lantus

Status
Not open for further replies.
Benny

Benny

Member
Hi,My new vet changed my cats insulin from prozinc to lantus.
There is probably info already on here about this insulin(lantus)but I'm new here and just thought maybe someone could give me some tips on its use.
My cat benicio(benny) was diagnosed with diabetes 13 months ago and was never really regulated.I just started him on his first dose today.His dosage right now is 1unit 2x daily.
 
Here are a couple of links you can look at that will tell you about Lantus. For now, stick with the dose of 1u BID since that was what you were shooting with the Prozinc.

How long was benny on prozinc?

This is about proper handling and storage of the Lantus:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=151

This will explain a primary difference between what you have been using, and how Lantus works, which is very different:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=150

And this is the introductory information provided to all new Lantus users:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18139

All of those can be found in the Lantus ISG forum, along with several other important "sticky" threads. Hopefully a few experienced Lantus users will drop in and tell you more.
 
Hello and Welcome!

Do you home test? Do you have any BG data collected ?
What does Benicio eat?
How much does he weigh?

Plenty of Lantus info available - I would start here for some basics.

It's a great insulin - gentle and long acting. I think the biggest challenge for someone switching from Prozinc is that Lantus is not an insulin you shoot high numbers down with.
It has a different nature.
 
Welcome! I'm not in a position to be your advisor just yet (I'm pretty new here!) But if you post in the Lantus forum, there are many people able to help you. There is also lots of good info in the stickies at the top of the lantus forum. I hope the lantus helps your kitty do better!
 
Welcome to FDMB!! Lantus is a great, long acting, gentle insulin. As Sandy pointed out, we dose predominantly on the nadir, not on the preshot so please don't be tempted to take kitty's dose up based on the preshot as you would do with PZI.

One thing that would help us immensely is if you could please do a Spreadsheet recording Benicio's (love that name) BG numbers as you get them when you hometest.
Here are the instructions for doing a Spreadsheet: Spreadsheet

BTW, you are hometesting, right? If not, let us know and we can give you some great info on hometesting.
 
Welcome to FDMB. I hope Benicio decides that he likes Lantus. It is a long-acting, gentle insulin. The approach to using Lantus is very different than what you've been used to with ProZinc. With Lantus, dosing decisions are based on the nadir, rather than on the pre-shot numbers. As others have noted, there is a great deal of information in the starred, sticky notes at the top of he Lantus board. An overview and links are as follows:
  • Tight Regulation Protocol: This sticky contains the dosing protocol that we use here. There are also links to the more formal versions -- the Tilly Protocol developed by the counterpart of this group in Germany and the Queensland/Rand protocol developed by Jacqui Rand, DVM and published in one of the top vet journals.
  • New to the Group: Everything you wanted to know about this forum and more. Info on our slang, FAQs, links to sites on feline nutrition and to food charts containing carb counts, how to do a curve and the components to look for, important aspects of diabetes such as ketones, DKA, and neuropathy, and most important, info on hypoglycemia.
  • Handling Lantus: how to get the maximum use from your insulin and what to not do with it!
  • Lantus depot/shed: This is an important concept for understanding how Lantus works.
  • Lantus & Levemir: Shooting & Handling Low Numbers: What data you need in order to be able to work toward remission or tight regulation as well as information if you have a low pre-shot number or a drop into low numbers during the cycle.
Please let us know how we can help.
 
Thanks everyone, there sure is alot of info. to digest wow!. I am in the process of trying to home test benny and its not going well so far. He is usually pretty docile but when I try to test him he gets pretty nasty.Since my last post(1/16/12)I have given benny one injection of lantus(1cc) ,and I know this takes time but he is just not acting any better at all.He was taken to the vet 1/16/12 his glucose was in the 300's and he lost one pound in 2 weeks.I am concerned about his behavior right now though.He has an appetite and is eating .He will only drink water that I mix with his canned food and from a faucet.Benny seems very weak,sleeps alot,walks around very slow,very spacey, just kind of out of it.It has been a rollercoaster with his behavior.Benny has had these long periods of acting pretty normal sometimes 6-8 weeks at a time (diagnosed 12/4/10) and then it seems like over night the sick behavior starts.I am in the process of reading the information that has been offered here, and thanks again to all.

Chuck and my little buddy benny(benicio)
 
When I first started testing Poopy, he was none too happy about me messing with his ears. Honey and I started including his ears in our lovings, and we'd burrito him for the tests. It didn't take long at all for Poopy to seem to understand we were only trying to help him. Now he perches and purrs during the whole thing! No more burrito!

