? Plan to switch from Caninsulin to Lantus. Any advice on dosing?

H

hellen_maggie

Member Since 2025
Hello team! After a long struggle, I’m finally making the switch from Caninsulin to Lantus. I spoke again with my primary vet. He was honest and told me that although he has no experience with Lantus, he is willing to support me and see how things go. He prescribed Lantus for me and asked me to bring him Maggie’s numbers in about 10 days so we can evaluate where we are. Unfortunately, he cannot help me with dosing.
After a lot of effort, I also managed to find a second vet who prescribes both Caninsulin and Lantus. I have an appointment with him today to see if he can help with dosing and to assess his knowledge of Lantus. To be honest, in Greece most vets have little to no experience with this insulin. Because I no longer fully trust vets when it comes to feline diabetes, I would truly appreciate your help. If any of the experienced members here could guide me with starting doses, I would be extremely grateful !! All of Maggie’s data are in the spreadsheet linked in my signature. Please note that the dose shown there is based on U-100 syringes, not the U-40 syringes used for Caninsulin. After conversion, her actual current dose is 1.2u of Caninsulin

The reason I decided to make this transition (besides everything I’ve learned here, for which I am deeply thankful) is that after almost two months on Caninsulin, I have almost never seen her preshot numbers come down. At nadir, Maggie can reach relatively good numbers, but the preshots remain very high. For example, today her AM preshot was 349, and at +3.5 she dropped to 96. I would greatly appreciate your guidance and reassurance. I’m honestly very scared about this transition and what to expect from this decision. I truly hope I’m doing the right thing.

I also want to mention that I’m actively trying to transition Maggie from dry food to wet food. I know from this forum that dry food is a poor choice, but we were initially advised by our vet to feed Royal Canin Diabetic dry. I’m now slowly transitioning her to Purina DM wet food, which she actually likes. This is our 2nd attempt at switching to wet food. The first time we stopped because of vomiting, which now seems unrelated to the wet food itself. At the moment, I’m moving extremely slowly due to Maggie’s very sensitive stomach: every 2 days I add 1 teaspoon of wet food and remove the equivalent amount of dry food, in every of her 2 meals. Right now, she eats 30gr wet food and 64 g dry food per day (she would normally eat 68g if she were on dry food only). I know the road to a full transition is still long, but I’m certain that going any faster would fail. Currently, she eats half of her daily food within 1,5-2 hours after the injection and we follow the exact same routine for the evening shot. I hand-feed her to make sure she eats. Hand-feeding has honestly been exhausting for the past two months....

For safety, this is the testing schedule we’re planning to follow during the first days of Lantus:
6.00 AM preshot + injection, +3 test before leaving for work, +6 test (we can come home briefly for about 5 minutes), Then a large gap in which she will be alone at home until +11,5 when I return home
In the evening: 6.00PM preshot + injection, +3 test & +6 test before going to bed
That means a total of 6 tests daily. Do you think this schedule is safe for my girl? Honestly… I am terrified.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for any help or guidance you can offer. ❤️
 
Hello & good morning!
I cannot advise you on the dose, at I know it can be different from one type to the other and I know nothing of your previous one.
Just wanted to drop in to say I too had to go my cats and. From Prozinc to Lantus. My boy never got to good numbers and was in the red and black daily. So after a month, we switched him over. There were other reasons I also pushed for Lantus. Lantus has gentler curves. Like you were explaining the giant drops that are more common with other insulin, are fewer with Lantus from studies. That greatly appealed to me. Also the chance of hypo numbers (probably due to the flatter curve), is less. And then there's the price, which wasn't my thought at the time, but $35 sure beats over $100 any day.😅
You're probably going to be tossed a bunch of links, but I can say most of us feed our diabetic pets 4-6x a day. I actually argued it out with my vet, who insisted no more than 3. My mother was diabetic and she had to eat 5 small meals a day. It helps regulate the system throughout. So ignoring my vet, I started feeding him at preshot, +2,+4, preshot pm, +2, +4. It was what was suggested to me here at the site. But I stay home and have that ability. You do what you can. But several meals is best. As for your testing, 6x is good. And that's awesome you'll be able to slip in to grab that other number. Hopefully you'll either find remission or regulation shortly, and won't need the 6x a day. I typically only checked 4-5x. That long stint after your check should be fine alone and without checks. After the nadir, it's typically a slow rise anyhow. My cat did amazing with Lantus by the way. And though I know he was the oddball around here, he went into remission after being in it for a month.
Welcome to Lantus Land & pictures are appreciated.😁
 
Oh yeah, you might want to go into putting the prefix to the '?' in the title. So those with experience will know you have a question. It will get the thread more attention for your needs.
 
