# Always learning - Diluting Insulin
**URL:** https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973
**Category:** Medicines
**Tags:** insulin
**Created:** [October 27, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973 "2021-10-27T15:12:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jan](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jan)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973/1 "2021-10-27T15:12:05Z")
@Nora 's post about insulin treatment for her dog brought up the idea of diluting insulin, which after 42 years, I have never heard of before.
Can someone fill me in on the basics please? TY
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973/2 "2021-10-27T15:29:39Z")
Ask and you shall receive:
> [@How to get free diluent from Lilly](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-to-get-free-diluent-from-lilly/4050):
>
> I have posted some stuff before about diluting insulin. There are a lot of cool things that you can do with it. Like for example my micro-dosing pen that lets me give 0.10 units. (You can read Alex O’Meara’s article about it on ASweetLife, where he spoke to me and actually used a picture of my micro-pen [https://asweetlife.org/the-unmet-need-for-diluted-insulin/](https://asweetlife.org/the-unmet-need-for-diluted-insulin/)) Anyway, you can get free diluent from Lilly Pharmaceuticals, and it does not require a prescription. All you have to do is send them …
> [@To Diluent or Not to Diluent](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/to-diluent-or-not-to-diluent/4164):
>
> I am creating a thread to discuss diluting of insulin for toddlers. I have in my possession a batch of diluent as well as some sterile empty vials. I’m ready to begin experimenting but wanted to get input from those who have done it. Best use cases? Mix percentages and their uses / benefits? When NOT to use it? Keep in mind that I’m a novice at this…I know exactly nothing other than the conversations had here over a year ago. My goal, or what I had in mind, when I ordered the diluent was …
[https://asweetlife.org/the-unmet-need-for-diluted-insulin/](https://asweetlife.org/the-unmet-need-for-diluted-insulin/)
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973/3 "2021-10-27T15:40:39Z")
The short answer, is you dilute to be able to micro-dose with pens or syringes so that you can deliver sub 1/2 unit doses like a pump does without pumping. This can be useful if you are having to eat solely because you are injecting too much insulin or not treating highs because you would need to eat after the treatment. It really gives you fine control, like if you need 5.2 units. You inject 5 units from your undiluted source and the 0.2 from your diluted source. It is also useful in some exercise scenarios and for small children that need really small amounts of insulin.
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### Author:  [@Jan](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jan)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973/4 "2021-10-27T15:52:03Z")
@Chris
Thank you! I’m sorry I always forget to check and see if there are posts on topic already. Sorry for being so lazy!
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### Author:  [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/always-learning-diluting-insulin/11973/5 "2021-10-27T15:55:48Z")
Please don’t worry about that at all. You did a nice service, which brings the subject up to the top of the page for newer users that are only reading our site rather than participating. We absolutely don’t want this to become a museum of information with no interaction. Since I am not a T1, one of the things I do to make myself useful around this place is search and find topics of interest to keep a conversation going. Keep it up!