lantus highs and lows

Status
Not open for further replies.
Alix

Alix

Member Since 2012
I just had to put Scamp on Lantus for the first time - maybe 1/2 hour ago!! I finally got my vet to understand that the Caninsulin is not working for her. Her BG is at 261 and I gave her 1/2 unit and I am wondering when the nadir is for Lantus so that I can go check on her!! There is something going on with her liver and he thinks maybe her pancreas (she goes for an ultrasound next Tuesday) and she is showing signs of ketones but her BG has been between 198 and 270 so she actually hasn't been on insulin but I have been watching her very closely and this weekend she started to go down hill pretty quickly (refusing food and vomiting - both of which are very, very strange for her!!)

Any help with the Lantus would be very much appreciated! Actually any help or encouragement at this point would help!!

Scared,

Alix and Scamp
 
My sugar nadirs in the middle of the cycle around +6 but I heard that Lantus nadirs can move around. When I do mid-cycles I usually go for a +4, +6 and +8 and his low is usually nestled in there somewhere.
 
Hello Alix and Scamp! Nadir for Lantus is often around 5 or 6 hours after the injection. However, every cat is different. I tend to test around 3 hours after the shot - that is about when the Lantus should start taking effect if it's going to. Lantus is a depot insulin, so it will take some time (3-5 days) for the shed to fill when you're first starting out. What are you feeding Scamp? The correct low carb food can be the game changer for new diabetics. Sue is right, the boards are a bit slow, but I would imagine some more advisors will be along soon. Hang in there! You're the best place you can be to help lil Scamp!
 
Please test the urine for ketones. You mentioned your kitty Scamp has been showing signs of ketones, so you need to home test for this at least daily.

If the ketones are showing up in the urine as more than a trace, you need to see or at least talk to a vet ASAP. More than a trace of ketones is serious and can quickly lead to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), a life threatening condition you can not treat at home.

Please keep Scamp safe and let us know what the ketone readings have been and when they were done.

ECID on the nadir for the Lantus. Wink was always around +3 to +4 with his nadirs.
 
Thanks for the information.

Because I am worried about my Scamp I am not very clear. I spent the afternoon at the vets yesterday and they did blood work and a simple xray. My vet called me this morning and said that she has trace ketones - he did not give me a number. She has been a diabetic for 2 years and she was on caninsulin (my vet is from a Slavic country and swears by the stuff - but it wasn't working for Scamp so he finally agreed to try Lantus!!) Right at this point in time all we want to do is get the Insulin started - she was eating fancy feast chicken pate and beef pate( which is chicken pate - flavoured!!) but when she started to refuse it I am letting her eat anything - I picked up some A/D critical care food at the vets which she eats a spoonful of and then she has been nibbling at her "brothers'" food which is good for cats with pancreatitis (but not diabetics) but that means she is eating a little bit more than she was. She was constipated so she got some lactulose and last nite I gave her 100 ml of fluids cuz she was dehydrated.

I also did not think to pick up ketostix at the pharmacy but I can do that on my way home. I test her blood at home and I snuck out of work and checked her at the 3 hour 40 minute mark and she was 254 so I will keep checking. She is definitely feeling punk but she is still talking and cuddling.

I will ask the vet to send me her results.
 
It can help tp switch about 20-25% different food each day to reduce the chances of stomach upset and increase the willingness to eat.

There is a great food list on Cat Info with the percent of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Grain free can be high carb, so be careful in what you get.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top