Need Help with Switching to Lantus - Freebie

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Haptowns

Member Since 2012
Hello everyone,

I posted in another section a few weeks back about my cat, Freebie, and the problems I've had regulating him. You all helped me switch from testing his paw to testing his ears and that is going well. Also I was using AlphaTrak meter and paying $70 for 50 test strips, and now am gradually switching to the Relion Micro.

He's been on Glargine and I learned from many of you that Lantus is what you are using. Finally figured out that Glargine is the generic of Lantus and my vet is willing to prescribe Lantus. I am kind of panicking however, because the Glargine is almost gone and I have to decide. I went to the pharmacy and asked how long the Lantus lasts and they looked on the bottle and it said 28 days. I was under the impression from these forums that it lasted several months. Obviously there would be no point to buying something that costs 3X as much and lasts no longer. Something is not right about this because I know you all say it lasts longer. Are there different types of Lantus? I'm not sure what to do.

Freebie is weighing in at about 10 1/2 lbs. most times. He initially lost weight but been stable for several months.

I do keep track of his numbers every day, but twice a day, AM and PM. You all want that mid-day number which I can't really get. The concern is he's so erratic, he tests high most of the time. Here's the past few days: (giving 3 units/eating Fancy Feast Classic)
1-18/AM - 436
1-18/PM - 215
1-19/AM - 266
1-19/PM - 168
1-20/AM - 510
1-20/PM - 236
1-21/AM - 485

If any of you have any suggestions for me about any of this I would sincerely appreciate it.

Cheri and Freebie
 
Well 28 days is what the manufacture with tell you it last but that is figuring that it is going to be used in a human that isn't going to keep it in the fidge. If handled and stored correctly Lantus will easily last for couple of months. Although for the best savings you are going to want to have your vet write the script for the solostar pens instead of the vial. Since the pens only have 3ml of insulin each as opposed to a vial that 10ml. You won't make it through a full vial normally before it starts losing its punch while a pen only has 300 units in it so those you should be able to finish to the last drop and you get 5 pens to a box.

The pens are a little more expensive upfront but in the long run are the cheapest.

Unfortunately the only real way to know how well Freebie is doing on Lantus is to get those mid-cycle tests, since dosing is based on the nadir (lowest point in the cycle) not the preshots. All the preshots really tell us is if he is high enough to give insulin to in the first place. With only the preshots it is hard to tell if he is getting too much insulin and going low and then bouncing up high again or just plain not getting enough insulin at all.

Is there any day that you have off that you can possibly run a curve (test every 2 hours between shots)? Even if you can't get mid cycles everyday if you could at least once a week or so run a curve that would help to fill in the picture.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
This is finally starting to make sense to me now ... thank you for the comments on the Lantus, that makes me feel much better. My Glargine will be gone in the morning so I had to decide quickly, will get the Lantus tomorrow.

Now I understand what everyone has been trying to explain about the low points in the cycle -- it never made sense to me until your explanation MommaofMuse, so thank you. I will try my best to get some more numbers.
 
Just so you know..... the Tight Regulation forum for Lantus has a lot of users online day and night if you have further questions that require fast answers ( they welcome relaxed users also)...that forum is more active that this "Relaxed Regulation" forum
 
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