# Cartridge vs Vial **URL:** \ **Category:** Type 1 & LADA\ **Tags:** insulin\ **Created:** [December 18, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862 "2018-12-18T01:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TravelingOn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/travelingon/32/1583_2.png) [@TravelingOn](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/TravelingOn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/21 "2018-12-20T02:16:37Z")
> [@ClaudnDaye](#): > > Can you document or video this process? Sounds intriguing but following it mentally was difficult. I’m glad you thought it was confusing too. I rewrote it, but a picture is worth a thousand words! Here’s the assembled syringe, cap, and insulin: ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/1/1c1857ec0efbe809cb8698d77fec1ffed7b9faf4.jpeg) Here’s the setup: ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/8/80fbf053cb9129f8b22d7baf1c540c5bdbc42f73.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/e/ef5d8870da562d97b2e75b07bc120cac5144b6fe.jpeg) > [@Jen](#): > > A ny advantage to using the cap to depress the rubber stopper versus just pulling back on the plunger of the pump cartridge? I’ve always just done the latter and pulled back on the plunger of the pump cartridge. I can’t get that to work as well. Like, I have to pull REALLY hard to get the plunger to work. EH reports that he doesn’t use the cap trick anymore either. 😁 So maybe I’m just extra weak-sauce!?! ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/22 "2018-12-20T02:29:06Z")
You’re awesome! Thx for putting this together. It makes everything crystal clear! ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/23 "2018-12-20T17:56:52Z")
I use these 1ml syringes to fill the pod. It works much better than the omnipod syringe, because it is **much** easier to get the air bubbles out. Also, they are marked with individual units, so you know exactly what you are putting in the pod, instead of the _unmarked_ omnipod syringe. They are inexpensive, a tray of 25 syringes for about $5. Try a few and I bet you will never go back to the omnipod syringes. That’s a real bet. $5, try it. 😉 > **[Amazon.com: Bd Allergy Syringe Tray 1ml 27g X 1/2 Pack of 25 (305540) Regular Bevel: Health & Personal Care](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0170REKGA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)** > > 1 tray of 25 allergy syringes tray ---
**Author:** ![Beacher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a6a055/32.png) [@Beacher](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Beacher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/24 "2018-12-20T18:02:25Z")
> [@TravelingOn](#): > > Like, I have to pull REALLY hard to get the plunger to work. I find this frequently as well, with Humalog cartridges. Never thought of using the needle cap! Probably loads easier than the chopstick I’ve been using. > [@Eric](#): > > because it is **much** easier to get the air bubbles out. This is interesting. I keep reading about this, but I’ve never had any issue with bubbles. In fact when I withdraw with a regular insulin syringe, I get **more** bubbles. If I pull down slowly with the Omnipod syringe, I get a big bubble right at the top, which catches all the champagne bubbles, and is easy to push out. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/25 "2018-12-20T18:14:12Z")
The advantage of the 1ml syringe is that you can push the insulin out much faster back into the vial, and expel the air. The omnipod syringe barrel is too large to expel the air bubbles quickly. ---
**Author:** ![JW\_dx2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JW\_dx2002](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/JW_dx2002)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 10:45am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/26 "2019-09-17T10:45:18Z")
For injections I still prefer vial/syringe. Old habits die hard. Vials are what I started with. ---
**Author:** ![BrianJ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/brianj/32/10796_2.png) [@BrianJ](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/BrianJ)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 4:01am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/27 "2024-08-26T04:01:43Z")
Super old thread, but I thought I would add to it. I started DIY Looping in 2017 with V1.3.0 and old medtronic pumps. I started using Omnipod Dash in August 2023, and couldn’t believe how crappy the syringe was to load the pod. After some searching, I found Eric’s suggestion to use regular syringes and bought these: [Amazon.ca](https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BKQY5CLD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) What a difference in loading pods. I mix Admelog/Fiasp at 50/50 and it is so much easier. Thanks Eric ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862/28 "2024-08-26T18:17:50Z")
> [@BrianJ](#): > > After some searching, I found Eric’s suggestion to use regular syringes and bought these Great! 👍 [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/cartridge-vs-vial/5862.md?page=1)