New Member with General Questions

Status
Not open for further replies.
Cara & Sabrina

Cara & Sabrina

Member Since 2021
Hi! My dear Sabrina was diagnosed 10 days ago and so far the process of injecting 1 unit with the Basaglar KwikPen have been going fine. The vet recommends trying the Freestyle Libre to monitor her, but I'm on a tight budget and am worried it might not last long or she will dislodge it, resulting in a waste of $150+. I'm considering testing her myself at home instead. My head is spinning with all the information and decisions to be made, and the cost of each and every thing. This forum has a wealth of information, but as a newbie it's almost too much to grasp! :-) Just getting the pen and finding a pharmacy that would break up the pack of 5 and trying to find the gauge and length of needle was a chore! And the closest pen needle I could find was a 31 gauge 8 mm, even though that's half the length she recommended.

Is there a way to save or tag a specific post or comment? There are some where a member provides various details and links, which are extremely helpful! I want to refer to them later as I'm making decisions, buying supplies, etc., but I've already lost the few I've seen. Is watching the entire thread the only option? (not ideal because I really only want to refer back to the specific post) Copying the text and pasting into a word doc or something I can save causes the links not to work (and some don't have a web address, but just a hot link). It would be wonderful to be able to save these as I come across them so I can come back to them later!

For those that test at home, do you adjust the dosages yourself or do you always discuss it with the vet?

I have another cat who is overweight and gaining more as I am now giving them both can food and leaving dry food out. I like the idea of the timed feeders, but how would that work with multiple cats? I work full-time and can't always be home at a certain time so the feeding and injections are challenges I'm also working through.
 
Cara and Sabrina said:
I'm considering testing her myself at home instead.
Click to expand...
Good idea! I have a video in my signature showing how I tested my cat CC at home. We can help you find the cheapest places to get supplies. Where do you live?
Cara and Sabrina said:
Is there a way to save or tag a specific post or comment
Click to expand...
you could bookmark it in your browser. :)
Cara and Sabrina said:
For those that test at home, do you adjust the dosages yourself or do you always discuss it with the vet?
Click to expand...
I discussed with my vet the first month or so, then changed it myself and the first few months kept her in the loop via email. I think you'll find a lot of knowledge and support here.


Ditch the dry food. Stick with wet.

There are some feeders that are microchip specific. The cat wears the chip on a collar.
 
Hi Cara and Sabrina and welcome to the forum.
To save information you can book mark the thread.
Well done getting set up and looking for information to make it better for Sabrina.
Hometesting is definitely the way to go. If you live in the US you can buy a meter and test strips from Walmart at a very reasonable price. Look at the Prime or Premier. And buy lancets that are 26 or 28guage.
If you are talking about the U100 3/10 syringes the 31 gauge, 8 mm ones are fine.

We have a spreadsheet to put the data you collect into.
Here is the link, if you have any trouble @Bandit's Mom will be able to help you set it up.

Here is another useful link with useful information. If you can set up your signature, that will appear at the bottom of all your posts and will tell us about Sabrina
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

The majority of us who hometest, adjust the dose ourselves after getting guidance from the experienced people here.

I would definitely get rid of the dry food as it is high carb and it will keep the blood glucose high BUT DO NOT DO THIS UNTIL YOU ARE HOMETESTING AS IT CAN DROP THE BGs by 100 points or more. We can help you with this.
Keep asking lots of questions. We are very happy to help you.
Bron
 
Hi, you don't have to use the pen needles with the insulin pen. Most of us use insulin syringes and treat the pen like a mini vial. The benefit is the insulin will last longer (you're not supposed to refrigerate it if you're using pen needles; if you're using insulin syringes instead, refrigerating the insulin will make it last several months instead of only 1 month), and the injections will be easier because they won't take as long, plus you can adjust dosing in smaller increments.

Here is where I usually buy insulin syringes: https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/16368/carepoint-vet-u100-syringe-31g-half-unit
 
THH & Snowcrash (GA) said:
(you're not supposed to refrigerate it if you're using pen needles;
Click to expand...
I use the Lantus SoloStar pens and the pharmacist told me to keep them in the fridge but not in the door because the temperature fluctuates too much there. Can you explain the reasons for not using the pen needles? I can buy 100 of them for $22. Are the syringes a lot cheaper? Cara, how did you find a pharmacy that would break up the pens? I had to buy all five but was told by the pharmacist that they would last as long as I keep them in the fridge. It was a pretty big expense. I bought an iPet Pro glucometer but I wish I had known about this site first and I would have gotten one for humans right away. It wasn't until I had the pet one and tried to buy strips for it that I found out how hard they are to find (most places including Amazon said not available and don't know if they ever will be). Even if I could get them they are super expensive. I have decided to keep that one as my backup and get a human one since they are so highly recommended on here. My Clawdius (he has extra toes on all four feet so lots of claws, lol) was recently diagnosed too and I too am trying to make sense of all the information and decisions. Not to mention the expense. Thank heavens for all the people here who are so generous sharing their experience and information!
 
