Gorb and I made the switch to PZI his 2nd year into FD. We used the PZI vet (formerly Blue Ridge) and Idexx was kind enough to send us boxes and boxes of U-40 needles to go with the insulin...wasn't that sweet? NOT! Gorb wanted to no part of the 1/2" length syringes (he didn't even like the 5/16" so much) and 29 gauge?? Maybe just a "slight" difference to most, but to Gorb it would be like trying to use a butter knife to give him his shot ;)
So, we needed to do the conversion to use our U-40 insulin with our preferred U-100 syringes and needed to have that conversion chart handy...so, we've put it right here where we'll never lose it! And hopefully some of you folks will enjoy it as well :) Using the U-100 syringes also lets you make very gradual changes to your dose (should you choose to), similar to diluting in theory.
IMPORTANT NOTE: 1 unit of U-40 insulin equates to the 2.5 "tick mark" in a U-100 syringe. Always discuss your dose in your actual units, not in "tick mark" equivalents...it will help you keep things straight (at least it works for us). This chart is available for download so you can print it out and put it on your frig for shot times. Click here for the .pdf version.
If you don't see your dose below, use this handy dose calculator:
| U-40 units | U-100 equivalent | U-40 units | U-100 equivalent |
| .10 | .25 | 2.60 | 6.5 |
| .20 | .5 | 2.70 | 6.75 |
| .30 | .75 | 2.80 | 7 |
| .40 | 1 | 2.90 | 7.25 |
| .50 | 1.25 | 3 | 7.5 |
| .60 | 1.5 | 3.10 | 7.75 |
| .70 | 1.75 | 3.20 | 8 |
| .80 | 2 | 3.30 | 8.25 |
| .90 | 2.25 | 3.40 | 8.5 |
| 1 | 2.5 | 3.50 | 8.75 |
| 1.10 | 2.75 | 3.60 | 9 |
| 1.20 | 3 | 3.70 | 9.25 |
| 1.30 | 3.25 | 3.80 | 9.5 |
| 1.40 | 3.5 | 3.90 | 9.75 |
| 1.50 | 3.75 | 4 | 10 |
| 1.60 | 4 | 4.10 | 10.25 |
| 1.70 | 4.25 | 4.20 | 10.5 |
| 1.80 | 4.5 | 4.30 | 10.75 |
| 1.9 | 4.75 | 4.40 | 11 |
| 2 | 5 | 4.50 | 11.25 |
| 2.10 | 5.25 | 4.60 | 11.5 |
| 2.20 | 5.5 | 4.70 | 11.75 |
| 2.30 | 5.75 | 4.80 | 12 |
| 2.40 | 6 | 4.90 | 12.25 |
| 2.50 | 6.25 | 5 | 12.5 |