Member Q on appropriateness of Lantus as single daily dose

[BJM]

My vet recommends 1u Lantus only SID. My cat Cookie has been getting this dose for 2 weeks now. Shes eating but only lays around all day. Better at night. Better in morning, But not herself at all. Just bought Relion Confirm have not home tested yet, scared and watching videos and reading up on it.,whats wrong with this picture? seems everyone give shots 2x a day

Your cat may feel much better with 0.5 units every 12 hours (BID).

Without testing her to see how low she is going, the lethargy could be borderline hypoglycemia, which can cause brain damage and if severe enough, death.

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Donna,

I notice that there are certain times of day when Cookie feels better. How long before/after giving the insulin dose does she seem better in herself?

 

[Donna F]

Hi Donna,

I notice that there are certain times of day when Cookie feels better. How long before/after giving the insulin dose does she seem better in herself?

About 1/2 hr after AM shot she eats and lays down for the rest of the day, only getting up to eat or go potty. Then around 7 or 8 PM she starts walking around and is not so sleepy. That's why I am afraid to give a 2nd shot at 9 PM, even though vet said 1 shot a day 1u Lantus Just started home testing maybe that will help figure this out. First time tonight 3/6 I got enough blood 330 at +8 Advise?

 

[phlika29]

The more tests you get the more you will know what is going on. Have you read the hometesting thread
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

For the next couple of days I would get in as many tests as you can. At least before each shot and then during the cycle. I find heating the ear really helps.

It could be she is going low in the cycle and then bouncing back up or it could be that she has high numbers during the cycle.

 

[Critter Mom]

About 1/2 hr after AM shot she eats and lays down for the rest of the day, only getting up to eat or go potty. Then around 7 or 8 PM she starts walking around and is not so sleepy. That's why I am afraid to give a 2nd shot at 9 PM ...

Hi Donna,

That sounds very much like how Saoirse was on Caninsulin. It might help to keep a daily journal of how she's acting, energy levels, etc., relative to injection time and discussing it with your vet. I'm not suggesting it's the case the your little one (I'm not a medical professional) but it's worth noting that some members have found that a particular insulin did not agree with their cats and changing the insulin type helped their cats to feel better during treatment.

Well done on the home testing! Hopefully as you get more test data, it will help to shine a light on what's happening with your little one. If she were mine, I'd try to get as many mid-cycle tests as I could manage as soon as possible (in addition to pre-shot tests) to see how low she's going.