Help with Insulin!!!!

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BernieCat

BernieCat

Member Since 2017
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.
 
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. Try not to inject air into the pen. However, a little air will likely get into the pen anyway and will not really cause any problems.
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.
I have never cleansed the top of a rubber stopper before drawing insulin from pen or vial.
 
Thanks! I have not refrigerated the pen since I opened it because the pharmacist told me it did not have to. When I spoke with the vet they suggested NOT putting it the refrigerator since it had not been but instead discard after the 28 days (as stated by the pharmacist) and then buy a new pen and refrigerate and that it should then be okay up to 3 months. So, I'll try that. I watched a video that said not to get air in the pen but how do not get any air in it? What about rolling the pen? Does it still need to be rolled in the palms of your hands? I have been doing that also. I'm so confused and all I want to do is get my kitty well!!
 
Lantus doesn't need mixing, but other pet insulins do, so that's probably where the inconsistent instructions are from. Rolling it won't be a problem, you just definitely don't want to shake Lantus hard, as it is a bit fragile (though lots of members have dropped pens accidentally and not had problems).

I'd go ahead and refrigerate, it will last longer (a short period out of the fridge probably won't make too much difference as long as it hasn't gotten very warm). It will probably stay good longer than 28 days- use until it looks "funny" or you have evidence that it isn't as effective.

You shouldn't inject air into the pens (interferes with the mechanism), but a little bit won't be a problem. Try not to shoot insulin back into the pen-- better to waste a little than to contaminate the whole pen. The idea behind that, and the alcohol wipes, is that the thing that really makes the insulin go "bad" is contamination with microorganisms-- every time you introduce a needle or anything else into the insulin, it carries with it the risk of a few tagalong "critters" that will, if they multiply inside the pen, eventually degrade the insulin. That's another reason to refrigerate-- it slows the growth of the critters.
 
Thank You! So, I do not have to "roll" the insulin pen and a little air is okay. Thank You!!! I did watch a video that said to actually withdraw a little more than needed and then eject from the needle once outside of the vile and any air bubbles have been "flicked" out, which kind of makes sense after thinking about it and see that done in tv shows where they shoot a little bit out before injecting.

I'm so glad I found this site!! Everyone has been so helpful!!! My kitty is not just my kitty but my baby! I don't have any kids, just him! I'm sure the people on this site feel the same way about there pets!!! Thank You Again!!!!
 
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