Question for Lantus Users

Min and Lord Fuzzy Bottom

Min and Lord Fuzzy Bottom

Member
Quickish questions:

When your baby was in vet care (if they were) were they giving a 'fast acting insulin' and then sent you home with the Lantus? If so, did the BG numbers go back up for awhile? If so, about how long did it take for them to level themselves out?

The vet gave Fuzzy a fast acting insulin as well as the glargine or however it is spelt (generic lantus) or that is what I think they said. His numbers were in normal ranges. I get him home and am giving him the lantus- his numbers skyrocket backup to over 600. He goes back to the vet, they give him more fast acting insulin, his numbers are normal ranges again. They are going to send him home with me giving him the lantus again and I'm worried the numbers are going to sky rocket again. So I'm wondering is this a normal thing and we just have to wait for the depot for form? Or is this abnormal? This is why I am asking you all because perhaps you have been in my position and have experienced this yourself.
 
I haven't experienced this, but have an explanation. It's likely the Lantus/glargine depot is part of the issue. It takes time to build, 5-7 days, but you should see some improvement before then.

Do you know how much fast acting insulin they are giving him (likely R or Regular insulin which I have used)? Are they giving him the glargine this time while he's in the vet as well, or have they stopped it again? Which will mean the depot depletes.

Any chance you could get them to observe how you have been giving the insulin? You can use your regular syringe but just plain water inside. That'll give them a chance to remove operator error out of the picture.
 
No idea what type of insulin they are using. His invoice from when he was last up there has a Syringe-Insulin U100 .5cc (29x1/2) Ultica. I am guessing that is the 'fast acting' insulin. there are 16 "medication administered-insulin (dose)" listed. He was there Monday-Thursday of last week. So I'm really not sure. I don't see any indication that a different insulin was used. I see the Glargine Insulin Pen listed that I received- which I thought was brand new. I see an injection for Convenia and two for Cerenia. I'm wondering if they just kept him on a different type of insulin while he was there, or maybe they were using the glargine with it. I'm really not sure- but will ask when I see them tomorrow to take my other cat up there for her post bladder stone surgery checkup.
I did ask if when I pick him up can we schedule it for when his next dose is and they either watch me give it or I video tape them giving it so I can see it and look back on it for reference.
 
It would be best if you can ask about dosing and type of insulin. And any blood sugar reading (day/time) they might have done. That will help us immensely.
 
Min said:
No idea what type of insulin they are using. His invoice from when he was last up there has a Syringe-Insulin U100 .5cc (29x1/2) Ultica. I am guessing that is the 'fast acting' insulin.
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No, that is just the type of syringe used to give the insulin. I'm assuming the invoice abbreviated Ultica because that's not a brand of insulin syringes. Ulticare is. U100 refers to the insulin strength the insulin syringes are made for. 0.5 cc is the max capacity of the insulin syringes, 50 units in this case. 29x1/2 means 29 gauge needles that are 1/2 inch long.

Ask the vet for the name of the fast acting insulin they gave.

Have you read this Lantus sticky on using syringes? https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...info-proper-handling-drawing-fine-dosing.151/ If you scroll down a bit there is a picture of insulin syringe markings and how to read each line. The picture has where the 3 units line is. Do you have whole unit syringes or half unit marked syringes?
 
Min said:
When your baby was in vet care (if they were) were they giving a 'fast acting insulin' and then sent you home with the Lantus? If so, did the BG numbers go back up for awhile? If so, about how long did it take for them to level themselves out?
Click to expand...
Are you still using the pen needles rather than insulin syringes?

If so, in addition to the fast-acting insulin and depot issue already mentioned, I can think of two other variables that might affect BG:

* Are you “priming” the pen before use? You have to do that before every injection with a pen needle, which will waste some insulin. Otherwise, you might not be administering the full dose. (You don’t need to prime if using an insulin syringe)

* Are you leaving the pen needle under the skin for 10 seconds after injecting? You DO need to count to 10 before withdrawing the pen needle to ensure that all of the insulin is administered (not necessary if using a syringe). This is likely why you felt wetness before when you pulled the pen needle out immediately.
 
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Try getting the syringes for Lantus with half unit markings instead of using the pen needles . We increase or decrease by 0.25 units at a time
Using syringes with a pen, cartridge, or vial:
  • U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings are the best to use for drawing Lantus, Levemir, or the Biosimilars from vials, cartridges, and pens.
  • BD Ultra-Fine, CarePoint Vet, Monoject, GNP,UltiCare Vet Rx, Sure Comfort, and ReliOn are just some of the brands available with half unit markings.
  • Syringes come in ½ inch or 5/16 inch needle lengths. Needle gauges are 29, 30 or 31 (31 being the thinnest)
  • Full and half-unit syringe scales:
49823063143_3437e9e997_o.jpg

  • Don't reuse syringes. You'll not only run the risk of contaminating the vial/cartridge/pen, but re-using a syringe may be very uncomfortable for your cat:

Here is a picture of how you withdraw the insulin from the pen.
upload_2024-3-30_18-7-44-jpeg.69707


I hope Fuzzy will be ok :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Please keep us posted

You can buy the syringes from Amazon ,you won't need a script
 
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