Tyleete said:
Hello & good morning!
I cannot advise you on the dose, at I know it can be different from one type to the other and I know nothing of your previous one.
Just wanted to drop in to say I too had to go my cats and. From Prozinc to Lantus. My boy never got to good numbers and was in the red and black daily. So after a month, we switched him over. There were other reasons I also pushed for Lantus. Lantus has gentler curves. Like you were explaining the giant drops that are more common with other insulin, are fewer with Lantus from studies. That greatly appealed to me. Also the chance of hypo numbers (probably due to the flatter curve), is less. And then there's the price, which wasn't my thought at the time, but $35 sure beats over $100 any day.😅
You're probably going to be tossed a bunch of links, but I can say most of us feed our diabetic pets 4-6x a day. I actually argued it out with my vet, who insisted no more than 3. My mother was diabetic and she had to eat 5 small meals a day. It helps regulate the system throughout. So ignoring my vet, I started feeding him at preshot, +2,+4, preshot pm, +2, +4. It was what was suggested to me here at the site. But I stay home and have that ability. You do what you can. But several meals is best. As for your testing, 6x is good. And that's awesome you'll be able to slip in to grab that other number. Hopefully you'll either find remission or regulation shortly, and won't need the 6x a day. I typically only checked 4-5x. That long stint after your check should be fine alone and without checks. After the nadir, it's typically a slow rise anyhow. My cat did amazing with Lantus by the way. And though I know he was the oddball around here, he went into remission after being in it for a month.
Welcome to Lantus Land & pictures are appreciated.😁
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Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to reply!

Hello Nico΄s mom!
Your message truly helped calm me down, and I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Hearing positive stories about switching to Lantus makes this whole transition feel a little less scary.
The gentler curves you mentioned are exactly one of the reasons I decided to push for this change. Those big drops on Caninsulin are what frighten me the most, especially when her preshots stay high but she drops very fast early in the cycle. Knowing that Lantus tends to be flatter and more predictable gives me hope.
Thank you for all the information about the feeding schedule. Unfortunately, because of work, I can’t feed as often as I’d like, but I’m trying to do the best I can within our limitations. Hopefully, once things stabilize, i hope it will get easier.
Thank you as well for the reassurance about the testing schedule. That really helped ease my anxiety. And your story about your boy going into remission after only a month on Lantus is incredibly encouraging! even if it’s rare, it’s wonderful to hear.


Thank you again for the warm welcome to “Lantus Land.” I truly appreciate the support here. ❤️
Pictures will definitely come soon!
 
hellen_maggie said:
Hello and thank you so much for taking the time to reply!

Hello Nico΄s mom!
Your message truly helped calm me down, and I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Hearing positive stories about switching to Lantus makes this whole transition feel a little less scary.
The gentler curves you mentioned are exactly one of the reasons I decided to push for this change. Those big drops on Caninsulin are what frighten me the most, especially when her preshots stay high but she drops very fast early in the cycle. Knowing that Lantus tends to be flatter and more predictable gives me hope.
Thank you for all the information about the feeding schedule. Unfortunately, because of work, I can’t feed as often as I’d like, but I’m trying to do the best I can within our limitations. Hopefully, once things stabilize, i hope it will get easier.
Thank you as well for the reassurance about the testing schedule. That really helped ease my anxiety. And your story about your boy going into remission after only a month on Lantus is incredibly encouraging! even if it’s rare, it’s wonderful to hear.


