Re: First week on Lantus and questions
Ok...back to give you some more information. I'm glad Squeem caught the "ccc"...I overlooked it. I can access your SS but you do need to go back and change the "ccc" to "pub". Thank you!
No doubt, you’re feeling more than a little overwhelmed. If you take a look at the number of people in this forum, you’ll realize that there is a lot to learn and a lot to do but it is very manageable once you learn the ropes. The front end of the learning curve is rather steep, though. The people here will answer your questions and help you. All you need to do is ask!
There is a lot of important information regarding lantus that is available for you to read. We suggest you print it, put it in a folder or binder, and then you have it handy if you need it quickly. The info is found at the top of the Lantus TR forum that you are in....they are called "stickys". Here are quick links to them:
New to the Group-provides great, basic information ....a must read first
Tight Regulation Protocol - more on this below
Proper Handling and Storage of Lantus/Levemir - very important as we store our insulin in the frig, do not shake, roll, warm, prefill syringes, etc.
Insulin Depot - discussion on how lantus/levemir work
Dealing with Low Preshots - very important to have on hand
How to Handle Low Numbers - also very important to have on hand
The vast majority of the members of this Insulin Support Group are using a dosing protocol that is based in clinical research and that has been published in leading veterinary journals. It is referred to as the Tight Regulation (TR) Protocol (or by other names as well, the Tilly Protocol or the Rand/University of Queensland Protocol). They are all the same. A modified version of the protocol and links to the formal versions is available in the Tight Regulation sticky. This approach will give your cat the best chance of going into remission or keeping his/her blood glucose numbers in a range that will prevent organ damage.
It is not mandatory that you follow this approach. However, you should be aware that most of us do and it is how we approach dosing decisions. As a result, we are very numbers oriented.
This protocol was developed by lay people who are members of the German Diabetes-Katzen Forum and It has since been published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. In other words, there is research to support the use of this dosing protocol. The majority of cats do very well on this protocol; some cats do not. Every cat is different (ECID). Also, results do not occur overnight.
Lantus will teach you patience. It is more time-consuming than most other protocols but still definitely doable if you work a regular full-time job. Many people here have challenging schedules.
We strongly urge you to test for ketones regularly to start with and know about diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Be aware that ketones don't occur once a cat is (and remains) properly regulated. Most of us buy ketostix at the pharmacy and test urine...it's easy and quick. Tommy should be eating a the right diet: high-quality low-carb canned food or raw food exclusively. It is best to feed your cat lots of small meals spread over the day, free-feeding canned food can be an option for some cats.
You will also find a warm welcome and a community of people who are devoted to their cats and just as interested in yours and who will generously share their knowledge with you.
If you can't find the means to incorporate these steps into your cat’s diabetes management, for whatever reason, using a TR protocol may not be right for you. As overwhelming as it may seem right now, these steps are not that hard to carry out and we've seen many people who didn’t think they could do this, slide into a TR approach once they got started. Home testing is a critical part of this approach. As with any other insulin, in order to insure that blood glucose levels are high enough to safely give a shot, you need to test prior to injecting.
There is an alternative protocol called "Start Low Go Slow" and the link to it is here:
SLGS Approach
I've given you alot of info and we don't expect you to absorb it all at once. But it helps us to know which protocol you prefer to follow so we know best how to make suggestions for Tommy. We ask that if you get a low number during the cycle, please post and we will help you with it. If you get a low preshot, please DO NOT FEED, but post and ask for help and we'll walk you through it.
Welcome and please let us know how we can help you. If you are able to get a test before you leave in the morning and when you get home and a +2 and/or before bed test or as Gayle suggesed, a +10 ...it would help immensely.
One of the things that would help us help you and Tommy the most is if you could please do a profile for Tommy in the next week. Here are the instructions and if you have any questions...please PM me and I'll walk you through it:
Creating a Profile
Happy Valentine's Day!!
