? 08/19 Snowball AMPS 398- Advice needed on switching insulin for Snowball

Sumaira Aslam

Sumaira Aslam

Member Since 2020
Dear experts

Looking for your advice. Posting again as now its been few days since I am updating the spreadsheet, I know I am taking less readings due to crazy work schedule doing my best and since I live alone hence no help. So finally snowball’s BG numbers are reducing in morning for past 3 days have been around 100s mostly at night he eats around 11 or 12 midnight and then sleeps all night and wakes up super hungry at insulin time around 9am. Now I am giving him 2 units of Caninsulin but want to switch to levimer but need advice on how many units to start with as I can notice that Caninsulin starts wearing off after 8-9 hours and snowball starts to get uncomfortable as BG goes high he sometimes starts drinking more water so I want his BG so get more smoother and hopefully he can be happier

@Sue and Luci
@tiffmaxee


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BjMgwqX_yI4dPis_Z7Z6woHHpe6FIThX0YE5tj0zOz8/edit
 
Good Morning Sumaira, Have you already created a post for today with the appropriate format on another forum? Just wondering

I switched from Lantus to Levemir so I'm not too sure about how to go about switching from Caninsulin (since it's a dog insulin)...perhaps some of the other experienced folks will comment a bit later this morning. It's quite early yet. Let's see what they say.
 
Sue and Luci said:
Good Morning Sumaira, Have you already created a post for today with the appropriate format on another forum? Just wondering

I switched from Lantus to Levemir so I'm not too sure about how to go about switching from Caninsulin (since it's a dog insulin)...perhaps some of the other experienced folks will comment a bit later this morning. It's quite early yet. Let's see what they say.
Click to expand...
I am only a member of this group and the facebook group
 
Sumaira Aslam said:
I am only a member of this group and the facebook group
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks for the clarification.

Would you mind editing your title?

? Like this: 8/19 Snowball AMPS ###
Advice needed on switching insulin for Snowball

The format is recommended in the PSA stickie above - it's very helpful to everyone who views all the comments so as to help us keep what day the comment was posted on.

Thanks so much! :D
 
Sue and Luci said:
Ok, thanks for the clarification.

Would you mind editing your title?

? Like this: 8/19 Snowball AMPS ###
Advice needed on switching insulin for Snowball

The format is recommended in the PSA stickie above - it's very helpful to everyone who views all the comments so as to help us keep what day the comment was posted on.

Thanks so much! :D
Click to expand...
Thanks I am still fairly new to the group thanks for guiding
 
Sue and Luci said:
Nice job on the title! I believe @Wendy&Neko has experience with switching from Caninsulin to either Lantus or Levemir - but she doesn't usually come on until later in the day since she's on the West Coast.
Click to expand...
Thanks I’ll wait. Really hoping for help as I really want to switch to levimer as soon as i can so my snowball can feel comfortable
 
We did switch from Caninsulin to Lantus, and later to Levemir. I think it'll be a better insulin for Snowball. As far as dose, it's quite difficult to tell given the data I'm seeing so far. We look at how the current insulin dose is doing when considering what number to switch to. 3 units is far too high. You shot that the night of the 17th and woke up to a 72 the next morning - who knows how low she went over night. By the way, you shouldn't shoot a 72 with Caninsulin, even a lower dose, especially if you won't be home to monitor.

Would it be possible to get some tests around 2-3 hours after the shot when you give 2 units? Even a test just before you go to bed will help. Without a clue how low that 2 units is taking Snowball, I can't tell if 2 units is too high or too low to start Levemir. Night time data is very important, many cat go lower at night.
 
Th
Wendy&Neko said:
We did switch from Caninsulin to Lantus, and later to Levemir. I think it'll be a better insulin for Snowball. As far as dose, it's quite difficult to tell given the data I'm seeing so far. We look at how the current insulin dose is doing when considering what number to switch to. 3 units is far too high. You shot that the night of the 17th and woke up to a 72 the next morning - who knows how low she went over night. By the way, you shouldn't shoot a 72 with Caninsulin, even a lower dose, especially if you won't be home to monitor.

Would it be possible to get some tests around 2-3 hours after the shot when you give 2 units? Even a test just before you go to bed will help. Without a clue how low that 2 units is taking Snowball, I can't tell if 2 units is too high or too low to start Levemir. Night time data is very important, many cat go lower at night.
Click to expand...

thanks. Actually I am really scared to miss a shot as i did it once and it didn’t go well it took a while to get snowball numbers back to normal and even vet has advised not to skip the dose. Snowball had been on 4 units for months since he was diagnosed end of May now thankfully his number are improving and he is down to 2 units. I will try to take more reading actually morning ones are fasting readings as he eats at around 11pm at night max then sleeps and wakes up at 8 am so I don’t feel like disturbing him at night but I will try and will also take more readings during the day to check his lows. Thanks again ❤️☺️
 
I found I could take a blood sugar test at night without much disturbance. She was back to sleep in no time. Don't worry about the readings being fasting ones, unless it's the ones before the shots.
 
@Sumaira Aslam In this forum, we start a new post every day with the date, cat's name, and AMPS number in the Title line. That makes it easier for people who are scanning the forum to keep an eye on people and respond to any that look like they might be getting into trouble first.
 
A few thoughts about switching from Caninsulin to Levemir. You may want to read the information on the dosing methods and the depot in the sticky notes above to give you a better feel for the differences. Keep in mind that some of the information may be more geared to Lantus than Lev. Also, please start a new thread right before you're ready to make the switch so we can give you some input on dose.
  • They are very different types of insulin. Caninsulin is a faster acting insulin and can drop numbers quickly. It also has a shorter duration.
  • With Lev, you can test, feed, and shoot all within a few minutes. Food does not need to be on board at shot time since insulin onset is at around 3 - 4 hours after you shoot. (This is not the case with Caninsulin.)
  • Levemir has a long duration. It generally lasts the entire cycle and there is overlap between the cycles which will ultimately case a "flat" curve.
  • The lowest point in the cycle is at around +7 or +8 for most cats but this can and does vary
  • Dosing is based on the lowest number in the cycle, not on the pre-shot number.
Also, a note about your dose. Your signature states your Caninsulin dose is 4.0u. Your dose is 2.0u twice a day. The total daily amount is 4u but you're actually putting 2.0u in the syringe.

We strongly recommend getting at minimum a "before bed" test every night. Many cats have lower numbers during the PM cycle. You do not want to miss a situation where your kitty may be in dangerously low numbers. In addition, if you don't test in the evening, you're missing half of your data. If you look at many of our spreadsheets, you'll see what I mean. I was a testaholic (and you do not have to duplicate how much I tested!). Gabby's sleep was none the worse for my poking her in the ear if she was sleeping. Treats always seemed to help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top