Bella’s BG journey part 6

Status
Not open for further replies.
Something to keep in mind: your pet meter will read quite a bit higher at high BGs than your human meter. That's why you shouldn't get too fussed by a red or black. Those might be pink with the human meter. Focus on the low numbers. They're the ones that tell you what the dose is capable of. Novolin works in such a way that highs PSs are almost a given. Most kitties won't have a flattish curve on Novolin.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Something to keep in mind: your pet meter will read quite a bit higher at high BGs than your human meter. That's why you shouldn't get too fussed by a red or black. Those might be pink with the human meter. Focus on the low numbers. They're the ones that tell you what the dose is capable of. Novolin works in such a way that highs PSs are almost a given. Most kitties won't have a flattish curve on Novolin.
Click to expand...
I’m gonna work really hard to get his insulin changed as soon as I can
 
Bellasmom said:
I’m gonna work really hard to get his insulin changed as soon as I can
Click to expand...
If you decide (with the new vet's help?) to try Lantus, call a number of pharmacies to see if they'll sell you just one Lantus pen (out of the 5 pack they come in). It holds 3 mL (300 units) and would last a very long time at the low dose you give Bella. A full vial is too expensive and too much insulin. It'll expire long before you finish it and that's a lot of $$$ wasted.

It's possible the new vet might recommend Lantus and might sell one pen to you. It'll still be expensive but a lot less than a vial. One thing we caution against is buying Lantus that's been taken from a vial and put into another container in smaller quantity. It's too easy to contaminate it.

More stuff to think about ...
 
Last edited:
I also forgot to tell you, I left a snack down in case Bella needed it
Thanks for the info, didn’t you tell me it was cheaper if I bought it from canada
 
Bellasmom said:
I also forgot to tell you, I left a snack down in case Bella needed it
Thanks for the info, didn’t you tell me it was cheaper if I bought it from canada
Click to expand...
Yes, it is but you'd have to buy the 5 pack of cartridges/pens. They won't sell only one cartridge. That 5 pack plus shipping would be about $180 (CAD?). When some people want to try out Lantus before buying too much they sometimes buy from a person called Alan Hamman on the Supply Closet forum. No issues with insulin quality or shipping apparently. That's a possibility for you.
 
Last edited:
Just to give some more numbers, a single pen at one US pharmacy near me costs around $90. So, definitely more per-unit, but a single pen can last a long time if Bella stays on the kind of dose she's been on with Novalin. You can call around to different pharmacies to get pricing info-- not a bad idea anyway, as not all will sell a single pen.
 
Nan & Amber said:
Just to give some more numbers, a single pen at one US pharmacy near me costs around $90. So, definitely more per-unit, but a single pen can last a long time if Bella stays on the kind of dose she's been on with Novalin. You can call around to different pharmacies to get pricing info-- not a bad idea anyway, as not all will sell a single pen.
Click to expand...
Mind me asking if it’s a chain pharmacy
 
Bellasmom said:
PMPS 549
Click to expand...
I see the black. I can't say for sure because you'd need to have mid cycle data but either:
  1. he dropped quickly and fairly low earlier today and is bouncing back up with a vengeance OR
  2. the dose is a little too low and he's lost duration.
In the interest of safety because you can't test in the daytime stick to 0.5 u for now. I suggest that any day you can't test during the day make a point of testing in the evening before bed.
 
Check pet pharmacies for lantus pricing as well. You will almost definitely be able to buy just one pen. So far my vet called in to a pet pharmacy about 40 min from my house. They were $107. After I bought the first one, I checked into prices at different places. I figured I could find it cheaper. I did find it cheaper, or so I thought.
I went to Walmart and explained my cat is a newly Dx diabetic and I was looking for cheaper Lantus. Somehow they came up with 3 pens costing about $250.
I'm thinking, "great, I'll get a script from vet and fill it here." You would think the ding-dongs working in the pharmacy would have told me they only come in boxes of five. When I went to get the script filled is when I'm slapped with over $400 for a box. It gets better (sarcastic). I don't have over $400. I only have one or two doses left. It's Friday at 2:45pm. The pet pharmacy closes at 4:00. My kid needs to be picked up from school at 3:45. I call the vet office and explain to the receptionist what happened and ask to have them call the script in for me. She told me they were short handed but would try really hard to get it called in asap.
Thankfully my husband was able to pick our son up. I headed to the pharmacy immediately. I figured if it didn't get called in, in time I would give them the written script and tell them I wasn't leaving without my cats Lantus even if they were ready to close. Lol it all worked out. The pharmacy called me while I was on my way there to confirm.
 
