Do a few experiments. Draw up a half-unit dose and inject is slowly as a drop on a plate or other smooth surface. Do that a few times. Are the drops anywhere near the same size? They weren't when I did it using syringes. And my pen is a total nightmare with a single unit dose.
If you really are taking a 1/2 unit and you want accuracy, you should consider diluting.
You all must be really coordinated. I can't do this type of thing worth a darn. Before I learned Dr. B's technique for drawing up insulin, I would always draw a unit extra or so for my dose and attempt to prime the syringe to the exact dose. I could never do it. Maybe I am just a total klutz.
Hi bsc. I'll bet you haven't tried a 1/2 marking syringe. If you hold it up to a light while filling it, you can be quite accurate.
I used to have to give my daughter quarter units all the time. For 3/4 of a unit, pull a unit and squeeze out a drop. For half a unit, pull a whole unit and squeeze out 2 drops. There's your half. For a quarter, pull a half and squeze out a drop. Or pull a unit and squeeze out 3 drops.
I sat with an insulin syringe and bottle of saline and did it over and over and over again until I pretty much could pull these just by eyeballing it.
I think dilution or a pump are what immediately come to mind. I used to ur Mdi, but switched to a pump for more control over my basal. A side benefit is the very small doses which go as small as .05 unit.
I use the NovoPen Echo. It allows you to dial half a unit. I got it especially for this feature.
I do think with care, you can hold the syringe up to the light and measure a dose accurate to 1/2 unit. The problem I had is that when you want a dose of 1/2 or 1 unit, it is just very inaccurate. If you pull a single 1/2 unit dose and inject it onto a plate, and then do it repeatedly you will see that the doses are highly variable.
GlacierLily,
This is correct. Bernstein says that when drawing insulin from a pen cartridge, "Do not inject air" (no emphasis added).
Are we in the same time zone? I can never remember where the dividing line is. Just curious.
David
BD makes 1/2 unit needles that make this much simpler. I also find that intramuscular injections are much more precise and quicker for such small doses.
BD stock number 328440 is a 30-unit syringe with a 31g 8mm needle and half-unit markings.