BernieCat needs help with Lantus

[BernieCat]

Need Help - Not sure to post a new question - My kitty was just put on Lantus and I when I picked up the prescription, it was a pen. I've read some of the comments and now I am totally confused! The pharmacist told me NOT to put it in the fridge but the vet said to PUT it in the fridge so it will last longer and that it could be used up to 3 months. I was told to "roll" the insulin between my hands before filling the needle, which I have been doing. I've read some posts that say not to roll the insulin. Again, I'm confused. Also, does anyone know of a way to remove the insulin vile from the pen????!!!! I find it very hard to fill the needle with the pen as it is "top heavy." I've actually bent the needle a little while trying to get the correct dose! Also, I read on the Lantus site that you should clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe, which I was not doing but started to. Also I read on one of the posts that once you draw the insulin into the needle, you should not inject it back in to the vile? I have done this when I've pulled out to much or have lots of bubbles. I'm just starting my 2nd week with the pen and he was on 1 unit twice a day and yesterday his numbers were still very high when the did the glucose curve so the increase him (starting last night) to 2 units twice a day. This is all sooooo confusing. I just want to do what is right for my cat to get him healthy!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thank You.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Y0u just stick the needle of the insulin syringe into the rubber stopper on the pen (where the pen-needle goes) and draw the insulin out like you do with a vial. Do not inject air into the pen.
You refrigerate the pen except when yo take the pen out to fill the syringe.
If you refrigerate an in-use pen and use the pen needles the temperature changes of into and out of the fridge can result in getting air into the pen which makes dosing via the pen needles inaccurate.

 

[BernieCat]

Thanks! What if I have the wrong amount and I inject the insulin back in to the pen? I'm starting to get nervous that I'm doing this wrong and going to make him worse. He was on insulin back in 2012 but only for 6 weeks and I had a vile not a pen. I'm finding with the pen that sometimes the needle bends because it is so top heavy. Any suggestions on that? Is there a way to remove the insulin vile from the pen mechanisim?

 

[Dusty Bones]

Need Help - Not sure to post a new question - My kitty was just put on Lantus and I when I picked up the prescription, it was a pen. I've read some of the comments and now I am totally confused! The pharmacist told me NOT to put it in the fridge but the vet said to PUT it in the fridge so it will last longer and that it could be used up to 3 months. I was told to "roll" the insulin between my hands before filling the needle, which I have been doing. I've read some posts that say not to roll the insulin. Again, I'm confused. Also, does anyone know of a way to remove the insulin vile from the pen????!!!! I find it very hard to fill the needle with the pen as it is "top heavy." I've actually bent the needle a little while trying to get the correct dose! Also, I read on the Lantus site that you should clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe, which I was not doing but started to. Also I read on one of the posts that once you draw the insulin into the needle, you should not inject it back in to the vile? I have done this when I've pulled out to much or have lots of bubbles. I'm just starting my 2nd week with the pen and he was on 1 unit twice a day and yesterday his numbers were still very high when the did the glucose curve so the increase him (starting last night) to 2 units twice a day. This is all sooooo confusing. I just want to do what is right for my cat to get him healthy!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thank You.

You should probably post this question in a new post, most will not see this since it's under another topic. I'm not qualified to answer most of your questions but I'll say you sound like you're on the right track with home testing. Keep reading on this forum and you'll get your answers.

 

[BernieCat]

How do I post a question in a new forum? I'm new to all this post on forums and didn't know where to put a new question when I looked a the Forums tab.

 

[Marlena]

How do I post a question in a new forum? I'm new to all this post on forums and didn't know where to put a new question when I looked a the Forums tab.

You click on FORUMS on top in a blue bar then scroll down to choose Lantus/Levemir forum then you click on "post a new thread" in the right top corner of the page.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

@BernieCat
I moved your posts to make a separate thread. You'll get more help when you have your own thread.
Welcome to the FDMB!

I've read some of the comments and now I am totally confused! The pharmacist told me NOT to put it in the fridge but the vet said to PUT it in the fridge so it will last longer and that it could be used up to 3 months. I was told to "roll" the insulin between my hands before filling the needle, which I have been doing. I've read some posts that say not to roll the insulin. Again, I'm confused.

Your vet is correct. Lantus will last longer if it's kept in the refrigerator. Actually, Lantus can last longer when handled properly.

Again, I'm confused. Also, does anyone know of a way to remove the insulin vile from the pen????!!!! I find it very hard to fill the needle with the pen as it is "top heavy." I've actually bent the needle a little while trying to get the correct dose!

Larry gave you an accurate description in post #2. Here's a picture:

Also, I read on the Lantus site that you should clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe, which I was not doing but started to.

If you keep the cover on the pen, it shouldn't be necessary to clean the rubber stopper with alcohol.

Also I read on one of the posts that once you draw the insulin into the needle, you should not inject it back in to the vile? I have done this when I've pulled out to much or have lots of bubbles.

Generally speaking, you don't want to inject insulin back into the pen, but you're not the first nor will you be the last to have done so. Don't worry about it. Going forward refrain from shooting insulin back into the pen.

I'm just starting my 2nd week with the pen and he was on 1 unit twice a day and yesterday his numbers were still very high when the did the glucose curve so the increase him (starting last night) to 2 units twice a day.

That's a large increase! Usually we make dose adjustments in increments of 0.25 units. Here are the two methods commonly used on this board to regulate kitties on Lantus:

• START LOW, GO SLOW METHOD (SLGS)
• TIGHT REGULATION PROTOCOL (TR)

You might want to read through them to get an idea of guidelines used with Lantus.

This is all sooooo confusing. I just want to do what is right for my cat to get him healthy!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

In addition to reading the links I posted above, take a look at the info found in these links:

• LANTUS & LEVEMIR - SYRINGE & INSULIN INFO: HANDLING, DRAWING, & FINE DOSES
• LANTUS & LEVEMIR - WHAT IS THE INSULIN DEPOT?
• LANTUS & LEVEMIR - THE BASICS: NEW TO THE GROUP? START HERE!

There's all sorts of good information to be found in the Lantus & Levemir Insulin Support Group.
Take a good look around and ask any questions you may have.
Hope to see you posting often!


Edited to add:

• How to treat HYPOS
• jojo and bunny's HYPO TOOL BOX

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

Thanks! What if I have the wrong amount and I inject the insulin back in to the pen? I'm starting to get nervous that I'm doing this wrong and going to make him worse. He was on insulin back in 2012 but only for 6 weeks and I had a vile not a pen. I'm finding with the pen that sometimes the needle bends because it is so top heavy. Any suggestions on that? Is there a way to remove the insulin vile from the pen mechanisim?

See this post: LANTUS & LEVEMIR - SYRINGE & INSULIN INFO: HANDLING, DRAWING, & FINE DOSES
You'll find pictures and a video which will show you how to draw insulin into a syringe from an insulin pen.