Increasing dose by .25?

G

gmmace

Member Since 2019
Hello,
I'm new to this forum. I'm currently fostering an elderly diabetic cat for our local animal control shelter. They are currently without a full-time vet and getting support for his insulin dosing has been difficult. He was previously on Vetsulin and was experiencing a lot of highs and lows. My friends at a local specialty cat clinic were nice enough to donate some Lantus to me and I started him on it last night. He seems to be doing well so far, but I think I may be able to up his dosage a tiny bit. I'm using U100 syringes and he is currently only getting one unit. My question is, how on earth do you measure increments of .25 with as small as the spacing is between units?
 
Hi gmmace, welcome to FDMB. Lantus is different than Vetsulin in that it's a depot insulin. It takes time to build up that depot and you might be jumping the gun to raise the dose since you just started him on it last night.

Read the information here on this forum in the yellow tagged stickies at the top of the forum, so that you can have the basics on this insulin. From The Basics: New to the Group:
  • Insulin Depot - a "spare tank" of insulin, which has yet to be used by the body

Are you testing his blood sugar? Testing the blood sugar is going to tell you how the insulin is working for him and keep him safe from hypos. Dosing with Lantus is based on the nadir, or lowest blood sugar in the 12 hour cycle, not the pre-shot level. Testing and recording that data is going to indicate if the dose is a good one, needs to be raised or lowered.

If you would, please create a signature with kitty's information so that we have that when we read your posts.
Setting up your signature (light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.

We can help with information about testing and supplies. Testing does not have to break the bank, many of us use the ReliOn Prime meter and strips from Walmart, about $9 for the meter, and another $9 for 50 testing strips. Lancets are very inexpensive.

What he is eating is also going to affect the blood sugar level, we recommend a wet low carb diet. If he is eating a dry diet because it has been affordable, that high carb food is contributing to a higher BG (blood glucose). Many of us feed Fancy Feast Classics and/or Friskies pates. It's important to note that it's best to gradually transition from high carb food to low carb food, as it can significantly lower the BG, and it's very important to test while you are changing. Even the 1 Unit might be too much if the BG is lowered by the diet.

Read the information please, ask as many questions as you have. There are many knowledgeable and experienced long time Lantus users that can help explain, and offer advice and suggestions.
 
Welcome. You can get syringes with half unit markings and then eyeball in between for .25 increases and decreases. Since lantus is a depot drug it takes awhile to see what a dose will do,as much as a week. Dosing changes are made based upon the nadir so mid cycle tests or at least a weekly curve will help.
 
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