I made a big mistake with insulin dose

[Paul & Kit-10]

My 14 pound cat was diagnosed with diabetes last week. His # was 500. He was suppose to get 1 unit twice a day anlong with a change in diet. I got extremely lucky because I mistakenly gave my cat 10 units twice a day with no obvious ill effects. His # is 80 please I feel terrible about this. My question is on his next dose due I go to one unit or do I slowly need to taper down one over a course of time? Again no signs of hypoglycemic. Very very fortunate.

 

[JanetNJ]

OMG you have NO IDEA how lucky you are. No need to taper down... please go to 1 unit... but if 80 is his preshot number, DON'T SHOOT, THAT IS TOO LOW TO GIVE INSUILIN

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

I have stopped. trust me. The 80 # was 6 hours after his first dose.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

What kind of insulin?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I agree with Janet.

What type of insulin are you giving?
Can you show us the syringe you are using in a photo please with 1 unit drawn up. Thanks.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

OK that woke me up whoa!

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

I agree with Janet.

What type of insulin are you giving?
Can you show us the syringe you are using in a photo please with 1 unit drawn up. Thanks.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

That's what I will be giving him in 2 hrs

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

Tis is what I'm drawing from

 

[JanetNJ]

That's what I will be giving him in 2 hrs

yes, that is correct. Before you give him his shot tonight, do a test (NO food at least two hours before). If the test is less then 200-250 don't give the shot. Stall an hour. If it's still under 250 don't shoot and wait until morning.

 

[JanetNJ]

so here is how you can help us help you. First, create a signature. GO to your name on the top right, and then signature. Enter info such as your pet's name, date diagnosed, insulin you are using, meter you are using, and food you are feeding.... and any other health concerns.

next, follow this link and create a spreadsheet with whatever numbers you have. If you need help setting it up, just let us know. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

OK not home testing yet. I take him to the vet for that. With covid we don't do face to face with vet. Since I cant test and he acts normal would waiting till morning be a safe bet.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

OK. Lantus is a "depot" insulin. That means that you may be seeing the effects of this shot for a while.

I'd like to see another BG test before the next pre-shot. If the 80 was at +6, can you test again at +7 or +8?

Do you have high-carb food available? Honey or karo?

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

OK not home testing yet. I take him to the vet for that. With covid we don't do face to face with vet. Since I cant test and he acts normal would waiting till morning be a safe bet.

OK, missed that fact.

If you can't home-test, I would be inclined to take him to an ER vet for the night-- better safe than sorry. Did your vet get the 80 and then send you home???

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Just to clarify: we might be able to walk you through an overdose like this if you were home testing and we knew what we were dealing with. Many cats sail right through things like this with no problems and without even going low. The problem is, some cats don't, and by the time they are showing external symptoms, it may be too late.

 

[JanetNJ]

OK not home testing yet. I take him to the vet for that. With covid we don't do face to face with vet. Since I cant test and he acts normal would waiting till morning be a safe bet.

I would get on that home testing sooner rather then later. Yes I would probably skip tonight since you can't test and he was only 80 earlier. You can use a human meter from any pharmacy. I have a video in my signature showing how I test at home.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

OK. Lantus is a "depot" insulin. That means that you may be seeing the effects of this shot for a while.

I'd like to see another BG test before the next pre-shot. If the 80 was at +6, can you test again at +7 or +8?

Do you have high-carb food available? Honey or karo?

He said he doesn’t home test

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Skip Paul. Better safe than sorry and better high than low when it comes to feline diabetes

 

[JanetNJ]

OK, missed that fact.

If you can't home-test, I would be inclined to take him to an ER vet for the night-- better safe than sorry. Did your vet get the 80 and then send you home???

what if he fed lots of high carb food tonight... do you still think an er visit would be necessary? I'm not a lantus user so I can't really wrap my head around how long the deposit lasts.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

I have nutrical and honey. Here's the thing he is eatting and drinking normally. No indicators of hypo I try to get him into vet in the morning and skip tonight's dosage.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Are you willing to learn how to home test? We have an insane amount of tips that will make it easy for you and we can guide you on interpreting the numbers too. Are you in the US? You can use a human meter and there are some great options, both of which are in my signature below

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

OK not home testing yet. I take him to the vet for that. With covid we don't do face to face with vet. Since I cant test and he acts normal would waiting till morning be a safe bet.

Then how did you know he was at 80 if you're not home testing, did you take him to the vet to do it

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

what if he fed lots of high carb food tonight... do you still think an er visit would be necessary? I'm not a lantus user so I can't really wrap my head around how long the deposit lasts.

That's the problem-- there's no way to tell if that would be safe. Lantus hypos can last for a couple of cycles. Often you don't see the effect of an overdose until the following cycle. The fact that he went down to 80 on (presumably) a pet meter at +6, possibly from a red or black number, worries me a lot.

Tagging moderators @Sienne and Gabby (GA) and @Wendy&Neko who have tons of Lantus expertise.

