5/4 Oscar, AMPS 499, PPMS 305

[Christina and Oscar]

Previous thread: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ast-night-cant-seem-get-get-below-400.246939/ (Working on how to get this to a clickable hyperlink)

So today, Oscar got his feeding tube out. He was given 2 mls of gabapentin prior to his visit as he gets really angry. The doctor upped his Lantus to 4 units 2x a day. When I checked tonight, His PPMS was 305 and was the lowest its been in a while. I only gave him 3.5 units. I don't really know if that is the right thing to do. He also ate zero dry food all day. They gave me Hills Science diet M/D gluco support dry cat food b/c he tends to prefer the dry. He no longer has a Freestyle Libre on him and I am using the ReliOn Prime BG monitor. I asked about bloodwork as I am concerned about the DKA from our previous experience in March. I am going to get a monitor for it as well. I have another cat and I'm not really sure how I would collect the individual urine samples, but I will look into the blood monitor for Ketosis (I think that is what it is).

Do I need to get a new vial of Lantus each month? There seems to be barely any used after almost a month.

 

[tiffmaxee]

The Lantus vial will last at least 5 months provided it’s stored in the refrigerator. Some people get a few months more. The reason it says a month is because people don’t keep it in the fridge. When you are ready to order more many buy from Marks Marine in Canada and get the box of 5 pens. That lasted me a year and I used each one to the last drop.

I think you were right to raise by .50. Are you going to feed the dry high carb food or try and feed as much pate as he will eat? The Relion will read lower than the pet meter.

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

Hi Christina, The manufacturers of Lantus recommend only using it for 28 days, but that's usually for human diabetics who don't refrigerate. If you've been keeping your vial or pen in the fridge, most of us use it for 5-6 months. It's recommended to keep the insulin in the back of the refrigerator, not in the door, to reduce exposure to fluctuations in temperature from the door opening and closing. I had a vial that I used for 5 months that was around ¼ full when I discarded it; this is why a lot of people get the pens because there's only 300 units versus 1000 and you can use it to the last drop. Elise and I cross posted.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Good plan to keep an eye on the ketones. This post has links to a couple of them. Ketones, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), and Blood Ketone Meters I think the Nova Max one is popular for it's small blood drop size. I had two cats as well, but Neko was pretty regular about her business. I'd just follow her into the room with the litter box.

 

[Liz & Minnie]

Good plan to keep an eye on the ketones. This post has links to a couple of them. Ketones, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), and Blood Ketone Meters I think the Nova Max one is popular for it's small blood drop size. I had two cats as well, but Neko was pretty regular about her business. I'd just follow her into the room with the litter box.

I use the Novamax. Bonus is that it doubles as a ketone and glucose meter - the glucose strips are some of the cheapest and it only needs 0.3microliter drop for glucose but alas the ketone ones are not cheap (and it needs a bigger droplet than for glucose).

Congrats on removing the feeding tube!!

 

[Ann & Sister]

The Lantus vial will last at least 5 months provided it’s stored in the refrigerator. Some people get a few months more. The reason it says a month is because people don’t keep it in the fridge. When you are ready to order more many buy from Marks Marine in Canada and get the box of 5 pens. That lasted me a year and I used each one to the last drop.

Thanks for this info, just what I was searching for. My previous cat was on Lantus and went into remission in 6 weeks. I was told to refrigerate the vial and then allow the syringe to come to room temp before administering the shot. So I was confused when today's prescription (different cat, new diagnosis) for Lantus said NOT to refrigerate but to refrigerate BEFORE opening. CVS did not keep it refrigerated, however. I did not know which to believe. And about the pens, had no idea there was such a thing. Will look into that although CVS gave me a discount today. $99 for the 10ml vial versus $340 other places.

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

Thanks for this info, just what I was searching for. My previous cat was on Lantus and went into remission in 6 weeks. I was told to refrigerate the vial and then allow the syringe to come to room temp before administering the shot. So I was confused when today's prescription (different cat, new diagnosis) for Lantus said NOT to refrigerate but to refrigerate BEFORE opening. CVS did not keep it refrigerated, however. I did not know which to believe. And about the pens, had no idea there was such a thing. Will look into that although CVS gave me a discount today. $99 for the 10ml vial versus $340 other places.

The CVS deal on the vials is the best option. I think you can get Lantus in a 5-pack of pens from Mark's Marine in Canada, but with shipping I believe it's about $150 (I haven't done this myself), so it's still better to get the vial if you can from CVS. Perhaps once you puncture the seal on the vial it's important to refrigerate?