Difference between Lantus Tight Reg and Relaxed Reg.?

[Jess and MrCat]

Hi! I have been on this site for two months (part of the Lantus Tight Regulation group for over one month) and I'm wondering about the difference between the Tight ad Relaxed Lantus groups. Does the Relaxed group follow the same dosage increase/decrease protocols as the Tight group? Do you test less often?
Thanks for the information. I want to make sure I'm in the group that best suits me and Mr.Cat.

 

[doombuggy]

I've never been able to figure that out, but felt that I would get "lost" in all the condos over there (traffic). Cedric went off Lantus in 2011, but after a pancreatitis attack last year, he went back on insulin in February. Cedric is quite "weird" and I am not sure if a strict regemin would work. I work 7 days a week too...

I'll bet some of the others in this forum will chime in later...You are certainly welcome here!

 

[RobinCot]

I think that the Tight condos get more attention but are more demanding. Tight requires a lot more mid-cycle testing than I am able to do. I like the Relaxed because I know that Snoball's condo is looked at by a few experienced people but they are a lot more relaxed with advice and pushing for testing.

However, when Sno got an almost hypo-possible number - I posted his condo over on Tight to get a more immediate response. In my opinion I think that the people there are very serious about wanting to help you get your cat to remission - it is great to have that but you have to be serious in accepting of all their advice as well.

There is fantastic advice on Relaxed as well, just not as many eyes.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

Good Morning Jess.

Relaxed Lantus is basically the Start Low Go Slow protocol. Although we have found it works better if we wait until our cats give us a reading below 50 for a newly diagnosed or below 40 for a long term (over a year on insulin) before giving a dose reduction as opposed to the below 90 as written.

We don't require as much testing on a
daily basis as the Tight Regulation group. Just enough to keep them safe with a curve when life allows. So basically preshots and a lights out. But you certainly can test as much as you like and are encouraged to get as many mid-cycle test as possible.

We also don't have the same posting requirements. I only ask for a date and a cat's name on the condos to help identify at a glance. While it's helpful if you update the title with readings it's not required.

We are a smaller group so really are only truly busy in the mornings and evenings. So if you need a quick answer you might want to post it either in TR or on Health if we aren't getting back fast enough.

But the upside is that because we are small we chit chat a lot more. The downside is that we have fewer years of experience. I'm probably the most experience with 3 yrs & four sugar cats, two currently. But everyone pretty much works together when someone is stuggling to find what will work for a particular cat. If we don't know we will hurt someone down that has had experience in that area and we learn together.

Also because we are smaller I try very hard to give the pros and cons to a give course of action and reasoning behind any advice then allow the poster decide what is best for their cat then work with their chosen course of action as long as it doesn't endanger the kitty.

In short we recognize that just like every cat is different so is every care giver and life happens and not everyone can dedicate their entire life caring for their cat but that doesn't mean they love them any less.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn and The Fur Gang

 

[BJM]

This is also a place for folks with odd situations that don't lend themselves well to Tight Reg - like being the proxy for someone who isn't on the internet, or helping out someone who can't test themselves for whatever reason, like Jo (and Dusty is OTJ after about 7 weeks of me working with her!)

 

[Jess and MrCat]

Thanks for the info! I am going out of town for a few days and will touch base when I return (my husband will be taking care of Mr.Cat while I am away). Have a great weekend, everyone!