Lantus Losing Effectiveness?

Tiffany and Pepper

Tiffany and Pepper

Member
Hi everyone,

I was wondering how long glargine/lantus lasts before losing its effectiveness. Pepper's glucose levels were pretty consistent for a couple months (typically in the 100s at preshot times) but gradually kept increasing these past couple weeks. Nothing has changed with her food (1/2 can Wellness Core Chicken/Turkey pate and 1/4 Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein per day) or activity levels, so this sudden increase is alarming. She is still doing the 5 P's daily.

I got a vial of glargine at the end of April and have been storing it in the refrigerator for the last 4 months. Please let me know if you have any information or insight on this situation. Thank you so much!
 
We've had people use the Lantus vials for 6 months. Unopened pens last until expiry date, opened ones typically to the last drop. Which for me was as long as 90 days. Other than the Houston trip, has anything changed with Pepper, especially since the middle of the month? Just want to make sure there haven't been any changes in food, medication, or his health that might be impacting his numbers.

If no other issues, I think the biggest problem is that you aren't following the dosing method as written or doing the required amount of testing except the last few days. I'm concerned that the reason you are seeing higher numbers is that he might be overdose now.

We change doses by 0.25 units unless all numbers are above 300 but only if you were following TR and the numbers aren't that high. Yet the recent changes are by 0.5 units at a time, meaning you could have increased by too much.

The dosing methods also have prescribed lengths of time you hold a dose, which is 7 days for SLGS and 3-5 days for TR - depending on the nadirs. With both the dosing methods, we determine how to change the dose based on the nadirs or low points, which means you have to test enough to know how low the dose is taking Pepper. And there has been quite a bit of dose hopping. With the dosing methods we use, and the nature of the Lantus depot, we find it key to keep staying with the same dose unless he either earns a reduction, or needs a dose increase.

Since you are feeding Dr. Elsey's dry, you have to follow SLGS for dosing. TR requires an all wet food wet or raw diet.

My recommendation is to go back to 1.75 or 2.0 units, and up your testing. With SLGS you need to test each preshot, and ideally at least one additional test per cycle, meaning both AM and PM. Many kitties go lower at night and since we need to see how low the dose is taking him, we need that test. Even a test just before you go to bed will fill in the picture. With no night tests, your picture is half blank. With SLGS, you do a curve at least once a week. With extra testing, we'll be able to see if he's overdose because he will dive down at some point.
 
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