How long have you been home testing? Is this new for you and Benny? If this is new for you, or a refresher, here are a few tips that worked for us:

Warm the ear (heated rice sock or pull bottle with warm water)
Something firm under ear (I use a folded paper towel but anything to keep ear from bending away from lance works)
Massage ear, if need to make droplet large enough to test
Breathe
Shine flashlight through ear to see veins (a bit hard to do since Poopy was most interested to watch the light on the ceiling)
Scoop droplet onto back of nail to avoid smearing across ear (Poopy is great about that if my grip isn't firm enough)
Breathe

Hope something there helps! :-D
 
I started to try home testing this week.Benny is not happy with any part of it.Rice sock,burrito freaks him out .Benny has a great personality until somebody gets him pissed, although he is very well behaved when taken to the vet.I found him as a stray (or he found me) near the beach where I live. Its taken a long time for him to gain my complete trust .I dont think he was abused prior to finding him he seems to have just alot of normal wild cat instincts.There are feral beach cat populations in the area so he may have some of that mix in him.Anyway he is a great cat he is like a bad a** tomcat with a good side .I just gave him his second injection of lantus this morning.The new u-100 syringes have a shorter needle and I'm just not getting a good feel when I inject so I am not sure if benny is getting the complete injection.I think I will have to purchase the u-100 with the longer needle to get a better feel.

Chuck and my buddy Benny
 
Oh my! I forgot one of the most important pieces! Treats! There is no way Poopy would have finally settled down if it hadn't been for the special treats he only gets at pokey poke time.

Poopy also hated the burrito. Fought us the whole way (took two of us to do it at first). Thankfully we only had to do the burrito for a few days. But Poopy sure likes the treats!
 
What are the best type/brand of treats for diabetic cats? I will have to try that method when trying to home test Benny.

Chuck and my buddy benny
 
I use freeze dried chicken and freeze dried liver (found in the dog treat aisle, and cheaper than from the cat aisle!).

Others also use boiled or raw chicken or turkey (1/2" cubes), freeze dried shrimp, anything low carb. The freeze dried stuff and the meats are all 0 carb. :-D
 
For treats I use Pure Delights made by Wellness as mine don't like the freeze dried stuff...

I know it seems very difficult to home test in the beginning but it is very important - sometimes it can take a week or more to get in the routine but the kitties do really learn to like it or at least put up with it. Make sure to give treats whether you are succesful or not - soon you will find that you kitty will probably come to you to get tested cause they know they will get that treat. Whatever treat you choose it should be one they really like and should ONLY be given as a reward at testing time.

Keep it up!!! There are also a bunch of videos on you tube that may help you get ideas...

Good Luck
Sharon
 
I remember learning to test - BK was a stray Tom as well, maybe 5 years old when I took him in. He would growl and hiss and snap. I thought I would never be able to do it. Now he purrs.

Treats are key - I too use freeze dried chicken treats - we call them "kitty crack" around here - for good reason! Kitties goes crazy for them.

Testing is very important for the safety of your cat. Keep trying Chuck - it will get better.
 
Just wondering...have you been checking for ketones? The out of the blue "sick" behavior could be ketone related.
 
Chuck....you're doing great trying to test Benny. If you can only get in a couple tests, the most important ones are the pre-shots.

Please do not shoot insulin into Benny without getting the PS tests. If you get a really low PS, then you know to either post here and ask for help or to skip the shot. If you shoot without knowing his number, then insulin is in and it could put him at risk for hypoglycemia. I'm not trying to scare you but just trying to give you some thoughts about the tests to prioritize right now if he's only allowing a few.

He should be just filling his shed and his numbers might remain high for a bit. I agree it is important to get some ketostix urine test strips from the pharmacy and try to hold one under his urine stream to keep an eye on ketones.

Here is a great video that we used to learn how to hometest:

[youtube]_zE12-4fVn8[/youtube]
 
Hello again, Benicio(benny) was checked by his vet for ketones .The vet said everything but his glucose level was ok.I will look into purchasing the urine test strips and pick up some treats for when I attempt to test benny.I'm still in the process of reading all the helpful info.
My gosh all of this info. and advice is so helpful.Thanks again to everyone you have been so kind and I appreciate the help.

Chuck and my buddy Benny(Benicio) cat_pet_icon
 
I had the same thought about ketones. Unfortunately, they can develop quickly. The Ketostix are the best and least expensive form of prevention out there. It's worth it to get them.

If you have trouble tracking down jerky style treats like the Wellness Pure Delights, you can always use cooked chicken or a bit of deli meat. Just be sure to not get anything that's been brined or is honey glazed. A number of people use cooked chicken breast as treats.
 
Hi Chuck
I noticed your profile/avatar says "near the beach nj". Do you have access to fresh shrimp? Shrimp has virtually no carbs, and living near a shrimp dock has turned out to be a real blessing for me. Not only is it my favorite food in the world, but Bob decided that boiled fresh shrimp were the perfect treat.
I bought the Wellness jerky treats at Petsmart, if there is one in your area. They also sell a great brand of freeze dried chicken or salmon treats made by beefeater.
Carl
 
Just bought freeze dried salmon and benny wont eat it.I will try some shrimp.

Chuck (Benicio) Benny
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top