Radar returns to the Vampire Club

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Jan Radar (GA)

Jan Radar (GA)

Member Since 2015
Hello everyone, after not being around much for several months while we were honeymooning with Radar, today we return to the Vampire Club with mixed feelings. Radar has been doing so well on his low carb meat only diet until the last couple of weeks. First he started asking for water at the sink and then I noticed that he had lost some weight. So I got out the vampire kit this morning and when the number was well above normal (358 on the AlphaTrax2) we went to visit the vet. My meter is correct and we came home with a bottle of Vetsulin so he can be started today. On the one hand I feel :arghh: :(:blackeye::eek:but I have a lot of experience already and buckets of knowledge thanks to all of you. :):bighug:

For this second time around on the sugar dance I will get a meter today that uses cheaper test strips. I talked with the vet about using Lantus which is his preferred insulin but the long term cost is so high I just couldn't make that leap today. I would appreciate learning more about Lantus from those who've used it. Is a bottle of Lantus the same basic size as a bottle of Vetsulin? How long does a bottle last? Is there a place to get it that is more cost friendly?? Thanking you in advance.
 
Hi Jan, so sorry Radar wanted to be your sugar cat again. We were using ProZinc in the beginning of our sugar dance. We switched to Lantus December 1st. The cost of Lantus for one pen at Walmart Pharmacy is about $86. That pen is 3ml so if your cat is using 1 unit twice a day that pen would last about 150 days, just t give you an idea. (take the amount of units into 300) Many peeps here are using Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada and the cost for 5 pens of Lantus would cost $144which is a big savings. In the event you should choose to switch, post again and someone will give you the link for Mark's .
 
If you want to switch to Lantus (which is a better insulin for most cats), get a script for the Lantus Solostar Pens and buy it from Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada.

The last post in the Insulin from Canadian Pharmacies thread gives all the info on Marks

5 pens will give you 1500 units and you can use every last drop....a 10ml vial is 1000 units but unless your cat ends up on a pretty high dose, you end up throwing away half the vial
 
Wow! Chris & China, This is great information and makes Lantus much more possible for us financially. :) As an experienced Vetsulin user I do have a few questions...
1. Is a Lantus unit the same amount as a Vetsulin unit?
2. Do I use U-40 syringes with Lantus? or is it a different syringe size?
3. Why do you end up throwing away half the vial of Lantus if you get a 10ml vial instead of the pens ? ? is the "usual" dose so small that you can't use it all before it expires? or??
 
Jan Radar said:
Is a bottle of Lantus the same basic size as a bottle of Vetsulin? How long does a bottle last?
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The amount of insulin contained in a vial of Vetsulin is not the same as the amount of insulin contained in a vial of Lantus because Vetsulin is a U40 and Lantus is a U100. That means Lantus is more concentrated and there will be more units in the 10mL vial of Lantus 10X100=1000units than the Vetsulin 10X40=400units. Because Vetsulin is a blended insulin, its shelf life is not likely to be as long as Lantus either. Lantus you can use well past the recommended 28 days as long as its refrigerated, I haven't seen many recommendations to do that on Vetsulin so you may be throwing more out. It looks like you were on some crazy high doses, so maybe you'd use it all up in less than a month too.

Good luck with your second dance around the FD floor. Hopefully it will be a short dance.
 
Melanie and Smokey said:
The amount of insulin contained in a vial of Vetsulin is not the same as the amount of insulin contained in a vial of Lantus because Vetsulin is a U40 and Lantus is a U100. That means Lantus is more concentrated and there will be more units in the 10mL vial of Lantus 10X100=1000units than the Vetsulin 10X40=400units. Because Vetsulin is a blended insulin, its shelf life is not likely to be as long as Lantus either. Lantus you can use well past the recommended 28 days as long as its refrigerated, I haven't seen many recommendations to do that on Vetsulin so you may be throwing more out. It looks like you were on some crazy high doses, so maybe you'd use it all up in less than a month too.

Good luck with your second dance around the FD floor. Hopefully it will be a short dance.
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Thank you for that clarification. This vampire has lots to learn about dancing. :)
 
Jan Radar said:
1. Is a Lantus unit the same amount as a Vetsulin unit?
Click to expand...

When measuring, a unit is a unit...but as Melanie explained, Lantus is a U100 insulin instead of a U40 so a 10ml vial will hold 1000 units instead of 400 units of Vetsulin....and if you buy the Lantus pens, 5 pens (each hold 300 units) is a total of 1500 units

Jan Radar said:
2. Do I use U-40 syringes with Lantus? or is it a different syringe size?
Click to expand...

