I think with Lantus being a depot insulin that sometimes your get that "longer" lasting affect. Is that consistent?...hard to say because we are adjusting doses as we go. I am pretty sure it is the same with humans. I have a friend that has a pump. She puts in her test numbers and it adjusts the dose as she goes about her day.
As for research, as far as companion health has come in the last two decades, I don't think there is the right backing for understanding some of the diseases our companions get. Why is kidney disease so rampant in kitty's from the age 10 and on? Why is cancer so pervasive in our companion animals? Like us, is it diet? If so, we think we are doing better at that so why isn't it working? As for as diabetes, more than half the vets don't seem to have a good grasp on what it is never mind how to help with it. Unless the insulin manufactures (because face it, drug companies have a lot of power) want to research it, it doesn't seem to be a priority. As caregivers as well, we have changed our focus. We want to do more in the care of animals and not just PTS our friends. In this day and age of the internet, information sharing has become a very big component of changing the way we think. Knowledge truly is power.
That all said, one of the vets at the clinic I go to said it best (paraphrasing a bit here) - we have done a better job of making our pets live longer, but we haven't necessarily done a good job of understanding the impact of that. As owners allow us to do more tests we are now diagnosing issues more. Then we need to figure out how to treat it all. And as allows, it is up to what the owners are willing to do (pay) for that care.
She is amazed that I put in the effort I do. She figured Jones would be gone by now. My Sadie lasted two years longer then she thought she would. Explains why I am on a first name basis with most of the front end staff and the vet techs.
I know if I could start over with a puppy or small kitten, I would do so many things differently. With diet being # 1 change, I would make my own. I have done that with my old pup Sadie and I tried with Jones. Dogs seem easier to switch then cats. The other would be the vaccinations, I would get the recommended ones for the first year, then titre test from there on in. I really believe we have over vaccinated our companion animals and put their immune system under undo stress.
And that is the end of my rant for today!
