Sheri,
I am no R expert, just so you know.
There are a lot of people that know it better than I do. Julie and Punkin and Linda and Weezer in Lantus Tight Regulation comes to mind, but I am sure there are others.
From what I have heard, most cats are very sensitive to R and I was told to start very low and test hourly when you first start them on it. (like the first 4 hours) the theory is that it will bring down their numbers and be gone by the time the Lev kicks in. So, I started her at just a drop and worked up from there. In the beginning I didn't use it at night, because I have MS and fatigue issues, so I can't do a lot of night testing. I wanted to learn how she responded, because nothing about Missy is by the book....even the vets all say that. (another reason to be cautious with the R, if you use it....Dante will probably react differently than Miss)
So, I worked up until I saw some movement in her numbers. She seems to do best on .75, but if she is really high I would give her 1 unit or sort of low, .5. Usually less at night, so I don't worry about a hypo. But, again, don't use my numbers, cuz the FB group I in said Miss uses R like a trouper......I think she is just a high dose kitty, no matter what insulin she is on....and I would guess her weight is a big contributing factor to her resistance. So, Dante would probably not use nearly as much as Miss.
In Wa. State you don't need a prescription for Humulin R. I just went to the pharmacy and asked for it. I was scared to use it, frankly. When Grayson and Lu-Ann started using it and getting results, I got up the courage to try. And it took a little while for it to do what it is doing now.......whatever that is. :lol: I just know that her numbers are SO much better than the last year. Maybe not into green, which I would like, but NOT pink all the time. AND, she is feeling better. More playful, more alert. Even DH notices the difference.
But, remember ECID and maybe you would want to contact Julie or Linda or Lu-Ann and ask their thoughts, too. I wouldn't want to encourage you to do anything to hurt your baby. I didn't try it until I was at the end of my rope and didn't know what else to do. But it looks like, for Missy, to be a good tool and maybe, just maybe, her body is starting to get used to the lower numbers without bouncing so dramatically. She has really only started to do well this past week or so. And, I think, optimally, I should eventually wean her off the R and let the Lev take over, but I have to do some reading on glucose toxicity and see how long I should keep at the R. I would think I would eventually want to increase the Lev to the point it brings her down enough not to need the R.
Sorry to go on and on.
I just want you to know that I am a big-time rookie with R and I am not sure what I am doing or going to do in the future.....but I certainly am enjoying her numbers, right now.
If I can help in any way, let me know. We are all in this together. The only reason Missy is still alive today is because of the people here, willing to share their experiences and expertise. I don't have a lot of experience at this, but I am more
than willing to share what we have done.
Good luck with Dante. You are amazing for choosing to foster a FD cat.
This from a cat who purrs if you just even talk to her...you don't even have to touch her! She can't just sleep on the couch all winter.....and neither can I. 