Is it too soon to consider switching to Lantus?

ReneeM787

ReneeM787

Member Since 2020
Let me give some background on Peaches.
March - Vetsulin
April - ProZinc
May - Novalin 70/30
May 30 - switched back to ProZinc (see below)

At least 8 curves run at the vet during this time with the lowest numbers being in the 300s (started over 600 at diagnosis).
I found this group, started home testing, and got her switched to high protein food (wet Tiny Tasters) with a bit of dry (Dr. Elsey's).

This brought her numbers down by roughly 100. There seemed to be consensus that 70/30 is meant for short term and is too strong for long term maintenance. So I switched her back to ProZinc, hoping that with the food change she'd stabilize there. You can see from her sheet that her number bounce all over the place. I've rarely ever gotten her below 200.

It is time to either order a new bottle of ProZinc, or come up with a new plan. I'm thinking my new plan will involve a new vet (due to distance as much as this experience). Based on what you see in her google sheet, is this the time to make the vet move and request trying Lantus as an alternative? Or, should I stay with ProZinc for another bottle and give it longer?

Thanks all for your help!! This group is awesome.
 
If you would like to try Lantus, I think that's an entirely reasonable choice. Some insulin's work better than others in a particular cat but there's also a good argument to be made that you might want to continue with the ProZinc for awhile longer so you give it a really fair chance.

Personally, I'd suggest trying the Lantus because the ProZinc doesn't look like it's working very well for her (but again, you haven't stuck with it for several months in a row to see if she would settle down with it)

It's really a toss up.....there's both bad and good points to both options.

Let's see what other's say!
 
Are you trying to follow the dosing methods described in the Prozinc forum? I see a lot of bouncing around in dose, increases by larger than we do here. Also, can you talk a bit about how you got to 4-5 units?

One month isn’t really giving an insulin a fair trial. It can take kitties a few months to settle into using the new hormone (insulin).

Also, if there is a chance really does need 5 units or more, Levemir would be a better choice. At higher doses, Lantus’s acid base can sting.
 
Hi Wendy. I haven’t found the dosing guidelines yet, so I’m not following them. I’ll search, but a link would also be welcome..We’ve been all over the place in both insulin brands and dosages. The vet started her on 2 units, raising to 5 on each brand. But her curves were still terrible, which is what led me to find this group.

I was trying to get better than she was, which I have, but it’s been inconsistent. I try to test regularly to figure out what the trend is. But I only withhold food before her PM dose. In the morning, she sometimes eats before I get to test. You can see I was spare with her evening dose (sometimes skipping) at first. I was worried I’d sleep through a hypo event. But the group coached me that can cause a rebound with higher AM numbers and so I’ve been giving 3 or 4 consistently. And yes, it is possible she needs 5. I’ll look for the dosing guide.

Thanks!
 
Thanks Chris. I will take her up to 4.5 units for at least 3 days (6 cycles) and see what happens. I'm leaning toward staying with ProZinc for another bottle. Vets in this area aren't allowing owners in the clinic right now. So, it would be a weird way to meet a new Dr. Thanks for the help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top