Cedar's Insulin Shots

Cedar requires 6 units of insulin per shot. We administer it using U-100 insulin needles.

U-100 needles and Lantus insulin vial and box

To prepare the shot:

1. Select a clean, unused U-100 insulin needle from the box on the kitchen island.
2. Retrieve the Lantus (insulin glargine) from the refrigerator. It is a 10mL vial in a small white paper box. We keep it in the topmost refrigerator pull-out drawer.
3. Uncap both needle ends.
4. Insert the needle all the way into the vial's rubbery end.
5. Press the plunger tightly to squeeze all the air out of the needle and into the vial.
6. Slowly draw 6 units into the needle.

   The needles have two sets of tick marks. The tick marks on the right count whole units; the ones on the left count half units. You should draw 6 whole units.

   The 5-unit line is clearly marked with a heavy line and a "5" next to it. To get 6 units, draw until you reach the next tick mark on the right side:

   

   Please avoid air bubbles. Note that the needle might form a vacuum: Filling it with insulin could take a while. You can also slowly draw more than 6 units, then press some insulin back into the vial to get rid of bubbles.

   
   Filling an insulin needle

7. Place the Lantus vial back into its box and into the refrigerator where you found it. Lantus has to remain chilled or it loses its effectiveness.