KT switching to Lantus Saturday - What starting dose?

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Squeaky and KT (GA)

Squeaky and KT (GA)

Member Since 2011
A HUGE THANK YOU to Venita and Ennis - KT will be starting Lantus tomorrow (Saturday)!!! No more Humulin N.

Our vet has never had experience with Lantus nor anyone doing home testing so he's watching with interest.

QUESTION - What dose do I start with? His Humulin spreadsheet is in my signature. It's NOT a pretty picture.....
 
hello and welcome to the group!
most of us here follow a tight regulation protocol. please read through the stickies (starred posts) at the top of the forum if you haven't already. see if the tight regulation protocol sounds like it's something you'd like to do.

giving kitty's prior dosing history, i would suggest an initial starting dose of 1.5u or 2u bid. we can always fast track KT up the dosing scale if necessary.
one question though --- does KT have a history of ketones/DKA?

*some* kitties show a huge response to lantus/levemir sometime within the first few cycles.
the tight regulation protocol comes with these prerequisites:

WHEN FOLLOWING A TIGHT REGULATION PROTOCOL WITH LANTUS OR LEVEMIR:

  • Kitty should be monitored closely the first three days when starting Lantus or Levemir.
    Blood glucose levels should at least be checked at pre-shot, +3, +6, and +9.
    More monitoring may be needed.
  • It will be necessary to test kitty's blood glucose levels multiple times per day.
  • Use U-100 3/10cc syringes with half units marked on the barrel for fine dosing.
  • Feed a high quality low carb canned or raw food diet.
  • Feed small meals throughout the day. Some kitties adapt well to free feeding.


i think you'll be pleased with the switch to lantus. please ask any questions you may have.
hope to see you posting often...
 
Thank you! I'm REALLY looking forward to getting those numbers down. I've read all the sticky's several times since we arrived a little over a month ago....quite avidly since finding out we COULD switch thanks to DCIN. KT is a BIG boy - Maine Coon mix, not fat at 17.2lbs, 28" long WITHOUT including his tail. Some answers:

* I test for ketones every 2-3 days or more often when numbers are really high - like those 500 days. No DKA

* Already use U100 syringes, 31g, 8mm. Lantus dosing units are the same aren't they? Mine do have the half unit marks

* Already got him MOSTLY off hard food - he eats FFeast and Friskies pates but one brother is a 'crack head' (<-love that) - KT sometimes finds some of his crumbs. I don't leave hard food out other than first thing in the morning for ShuShu. I DO leave wet food out most of the day.

* I plan to do injections 8:30am/8:30pm

* I felt like 1.5 would be a good starting point so I'm glad to have a little validation that my 'gut feeling' is working....

Thanks again!
 
Welcome and thanks for answering Jill's questions, Lyresa.

There is a formula for initial dose that's based on a cat's ideal weight: initial dose = 0.25 x ideal weight in kilograms. Since it sounds like KT's weight is close to ideal, the initial dose would be 1.9u. Jill's guesstimate was pretty on target. It's entirely your call if you want to start at 1.5u or more. (You could always split the difference and start at 1.75u.)

You have the right syringes for use with Lantus so you're good to go.

Since you're already familiarized yourself with the stickies, I'm not going to suggest that you read them again. However, there's a ton of info in them so keep going back as you need to review the information.

Please let us know how we can help. The people here are incredibly generous with their information and their time. I hope you'll post regularly.
 
sounds like you're pretty well set! don't give up on transitioning your crack head to wet food. one of mine held out for 4 of the longest months of my life, but eventually he caved. :mrgreen:
 
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