This is a continuation of a long topic, addressed by post number rather than by page. Start at post 1 · go to the accepted answer.
post #30 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.
I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.
The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.
On post #28 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.
Dead volume: residual liquid in the hub and needle after withdrawal. Typical residual is 0.01 to 0.02 mL for an insulin syringe with a fixed needle. Accounting for it matters if precision matters.
Needle gauge: smaller numbers (30G) are finer and less painful. Larger numbers (25G) are courser. For subcutaneous injection, 27-30G is typical. Finer needles take longer to draw up but hurt less.
Needle gauge: smaller numbers (30G) are finer and less painful. Larger numbers (25G) are courser. For subcutaneous injection, 27-30G is typical. Finer needles take longer to draw up but hurt less.
Practical note that does not fit anywhere else. Whatever you conclude from this topic, write down what you did and when. The single most useful thing in your own records is not any individual result; it is that they are dated and consecutive.
Insulin syringe graduations: U-100 syringes are marked in units where 100 units = 1 mL. Always confirm your syringe is U-100. Confusion between insulin units and milligrams is the most common syringe error.
Syringe barrel size: common sizes are 0.3 mL, 0.5 mL, and 1.0 mL. Smaller barrels are more legible for small doses. Larger barrels hold larger volumes. Choose based on your dose.
Sharps disposal: needles and syringes should be disposed in a sharps container (a rigid, puncture-resistant container). Do not put them in regular trash. Many pharmacies accept filled sharps containers.
post #41 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.
Aspirating before injection: for subcutaneous injection, aspirating (pulling back on the plunger to check for blood) is not necessary and is sometimes discouraged because it is associated with more discomfort. Subcutaneous injection without aspiration is standard practice.
Coming back to post #41, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.
Dead volume: residual liquid in the hub and needle after withdrawal. Typical residual is 0.01 to 0.02 mL for an insulin syringe with a fixed needle. Accounting for it matters if precision matters.
Needle gauge: smaller numbers (30G) are finer and less painful. Larger numbers (25G) are courser. For subcutaneous injection, 27-30G is typical. Finer needles take longer to draw up but hurt less.
I read post #45 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.
Dead volume: residual liquid in the hub and needle after withdrawal. Typical residual is 0.01 to 0.02 mL for an insulin syringe with a fixed needle. Accounting for it matters if precision matters.
This follows post #45 rather than contradicting it.
I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.
The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.
Aspirating before injection: for subcutaneous injection, aspirating (pulling back on the plunger to check for blood) is not necessary and is sometimes discouraged because it is associated with more discomfort. Subcutaneous injection without aspiration is standard practice.
For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.
Fixed versus detachable needles: insulin syringes usually have fixed needles (no dead volume loss to the hub). Luer-lock syringes use detachable needles (more dead volume). Fixed needles are preferred for small doses.
Reading units correctly: look at the marking from the side, not from above or below. The bottom of the plunger tip is the reading. Parallax error (wrong angle) is a source of dosing error.
Sharps disposal: needles and syringes should be disposed in a sharps container (a rigid, puncture-resistant container). Do not put them in regular trash. Many pharmacies accept filled sharps containers.
Worth separating two things that post #54 runs together.
Two things before anyone answers the substance.
First, the context in the first post is clear and specific. Second, the question is framed so that an answer can actually address it. Both are the norm here and both matter more than they sound.
For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.