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Needles and Syringes

View the Syringes Comparison Chart

Needles and syringes are used for daily injections of insulin. Syringes are small and the needles have fine points and special coatings that work to make injecting as easy and painless as possible. When insulin injections are done properly, most people discover they are relatively painless.

Check with your doctor or diabetes educator and test several brands before you buy. Your equipment should suit your needs.

Questions to ask:

Does the syringe dose match your insulin strength? If you take U-100 insulin, use U-100 syringes. Note: All insulin syringes in the United States take U-100 insulin.
Does your syringe match your insulin dosage? If you take 30 units or less of insulin, you may use the 3/10-cc syringe. The �-cc syringe may be used by those taking 50 units or less, and the 1-cc syringe is designed for those needing up to 100 units of insulin.
If you are changing the syringe you use, check dosage lines carefully. In some syringes, one line is equal to one unit of insulin, but in others, each line is equal to two units of insulin.
Be familiar with the gauge of your needle and what it means. The higher the gauge number of your needle, the thinner it is.
Can you easily draw up your dosage in a particular syringe? If your insulin needs have been increasing, you might want to buy syringes that give you an opportunity to increase your dose if need be. For example, if you take 29 units, consider buying a 50-unit syringe. Using a syringe that more closely matches your dose may help you more accurately draw up your insulin.
Does the syringe barrel have the kind of markings you can read easily�or are they too close together? Not all syringe barrels are created equal � check out several different brands to find one with markings that you can easily read.
Does having a plunger that's a different color make it easier for you? Many people with imperfect eyesight find that using syringes with a plunger colored differently than the barrel makes it easier to determine when the syringe has been filled to the appropriate level.
Would a shorter needle be a better choice for you? Some syringes now have shorter needles that many people find to be more comfortable. However, the depth of the injection can change the rate of absorption. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator to assess whether this would be a good alternative to your current syringe.

Syringes Comparison Chart


Manufacturer/Distributor and Name	Needle Gauge	Needle Size	Packaging

Abbott Laboratories

Pharmacy Brands*	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Precision Sure Dose	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Aimsco Ultra Thin II Short	30G	5/16�	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Aimsco Ultra Thin II 29	29G	��	100 (10 packs of 10 individually wrapped)

Aimsco Maxi Comfort	28G	��	100 (10 packs of 10 individually wrapped)

Aimsco Uni Body Ultra II	29G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

Aimsco Uni Body Ultra II 29	28G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

Aimsco Safety Syringe	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

BD Safety Glide	28G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped) safety-engineered

BD Safety-Lok	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

BD Ultra-Fine	30G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

BD Ultra-Fine II Short	31G	5/16�	100 (10 packs of 10)

BD Ultra-Fine	30G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

Can-Am Care Corp.

Monoject Ultra Comfort Short	30G	5/16�	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Monoject Ultra Comfort 29	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Monoject Ultra Comfort 28	28G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Various store brands**	31G	5/16�	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Various store brands**	30G	5/16�	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Various store brands**	29G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Various store brands**	28G	��	100 (individually sterile wrapped)

Medicore Lite Touch	30G	5/16�	100 (10 packs of 10)

Medicore Lite Touch	29G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

Medicore Lite Touch	28G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

UltiMed, Inc.

UltiCare, UltiFine	29G	��	AAA (2)

UltiCare, UltiFine	28G	��	100 (10 packs of 10)

UltiCare, UltiFine	30G	5/16�	100 (10 packs of 10)

UltiCare, UltiFine	29G	��	100 (10 packs of 10) with disposable container

UltiCare, UltiFine	30G	5/16�	100 (10 packs of 10) with disposable container

* Sold at Brooks Pharmacy and CVS stores.

** Sold at Albertson�s, Wal-Mart (ReliOn), Medicine Shoppe, Kroger, Leader, Longs, Kmart (Value Plus), Meijer, Sunmark, Brite Life, Good Neighbor, Family Pharmacy, Shop Rite, Preferred Plus, Winn Dixie.