Initial dose question

majandra

majandra

Member Since 2018
I would like to try Rhubarb on Lantus to start, since my friend is giving me an unopened vial (her opened is over 30 so no good right?). If my vet is ok with that, but not familiar with it, is there a dose that is good to start at? And should I bring it with me to appointment?
 
majandra said:
her opened is over 30 so no good right?
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Not sure what you mean here. What's the expiry date on the unopened vial? Was it stored in the fridge?

The usual starting dose is 1 u at 12 hour intervals but kitty's weight is sometimes factored in. The people here on this forum are very helpful. For now I suggest you begin reading the yellow info stickies about Lantus. :)
 
Over 30 days since opening- not sure how I missed writing "days" lol. She has been off insulin for a couple months.
And yeah she stores her insulin in the fridge.
 
I've been reading so many stickies that it is all starting to blur!
I'm terrified of insulin- what if she drops too low, and I am working?
What if we get a call to work an hour earlier than usual? I can't keep an early am schedule or any pet sitter I get would be unable to do it on time.
 
majandra said:
I've been reading so many stickies that it is all starting to blur!
I'm terrified of insulin- what if she drops too low, and I am working?
What if we get a call to work an hour earlier than usual? I can't keep an early am schedule or any pet sitter I get would be unable to do it on time.
Click to expand...
What I do is get up at 4:30 am, do cat stuff, test at 4:50, feed, and shoot at 5, I have to leave for work 7 so I test rigjt before I leave and by that test I leave down food according to his number
 
Is your kitty eating 100% low carb wet food or raw now? If so, the starting dose is 0.5 units if you want to use the Start Low Go Slow dosing method.

A timed automatic feeder will help you by providing kitty food when she might be low. Many people here used the Petsafe 5 feeder.. Learning a cat’s onset, nadir and duration will help you learn when you need to provide food to keep her safe. That means doing a little more testing to start, to learn your cat’s patterns.
 
Yes she is on 100% low carb wet. Mainly friskies chicken pate (5%), with some President's Choice extra meaty chicken or fish mixed in (low carb there too). She cannot get into the dry food that my other two cats eat since I have it up high.
 
You might want to see if you can transition your other cats to wet food too. I have lost track of the number of times caregivers have caught their supposedly unable to jump cat up at the dry food bowl.
 
I am trying, but it's pretty slow going. Neither will eat more than a tablespoon.
Rhubarb is currently unable to jump from floor to table, let alone floor to top of dresser. As soon as she is able to jump again, I will be forced into a different feeding if I haven't got them switched yet.
 
Can you start on a Friday night or weekend instead? We do recommend starting Lantus when you can closely monitor the first couple of cycles. Sometimes it's a non event becaue the nature of the depot means it can take a few days before you see the full impact of the dose. But there are the few cases that react strongly to start, hence the suggestion to monitor.
 
Expiry is 2020 so that's good.
Would it be bad if she started insulin but then had to have a couple days off it?
 
As you've indicated and @Wendy&Neko mentioned, that 0.5 units sounds like a good starting point.

I am following the Start Low Go Slow (SLGS) dosing method and it's working well for my diabetic cat and her three cat siblings. I think it's a great way to ease into and get used to and learn about testing, learning about your own cat's ability to handle insulin.

There's a lot to learn, a lot to discern; it's overwhelming but it will make sense as you keep learning. I've only been here on the forum for a short time and it's been invaluable to me. The people here are ready and willing to help and offer solid advice.

You've found the right ace. It will come together .
 
Are you home in the evenings? Is she a grazer or will she eat all food left out?

Have you been testing for ketones? Is that an issue? Just wondering why you say she needs insulin right away.
 
She generally grazes, unless the meals are small.
I have been testing ketones whenever possible- thankfully negative so far.
I was saying she needs insulin asap because of how long she has waited, I'm worried ketones *will* be a problem.
 
Good for you on being proactive with the ketones testing. Is it possible for you to monitor her for at least one cycle, maybe even at night? That might mean getting up once in the middle of the night, if her +2 or +3 test is quite a bit lower than the preshot. Then you can decide if you want to withhold insulin the next day. Having a grazing cat can be a good thing. That means you can leave lots of food out for her to eat should her numbers come down. Mine was a hoover, so I had to invest in an automatic feeder so some food would be around when she needed it.
 
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Question: my friend gave me her opened pen as well as the brand new. It's been stored properly, but over a month old. Should I just throw it out?
 
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