14/3 Lantus 0.5U every 12 hours with 0.3 syringes

[kenfalco]

Hello from Italy, I have a 16 and a half year old cat who started Lantus three days ago (today the 4th), and last night the alarm sound at 67 mg/dL, even though the graph didn't show it.
Do you experts think this 0.5U is too high?
Have FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
P.S We had previously tried 0.5 units with ProZinc but it was too strong.


Thanks.
Gabriel

 

[mcb486]

Hello from Italy, I have a 16 and a half year old cat who started Lantus three days ago (today the 4th), and last night the alarm sound at 67 mg/dL, even though the graph didn't show it.
Do you experts think this 0.5U is too high?
Have FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
P.S We had previously tried 0.5 units with ProZinc but it was too strong.


Thanks.
Gabriel

Hello and welcome!! I can't advise but maybe @Staci & Ivy can help??

 

[CORKY]

Welcome to FDMB
Lantus and ProZinc are the best insulins for cats they are a 12-hour insulin both easy on cats, every cat is different and a small dose should have not been a problem though. The Libre has the flaw that on low numbers it reads them lower than reality . This is why we recommend to also manually test with a human monitor if you get a two-digit number, when you compare with a manual monitor, you will notice that the levels will be quite different. use as reference the manual reading, this is important before shot time as well you want to be able to shoot at safe numbers, so you do not need to spend a lot of money with a Pet Meter with Lantus you should not let the glucose level go lower than 90 you are just beginning to learn how your cat reacts to insulin, What food are you feeding? a diabetic cat needs to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs if you are feeding kibbles /dry food, you will need to make the transition a slow one, you do not want to upset the stomach, as well as lower carbs will take a dive on the glucose levels; you will need to create a HYPO KIT this will include : some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs some medium arb foods between 11-15% carbs some Karo syrup or honey, this is in case the glucose level dives lower than 50, the syrup and honey are a quick fix given by rubbing on a small amount on the gums.
you can download a cat carb calculator, and use the ingredients in the food you are using, and the dry matter carbs are the correct carbs to look for

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hello from Italy, I have a 16 and a half year old cat who started Lantus three days ago (today the 4th), and last night the alarm sound at 67 mg/dL, even though the graph didn't show it.
Do you experts think this 0.5U is too high?
Have FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
P.S We had previously tried 0.5 units with ProZinc but it was too strong.


Thanks.
Gabriel



View attachment 77370

Hi Gabriel, it appears that Libre erased that lower reading you saw earlier from the graph.
It also appears from this photo the dose is not taking your cat too low (from just seeing this one graph). We need more information to know if the dose is too high.

Please fill out a spreadsheet and complete your signature with more information so we can help guide you.

We understand it’s a lot to figure out when your cat is diagnosed with diabetes.

Below is information we have compiled about using a Freestyle Libre. Please ask questions if you have them.

Getting Started With Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for Diabetic Cats

 

[CORKY]

Welcome to FDMB
Lantus and ProZinc are the best insulins for cats they are a 12-hour insulin both easy on cats, every cat is different and a small dose should have not been a problem though. The Libre has the flaw that on low numbers it reads them lower than reality . This is why we recommend to also manually test with a human monitor if you get a two-digit number, when you compare with a manual monitor, you will notice that the levels will be quite different. use as reference the manual reading, this is important before shot time as well you want to be able to shoot at safe numbers, so you do not need to spend a lot of money with a Pet Meter with Lantus you should not let the glucose level go lower than 90 you are just beginning to learn how your cat reacts to insulin, What food are you feeding? a diabetic cat needs to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs if you are feeding kibbles /dry food, you will need to make the transition a slow one, you do not want to upset the stomach, as well as lower carbs will take a dive on the glucose levels; you will need to create a HYPO KIT this will include : some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs some medium arb foods between 11-15% carbs some Karo syrup or honey, this is in case the glucose level dives lower than 50, the syrup and honey are a quick fix given by rubbing on a small amount on the gums.
you can download a cat carb calculator, and use the ingredients in the food you are using, and the dry matter carbs are the correct carbs to look for

