? 3 days on Lantus - need help w/Vetsulin bolus

Michelle & Rufus

Member Since 2020
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CdEaXJ-2dFS06GVzpNzwG0MwTIEwvDCLdkePodOK6FU/edit?usp=sharing


Rufus was poorly managed for 5 weeks on Vetsulin, although his numbers were trending down as the dosage was refined (1.5 TID at last use).

I made the switch to Lantus just three days (5 doses now) ago. None of his tests has been below 530. He seems to be declining again rapidly. He is 11.5lbs/5KG. He grazes on Dr. Elseys and has begun to regain weight before the switch. Would it be safe to provide a midday bolus of 0.5 Vetsulin mid cycle? I am here 24/7 and can easily observe and test frequently.
 
No, you don't want to mix insulins.

Which protocol are you using? I don't see a pattern in your dosing choice. Are you still using the glycobalance? Dry food is going to make it more difficult to regulate him.

The depot takes 6 cycles to build up, so it's normal to not see much of a change just yet.
 
He is on Lantus. I started him at 0.5U BID. He had been on vetsulin 1.5U TID. His food has been changed 2 weeks now to Dr. Elseys and occasional FF
 
Welcome. Your spreadsheet link shows you need to finish it. If you need help let me know and I’ll tag some members. We will need that to help you. Would you set up a signature please? Include what you just wrote. Have. Look at mine. Are you feeding wet or dry Dr. Elsey’s? If feeding any dry food you will follow the SLGS method. If all canned hVe a look at TR as well. You don’t need to make a decision right away but how dosing is suggested will depend on which method you choose. The depot is still filling. You will likely need an increase soon though since the dose was smaller due to the insulin switch. Some cats have a dramatic reaction hence the lower starting dose to play it safe. I’ll tag some folks to help with that as I’ve only used Lantus. We will need the spreadsheet numbers first though.
@Wendy&Neko @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
 
Hello and welcome. Make sure you read the yellow starred Sticky Notes at the top of this forum. Is the Dr. Elsey's you feed the dry food? If so, the only dosing method we use that you can use is SLGS.

First off, you are using a spreadsheet that is not the one we use. That other group copied ours, and made some changes. Unfortunately those changes included some bugs that make the spreadsheet hard to use on some platforms. For example, it dies on my iPad. The details for our spreadsheet are here. FDMB Spreadsheet Instructions: You should be able to just copy the data over. If you have any problems with that, we have people who can help you. Just let us know if you'd like help. I would also ask that you put a blank line in between when you last used Vetsulin, and when you started Lantus, so it's easy to see the change. You can label that blank line something like "start Lantus". You also need to put the spreadsheet as a link in your signature. The instructions tell you how to do that.

First comment on the dose - I moved to a different platform to see the spreadsheet. You started Lantus at too low a dose. When we go from one insulin to the other, we move at a similar dose. You were getting some greens on 1.75 units of Vetsulin, so you should have gone to that or maybe down to 1.5 units of Lantus.

Some of us will bolus R, but only with the guidance of an experienced person. Vetsulin is too long lasting to add as a bolus. Instead, I would increase the Lantus at your next shot time.
 
Information overload! :arghh: I've been at this only 5 weeks; despite my pre-med/paramedic/chem training - kitties are a whole new world.

I intend to go to 1.0U tonight (dose 6 on Lantus). It's been tricky business to get to Lantus at all, but we are here now. He free feeds Dr. Elseys dry and FF pate, but he has always hated wet food. I have no idea how to convert spreadsheets or add a signature, but I'm reading as quickly as I can to figure it out.

My guy is old (19) and also dealing with pancreatitis that appears chronic at this point.
 
Glad you are increasing tonight, I suspect you could go even higher as I suggested, up. to 1.5 units.

Tagging @Marje and Gracie who can help you with the spreadsheets.

Yes, the first couple months of having a diabetic kitty are like a crash advanced degree course! I promise, it gets easier. :bighug:
 
My cat had chronic pancreatitis several years before becoming diabetic. I think that likely is why he was diabetic but who knows. The signature I was referring to is not on your spreadsheet. It’s where you have the link to it. All you need to add is SLGS and what you are feeding.
 
He has had 2 IV doses of bupe with the vet, the last was 7 days ago. I have also been giving subQ Cerenia once every 5 days for the last 2 weeks. It appears to be subsiding at this point.
 
Why cerenia only every 5 days? It can be given daily. I used it sometimes but more often ondansetron. If he’s got an appetite giving only every 5 days it’s likely not needed.
 
At the beginning he had Cerenia 3 days straight during two consecutive weeks. As it has mostly resolved, vet suggested famotidine orally and cerenia every 5 days (as that was about the reappearance times for nausea/vomiting)
 
Looks like you got the SS sorted out. Let me know if you have any SS issues by sending me a private message. Click on “Marje and Gracie” to the left and then “start a conversation”. Thanks for getting the correct one and not the one pirated from us. If you need help transferring data from an old one to this new one, just send me a PM. I can do it quickly.

I highly recommend you change your User ID to something that doesn’t identify your full name. That’s why you see many people use their first name and cat’s name. We have scammers that get on here and even though we get them off as fast as possible, we encourage members to practice privacy with user names.

To change your user name, click on your current one in the upper right had corner and then “personal details”. At the bottom, left column, you’ll see “change username”.

Thank you and welcome!
 
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