Kris, I contacted the guy u said about the lantus 48.00 shipped that's really good, also gave Bella . 75u as hubby will be home to test, I told him +4 hope that was a ok number
 
Bellasmom said:
Kris, I contacted the guy u said about the lantus 48.00 shipped that's really good, also gave Bella . 75u as hubby will be home to test, I told him +4 hope that was a ok number
Click to expand...
It’ll be very interesting to see that test. Because this is a dose increase I’d suggest a +2 first to see if he’s dropped a lot. A lot means 100+ points. He’d need a little snack if that’s the case. I know hubby doesn’t like poking Bella but that test is important.
 
Bellasmom said:
He is testing now, should I have not increased?
Click to expand...
I suggested two possible reasons for the blacks in my post #14. One was that the 0.5 u might be too low right now. Your husband is home to monitor today so trying the higher dose is fine - good data to have. If no one was going to be home today, I suggested sticking to 0.5 u. :)

OK. I see that red 404. Was it a +2? I ask because it's in the +3 slot on your SS. It's a large drop but still a high BG so my advice would be to not give a snack and test again at +4.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
It’ll be very interesting to see that test. Because this is a dose increase I’d suggest a +2 first to see if he’s dropped a lot. A lot means 100+ points. He’d need a little snack if that’s the case. I know hubby doesn’t like poking Bella but that test is important.
Click to expand...
+4 306
 
I see the yellow 269 at +6. You can leave him alone until PMPS I think. So far this curve is a good shape (nadir about 50% of AMPS) but numbers are high. There's no drastic drop and that's good. I have no idea why a slightly higher dose is doing this but it is what it is. I'd keep this dose tonight (numbers permitting) but get at least a +2 this evening. You want to know ahead of time if he's going to surprise you with a dive.
 
Nadir is the lowest number during the cycle after giving insulin; or at the half way point. Ecid. That number should be half of the am blood glucose number. Say Bella is at 400 at amps, at nadir she should be at 200 bg. Baby usually has her lowest numbers at hour +7 so that’s her nadir.
I purchased my insulin from Allivet- it’s a pharmacy in Florida. They were the cheapest I could find for me. I looked up the price of a Lantus pen & its $97.99 there. Add shipping which shouldn’t be too much?!? Can’t remember but it would be close to you. It would last a long time at Bella’s dose.
But people also buy from the supply link here on the board a lot cheaper. I would trust that from Alan, no negative responses I’ve ever heard.
Just an FYI, for the pharmacy, my vet called in the script & then it was confirmed by e-mail. Plus they give you a number to call. There’s no promises in this sugar dance but I have a strong feeling that Bella would have better regulation. I know you’re struggling & I’m just trying to help. If Baby wasn’t already on prozinc I would certainly give Lantus a go, probably will in the future! It’s more expensive I know...but the results may be worth it. It wouldn’t hurt to call your vet & just ask what their opinion on changing would be. You can always decide at a later date... or let them know you’ll think on it.
 
Bellasmom said:
I know this is stupid but what is ment by nadir about 50% of amps mean
Click to expand...
Not stupid at all. When a curve or sequence of BG numbers in a cycle is being evaluated we look at how the highs and lows compare. It varies with the insulin so one like Novolin will give a significant difference but one like Lantus won't. For Novolin, a nadir BG that's about half the level of what the PS was is the right balance. That shows he dropped but not by too much. If all the BGs were shifted down a few notches so that the PS was low yellow and the nadir was low blue or high dark green that would be a set of ideal numbers.
 
Last edited:
Kris & Teasel said:
Good. It's one pen, right? You can use the same syringes because Lantus is U100 like Novolin. It's best not to use the pen needle mechanism. Let me know when it arrives.
Click to expand...
His numbers today are horrible +2 433
I,will let you know when it comes, yes pen
 
Nan & Amber said:
:(

He'll come down-- at least he does show some response to the insulin, so there's that.
Click to expand...
Can’t wait to see doc sat and get this insulin changed to lantus and see if that helps, I worry myself literally sick over this, these stupid numbers are gonna put me in the grave, I HATE DIABETES
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top