 

[JanetNJ]

I have nutrical and honey. Here's the thing he is eatting and drinking normally. No indicators of hypo I try to get him into vet in the morning and skip tonight's dosage.

instead of bringing him to the vet, just go to a CVS and get a meter. It's really not super difficult unless the cat is semi-feral. It's the tiniest of little pokes you need to make. Watch my video.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Paul, what time is it where you are living? Are you in a position to go out now and buy a human testing kit from Walmart or a pharmacy?

 

[JanetNJ]

this is the tiny size drop I need to test. It's not a big deal. Some meters need a little more than this but it's only a drop.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Lantus is a depot insulin and the Depot from days of giving 10 units will be big, so I would definitely skip the next dose, especially as you are not testing. What prompted you to take him to the vet to get him tested?
Did you feed him some higher carb food since you got home?
What did the vet say?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Can you tell a little bit behind why your cat was diagnosed with diabetes? Any other conditions like DKA present?

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

View attachment 53783 this is the tiny size drop I need to test. It's not a big deal. Some meters need a little more than this but it's only a drop.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

OK its hard to keep up with all the msg so lets see if I can hit them all. Yes he got tested yesterday at vet at 2:30. Yes he was sent home. I thought I was dosing him right. I did not come to the realization until today at noon. After getting 2 additional doses. Drove to pharmacy with the syringes to confirm my mistake. Thus here.is where we are at. I happen to a human meter and strips from neighbor. Is there a You Tube video to refer me to?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Also see Janet's signature on her posts-- she has a great video that she made!

So, if I understand:

Yesterday AM: 10U
6hrs post-shot: BG 80 at vet
Yesterday PM: 10U
Today AM: 10U

Definitely a lot of depot there...

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Look at JanetNJ video she posted the pic and her link

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Don’t beat yourself up about it. It was a genuine mistake and these things happen. You are not the first one this has happened to.
We are all just thankful the mistake had been found and acted on
Have you fed him some food during the cycle today?

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

Can you tell a little bit behind why your cat was diagnosed with diabetes? Any other conditions like DKA present?

Also see Janet's signature on her posts-- she has a great video that she made!

So, if I understand:

Yesterday AM: 10U
6hrs post-shot: BG 80 at vet
Yesterday PM: 10U
Today AM: 10U

Definitely a lot of depot there...

 

[JanetNJ]

Look in my signature below. There is a link to a video showing how I test my cat CC at home. This is a drawing showing where you would poke.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Here is Janet's video
How to test your cat's blood sugar

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

Embarrassingly yes

Look in my signature below. There is a link to a video showing how I test my cat CC at home. This is a drawing showing where you would poke.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

Watching video now

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

Look in my signature below. There is a link to a video showing how I test my cat CC at home. This is a drawing showing where you would poke.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

OK watched the video and looked at the illustration so I know my target spot. What's your hand motion when breaking the is it a poke or more like a side motion nick

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I always used the lancet device but if you are doing it freehand I would get yourself completely organised with the meter etc then get your hand close to where you want to prick it then do a quick poke.
I would rub the ear for a minute first to get the blood moving and warm it.

 

[JanetNJ]

OK watched the video and looked at the illustration so I know my target spot. What's your hand motion when breaking the is it a poke or more like a side motion nick

I just poke straight in. It's ok if it goes all the way through, but I try not to do that.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I'll poke on a 45 degree angle

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

I just poke straight in. It's ok if it goes all the way through, but I try not to do that.

 

[Paul & Kit-10]

YIKES. How accurate is a human monitor. Taking the blood was easy. After seeing the number though have him some high Carb food and nutrical. It gave me a reading of 27 but this cat is acting normal. Last dose given at 8:30 am and definitely no dose tonight and going to hold off until I check his blood in the morning.

 

[JanetNJ]

YIKES. How accurate is a human monitor. Taking the blood was easy. After seeing the number though have him some high Carb food and nutrical. It gave me a reading of 27 but this cat is acting normal. Last dose given at 8:30 am and definitely no dose tonight and going to hold off until I check his blood in the morning.

Try getting one more reading to make sure it wasn't from too small of a sample. If it's still low like that get him some high carb food and honey on the gums pronto. On a human meter anything under 50 is too low.

 

[JanetNJ]

YIKES. How accurate is a human monitor. Taking the blood was easy. After seeing the number though have him some high Carb food and nutrical. It gave me a reading of 27 but this cat is acting normal. Last dose given at 8:30 am and definitely no dose tonight and going to hold off until I check his blood in the morning.

ok so you gave the high carb food and nutrical. in 20 min and take another reading. We want to see that reading get over 50... it's very important. Some cats don't show signs of hypo until it's too late and they go from fine to seizures.

 

[JanetNJ]

my cat never shows signs of hypo either. Just yesterday she dropped to 40 (I use a pet meter, so anything under 68 is too low)... I would have had no idea if I didn't test her. Things can go from fine to bad quickly though.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Yes, test again in 20, let's see if that high carb food pulls him up. Don't feed too much right now, just a couple teaspoons. We may be at this a while and need him to keep eating so we don't want him full.

You're doing great, Paul. Your vet let you down a bit, but you figured things out on your own and got going on home testing in record time!