Hello Everyone - Lost in Information

[LuLuOwner]

My cat Lu (Lulu) named after the amazing Mariners general manager Lou Piniella - yes, I know, spelled differently. She is a girl and doesn't throw first base at the umps, but otherwise, spot on. lol

About 2-3 weeks ago she started walking a bit funny and bringing a lot of litter out of the robot when she was done. When I googled I noticed it could be diabetes symptoms but wasn't sure, her annual wellness visit was coming up so I waiting for that. Confirmed after some tests that yes, it was diabetes.

Flash forward a week or so and I lost my job. Right in the middle of this. Very stressful because on top of concerns for the kids and everything else, I knew she needed treatment. I was at a breaking point and googled "free diabetes medication for my cat" and applied to 7-8 things that popped up (pretty much everything I could find) Diabetic Cats in Need - a non-profit email me back the next day saying they could help! I cried.

I've read a trillion tons of information and I thing I have a good idea. I have a friend (from 20 years ago!) that I reached out to and reconnected with bc she is a vet tech. I apologized for that being the reason but we met up and she was amazing and I have to say our friendship is back to being built!

DCIN won't ship right now bc they ship from a cold part of the US and the medication isn't good if it gets too cold. I got both the regular prescription and the generic pen prescription from my vet to allow me to make the best choice. DCIN will reimburse me $75 if I get it from a pharmacy and not have them ship it.

My questions are around getting the script from the pharmacy. I have an emailed/paper prescription. I googled and HEB (I'm in TX) whas the pen for $25 - how the heck do I put the prescription in? It's all done virtually for all my and my kids meds. Can I just walk in with a printed paper and say it's for my cat???

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome. First of all, which type of insulin are you talking about?

 

[LuLuOwner]

Hello and welcome. First of all, which type of insulin are you talking about?

Sorry about that - I knew I was missing something. Lantus.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

No worries, I was guessing/hoping that was it. I am in Canada so not totally knowledgable about the details of shopping for insulin in the US, but this post gives you some details on how to shop for cheap Lantus or it's generic glargine.

• Sourcing Insulin More Economically

 

[SmallestSparrow]

My cat Lu (Lulu) named after the amazing Mariners general manager Lou Piniella - yes, I know, spelled differently. She is a girl and doesn't throw first base at the umps, but otherwise, spot on. lol

About 2-3 weeks ago she started walking a bit funny and bringing a lot of litter out of the robot when she was done. When I googled I noticed it could be diabetes symptoms but wasn't sure, her annual wellness visit was coming up so I waiting for that. Confirmed after some tests that yes, it was diabetes.

Flash forward a week or so and I lost my job. Right in the middle of this. Very stressful because on top of concerns for the kids and everything else, I knew she needed treatment. I was at a breaking point and googled "free diabetes medication for my cat" and applied to 7-8 things that popped up (pretty much everything I could find) Diabetic Cats in Need - a non-profit email me back the next day saying they could help! I cried.

I've read a trillion tons of information and I thing I have a good idea. I have a friend (from 20 years ago!) that I reached out to and reconnected with bc she is a vet tech. I apologized for that being the reason but we met up and she was amazing and I have to say our friendship is back to being built!

DCIN won't ship right now bc they ship from a cold part of the US and the medication isn't good if it gets too cold. I got both the regular prescription and the generic pen prescription from my vet to allow me to make the best choice. DCIN will reimburse me $75 if I get it from a pharmacy and not have them ship it.

My questions are around getting the script from the pharmacy. I have an emailed/paper prescription. I googled and HEB (I'm in TX) whas the pen for $25 - how the heck do I put the prescription in? It's all done virtually for all my and my kids meds. Can I just walk in with a printed paper and say it's for my cat???

If the question is can you take a written prescription to a pharmacy and say it’s for your pet, the answer is yes

 

[SmallestSparrow]

Wait, is it written or emailed? I think they will want an original written script. If it’s something other than that then call and ask to speak with the pharmacist.

 

[CORKY]

My cat Lu (Lulu) named after the amazing Mariners general manager Lou Piniella - yes, I know, spelled differently. She is a girl and doesn't throw first base at the umps, but otherwise, spot on. lol

About 2-3 weeks ago she started walking a bit funny and bringing a lot of litter out of the robot when she was done. When I googled I noticed it could be diabetes symptoms but wasn't sure, her annual wellness visit was coming up so I waiting for that. Confirmed after some tests that yes, it was diabetes.

Flash forward a week or so and I lost my job. Right in the middle of this. Very stressful because on top of concerns for the kids and everything else, I knew she needed treatment. I was at a breaking point and googled "free diabetes medication for my cat" and applied to 7-8 things that popped up (pretty much everything I could find) Diabetic Cats in Need - a non-profit email me back the next day saying they could help! I cried.

