times a week, it makes sense to move up to a syringe that holds 1cc because this will result in you needing to do fewer injections.
WHAT IS THE BEST NEEDLE FOR YOUR INSULIN SYRINGES?
A syringe and needle work together to allow you to inject your insulin, so it is imperative that they are compatible. When you are using a 1cc syringe, you have options regarding the best type of needle. There are several factors to consider regarding needles, and once you determine which factors apply to you, it will be much easier to choose a needle and properly inject your insulin.
Insulin needles come in varying lengths, with the average being about eight to 12.7 millimeters. Since insulin is meant to be injected into your body’s subcutaneous tissue, a needle that is eight millimeters is usually sufficient. However, adults who are larger might need a longer needle to ensure that the insulin gets into the proper area. Your doctor will help you choose a needle length that works best with your body type.
The next factor to consider is the width of the needle which is measured by its gauge. When the gauge measurement is higher, this means that the needle is actually thinner. For example, a 31 gauge is thinner than a 30 gauge. Insulin needles are typically 28 to 31 gauge. This gauge range will work with any syringe that holds 1cc of insulin, so you can choose the gauge that is the most comfortable for you.
HOW TO DRAW INSULIN INTO A SYRINGE
It is imperative that you draw insulin into your syringe properly. By doing this, you are using a safe technique and ensuring that you are getting the full dose of insulin. Proper drawing up of your insulin will also make it easier to ensure that you are pulling the proper dose into the syringe. Follow these steps when you draw up your insulin into your syringe:
• Wash and dry your hands
• Place the insulin vial between your hands and roll it approximately 10 times
• Use an alcohol swab to wipe off the top of the insulin vial
• Attach your syringe and needle if they are not already attached
• Draw air into the syringe that is equal to how much insulin you will draw into the syringe (for example, if you will be injecting 10 units of insulin, draw 10 units of air into the syringe)
• Place the needle into the insulin vial and inject the air
• Turn the vial upside down and carefully draw the proper units of insulin into your syringe
• Withdraw the needle and syringe from the vial
• Inspect the syringe for air bubbles and remove them by flicking the plastic syringe in the area where the bubbles are present
PROPER STEPS TO INJECT YOUR INSULIN USING A NEEDLE AND SYRINGE
Once you have your insulin dose drawn into your diabetes syringe, it is time to inject it. You should not fill your syringe until you are ready to inject. You need to use the proper injection technique to make the process as comfortable as possible. This will also make sure that you are getting the full dose of insulin in the syringe. Use the following steps to inject your insulin:
• Choose a place on your upper arm, side of your thigh or abdomen to inject your insulin
• Avoid areas where you have bruising or a wound
• Use an alcohol swab to clean your skin at the injection site
• Using your index finger and thumb, pinch the injection site gently (use your non-dominant hand for this)
• Hold the needle and syringe straight and insert it into the pinched skin (use your dominant hand to hold the needle and inject your insulin)
• Push the plunger on the syringe to inject the insulin into your body
• Leave the needle in your skin for approximately five seconds
• Withdraw the needle from your skin
• Apply gentle pressure to the injection site for about 10 seconds so that none of the insulin that you just injected will leak out
• Dispose of your syringe and needle properly
CONCLUSION
If your current 1cc syringe is too large or small, talk to your doctor promptly. They can help you to evaluate your average insulin dosages to determine if you need to make a change to the insulin syringes that you use. You want to be able to pull your full dose of insulin into a single syringe without too much extra space. Extra space can make it harder to remove air bubbles. If your diabetes syringe is too small, you will need to do more than one injection which can be uncomfortable. Share this article on social media and post a link to it on your website.
