Is anyone giving Lantus just once a day?

Status
Not open for further replies.
dodgingwrenches

dodgingwrenches

Member Since 2010
I want to "relax" my Lantus dosing a bit, since my cat is on an extremely low dose right now, and I'm finding doesn't always need insulin. I also want to get back some of my previous lifestyle! Does anyone only give Lantus once a day, and what are your experiences with that?

In my SS, I say "0.25" but that actually means "the smallest amount I can pull out", so less than 0.25.
 
Are you sure you don't have a cat in remission? Looking at your spreadsheet I think I would try an OTJ trial. If that fails rather than s.i.d. I personally would switch to shoot as needed. But I suspect you have an OTJ cat and the higher numbers are coming from the left over shed. Just my gut reaction as I've never done s.i.d. with either Lantus or Levemir.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn and The Fur Gang
 
October 30 and 31 was a mini OTJ trial, but since he tested 122 on November 1st, I chickened out and gave him some insulin.

My vet did today suggest a one week OTJ trial since he was wondering if I was causing his BG to bounce a bit. Obviously not to be started today since with the vet visit his BG was higher.

What do you mean with s.i.d.? Sorry, new-to-me acronym
 
No point in a single shot of Lantus or any other insulin in a day because no insulin lasts that long.
At the very most, the shot lasts 14hrs, so what's your cat using for the other 10hrs? Nothing.

I am thinking nobody has mentioned the drop method for measuring small doses.... I don't go along with any visual methods because it's not consistent.

Draw insulin to the 0.5u mark on the syringe barrel.
With the needle pointing upward, twist the plunger until you see one drop on the tip of the needle; flick it off.
Repeat this method as needed.

You can practice with a used syringe and water..... see how many drops of water you can get out of that 0.5u of water..... you should be able to get 4 drops.

so, here is your dosing numbers.
4 drops = 0.5u
3 drops = 0.375u
2 drops = 0.25u
1 drop = 0.125u

Above is the very best way to get a consistent dose each time. Yes, you will be wasting insulin but it's just a few drops.

Gayle
 
I tested the drops thing, and I've basically been giving him a drop of insulin. I guess the thinking behind once a day is that it's for cats that mostly produce enough of their own insulin, but just need a tiny boost with a drop at day or night, because it's juuuuust not enough. That single drop has a big effect on my guy, dropped him from 176 to 56 in four hours yesterday after we got home from the evil vet. Right now my guy is 90 AMPS. I think I'm tempted to try a real OTJ trial again.
 
When Cedric was on Lev, his nadir seemed to be at +12. I had a consult with another vet and we had started the Lev once a day a day or two before he passed away. he died from acute nectrizing pancreatitis (not sure if I spelled that right) - basically his pancreas gave out, and his other organs followed. So the bottom line is that Cedric was a weird case, but it is possible....good luck with the trial. :thumbup
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top