injecting site question

[Anyname]

Two things... does it make a lot of difference where we inject kitty? Will it help my cat if I use other sites besides his neck scruff? Any video's this on youtube I can watch on where else? second thing is has anyone else noticed that numbers improve with a new vial of insulin even though the old one looked perfectly ok?

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Here's the sticky on handling Lantus: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151

There are differing opinions on how long Lantus lasts, or is supposed to last, and it depends also on whether you're using the bottle or the pen. But I think you'll find several people who get action from a new bottle or pen, when the old one has given out.

As for the injection site, here's the sticky on that! http://fdlibrary.yuku.com/topic/51/t/Sh ... erlap.html

Isn't this place a fountain of knowledge?

If you're interested in changing injection site, there are people here who can give you some feedback.

 

[chriscleo]

here's a picture of the injection sites: http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx ... 01&id=7374

many of us shoot in the flank or side of belly. if you use a short needle (5/16" length), you can pretty much shoot any soft area around there.

some others feel better shooting in the scruff only. sometimes it depends on whichever the cat prefers. just try not to shoot in the same exact spot every time coz it can inhibit absorption by making the area tougher.

i've found my cat's numbers are better if i shoot in the flank/side of belly but i shoot in the scruff if her starting number is lower than normal or i need slightly extended duration. others don't find that true for their cat. at least one person said that, anyway...

 

[Anyname]

What's a skin shot? I understand a fur shot but skin - can the needle go in to the cat and still not be of any benefit? LB moved his head one time so the needle went in deep and he jumped from the pain. :sad: If I give it in the flank or side of the tummy do i do exactly the same as with the scruff and is that equally painless?

LB's numbers have gone much lower since opening a new vial. I keep all insulin in the butter section of the fridge. The old one looked fine - not cloudy.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

I was a scruff shooter, so I don't know -- but I think many of us have caused a yowl or two. I know I did. Hurts me to think of it, but he survived it.

I would think you might not want to keep the vial in the butter section, if that's on the fridge door, for two reasons:

1. The door gets opened and closed all the time, and it might jostle the bottle more. (That's just my thought.)
2. The temperature is not as consistent in the door.

We used to stick it in a safe corner of the main fridge, same place every time. No jostling, more consistent temp.

 

[Anyname]

Have I been keeping the insulin in the wrong place (butter compartment on the door or the fridge)? I thought the main fridge was too cold to keep it?

Also the vet told us to roll the vial a few times but not to shake it before we extract the dose for injecting. I I wonder if the rolling we do twice daily ruins our vial after a while.

LB is so low at the moment that I feel we need to reduce his dose - only happened since starting new vial.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I don't think LB's numbers are all that low. The more time he spends in numbers under 120, especially if it's in the 60s range, the more chance his pancreas has to heal. If it were me, I wouldn't decrease the dose until the reduction was earned.

How old was your previous insulin? I didn't see a note on LB's SS when or if you'd started a new vial. If you had been using the same vial since June, chances are that your Lantus was a bit toasty. Could you make a note on your SS when you switched to new Lantus?

I think what was meant by a "skin" shot was a subcutaneous shot -- a shot below the skin but not into the muscle.

DO NOT roll Lantus. The vet gave you instructions for how to handle insulin like Humulin N, which is a suspension and needs to be rolled in order for the insulin to be put back into suspension. Lantus is a solution. It does not require "mixing." Lantus is a fragile type of insulin. Rolling it can reduce it's lifespan. I also agree with Kathy -- I keep Gabby's Lantus in a crisper drawer where it is not easily disturbed and less exposed to changes in temperature. Lantus should be stored between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). You do not want to freeze the insulin so I would also keep it away from the walls of the refrigerator.

 

[chriscleo]

think of how thin a chicken skin is, when thinking of your cat. we're just aiming below that, so it's not far.
if you have a short needle (5/16"), you can stick the needle right into the cat and hit just below the skin. if i were shooting in the scruff i'd be tenting the skin to shoot.
if shooting in the flank or side of belly i wouldn't need to tent. i'd just feel the area first and make sure i'm injecting into a soft area rather than bone.

 

[Anyname]

:::I don't think LB's numbers are all that low. The more time he spends in numbers under 120, especially if it's in the 60s range, the more chance his pancreas has to heal. If it were me, I wouldn't decrease the dose until the reduction was earned.

Thanks for the advice. I guess the numbers aren't all that low. I will watch today as I gave low dose last nite and again this morning. Mostly coz his appetite is low. He normally VERY hungry but yesterday not interested in food - I coaxed him to eat some.

Annoyed with myself that I didn't write down when new vials started. Last one about a week ago. We in to fourth vial in box of 5. We not been handling Lantus correctly - vet told us to roll it before use. Also bumping of fridge door has probably caused damage to insulin. (vet suggested butter compartment as not as cold as rest of fridge) I change to crisper. Old fridge doesn't keep wine cold enough so crisper fine.

 

[Blue]

Get yourself a frig thermometer - that way you will know exactly what temp an area is - you will find that diff spots have diff temps.