You will have to change to U100 syringes if you change to Lantus...You'll want to use 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge, 8mm insulin syringes

Jan Radar said:
3. Why do you end up throwing away half the vial of Lantus if you get a 10ml vial instead of the pens ? ? is the "usual" dose so small that you can't use it all before it expires? or??
Click to expand...

Although they'll tell you that Lantus should be thrown away after 28 days, we've seen it will last much longer...up to about 6 months if cared for properly, so if your cat is on a smaller dose, the insulin in the vials will "poop out" on you before you can use 1000 units. With the pens, each pen is only 300 units, and the box of 5 will last until the expiration date on the box...usually at least 2 years!!

Also, with the pens, you use a regular insulin syringe...not the "special" needles that they say to use (now Marks won't question you on this...they are our main supplier of Lantus around here and know us very well!!)
You'll just pull off the cap and there's a rubber stopper just like a vial has
syringe in pen pic.jpg
syringe in pen close up.jpg


Jan Radar said:
Wow! Chris & China, This is great information and makes Lantus much more possible for us financially
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YES!! I was within 2 weeks of having to make a tough decision with China when I found Marks and we've been SO happy ever since! Around here, nobody would split open a box and sell me just one pen (for over 150 miles) and there was no way I could afford a box of 5 at over $460!! Marks has been a real Godsend to lots of us here!
 
I too am sorry to hear about Radar going out of remission, seems to be going around, I think your #4 in the past few weeks.

With the Lantus pens does the vet have to write the script for the pen version instead of the vial?
We go to the vet Monday to see what's going on with Dasher, however he was down from 147 to 138 today....don't know what to make out of this.
 
Kitty mom said:
With the Lantus pens does the vet have to write the script for the pen version instead of the vial?
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If you buy in the US, yes....but I'm pretty sure that Marks will sell either one as long as they get a script for Lantus you can ask for the pens instead of the vials
 
Critter Mom said:
Hi Jan,

Sorry to hear that Radar has wandered away from the Falls. Saoirse's in the same boat.


Mogs
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Mogs, I'm so sorry to hear that your little furry one has not been well. Sending scritches for Saoirse and hugs to you. So far Radar has enjoyed the extra love he gets at poking time pre shot and I have not lost my touch with the quick stab between the shoulder blades. :cat::)
 
Chris & China said:
When measuring, a unit is a unit...but as Melanie explained, Lantus is a U100 insulin instead of a U40 so a 10ml vial will hold 1000 units instead of 400 units of Vetsulin....and if you buy the Lantus pens, 5 pens (each hold 300 units) is a total of 1500 units

That makes so much sense now. Great explanation!

You will have to change to U100 syringes if you change to Lantus...You'll want to use 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge, 8mm insulin syringes

These can be ordered on ADW I'm guessing.

Although they'll tell you that Lantus should be thrown away after 28 days, we've seen it will last much longer...up to about 6 months if cared for properly, so if your cat is on a smaller dose, the insulin in the vials will "poop out" on you before you can use 1000 units. With the pens, each pen is only 300 units, and the box of 5 will last until the expiration date on the box...usually at least 2 years!!

So it sounds like the cost actually works out to be not so bad...


YES!! I was within 2 weeks of having to make a tough decision with China when I found Marks and we've been SO happy ever since! Around here, nobody would split open a box and sell me just one pen (for over 150 miles) and there was no way I could afford a box of 5 at over $460!! Marks has been a real Godsend to lots of us here!
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Once again I am so deeply grateful for the knowledge and experience that is shared here. I will be getting in touch with the vet tomorrow so we can hatch a new plan for my little one.
 
Yes, you can get U100 syringes from ADW but look for ones that have half unit markings

There are also some available at WalMart...all their Relion brand syringes come with half unit markings
relion syringes.png
 
Sorry to hear Radar is back on the juice! Blu is recently back on as well - I found it very upsetting but once we started in to the routine, the "old familiar" came back and I can recall what a wreck I was when he was initially diagnosed. It's a lot calmer this time around. I am so thankful I found this board back then and have it now. I use Lantus, and that Mark's Marine pharmacy is an amazing deal! I'll be hoping for a quick 2nd remission for Radar!
 
blu said:
... I can recall what a wreck I was when he was initially diagnosed. It's a lot calmer this time around.
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I find the same, Tanya. I'm very grateful that it's easier second time around and I, too, am very thankful for all I've been able to learn from everyone that contributes here (and not just about diabetes).


Mogs
.
 
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