Carb Calculator - Felinediabetes.com

 

[kenfalco]

Hello, thank you to all for the responses.
I update the signature.
This is the today graph.
CORKY i have already bought a manual monitor and i have food with high carbs for emergency + Honey.
Unfortunately, having IBD I cannot change his diet so he has to stay on Renal Special kibble

 

[kenfalco]

A question: 0.5 is already very difficult to do, plus there are bubbles I can't get rid of.
The procedure I follow is:

1) Draw up more, for example, 3 units
2) Squeeze the syringe with the tip pointing upward
3) Return the excess insulin to the vial until you reach 0.5

Despite this, there are still bubbles as you can see in this photo

 

[CORKY]

Make sure you do not shake the vial turn it in your hand slowly 3-4 times draw the fluid slowly here are several syringes I cannot distinguish the syringe you are using so pick the right one

 

[squeem3]

A question: 0.5 is already very difficult to do, plus there are bubbles I can't get rid of.
The procedure I follow is:

1) Draw up more, for example, 3 units
2) Squeeze the syringe with the tip pointing upward
3) Return the excess insulin to the vial until you reach 0.5

Despite this, there are still bubbles as you can see in this photo

Don't put the extra insulin back into the bottle / pen That's a good way to ruin the entire bottle / pen.

Sticky - Insulin Care & Syringe Info: Proper Handling, Drawing, Fine Dosing

For 0.5 units, I wouldn't draw up more than 1.5 units of insulin. Tap the syringe to float the air bubbles towards the needle. Then pull back on the plunger slightly. May have to do a few times to get those stubborn air bubbles to disappear. Then very slowly push the plunger to expel the air and extra insulin.

Some brands of insulin syringes are more prone to air bubbles than others. Try a different brand of syringes if you have more than one brand available in Italy. BD / Embecta is a big name sold nearly world-wide.

I assume you have syringes that have half unit markings? If 0.5 units seems too much, you can give 0.25 units instead. You have to eyeball it on the syringe, between the zero line and the 0.5 unit line.

Cats that have both diabetes and IBD don't need any special prescription diet. A novel protein low carb canned food or a raw or home cooked diet is ideal. My diabetic also has IBD and I feed him a commercially available freeze dried raw food in rabbit. I give canned food in rabbit for snacks. It's ok to disagree with the vet about food

Why is your cat on a renal diet, especially a dry one? Does he also have kidney issues?

An Italian member's old post on what she feeds her diabetic/IBD cat: ? - New Member, May 2, 2023: Lantus dose changes There are other food suggestions in that same thread.

 

[kenfalco]

Don't put the extra insulin back into the bottle / pen That's a good way to ruin the entire bottle / pen.

Sticky - Insulin Care & Syringe Info: Proper Handling, Drawing, Fine Dosing

For 0.5 units, I wouldn't draw up more than 1.5 units of insulin. Tap the syringe to float the air bubbles towards the needle. Then pull back on the plunger slightly. May have to do a few times to get those stubborn air bubbles to disappear. Then very slowly push the plunger to expel the air and extra insulin.

Some brands of insulin syringes are more prone to air bubbles than others. Try a different brand of syringes if you have more than one brand available in Italy. BD / Embecta is a big name sold nearly world-wide.

I assume you have syringes that have half unit markings? If 0.5 units seems too much, you can give 0.25 units instead. You have to eyeball it on the syringe, between the zero line and the 0.5 unit line.

Cats that have both diabetes and IBD don't need any special prescription diet. A novel protein low carb canned food or a raw or home cooked diet is ideal. My diabetic also has IBD and I feed him a commercially available freeze dried raw food in rabbit. I give canned food in rabbit for snacks. It's ok to disagree with the vet about food

Why is your cat on a renal diet, especially a dry one? Does he also have kidney issues?

An Italian member's old post on what she feeds her diabetic/IBD cat: ? - New Member, May 2, 2023: Lantus dose changes There are other food suggestions in that same thread.

Thank you for this informations!