A diabetes syringe is designed for the injection of insulin. Many diabetics must inject insulin from once to several times per day to manage the condition. If you need to choose a diabetes syringe, the first things to consider are your insulin dosage and the type of insulin you use. You will also want to choose syringes that are clearly marked and easy to read to make it less likely you will give yourself the wrong dose. For less pain during the injections, look for a diabetes syringe that has a very thin, sharp needle.
The type of insulin you must use generally will determine the type of needle you need. There are two basic types of insulin: U100 and U500. U100 insulin contains 100 units of insulin in every milliliter of liquid, while U500 has 500 units of insulin in a milliliter. These require different needles. If you use a needle designed for one type with the other, you will either get a much higher or lower dose than you should, which could make you ill or even be fatal.
The most common type of insulin is U100, which must be injected with needles that are calibrated as U100 needles for correct dosing. U100 needles typically come with an orange cap to distinguish them from other types. People who have severe insulin resistance may need the much stronger U500 insulin, which must be injected with syringes designed especially for its insulin-rich solution. While it is possible to figure out how to convert one type of insulin to the other type of needle, it is best to simply use the right one and leave no room for error. People who use both types of insulin should generally use both types of diabetes syringes to help make sure they get the right amount of the medication.
Most diabetes syringes come in three sizes: 0.3 ml, 0.5 ml and 1.0 ml. It is best to choose a syringe that will hold the largest dose you take each day, but no more than that. If you require more than 1.0 ml in a single dose, there are 5.0 ml syringes that you can use to avoid having to split your dose into two injections. Look for a brand that has clear and easy-to-read markings on the barrel so you can be sure to get the right amount of insulin.
Comfort is also important when choosing a diabetes syringe. A plunger that slides smoothly in and out of the barrel will move the diabetes syringe less when injecting insulin. Also look for needles that are as thin and sharp as possible. These typically hurt less than thicker needles when piercing the skin.