Thank you again for the warm welcome to “Lantus Land.” I truly appreciate the support here. ❤️
Pictures will definitely come soon!
Click to expand...
Sometimes it just happens that way. My boys pancreas just started working once we got 3.75unit. I was so afraid it was a high amount, but that's what it took to kickstart it. Another newer person to diabetes on here; her cat was diagnosed in beginning of November and she's been going down in dosing and it's down to the impossible (to measure) 0.1unit twice daily. And doing great! It's only a matter of time for her cat too. Since coming to the Lantus board, I've probably seen 5 go through the Off The Juice trials successfully. So I definitely love the results seen with Lantus. I had only hoped for regulation myself. So it was a lovely surprise. Hang in there, and never be afraid to share your concerns or questions. We've all been there.
Also, if you can feed before you go to work. Either at the +2 or +3, or would be helpful for your little one. They say Lantus onset is typically at +2, and that's why it's suggested to feed then. To help them with the initial drop when the insulin takes effect.
Or so it was explained to me. Many will try to feed at the +4 or +6 I believe for the nadir. But as you said, that's not possible. So we do what we can to help. But the first feeding at onset will help. I'm sure others will come in with much more info. This is my 2nd diabetic and birth went into remission in 2 months, so I don't have the vast experience many do.
 
Tyleete said:
Sometimes it just happens that way. My boys pancreas just started working once we got 3.75unit. I was so afraid it was a high amount, but that's what it took to kickstart it. Another newer person to diabetes on here; her cat was diagnosed in beginning of November and she's been going down in dosing and it's down to the impossible (to measure) 0.1unit twice daily. And doing great! It's only a matter of time for her cat too. Since coming to the Lantus board, I've probably seen 5 go through the Off The Juice trials successfully. So I definitely love the results seen with Lantus. I had only hoped for regulation myself. So it was a lovely surprise. Hang in there, and never be afraid to share your concerns or questions. We've all been there.
Also, if you can feed before you go to work. Either at the +2 or +3, or would be helpful for your little one. They say Lantus onset is typically at +2, and that's why it's suggested to feed then. To help them with the initial drop when the insulin takes effect.
Or so it was explained to me. Many will try to feed at the +4 or +6 I believe for the nadir. But as you said, that's not possible. So we do what we can to help. But the first feeding at onset will help. I'm sure others will come in with much more info. This is my 2nd diabetic and birth went into remission in 2 months, so I don't have the vast experience many do.
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The support and encouragement I’m getting is honestly invaluable and gives me the confidence I need to take this big step. Reading experiences like yours, and knowing that others have walked this path before me, makes me feel far less alone and much more hopeful.Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for the kindness, reassurance, and boost of courage. It truly makes a difference. ❤️
 
Hi! I know this is all a bit daunting, but I'm so glad to hear that you're taking these steps with Maggie. I think you'll really see a significant improvement with Lantus, though it may not happen all at once/right away.

1u is a common starting dose, although I'm not sure when the cat has already been on another insulin! I'm going to tag a few folks who have more experience. @Wendy&Neko @Christie & Maverick @tiffmaxee

Please edit your first post in this thread, and using the dropdown menu of prefixes to the left of the title, select the "?" prefix and save. Having that little blue "?" will help get attention faster, as well!
 
Hello and welcome from someone else who made the switch from Caninsulin to Lantus. My girl's insulin also wore off well before the next shot. I also had a vet who didn't know Lantus. A locum vet told me to buy Lantus and look to FDMB for dosing help.

When someone switches from one of the in and out insulins like Caninsulin or Prozinc, we look at how their kitty is doing on the existing dose. Since Maggie is seeing some greens on 1.2 unit of Caninsulin, we might back the dose off a bit to start, so 1.0 units of Lantus on those U-100 syringes. Some cats show a strong reaction to the switch. So make sure you switch when you can monitor closely.

Good luck with the switch, I hope both you and Maggie do well with Lantus.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Hello and welcome from someone else who made the switch from Caninsulin to Lantus. My girl's insulin also wore off well before the next shot. I also had a vet who didn't know Lantus. A locum vet told me to buy Lantus and look to FDMB for dosing help.

When someone switches from one of the in and out insulins like Caninsulin or Prozinc, we look at how their kitty is doing on the existing dose. Since Maggie is seeing some greens on 1.2 unit of Caninsulin, we might back the dose off a bit to start, so 1.0 units of Lantus on those U-100 syringes. Some cats show a strong reaction to the switch. So make sure you switch when you can monitor closely.

Good luck with the switch, I hope both you and Maggie do well with Lantus.
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thank you so much for the information Wendy&Neko, really appreciate it!
 
When you do the switch, leave a blank line in the spreadsheet after the last Caninsulin shot and label it "start Lantus" so we can easily see when in happens.
 
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