Questions about insulin

[CassWTribby]

hello!

I am brand new to caring for a cat with diabetes.
My cat gets 1 U of Caninsulin from a 10 ml bottle with a 40 U syringe.

How long will the bottle last? I honestly tried to figure this out myself but with my tragically poor math skills had no luck at all

Also: where does everyone purchase their supplies? I purchased Insulin and syringes from my vet and testing supplies from my regular pharmacy. My pharmacist was kind enough to give me samples of lancets and test strips to get started and a free GT monitor.

My online pharmacy where I purchase NSAIDs for my horse has the Caninsulin at a much lower price. 1/2 of vet price and a few dollars less for syringes.
We are located in Ontario, Canada.

Thanks in advance!

Cass

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Welcome from a fellow Ontarian. Hope you are weathering the ice storm. It's started here with a vengeance.

I don't use Caninsulin. Human insulins such as Lantus can be purchased without a prescription in Ontario. If your online pharmacy requires a prescription, just ask the vet for one. I've tagged @Kris & Teasel who will have a better idea as she also lives in Ontario and most recently used Vetsulin.

Great that you are home testing.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

My cat gets 1 U of Caninsulin from a 10 ml bottle with a 40 U syringe.

U40 insulin means there are 40 units of insulin per mL of solution. A 10 mL vial therefore has 400 units total in it. If you give 1 u twice a day (2 u total), you have 200 days of insulin in it. However, Caninsulin won't last those 200 days before losing potency. People here have stretched the vial to 60 days but most replace after a month. If you want to try stretching it, you'll know it's getting weaker if blood glucose numbers start climbing, assuming there's nothing else going on.

Also: where does everyone purchase their supplies?

Caninsulin is a cat/dog insulin so most people would buy from the vet. You could buy from the online pharmacy if they can guarantee no freezing during shipping. Many here use Lantus, a human insulin, which can be purchased OTC in Ontario. You can buy lancets from a human pharmacy. BTW - many of us free hand the poke using the lancet alone instead of putting it in the trigger device. Test strips are the most expensive part of testing. If you buy them at Shoppers Drug Mart on a Seniors' Day, they're 20% off and have no tax added, plus you get Optimum points. If you're too young you could ask an older friend or relative to buy them for you.

Other bits and pieces:

• Do your U40 syringes have half unit marks on them? If not, consider asking for that next time because you'll likely end up give fractional doses at some point.
• Low carb wet food is best for feline diabetics. Many of us feed grocery store brands like Friskies and Fancy Feast pates - no sauce/gravy types (too high in carbs).
• Congratulations on home testing? It get's easier over time. Try my hint about free handing the lancet. It also helps to warm the ear first for better blood flow. Many of us make a "rice sock", an old sock with about 1/2 cup dry rice in the toe, tied off and nuked long enough to get it quite warm but OK on your skin.
• The testing protocol we recommend is AM and PM before feeding and injecting (no food at least 2 hours before testing) and at least one other test part way through the 12 hour interval between doses or before you go to bed.
• If you're willing to set one up, the spreadsheet we use here is viewable by all members. We rely on it heavily to see what's going on before offering advice.
• http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

I'm in Ontario too - Ottawa. Also a horse owner.

 

[CassWTribby]

U40 insulin means there are 40 units of insulin per mL of solution. A 10 mL vial therefore has 400 units total in it. If you give 1 u twice a day (2 u total), you have 200 days of insulin in it. However, Caninsulin won't last those 200 days before losing potency. People here have stretched the vial to 60 days but most replace after a month. If you want to try stretching it, you'll know it's getting weaker if blood glucose numbers start climbing, assuming there's nothing else going on.


Caninsulin is a cat/dog insulin so most people would buy from the vet. You could buy from the online pharmacy if they can guarantee no freezing during shipping. Many here use Lantus, a human insulin, which can be purchased OTC in Ontario. You can buy lancets from a human pharmacy. BTW - many of us free hand the poke using the lancet alone instead of putting it in the trigger device. Test strips are the most expensive part of testing. If you buy them at Shoppers Drug Mart on a Seniors' Day, they're 20% off and have no tax added, plus you get Optimum points. If you're too young you could ask an older friend or relative to buy them for you.

