Back on the juice - Lantus this time - please educate me.

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Ragnar's diabetes came back with a vengeance, just recently. His BG was 246 at 7 PM yesterday, 393 at midnight, and 408 at 9 AM today; Heaven knows what it is now; I will test him just before his first Lantus shot. He had a thorough checkup today that didn't show a reason for the diabetes returning, and is going on Lantus now. He was about to switch to it when he went OTJ on April 28 '09, and I'd learned only a little about it at that point.

Of course I'll read the stickies!! I have some specific questions, too. I bought a pen of Lantus today, and he's to start with 1/2 unit twice a day. Dr. Jen said we might not see results for a week or so with Lantus, and this is really scary with his BG going up so fast.

Question one - there's a sticker on the pen that says do not refrigerate after opening. I have it in the fridge now, and believe I've read on this board that it should in fact be refrigerated when used for cats - people use up a pen before it would begin to spoil, but cats don't. So I should ignore that sticker and refrigerate???

Question two: Does it have to be discarded after 28 days, or being in the fridge, can it be used until there are some signs it's not working (e.g. slightly higher BG with the same dose)? This is expensive - though he's already on some expensive meds, and he's certainly worth it!! To me, he's worth the world!

Blessings!

Shirley and Mr. Wonderful
 
Found my answers in the sticky - still need your support!

I found the answers to my two specific questions on the "storage" sticky. Yes, refrigerate it - and yes, use it until there is a sign it's not working. However, I am new to Lantus and would still appreciate your help and support (as non-judgemental as possible - we are new to this type of insulin, and it's a very scary time with his BG soaring as it is).

Thanks and blessings!

Shirley and Mr. Beautiful
 
Everyone, more info on Ragnar here...

Lots of good info on Ragnar's health in here from the Health forum the other day
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13699&p=138028#p138028

Shirley,

you'll need a spreeadsheet as soon as you can ok? The stickie up top NEW TO THE GROUP has a link on how to set up a spreadsheet.

Others will be by to offer feedback, hang in there!
 
Re: Found my answers in the sticky - still need your support!

Welcome to Lantus Land and of course we will help!! That's what it's all about. We can inundate you with information or if you have specific questions, we're happy to answer. (You may still get inundated!)

It's not so much that Lantus will "spoil" if not refrigerated. Keeping it cool just may prolong it's useful life. As far as how long an open pen will last, that's variable. The manufacturer says 28 days. Some people here and definitely in the German forum get much longer. Gabby seems to be very sensitive to Lantus. I've found that I can rarely get much longer than 28 days. When I've gone longer, her numbers get wonky.

If you looked at the sticky on the depot or shed, it will help to clarify why Lantus takes about 5 - 7 days for it to begin working. Basically, you are building a reservoir of the drug. So, for the first 5 - 7 days, not all of the insulin is available for use. Some is being used to bring down numbers -- just not all. I don't know which insulin you've used in the past, but you will need to be patient with Lantus. It is definitely the tortoise rather than the hare.

Just one housekeeping note -- we start one condo, per cat, per day. Otherwise, info will get lost. If you do post daily (or even if you don't), we link condos together by copying and pasting the http location from the top of your browser from the previous day to the current day's first post. It allows you to keep track and we can easily go back to find needed information.

Please read our condos and look at our spreadsheets and keep asking questions.
 
He hasn't had his first shot of Lantus yet, so it's a little early for a spreadsheet!! Actually, last time (when he was diabetic before going OTJ for more than a year!), I was too busy taking care of him to put his data into spreadsheet form - just scribbled it anywhere and sent it to Dr. Jen.

Now he's diabetic again, starting only yesterday. His numbers then were in the low 200s, so we must have caught it early - late last night and today they went into the 400s and over 500. Data so far: all last summer and fall: BG 70-80; last winter, didn't check - he was healthy; yesterday at 7:30 PM, 246; midnight, 393; 9:30 AM, 408; currently unknown - I have to check him pre-shot (12 hours before his next shot, or around 8:30 or in about another hour, Central time) and don't want to make more holes in those dear little ears than I have to!

I might not have time to put it in spreadsheet form - I may have to take care of him (and everything else) and not have time to put it into Excel. He can get a little snipsy if I spend too much time on my "other laptop." ;-) He comes first!! I will keep you posted on the numbers, though, and will put them into Excel if opportunity presents!!

Blessings!

Shirley and Mr. Lovely
 
Re: Found my answers in the sticky - still need your support!

Sienne and Gabby said:
Just one housekeeping note -- we start one condo, per cat, per day. Otherwise, info will get lost. If you do post daily (or even if you don't), we link condos together by copying and pasting the http location from the top of your browser from the previous day to the current day's first post. It allows you to keep track and we can easily go back to find needed information.

Please read our condos and look at our spreadsheets and keep asking questions.

Yes, I see that now, and will copy/paste. There was a reason for the second post today, though - I wanted people to know I'd found the answers without having to wade through my original post and questions...

Blessings!

Shirley and Mr. Lover
 
Ronnie & Luna said:
Everyone, more info on Ragnar here...

Lots of good info on Ragnar's health in here from the Health forum the other day
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13699&p=138028#p138028

Thanks SO much for posting the link to his information! I can add that he has triaditis - Hepatic Lipidosis, IBD, and a steadily inflamed pancreas w/o obvious symptoms but with elevated lipase that was climbing very steeply last summer but has at least slowed its climbing rate. (The inflammation was found/confirmed by ultrasound.) He may have stomach ulcers too; it could be why he continued PD/PU after there were no other apparent reasons. He's taking Denamarin (which has helped a LOT), Azodyl (renal values now in normal range!!), Prosilec, Probiocin (for IBD and to counteract effects of antibiotic) and a maintenance dose of Cefa Drops. Quite a regimen, and now Lantus too. The poor little dear (OK, BIG cat, but LITTLE dear!). I'd do anything in the world for him, and probably will have to...

Now I have to get off the "other laptop" and give Mr. Wonderful some well-deserved attention. Please keep us in your prayers, and we will be back.

Blessings!

Us
 
Welcome to Lantus Land, Shirley. I'm sorry he has to have insulin, but you're no stranger to FDMB and you'll catch on to this forum quickly.

Until you get a spreadsheet started you can put your numbers in your daily thread. Just start a new thread in the morning - you can see from the posts how others are doing it.

"05/06 Ragnar's AMPS 210", for example. As you get more info, just add it during the day. Always get a test at shot time, and if you can get one before bed that's good, too.

Good luck with Lantus.
 
Shirley:

Since it sounds like your hands are full, rather than create an entire Excel SS yourself, we have a template available as a Google document. Not everyone here has Excel and the Google SS can be opened by everyone. I've linked the information on creating spreadsheet that you can then link to your signature.
 
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