Levemir dose

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Becki Orr

Member Since 2016
Rags is 13 years old. He has been a diabetic since March 2013. He has been on Lantus, BID at 3 units. Could not ever get him regulated. Tried different doses.
January I broke his bottle that I just bought. My Doctor gave me a bottle of Levemir. Vet said to start at 2 units BID. He has been on it since 1/04/17. At night he runs low. This a.m. he ate 1 1/4 cans of Fancy Feast. Tonite his BS is 65. He did eat 1/2 can of F.F. I am holding insulin. Is it possible he may only need one injection a day ??
 
Without more information of BGs at various times I can't make a suggestion.
Most of us here test our cat's blood glucose at home using a human meter. We test before each shot and periodically between shots. We record our reading and other info in a spreadsheet. See:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
The spread sheet allows everybody to see what is going on with regards to BG at various times.

I am requesting that your post be moved to the Health forum since that is the appropriate forum
 
O.k
I do have his readings. I just started back on the board so I haven't yet done a spread sheet for Rags, but I will. I will also go to the Health Forum, Thank you !!
 
Levemir has a longer duration than lantus for some cats, and a lot of times, the nadir (lowest BS) happens right before or just after the next shot time. If you test after the shot you might notice that the numbers increase from +1 to +4, even after you give the shot. Levemir sometimes takes a little more faith at shooting on lower numbers. Eventually, you will know what the patterns are if you are testing frequently and be more comfortable shooting at lower numbers. You do need to have the data though, so you can see the patterns and if it will be safe.

Is the 65 on a human meter or pet meter?
 
Hi Becki, rule of thumb is start Levemir at .7 of the Lantus dose (.7 x 3u = 2.1u), so 2 is just about right. Onset and nadir are usually later in the cycle than Lantus. Below is a link to the Lantus/Levemir forum that have many pros on Levemir dosing. I would post over there once you have the spreadsheet up and running:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-glargine-levemir-detemir.9/
Thank you for your response. Someone put my post there but I cannot do a spread sheet as I do not have internet at home. I am typing this from my job.
Rags is now on 1 unit B.I.D. The problem I'm having with him is he won't eat right. I put water in his food, Fancy Feast. This morning he only drank the fluid from two bowls. (1/4) can each bowl. Tonite he may eat five bowls 1 and 1/4 cans. He is a VERY different cat. His body works the exact opposite of a diabetic cat.
When I can do a spread sheet, I will on the right post. Thank you again. I was usung a human meter, now I use an animal meter.
 
65 is an ok number on the human meter if that's the lowest he goes. On the animal meter, that is too low, and you might want to consider lowering the dose by a tiny bit (0.25 units) and monitor him closely especially if his diet isn't consistent. Insulin needs go up and down depending on a lot of things, which is normal, you need to adjust doses when this happens. Home testing is the best way to know if a dose is correct and safe.
 
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