Other bits and pieces:

• Do your U40 syringes have half unit marks on them? If not, consider asking for that next time because you'll likely end up give fractional doses at some point.
• Low carb wet food is best for feline diabetics. Many of us feed grocery store brands like Friskies and Fancy Feast pates - no sauce/gravy types (too high in carbs).
• Congratulations on home testing? It get's easier over time. Try my hint about free handing the lancet. It also helps to warm the ear first for better blood flow. Many of us make a "rice sock", an old sock with about 1/2 cup dry rice in the toe, tied off and nuked long enough to get it quite warm but OK on your skin.
• The testing protocol we recommend is AM and PM before feeding and injecting (no food at least 2 hours before testing) and at least one other test part way through the 12 hour interval between doses or before you go to bed.
• If you're willing to set one up, the spreadsheet we use here is viewable by all members. We rely on it heavily to see what's going on before offering advice.
• http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

I'm in Ontario too - Ottawa. Also a horse owner.

Thank you so much! Are you getting the ice storm yet?
Are there advantages other then price to purchasing human insulin over animal? I may switch when I run out. I'm guessing a 60 day supply? Can insulin is $36 at petpharmacy.ca

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Thank you so much! Are you getting the ice storm yet?
Are there advantages other then price to purchasing human insulin over animal? I may switch when I run out. I'm guessing a 60 day supply? Can insulin is $36 at petpharmacy.ca

Ice storm heading here tonight they say. I hate ice storms!

Different insulins have different characteristics and therefore different dosing guidelines. Many vets prescribe Caninsulin (also known as Vetsulin) because it's used in dogs. There are people here who have had great success with it and others, not so much. The same can be said for the human insulins although there's research supporting the very successful use of Lantus in cats (but not dogs). Caninsulin is cheaper up front. A 10 mL vial of Lantus will cost about $125 and because it's more concentrated (a U100 insulin, or 100 units per mL) it'll pass its "best by" date long before you use it up. It's also available in a 5-pack of 3 mL cartridges for about $125. The unopened cartridges are usually good for 2 years if stored properly in the fridge.

By all means start Tribby on the Caninsulin - 1 unit twice a day did you say? That's a good starting dose. I'd also implement that testing routine I described. It's the best way to keep Tribby safe from accidentally giving an insulin dose that's too high. FYI - the good dose isn't necessarily set in stone. It's a moving target and testing is the best way to chase down that target.

 

[JanetNJ]

Welcome! I used vetsulin. $36 is a good price. I would replace the vial every two months. (It says 28 days, but mine had always worked fine past that time).

 

[Squalliesmom]

...you have 200 days of insulin in it. However, Caninsulin won't last those 200 days before losing potency.

Welcome to FDMB! You have come to the right place for answers and assistance!

By all means start Tribby on the Caninsulin - 1 unit twice a day did you say? That's a good starting dose. I'd also implement that testing routine I described. It's the best way to keep Tribby safe from accidentally giving an insulin dose that's too high. FYI - the good dose isn't necessarily set in stone. It's a moving target and testing is the best way to chase down that target.

Just to add my two-cents-worth, I used Vetsulin (Caninsulin) for the first 11 months after Squallie was diagnosed and I never had a vial lose potency. I used the same vials for three months or more with no ill effects, and with the blessing of my vet who said it is safe and most likely still potent for quite a while beyond the manufacturer's suggested 28 days. I know many other Vetsulin users have also found this to be the case. However, as with any insulin, be alert to changes in litty's glucose levels that seem to be continuing in a new pattern and any physical changes to the insulin, such as change of color, floating particles, etc.

One unit twice a day is a commonly used starting dose. As Kris says, it may need to be adjusted to find the perfect dose for your kitty, just don't raise the dose without giving a new dose fair time to see how it is working for your cat, and don't raise doses by more than 0.25U at a time to make sure you don't go past the optimum dose for your kitty.

I second Kris' recommendation for home testing, it is the only way you can be certain of how the insulin is affecting you cat and, by far, the best way to ensure his safety!!!

There is a Vetsulin/Caninsulin forum here, I'm not sure how much daily use it sees but it does have some good information, so you might want to check it out. And never be afraid to ask questions! There is always somebody here who will help you!