Lantus not working?

[Scout]

Has anyone had experience with Lantus not working for your cat?

Back in February, Scout (9yo, male) was diagnosed diabetic. Since then we have completely changed his diet. He WAS on Purina One Adult dry food....we have switched him to 1 can per day of fancy feast (classics) and we put out Wellness Core Indoor dry for all the cats(we have 3 others) to graze on. He has been to the vet for numerous curves and fructosamine tests and is now on 8u of Lantus a day (4u in the am and 4u in the pm)

After we struggled with home testing, we decided to scrap it and just continue bringing him to the vet for fructosamine tests(YES I know it's costly, but his ear DOES NOT bleed). We just brought him in over the weekend and his numbers are STILL high. I'm at a complete loss. We don't know what to do. The vet doesn't know what to do. She suggested bringing him in so she can make sure we're giving the shots correctly. I think it's a waste since I KNOW were giving them to him right (his fur isn't wet and he quivers when the needle goes in)

Is it possible the insulin isn't working? If she suggests starting all over again (with more curve tests and a different brand of insulin) we will definitely take him to another vet. Can someone recommend a vet in the Columbus, OH area?

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Honestly, it's probably the dry food that is keeping his numbers high and it's also possible that you are giving TOO much insulin. Yes I said too much. Without testing him at home, you don't know how low he is dropping on 8 units and how high is going. It is very possible that 8 units is too much and if you remove the dry food completely and only feed him he low carb wet food, his numbers will come down.

Is there anything we can do to help you test your cat at home? If you can't test the ears, you can test the paws. There are ways to monitor and test from home.

more questions:

how frequently are you giving insulin?
when you change the dose, in what increment are you changing it - 1 unit at a time? 1/2 unit? 1/4 unit?

It is also possible that you are changing at too high an increment. We recommend changing by 1/2 or 1/4 units at a time, never 1 full unit at a time. Why - because you could skip over the ideal dose. But without home testing, you cannot know what that is.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I'm going to send a message to another member from Columbus OH. BJ might know of a good vet and/or be able to help with hometesting tips...

 

[BJM]

NorthArlington Animal Clinic
614-457-4636
Dierker Rd
Columbus, OH 43220

Its in Northwest Columbus, between Henderson Rd and Bethel Rd, about 1 mile west of State Route 315. You can tell them BJ sent you.

And I live up around that way, too.

 

[Blue]

Has anyone had experience with Lantus not working for your cat?

Back in February, Scout (9yo, male) was diagnosed diabetic. Since then we have completely changed his diet. He WAS on Purina One Adult dry food....we have switched him to 1 can per day of fancy feast (classics) and we put out Wellness Core Indoor dry for all the cats(we have 3 others) to graze on. He has been to the vet for numerous curves and fructosamine tests and is now on 8u of Lantus a day (4u in the am and 4u in the pm)

After we struggled with home testing, we decided to scrap it and just continue bringing him to the vet for fructosamine tests(YES I know it's costly, but his ear DOES NOT bleed). We just brought him in over the weekend and his numbers are STILL high. I'm at a complete loss. We don't know what to do. The vet doesn't know what to do. She suggested bringing him in so she can make sure we're giving the shots correctly. I think it's a waste since I KNOW were giving them to him right (his fur isn't wet and he quivers when the needle goes in)

Is it possible the insulin isn't working? If she suggests starting all over again (with more curve tests and a different brand of insulin) we will definitely take him to another vet. Can someone recommend a vet in the Columbus, OH area?

You know what? Maybe Lantus is NOT agreeing with him. One of my cats did MUCH better on Levemir, and your mention of the quivers when the needle does in is odd. Something to think about ...

Home testing should be revisited because the dose of insulin you are giving may be too high or too low, and the Fructo tests are just an average over the last 2 weeks, so not that great of a safeguard.
What about if you can post exactly how you have tried testing and let others give you some of their tips..... I would never do it, but some even test on the cats pads of the feet.

Seriously, 4u BID is high and if the cat's still not regulated, you might want to consider testing your cat for acromegaly and IAA. The best way for you to know what's going on with this dose is to do some curves at home. What about if someone on the board here lives near you? I am sure if there is someone, they could come over and help you learn.....

Gayle