? 7/14 How do you know it's time for a new cartridge?

Heather & Shooter

Heather & Shooter

Member Since 2009
I've been using this cartridge of Levemir for 8 weeks now. How do you know when it's time for a new one? Will their numbers go high and stay high because it's not working anymore or will the numbers be more up and down? Thinking I should probably go ahead and switch. Also, the difference between Lantus and Levemir and nadir is Lev is about 2 hours later (typically), correct? So because of my work schedule, I should probably stick with Lev even though I have 5 new vials of Lantus in the frig. :(
 
You can normally use the Lantus and Levemir cartridge to the last drop - if they are stored properly. Do you have a reason to suspect your cartridge has gone bad?

Yes, the onset and nadir of Lantus is earlier than that of Levemir. How many hours ahead is an ECID thing!
One option is to move your shot time (if you have that flexibility) if you make make the switch.

Link to your previous post:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/7-12-shooter-amps-252-6-123-9-76-pmps-183.249758/
 
Bandit's Mom said:
You can normally use the Lantus and Levemir cartridge to the last drop - if they are stored properly. Do you have a reason to suspect your cartridge has gone bad?

Yes, the onset and nadir of Lantus is earlier than that of Levemir. How many hours ahead is an ECID thing!
One option is to move your shot time (if you have that flexibility) if you make make the switch.

Link to your previous post:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/7-12-shooter-amps-252-6-123-9-76-pmps-183.249758/
Click to expand...

Oh, that's good to know! Of course the vets all say something different, but I definitely trust you all more. I'll keep using this one then since I still have about 1/3 left. As far as storage, I didn't know until after reading many posts that we shouldn't shoot back into the cartidge. Often times I would pull past the line then push back up to it, so there's an air bubble in the insulin.

Unfortunately, I can't really think of how to switch times. I usually shoot at 6:30am then work away from home from 7:30am - 12:30 then some days go back to work from 3:30 - 6:30pm. So the mornings are the tough part. This allows me to check him for sure between +7 - +9. I'm afraid with Lantus I might not be home if he has a big drop.
 
Heather82372 said:
As far as storage, I didn't know until after reading many posts that we shouldn't shoot back into the cartidge.
Click to expand...
Doesn't look like the insulin has gone bad for it :-) You are storing it in the fridge (not in the door)?

Heather82372 said:
Unfortunately, I can't really think of how to switch times. I usually shoot at 6:30am then work away from home from 7:30am - 12:30 then some days go back to work from 3:30 - 6:30pm. So the mornings are the tough part. This allows me to check him for sure between +7 - +9. I'm afraid with Lantus I might not be home if he has a big drop.
Click to expand...
Yeah, with those timings it looks like Levemir works for you.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Doesn't look like the insulin has gone bad for it :) You are storing it in the fridge (not in the door)?


Yeah, with those timings it looks like Levemir works for you.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's definitely still working! I bumped him back up to the 1.25 this morning that he should have stayed on. When I got home from work and checked him at +6.5 and he was 38! Is this sometimes just because it's a larger dose and then they level off?
 
Heather82372 said:
Yes, it's definitely still working! I bumped him back up to the 1.25 this morning that he should have stayed on. When I got home from work and checked him at +6.5 and he was 38! Is this sometimes just because it's a larger dose and then they level off?
Click to expand...
Just seeing this. With that 38, you go back to 1U.

Is there some way to get food into him in the morning when you are working? He is dropping without food. It's possible he may not have earned this reduction if he had eaten (one cannot say since he has been going down the dosing curve pretty quickly). Can you shut him in a room away from the other cats and leave food out for him?
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Just seeing this. With that 38, you go back to 1U.

Is there some way to get food into him in the morning when you are working? He is dropping without food. It's possible he may not have earned this reduction if he had eaten (one cannot say since he has been going down the dosing curve pretty quickly). Can you shut him in a room away from the other cats and leave food out for him?
Click to expand...

I can have my fiance give him food around 10:00. I need to teach him how to test still.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Doesn't look like the insulin has gone bad for it :) You are storing it in the fridge (not in the door)?
Click to expand...

Bhooma, can I ask what you meant by not storing it in the door?
I'm asking because I currently store my insulin in one of the shelves on the door of the fridge so that it's easy to find and grab, and so that it doesn't get misplaced (i.e. moved by someone).
(not naming names... ;))
Is that not a preferable place for insulin storage?
 
Laurasboyz said:
I'm asking because I currently store my insulin in one of the shelves on the door of the fridge so that it's easy to find and grab, and so that it doesn't get misplaced (i.e. moved by someone).
Click to expand...
They say not to store it in the door to avoid being jostled when the door is opened and shut as well as being exposed to higher temperatures when the door is opened. Looks like you are proving its fine to do so! :smuggrin:
 
The temperature in the door of the fridge is the 'warmest' part of the fridge - just use that for condiments, etc. Please store your insulin on a shelf in the fridge - hopefully in the coolest part - if you're not sure - get a cheap oven thermometer - or one that says it's for fridge or freezer - for about $10 on Amazon - set it on the shelf - it should read 37-40 degrees - put your insulin there for longest life.

I use my pen cartridges for months - usually 2-3 or until the last drop is gone - have always done that (almost 4 years now) and we've never had insulin go bad - now the cat is another thing - she goes bad often (like this morning!)...but never the insulin.

Hope you were able to get that number from earlier back up...if you don't already have one, get an auto-feeder for your kitty to provide food for when you're not there - it's a lifesaver for me :)
 
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