? Dealing with a New Vial of Lantus

[PirateLuke]

First, a celebration. I've had Pirate Luke for a year now and he's now officially moved into Foster Fail territory and we're transferring ownership to me! Yay!

Secondly, a question. I've had his vial of Lantus since March and we've been able to consistently reduce his dose and keep him in decent numbers.

Until recently.

Now it doesn't really even make a dent in his blood sugar. I have tried raising the dose a few times to little avail. So I think I need a new vial.

When changing vials from one which has lost potency, do you go back to the last good dose when the insulin seemed potent or what? Don't want to overdose the fella but I do want him back on track! TIA

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Congratulations on Luke being a foster fail! He;s so precious, how could you not just fall in love with him!
If you feel the vial of insulin may be ineffective, you could certainly try a new one.

Can you get Lantus pens instead? They are a smaller volume and a box will last quite a while and if you need to toss it you are losing a smaller amount.
They are used just like a vial, you withdraw the insulin from the rubber stopper tip.
I but a box of 5 pens (how they come).

Or is there any reason to think something else is going on? Could he need a dental or some other type of inflammation could cause glucose to go up.
Sending sweet Pirate Luke lots of belly rubs

 

[Tim & Pookey]

Congrats!! He is so handsome. I hope to see that face in our 2027 Calendar submission form.

Definitely seems like time for a new vial. What is that, 6 or 7 months? I got 6 months out of ours, but I see it talked about a lot on here that that is the cutoff point. Staci has some good points above too.

As far as the dose, I really don't know. I wonder if you could bring his dose down a smidge with the new vial for a few days just to see what's going on. I don't have first hand experience with this though, maybe @Marje and Gracie or @Wendy&Neko do.

 

[PirateLuke]

Congratulations on Luke being a foster fail! He;s so precious, how could you not just fall in love with him!
If you feel the vial of insulin may be ineffective, you could certainly try a new one.

Can you get Lantus pens instead? They are a smaller volume and a box will last quite a while and if you need to toss it you are losing a smaller amount.
They are used just like a vial, you withdraw the insulin from the rubber stopper tip.
I but a box of 5 pens (how they come).

Or is there any reason to think something else is going on? Could he need a dental or some other type of inflammation could cause glucose to go up.
Sending sweet Pirate Luke lots of belly rubs

He is wonderful and such a character as well. I just can't part with him now!

No, there's been no reason why he should have an issue. Food is the same. Health seems fine. So I can only think it's just the insulin degrading or he's just being a weirdo. He has never had typical diabetes. He's young, never been overweight, and no-one really understands why he has it at all. It's very unusual. I've upped his dose by half a unit for now, which has FINALLY got things moving. I have ordered a new prescription too.

I could only get the vial this time around as I'd have to do a full health check and vet visit to ask the vet to change it to a different prescription. But I broke my foot a few weeks back and am only just weight-bearing now so there is no way I could carry him into the vet. I can't even carry shopping yet! So I just asked online for a repeat of what we were last given, which was a vial. But I will bear it in mind for next time.

Pirate Luke says thanks for the belly rubs. He loves em!

 

[PirateLuke]

Congrats!! He is so handsome. I hope to see that face in our 2027 Calendar submission form.

Definitely seems like time for a new vial. What is that, 6 or 7 months? I got 6 months out of ours, but I see it talked about a lot on here that that is the cutoff point. Staci has some good points above too.

As far as the dose, I really don't know. I wonder if you could bring his dose down a smidge with the new vial for a few days just to see what's going on. I don't have first hand experience with this though, maybe @Marje and Gracie or @Wendy&Neko do.

Aw, thank you. He is indeed a cutie. But ALL cats are! I didn't know about the calendar. What a cool idea!

Yes, we got the old vial right at the beginning of March, I think March 3rd, so I guess it's losing potency.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

He is wonderful and such a character as well. I just can't part with him now!

No, there's been no reason why he should have an issue. Food is the same. Health seems fine. So I can only think it's just the insulin degrading or he's just being a weirdo. He has never had typical diabetes. He's young, never been overweight, and no-one really understands why he has it at all. It's very unusual. I've upped his dose by half a unit for now, which has FINALLY got things moving. I have ordered a new prescription too.

I could only get the vial this time around as I'd have to do a full health check and vet visit to ask the vet to change it to a different prescription. But I broke my foot a few weeks back and am only just weight-bearing now so there is no way I could carry him into the vet. I can't even carry shopping yet! So I just asked online for a repeat of what we were last given, which was a vial. But I will bear it in mind for next time.

Pirate Luke says thanks for the belly rubs. He loves em!

Oh I’m so sorry about your foot! I hope you heal quickly. That’s so painful (she says from experience)
The vial will be fine for now instead of the pens. Just giving you options for the future!

It sounds like it’s just time for a new vial.

I hope he grows out of this condition, especially since he’s so young!