New Member Grandpa Liam

Status
Not open for further replies.
VickiPerk

VickiPerk

Member Since 2021
Hi all! My name is Vicki and my sugarkitty is Grandpa Liam (GP). Grandpa Liam is Approx 14-16 year old former street kitty. He joined my colony during the summer of 2021. I noticed he was eating but not gaining weight and was very friendly. We moved out of florida this october and trapped our entire colony to bring with us to our new farm. Grandpa was taken to a vet that works with ferals and given a senior panel. She diagnosed him with Diabetes but didnt give any follow up instructions. Once we moved, we brought GP into the house so we could keep an eye on him. I found this page and started him on a low carb/no dry food diet ( using the canned food info lists here and in the facebook group). He eats about 8ish cans of food a day. I've read the pinned information here and on the feline diabetes support facebook page and have started a spreadsheet for my boy. He has some moderate neuropathy in his hind legs - we've started giving him zobline(sp?) but is otherwise in good shape for an older gentleman.

He's a fan:cat:

We found a vet in our new town and did a glucose curve. she wanted to wait to put him on insulin and see if the diet change would help. Ive been doing testing at home for the last 3 weeks and his numbers have come down from the mid 500s (at the vet for a glucose curve) to the mid 300s- high 400s. Hes finally gotten his script for levemir - it arrives tomorrow morning. The vet wants to start him at 1.5 units 2x a day. I think he has been diabetic for a very long time and untreated for all of it. I worry that such a high starting dose will give him some trouble. Can you provide some guidance on a safer starting dose? Side note, We are doing a glucose curve at home today before we start with the insulin using the relion premier monitor.
 
Welcome to FDMB!

With both Lantus and Levemir the starting dose is typically based on weight, providing you're planning on following the Tight Regulation Protocol (TR). Using that dosing method:
Initial Dose - 0.25 x cat's ideal weight in kilograms​
If you opt to follow the Start Low Go Slow (SLGS) method for dosing, the starting dose would be 0.5u since you've already transitioned your cat to a low carb, canned food diet. (FYI: You can only use TR if GP is eating no dry food.) This is the link to the information on dosing methods. I'd suggest that you look the sticky note over and see which method is feasible for you. TR has an established track record for getting cats into remission. The protocol was published in a leading vet journal. SLGS was developed here and has been used for years with success.

There are a few other things that will be helpful. This is a link to how you can help us to help you. The post contains information on how to set up both your signature and a spreadsheet. Having information in your signature means we won't keep asking you for the same information (e.g., what insulin you're using, when your cat was diagnosed, what you're feeding GP, etc.). We strongly encourage members to set up a spreadsheet.. We're very numbers driven and having a record of your cat's progress means we are not making uninformed guesses about how your cat is responding to insulin. No one here wants to give information that could put your cat in jeopardy.

Please let us know how we can help. The members here are very generous with their time and information.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Welcome to FDMB!

With both Lantus and Levemir the starting dose is typically based on weight, providing you're planning on following the Tight Regulation Protocol (TR). Using that dosing method:
Initial Dose - 0.25 x cat's ideal weight in kilograms​
If you opt to follow the Start Low Go Slow (SLGS) method for dosing, the starting dose would be 0.5u since you've already transitioned your cat to a low carb, canned food diet. (FYI: You can only use TR if GP is eating no dry food.) This is the link to the information on dosing methods. I'd suggest that you look the sticky note over and see which method is feasible for you. TR has an established track record for getting cats into remission. The protocol was published in a leading vet journal. SLGS was developed here and has been used for years with success.

There are a few other things that will be helpful. This is a link to how you can help us to help you. The post contains information on how to set up both your signature and a spreadsheet. Having information in your signature means we won't keep asking you for the same information (e.g., what insulin you're using, when your cat was diagnosed, what you're feeding GP, etc.). We strongly encourage members to set up a spreadsheet.. We're very numbers driven and having a record of your cat's progress means we are not making uninformed guesses about how your cat is responding to insulin. No one here wants to give information that could put your cat in jeopardy.

Please let us know how we can help. The members here are very generous with their time and information.
Click to expand...


hi!
ive updated my signature and transferred my current data to your spreadsheet. id like to go with the SLGS method. his current weight is 7.8lbs (3.5kg) but hes still very thin. he should probably be in the 10-12lb range.
 
Based on our dosing methods, I would agree with. your gut -- 1.5u sounds like a large starting dose. Frankly, it's much harder on a new member's nerves to deal with a larger starting dose and always worrying whether numbers may drop low. It's far easier to start lower and gradually increase the dose.

With Lantus, it will take 5 - 7 days to see much of a response. If you plan to use SLGS, then you want to start at a 0.5u dose. I hope you have a prescription for syringes. You'll want U100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings with a 30 or 31 gauge needle. Do not use the pen tips if you are getting the insulin pens.

You may want to look over the sticky notes at the top of the Lantus board, as well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top