Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It is used to treat diabetes, a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin or use it properly. Insulin therapy involves injecting insulin under the skin to lower high blood sugar.
Insulin dosing can be complex as it needs to be tailored to each individual’s needs. The dose is measured in units of insulin. But insulin injectors contain insulin in a liquid form, with the dose measured in milliliters (mL). This can cause confusion over how units translate into mL.
This article will provide a clear answer on how many units are in 1 mL of insulin. We will cover the key facts on insulin concentrations and dosing units. This will help diabetics understand how to draw up the correct dose in their syringes or insulin pens.
The Different Types of Insulin
There are several types of insulin used for diabetes treatment. The concentration of insulin varies between the different types. This affects how many units are contained in 1 mL.
The main types of insulin are:
– Rapid or short acting insulin – Starts working within 15 minutes and lasts for 2 to 4 hours. Examples are Humalog and Novolog.
– Regular or short acting insulin – Starts working within 30 minutes and lasts for 3 to 6 hours. Example is Humulin R.
– Intermediate acting insulin – Starts working within 2 to 4 hours and lasts for up to 16 hours. Examples are Humulin N and Novolin N.
– Long acting insulin – Starts working several hours after injection and lasts for up to 24 hours. Examples are Lantus, Levemir and Tresiba.
The concentration of insulin is measured in units per mL (U/mL). Here are the standard concentrations for the different insulin types:
– Rapid acting insulin: 100 units/mL
– Short acting insulin: 100 units/mL
– Intermediate acting insulin: 100 units/mL
– Long acting insulin: 100 units/mL or 200 units/mL
As shown, most insulin types come in a standard 100 units/mL concentration. But some long acting insulins are more highly concentrated at 200 units/mL.
It’s important to always check the insulin label for the concentration before drawing up a dose. Drawing up the wrong concentration could lead to a significant overdose or underdose.
How Many Units in 1 mL of 100 U/mL Insulin
For insulin types with a concentration of 100 units/mL, it’s quite straightforward to determine units in 1 mL:
– 100 units/mL means there are 100 units in every 1 mL.
So for rapid acting insulin, short acting insulin and intermediate acting insulin:
– There are 100 units in 1 mL
To give an example, 1 mL of Humalog (rapid acting) contains 100 units of insulin. If your prescribed dose is 6 units, you would draw up 0.06 mL.
The 100 units/mL concentration makes the math easy. There is a 1:1 ratio between units and mL.
To summarize:
– For 100 units/mL insulin, there are 100 units in 1 mL
How Many Units in 1 mL of 200 U/mL Insulin
For long acting insulins like Lantus or Levemir with a concentration of 200 units/mL, the dosage calculation changes.
If there are 200 units for every 1 mL, then:
– There are 200 units in 1 mL of 200 U/mL insulin.
So if taking Lantus with a concentration of 200 units/mL, 1 mL would contain 200 units.
For example, if your prescribed Lantus dose is 20 units, you would need to draw up 0.1 mL to get 20 units.
The concentration of 200 units/mL means the units to mL ratio is 2:1.
To summarize:
– For 200 units/mL insulin, there are 200 units in 1 mL
How to Calculate Units from mL
We can use the insulin concentrations to calculate units from any given mL amount:
For 100 U/mL insulin:
Units = mL x 100
For 200 U/mL insulin
Units = mL x 200
Let’s take some examples:
1) For Humalog (100 U/mL), how many units in 0.5 mL?
Units = 0.5 x 100 = 50 units
2) For Lantus (200 U/mL), how many units in 0.2 mL?
Units = 0.2 x 200 = 40 units
To calculate the mL amount needed for a given dose in units:
For 100 U/mL insulin:
mL = Units / 100
For 200 U/mL insulin
mL = Units / 200
Examples:
1) For Novolog (100 U/mL), how many mL for 6 units?
mL = 6 / 100 = 0.06 mL
2) For Levemir (200 U/mL), how many mL for 25 units?
mL = 25 / 200 = 0.125 mL
How to Draw Up the Correct Dose
Here are some tips when drawing up your insulin dose:
– Always check the insulin label for the concentration before drawing up.
– If the concentration is 100 units/mL, the dose in units will be the same as the dose in mL.
– For 200 units/mL insulin, divide the dose in units by 2 to get the mL amount.
– Use an insulin syringe that matches the dose – either U-100 for 100 units/mL insulin or U-200 for 200 units/mL.
– Carefully measure out the insulin to get the correct dose.
– If the dose is uneven, round to the nearest half or whole unit.
– Tap the syringe to get rid of air bubbles and push out excess insulin before injecting.
– Double check you have drawn up the right dose.
Always consult your doctor or diabetes educator if you are unsure about injecting insulin. Small mistakes can happen so it’s important to know the right steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions people have about insulin units and mL amounts:
How many units in 0.5 mL of Humalog (100 units/mL)?
Answer: 0.5 mL of Humalog contains 50 units.
How many units in 0.25 mL of Lantus (200 units/mL)?
Answer: 0.25 mL of Lantus contains 50 units.
My dose is 22 units. How many mL do I need to draw up of Novolog (100 units/mL)?
Answer: For a 100 units/mL insulin like Novolog, divide the units by 100. So 22 units / 100 = 0.22 mL
If my dose is 12 units, what is the mL amount if using Levemir (200 units/mL)?
Answer: For a 200 units/mL insulin like Levemir, divide the units by 200. So 12 units / 200 = 0.06 mL.
How can I confirm the concentration of my insulin?
Answer: Always check the insulin label or pen cartridge for the concentration, which is listed as U-100, U-200, etc. Contact your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Key Points
To summarize the key points about insulin unit conversions:
– Insulin comes in different concentrations, most commonly 100 units/mL and 200 units/mL.
– For 100 units/mL insulin, there are 100 units in every 1 mL.
– For 200 units/mL there are 200 units in every 1 mL.
– Divide units by 100 for 100 U/mL insulins to get the mL dose.
– Divide units by 200 for 200 U/mL insulins to get the mL dose.
– Always verify the concentration before drawing up insulin.
– Carefully measure the dose using an appropriate syringe.
Being confident with insulin unit conversions allows for accurate dosing and better diabetes management. Consult a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
Conclusion
In summary, the number of insulin units in 1 mL depends on the insulin concentration:
– For 100 units/mL insulin, there are 100 units in 1 mL
– For 200 units/mL insulin, there are 200 units in 1 mL
– Most insulins come in 100 units/mL concentration, except some long acting insulins which are 200 units/mL
– Dividing units by the concentration gives the mL amount (and vice versa)
– Always check the insulin label for the concentration and use the correct syringe
– Accurately dosing insulin is crucial for controlling blood sugar levels
Following these steps enables calculating the right insulin dose in mL for the prescribed units. Understanding insulin concentrations prevents medication errors and allows optimal diabetes management.