New to giving insulin

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Lisa and Gato

Lisa and Gato

Member Since 2016
I just bought insulin, my vet would not call in for the lantus pen, only the vial.. $300 at walmart!!!! I am going to get a insulin demo, which will cost me more money is at the vet. Her blood glucose on the ReliOn meter was 345 at the vet, 324 at home. She is on a all wet diet, fancy feast pate' about 6-8 ounces a day, broken up into about 4-5 servings. Is that glucose level high?
 
It is not outrageous but yes that level is too high and Gato (is this his name) needs some insulin for help. For next time if you vet gives you the script even for the vial it is much cheaper from Marks Marine in Canada. I think $100 for the vial. Why won't your vet give a script for the pens. Is he worried you would actually use the pen instead of using a pen as a mini-vial. If it is the later please ask him to explain exactly how he will not allow you to save money where you can with treating Gato without compromising his health therefore allowing you to have more money in reserve for more expensive issues that might come up later.
 
It is not a bad number for a newly diabetic cat. Generally, we think of a cat as regulated (the first goal) when they are in the mid 200s at pre shot and in double digits at nadir (but not below 50 on a human meter or 68 on a pet meter). Nadir is usually in the 5-7 hours after the shot.

Many cats start in the 400-500s so your kitty is in the diabetic range, but not awfully high. Lantus takes a week or so to build up the depot so you may not see immediate results. Or you might - every cat is different. That's why it is so important that you test at home - always before the shot and then at nadir. kudos on getting the testing going!

We have an active Lantus forum with excellent information in the stickies on the top of this page:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-glargine-levemir-detemir.9/
 
yes, that is the reason. I only paid that much this time , because I have to get her on the insulin asap,it has been at that for a while now , tried changing her diet to all wet also. my next dosage I will get through the Marks Marine. Yeah she said because of the use of it, I think she thinks I am going to use it as the pen is intended too. I will try and explain to her, I wrote this website and the other vet website down to show her. Is there any good sites I can refer her to?
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
It is not a bad number for a newly diabetic cat. Generally, we think of a cat as regulated (the first goal) when they are in the mid 200s at pre shot and in double digits at nadir (but not below 50 on a human meter or 68 on a pet meter). Nadir is usually in the 5-7 hours after the shot.

Many cats start in the 400-500s so your kitty is in the diabetic range, but not awfully high. Lantus takes a week or so to build up the depot so you may not see immediate results. Or you might - every cat is different. That's why it is so important that you test at home - always before the shot and then at nadir. kudos on getting the testing going!

We have an active Lantus forum with excellent information in the stickies on the top of this page:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-glargine-levemir-detemir.9/
Click to expand...
I was hoping the diet would get it lower, but that didn't happen. What is normal for a cat on a human meter?
 
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