From Vetinsulin to Lantus

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scoobydoox

Member Since 2016
I just started Lantus (1unit twice a day) this morning. My cat Gizmo was diagnosed with diabetes 3/9/2016. He was on vetsulin from 3/9 to 3/28. Some of you know the story some of you may not. how long do you wait to do a bg test after the am shot and when do you do the evening shot before or how long after the evening shot of lantus? I am reading through the stickys in this section of the forum. Any other info I may need please post here. I will be starting on the ss as well now that he has the lantus. i do have bg test results for past few days and a curve I did yesterday but that was all while he was on vetinsulin.
 
I can't answer to much. Lantus has to build its depot, so numbers may be high.

I always test +3. That is when Smokey's onset is. I always test before I go to bed. For my own peace of mind, I test anytime I walk out the door, just in case I shouldn't go out.

Once the Lantus is on board you will need to gather data. I'm sure others will speak up and let you know.
 
Max onsets around +2.5 except when he is early or late. He's a cat and his nickname is Mr. Unpredictable around here. So if he has a lower reshot and I need to leave him I test at +2. When starting out they say to get a +1 and/or +2. Then I'd when I test next would depend on the numbers. The more info you can get the easier it will be in the long run. So try and get tests at various times when you can. I know you are new to lantus but since you were giving insulin I would check a little more often than if you were starting insulin for the first time. Others may disagree.
 
Welcome to Lantus and Lev Land.

I have a non-diabetic Gizmo, as well. He's a very big, fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat.

Vetsulin is very different than Lantus. First, getting a pre-shot test is critical. You need to be sure it's safe to shoot. You test, feed, and shoot all within a few minutes. Unlike a shorter acting insulin such as Vetsulin, you do not have to have food on board well before you shoot. I'm a big fan of getting a +2 or +3 test (2 or 3 hours after your shot). Onset with Vetsulin is very soon after you give an injection. Onset with Lantus for most cats is usually after about 2 hours.

It's also important to get at minimum, one test between shot times. Lantus dosing is based on the nadir, not on your pre-shot value. Those spot checks are absolutely essential with Lantus.

I'd encourage you to read other people's threads (we call them "condos") and look at spreadsheets (SS). The SS will give you an idea of how people test. Some of us are testaholics; others, not so much.

Also, just to be very detail obsessed, are you using U-100 syringes (they have an orange cap). Lantus is a U100 insulin and you need syringes that match the concentration. Vetsulin is a U40 insulin and you would have been using U40 syringes.

 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Welcome to Lantus and Lev Land.

I have a non-diabetic Gizmo, as well. He's a very big, fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat.

Vetsulin is very different than Lantus. First, getting a pre-shot test is critical. You need to be sure it's safe to shoot. You test, feed, and shoot all within a few minutes. Unlike a shorter acting insulin such as Vetsulin, you do not have to have food on board well before you shoot. I'm a big fan of getting a +2 or +3 test (2 or 3 hours after your shot). Onset with Vetsulin is very soon after you give an injection. Onset with Lantus for most cats is usually after about 2 hours.

It's also important to get at minimum, one test between shot times. Lantus dosing is based on the nadir, not on your pre-shot value. Those spot checks are absolutely essential with Lantus.

I'd encourage you to read other people's threads (we call them "condos") and look at spreadsheets (SS). The SS will give you an idea of how people test. Some of us are testaholics; others, not so much.

Also, just to be very detail obsessed, are you using U-100 syringes (they have an orange cap). Lantus is a U100 insulin and you need syringes that match the concentration. Vetsulin is a U40 insulin and you would have been using U40 syringes.
Click to expand...
i stopped at walmart yesterday and picked up these to use with lantus pen.
 

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Welcome!!

I would recommend that you test fairly often at first. Hyde nadirs around +5 but others are much later in the cycle. You need to find out where Gizmo falls in the range.
 
Those look like ok syringes - just make sure it says "u-100" somewhere on there. That means the syringes go with u-100 insulin, which is what Lantus is.

So today was the first shot, and you got a 105 at +7 - that's a pretty good response for the first day. I tended to get more tests in the first half of the cycle because once you see their blood sugar is rising, it's likely to continue rising til the next shot.

Is your Gizmo eating any dry food?

Welcome to the group - keep asking questions and people will help you!
 
julie & punkin (ga) said:
Those look like ok syringes - just make sure it says "u-100" somewhere on there. That means the syringes go with u-100 insulin, which is what Lantus is.

So today was the first shot, and you got a 105 at +7 - that's a pretty good response for the first day. I tended to get more tests in the first half of the cycle because once you see their blood sugar is rising, it's likely to continue rising til the next shot.

Is your Gizmo eating any dry food?

Welcome to the group - keep asking questions and people will help you!
Click to expand...
He eats wet food and a little bit of dry food still.
i posted to chris & china about the syringes yesterday because i didnt see the u100 written anywhere but chris said they were ok to use
 
As long as he's eating any dry food, you'll want to use the Start Low Go Slow dosing method. Tight regulation requires only canned low carb or raw food for the kitty. You could put that in your signature block and then everyone won't keep asking you. I'd put both "SLGS and dry food" in there. If he can transition to canned food or raw, then you'd have the option of following Tight Reg if you want.
 
Those are the correct syringes. For the future, you may want to consider a 30 or 31 gauge needle. The higher the gauge, the thinner the needle and the less your kitty will notice your giving a shot.
 
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