Emily'smom
Member Since 2017
Hi! I am somewhat new to the boards, been posting for a few months. As my questions got more specific on the main message boards, it was suggested I post to the Lantus board, so here I am! In a nutshell, here is my Lantus experience with our little 6.5 lb (normal weight) Emily:
Diagnosed in June, Emily's numbers were in the 400's. She was put on 1 unit of Lantus, 2x per day. At this time, I also changed her diet from regular over the counter Friskies wet and dry, to Purina DM dry (1/8 cup, 2x per day) and low-carb (under 10%) wet. She would not eat the wet "prescription" (eye roll) food, so I am using FF and other low-carb wet foods suggested on the chart on this site. Very quickly, my husband and I could tell the 1 unit, 2x per day dosage was too much for Emily, so on our own, we cut her down to .5 unit, 2x per day. She seemed to be doing well. After 2.5 weeks of diet change and insulin, we brought her back to the vet for her all day test. At the low point of the curve, her number dropped to 60. When we picked her up the vet suggested she go off the insulin as clearly even the .5 unit, 2x per day was too much for her, with the thought being that maybe the diabetes was being diet controlled. We were thrilled. Two weeks later we brought her back for just ONE mid-day check. Diet was still the same. Her numbers were in the mid 200's. The vet suggested that since .5 was too much and we couldn't measure less, we just keep her on the low carb diet and bring her back in a month for another re-test. That didn't sit well with us, so we ordered 1/2 unit needles so we could try and eye-up .25 units, which I do not feel is easy to do, or certainly not completely accurate. We also started to wean her off the PM dry altogether, which didn't initially go so well, (she is a dry-food girl) so it has taken some time. We ordered home-test supplies and learned to home test. During this time, I also got a new vet, who makes home visits, feeling blood tests would be more accurate if we did not have to bring Emily in the car to the vet. During the initial home visit, (a little over one week ago) it was discovered Emily had a bad tooth (which was partially removed) and also a UTI, which she was given an antibiotic shot for. We continued on the .25 unit 2x per day insulin regimen and continued to home test. Of course all of this is occurring as we are getting ready to leave for vacation for a week! Here are some of her numbers around this time: August 12: 1:30 p.m. 192, 7:06 p.m. 189 (at this point she was fed), 8:15 p.m 214, injection given at 8:30. At 11:35 p.m., 211. August 13: 8:00 a.m. 189 (no injection given, as we are fearful it will bring her too low), at 3:30 she is at 239, 8:00 pm she is at 220, and she is fed. Given an injection at 8:15 p.m. August 14: tested at 5:30 a.m. 233, fed at 7:30 a.m. and given a .25 injection, noticed she hardly eats all day, and appears somewhat "lazy". At 7:00 pm. she is tested and is at 112 ... FOURTEEN HOURS after her morning injection. No injection given. The next day we left for vacation with instructions for the sitter to hold off on all insulin. During the time we were away (we returned yesterday) the sitter informs us that Emily is eating well, has had NO DRY FOOD for the duration of the week, and does not appear to her, to be drinking heavily or peeing abnormally. Tonight, after being certain she had no food for at least 2 hours we home tested her for the first time since August 14. At 6:30 this evening, she was at 254. I have not yet emailed the new vet this number, but even without knowing this, her suggestion is to take Emily off the Lantus and put her on something called Glipizide. I am willing to try anything, as both my husband and I feel we can not accurately give Emily less Lantus than we had been, and even at that her numbers are dipping too low. We both work full time and home testing her is a two person job, so it is not feasible to watch her all day, and on a daily basis take numerous tests. Any thoughts on Emily and her seemingly erratic numbers with Lantus and how to proceed would be appreciated! Thank you, all! Mary (and Emily!)
Diagnosed in June, Emily's numbers were in the 400's. She was put on 1 unit of Lantus, 2x per day. At this time, I also changed her diet from regular over the counter Friskies wet and dry, to Purina DM dry (1/8 cup, 2x per day) and low-carb (under 10%) wet. She would not eat the wet "prescription" (eye roll) food, so I am using FF and other low-carb wet foods suggested on the chart on this site. Very quickly, my husband and I could tell the 1 unit, 2x per day dosage was too much for Emily, so on our own, we cut her down to .5 unit, 2x per day. She seemed to be doing well. After 2.5 weeks of diet change and insulin, we brought her back to the vet for her all day test. At the low point of the curve, her number dropped to 60. When we picked her up the vet suggested she go off the insulin as clearly even the .5 unit, 2x per day was too much for her, with the thought being that maybe the diabetes was being diet controlled. We were thrilled. Two weeks later we brought her back for just ONE mid-day check. Diet was still the same. Her numbers were in the mid 200's. The vet suggested that since .5 was too much and we couldn't measure less, we just keep her on the low carb diet and bring her back in a month for another re-test. That didn't sit well with us, so we ordered 1/2 unit needles so we could try and eye-up .25 units, which I do not feel is easy to do, or certainly not completely accurate. We also started to wean her off the PM dry altogether, which didn't initially go so well, (she is a dry-food girl) so it has taken some time. We ordered home-test supplies and learned to home test. During this time, I also got a new vet, who makes home visits, feeling blood tests would be more accurate if we did not have to bring Emily in the car to the vet. During the initial home visit, (a little over one week ago) it was discovered Emily had a bad tooth (which was partially removed) and also a UTI, which she was given an antibiotic shot for. We continued on the .25 unit 2x per day insulin regimen and continued to home test. Of course all of this is occurring as we are getting ready to leave for vacation for a week! Here are some of her numbers around this time: August 12: 1:30 p.m. 192, 7:06 p.m. 189 (at this point she was fed), 8:15 p.m 214, injection given at 8:30. At 11:35 p.m., 211. August 13: 8:00 a.m. 189 (no injection given, as we are fearful it will bring her too low), at 3:30 she is at 239, 8:00 pm she is at 220, and she is fed. Given an injection at 8:15 p.m. August 14: tested at 5:30 a.m. 233, fed at 7:30 a.m. and given a .25 injection, noticed she hardly eats all day, and appears somewhat "lazy". At 7:00 pm. she is tested and is at 112 ... FOURTEEN HOURS after her morning injection. No injection given. The next day we left for vacation with instructions for the sitter to hold off on all insulin. During the time we were away (we returned yesterday) the sitter informs us that Emily is eating well, has had NO DRY FOOD for the duration of the week, and does not appear to her, to be drinking heavily or peeing abnormally. Tonight, after being certain she had no food for at least 2 hours we home tested her for the first time since August 14. At 6:30 this evening, she was at 254. I have not yet emailed the new vet this number, but even without knowing this, her suggestion is to take Emily off the Lantus and put her on something called Glipizide. I am willing to try anything, as both my husband and I feel we can not accurately give Emily less Lantus than we had been, and even at that her numbers are dipping too low. We both work full time and home testing her is a two person job, so it is not feasible to watch her all day, and on a daily basis take numerous tests. Any thoughts on Emily and her seemingly erratic numbers with Lantus and how to proceed would be appreciated! Thank you, all! Mary (and Emily!)
Let me take a look at the spread sheet instructions to see if I can figure it out...if not, I will for sure contact 