I've read a trillion tons of information and I thing I have a good idea. I have a friend (from 20 years ago!) that I reached out to and reconnected with bc she is a vet tech. I apologized for that being the reason but we met up and she was amazing and I have to say our friendship is back to being built!

DCIN won't ship right now bc they ship from a cold part of the US and the medication isn't good if it gets too cold. I got both the regular prescription and the generic pen prescription from my vet to allow me to make the best choice. DCIN will reimburse me $75 if I get it from a pharmacy and not have them ship it.

My questions are around getting the script from the pharmacy. I have an emailed/paper prescription. I googled and HEB (I'm in TX) whas the pen for $25 - how the heck do I put the prescription in? It's all done virtually for all my and my kids meds. Can I just walk in with a printed paper and say it's for my cat???

I am glad DCIN helped

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

If the question is can you take a written prescription to a pharmacy and say it’s for your pet, the answer is yes

Also ask if the pharmacy will fill it with a biosimular version of Lantus such as Semglee or Basaglar. All are insulin glargine. I have used both Lantus and Semglee and did not experience any difference between them. This will save you some money. Check if the pharmacy also has a discount program that allows you to add pets. We have Walgreens in Florida and I was able to save more money on their prescription by adding my cats to it.

 

[LuLuOwner]

Wait, is it written or emailed? I think they will want an original written script. If it’s something other than that then call and ask to speak with the pharmacist.

It is in email form. I called HEB where I see that it is the cheapest near me (it's my normal pharmacy anyway) and they told me that the vet would need to fax or call it in. So, off to make that call now. Getting closer!

 

[LuLuOwner]

No worries, I was guessing/hoping that was it. I am in Canada so not totally knowledgable about the details of shopping for insulin in the US, but this post gives you some details on how to shop for cheap Lantus or it's generic glargine.

• Sourcing Insulin More Economically

Thank you! I have help on this first one, but after that this resource will be important.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Also -- you need syringes. You do not want to dispense insulin directly from the pen for a couple of reasons. First, the pen doesn't allow for dose adjustments amounts that are small enough for a cat. The doses are in 1.0u amounts and we make dose changes in 0.25u increments. With the pen, every time you give a shot, you need to prime the pen which means you're wasting insulin. Instead, you may need to get a prescription for U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings with a 30 or 31 gauge needle. Not all states require a prescription for syringes and you can also purchase them from Amazon without a prescription.

There is a rubber gasket at the top of the Lantus pen. You insert the syringe into the gasket and draw off a bit more than the dose you need.

 

[LuLuOwner]

Also -- you need syringes. You do not want to dispense insulin directly from the pen for a couple of reasons. First, the pen doesn't allow for dose adjustments amounts that are small enough for a cat. The doses are in 1.0u amounts and we make dose changes in 0.25u increments. With the pen, every time you give a shot, you need to prime the pen which means you're wasting insulin. Instead, you may need to get a prescription for U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings with a 30 or 31 gauge needle. Not all states require a prescription for syringes and you can also purchase them from Amazon without a prescription.

There is a rubber gasket at the top of the Lantus pen. You insert the syringe into the gasket and draw off a bit more than the dose you need.

The DCIN group that is helping me right now with the insulin purchase shipped me a supply kit with the syringes included. I went out and got a meter right away at the end of the month last month - ReliOn - and have those supplies now as well. Thank you for the tips on the pen and how to pull it - I think that might be the part I'm the most anxious about which is kind of silly - I'm not worried about the shot but actually pulling it from the pen! lol

 

[CORKY]

The DCIN group that is helping me right now with the insulin purchase shipped me a supply kit with the syringes included. I went out and got a meter right away at the end of the month last month - ReliOn - and have those supplies now as well. Thank you for the tips on the pen and how to pull it - I think that might be the part I'm the most anxious about which is kind of silly - I'm not worried about the shot but actually pulling it from the pen! lol

The DCIN is a fabulous Foundation, they have been helping my Corky since diagnosed with syringes, strips and insulin, Corky would have been lost without them, I owe them and this Forum Corky's life, I am very happy they are assisting you. It take a lot of the financial burden away, knowing that every month you will have your supplies

 

[LuLuOwner]

The DCIN is a fabulous Foundation, they have been helping my Corky since diagnosed with syringes, strips and insulin, Corky would have been lost without them, I owe them and this Forum Corky's life, I am very happy they are assisting you. It take a lot of the financial burden away, knowing that every month you will have your supplies

I can't help but love them! I was at a low point with losing my job and then went down the spiral of thinking that I wouldn't be able to treat Lu and would need to re-home or worse - but desperate, I decided to do a Google search to see what was out there and I applied for the one time grant of $75 (the main ongoing support program is paused right now). The very next morning I had a response and they were so nice and said, we want to help!

I'm in a tough spot right now, but believe me once I am employed again and back to normal - they are going to be a charity I support with my donations.