Insulin Timing Flexibility?

[Kris & Motska (GA)]

Motska is currently on Vetsulin .5 units 2x per day. Since I'm going to eventually have to switch her off of it anyway, I'd like to do it in the next week or two and will be having that discussion with the vet today (to try and get him to prescribe Lantus).

The problem is that, like a lot of other people, the economy is causing me some financial problems and I REALLY need to get a second job. I am concerned about the fact that I will not be able to keep to a 12/12 schedule with her insulin, because I won't be home on time in the evening (that is -- if I can even find a 2nd job). I hate the fact that this situation will cause me to not be able to care for her properly, but at the same time, having to live out of my car would also prevent me from caring for her properly!

Any suggestions or comments regarding irregular dosing schedules -- this whole situation is really making me nervous!

Thank you!

Kris

 

[Ronnie & Luna]

Hi Kris

I know having one job is stressful enough and not being home to monitor, but two?!
Well, you're not there yet right?

I guess it would depend what your schedule would be like if u had 2 jobs...I do know one of our members here in this forum has 3 and has been able to collect data on his time off or whenever he can.

To get more feedback for yourself, I would cross-post this question in the Health forum as well...in the meantime, the only thing Ican suggest is basically collect data whenever you can, right now with one job, you do have days off, the weekends and holidays...there is an option of SID! (edited to correct) (once a day dosing) but I would like more experienced eyes to chime in on that. It's very rare thou.

Start with get your vet on board with lantus, glad u have a spreadsheet already with your vetsulin data :thumbup
and get as much info as you can on how lantus works (read the "starred" stickies up above)

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

Lantus is a pretty rigid 12/12 insulin and going more than 30min off of that can act the same as an increase or decrease in dosage. If you don't think you will be able to do a 12/12 schedule then lantus may not be the insulin to switch to. Is there anyone you can enlist to help? For us I did the morning shot and husband did the evening so we both could work more than 12 hour stretches in between.

 

[Kris & Motska (GA)]

Unfortunately, I am on my own with her. I have two roommates, but roommate #1 is never home and roommate #2 rarely remembers to feed her own cat (so roommate #1 and I end up doing it). I'll definitely look into the possibility of switching to PZI.

 

[kate and lucky]

My other suggestion would be:

No guarantees, but your on a low dose and shes responding well. You could post in the supply closet and see if someone would sell you a single vial of Lantus.Beans have got as much as 9 weeks out of a vial.
Some (and it is a bit of a possible long shot)have gone OTJ within weeks.
So you could at least try it until you get a 2nd job-depends on your timescales.

PZI can be done on a sliding scale but not sure how much leeay on shot times you get with it.
Would advise you post the same post in PZI forum and see what they say.

Are you on LC food? Can you get even lower?

Good Luck :mrgreen: