ANY UK MEMBERS USING LEVEMIR?

[Zee]

TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ON VETS USING LEVEMIR - MOST VETS HERE IN LONDON SEEM TO INSIST ON USING CANINSULIN, THOUGH SOME USE LANTUS.

I’D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR OF ANYONE WHOS VETS SUPPORT THE USE OF THE LONGER ACTING ONCE A DAY INSULIN..

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I’D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR OF ANYONE WHOS VETS SUPPORT THE USE OF THE LONGER ACTING ONCE A DAY INSULIN..

Hi Zee,
Levemir is a good insulin for cats, but it's not a once a day insulin.
Is there a reason why you're not able to give the kitty shots twice a day?

There are some UK folks using Levemir, but it is prescribed far less than Lantus is.

Eliz

 

[Zee]

Hi Eliz. Hope you’re well? I thought Levemir is a 24 hours insulin? I might have got it wrong.. I noticed that the Caninsulin isn’t giving the smoothest results with Madam exhibiting ‘hunger’ some hours after morning injection.. she’s is some 7 (!) kg and despite best efforts to reduce food/carbs etc the weight isn’t shifting..
I thought a longer acting insulin might help here...

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I thought Levemir is a 24 hours insulin?

In humans Levemir (and Lantus too) is a 24 hour insulin. However, no matter what insulin is used, almost all cats require two shots a day. There are a very few cats that can get along with a once daily shot.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I thought a longer acting insulin might help here...

It may well be that a longer lasting insulin would help by providing better overall glycemic control.
Caninsulin often has quite a short duration in kitties, often falling far short of 12 hours. Do you know what kind of duration you're getting from it?

The RVC's recommendation is that all new cases of feline diabetes are prescribed longer-lasting insulins rather than Caninsulin. But UK vets are slow to act on this...
In the UK Prozinc is the only longer-lasting insulin that's licensed for cats. And cats typically do better on this than Caninsulin.
If Prozinc (or Caninsulin) aren't sufficiently effective then the vet can, under the 'cascade' system of prescribing, prescribe a human insulin such as Lantus or Levemir. Of the two, Lantus is more often prescribed. But there are vets who prescribe Levemir also.

Do you have blood test data to show that the Caninsulin isn't working well enough? Will your vet prescribe an alternative insulin if you show them this? Or, if not, is there another vet in the practice who might prescribe an alternative..?

Eliz

 

[Zee]

Thanks everyone. Might consult with a couple of vets.. I’m very tempted to take madam to The Royal Veterinary College in St. Albans. They did a massive study into feline diabetes and are truly knowledgeable... I’m not immediately concerned for Mum - she seems bright etc. but cannot shift that weight and as I said earlier she’s still looking for food some hours after injection... her nadir seems to be 5-6 hours...