Thank you all for sharing! Peggy, my Walgreens said they would fill just one pen. My Rx was for Lantus and they filled with a Basaglar KwikPen for $71.43 (pharmacist applied some sort of discount card). Walmart and Meijer told me they would not break a box. (I'm in Indianapolis.) I've seen that many people on here order from Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada and a single pen seems to be $50 plus $15-25 air express mail. Or $165 for 5 pens, plus shipping.

Refrigeration is a topic I've seen different views on. Neither the vet nor pharmacy told me it needed to be refrigerated, but then 5 days later I saw that it lasts longer if you do so I hurriedly put it in the fridge! I also then found the word Refrigerate in one place on my pharmacy paperwork. Especially since the pen could last a few months, depending on the dose, it seems important to do whatever helps keeps the insulin viable. But I've seen on here and a few websites the statement that refrigeration causes some sort of issue with the pen needles. I've never seen anyone explain the issue or the source of information. I think it may be just a possibility of a problem, since many humans use these pens and pen needles and many places online say to refrigerate the insulin pens. It is a lot to take in and try to decide what to do! For refrigeration, I have spent more time than I should have researching and weighing the pros and cons and expense, I've decided to refrigerate. If I get more significant information in the future, I'll reconsider. But I am definitely frustrated and stressed with all the different types of information and there not often being a clear answer. I'm on a tight budget so that's an added stressor.

Have you read about how one is supposed to prime the pen every time by squirting out 2 units?? This is in the pen instructions. That one stressed me as well, and for now I've decided that I can't afford to waste that much. I do prime it every few days, to put my mind at ease that the product is coming out. After fretting about it, I've come to point where I'm moving forward with the belief that the priming is something the pen manufacturers/pharma companies are instructing because there is a slight chance of there being a bubble or issue, and priming is the best possible way to accurately administer the insulin. However, we don't live in a perfect world, and trying to do everything to the nth degree also creates other types of problems in life. Plus, suggesting the priming benefits the pharma company as it will require the product to be used up more quickly, so from their viewpoint as a business, suggesting priming is a win-win. However, this is part of the reason why many choose to use syringes with the pens instead. Plus you can visually see that the insulin is being administered, givng one peace of mind. The cost of pen needles vs. syringes seems to similar (if you shop around, and based on size, but seem to be $18-$25/100). The pen needles are easier for anyone who is uncomfortable with needles or is not as dexterious or has a challenging time injecting their cat for any reason.

There's some of my take on some of the topics I've come across on this journey so far! And it's only been 10 days! I have struggled with anxiety and generalized anxiety in the past, and trying to handle all of this information and making decisions has definitely ramped up my anxiety! It's hard to choose what to do based on what may or may not be best for our beloved pets and what resources we have to work with, inlcuding time, money, skill set, schedule, etc. I'm hoping that the decisions I make and the care I am able to give to Sabrina help her!
 
If you plan on testing you can go to Walmart and get the human meter, which this site is based on
The Relion Prime 9 dollars
17.88 for 100 test strips
26 or 28 gauge lancets
Some cotton rounds to put behind the ear in case you poke your finger, then just fold the cotton could over your cats ears and press gently for about 10 seconds to stop the bleeding

If your vet tries to sell you the pet meter The Alpha Trak , tell her you can't afford the price for the rest strips, they are like 54.00 for only 50

Before these pet meters came out they used human meters
My vet has no problem with it
 
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up
c2b8079a-b471-4fa6-ac36-9ac1c8d6dcca-jpeg.57072
fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Are you using 26 or 28 gauge lancets?
 
Cara and Sabrina said:
I've seen that many people on here order from Mark's Marine Pharmacy in Canada and a single pen seems to be $50 plus $15-25 air express mail. Or $165 for 5 pens, plus shipping.

Refrigeration is a topic I've seen different views on.
Click to expand...

I got my Lantus SoloStar pens from Walmart. My brother works there and on his 20% discount day it cost me less than $100 for five pens. My vet said that was less than they could get them for themselves. I was a little worried about some of them expiring before I could use them but they are good for more than another 2 years so I think I'm good. I also got a Contour Next One glucometer for humans for free there when I bought the test strips. Walmart here doesn't have that cheap one that they carry in the States. I do have an iPet Pro but either can't find strips or they are extremely expensive. I wish I had found this site before wasting my money but I will keep it as a back up just in case. I wasn't going to use the lancet injector because I didn't think Clawdie would like it but I set it off close to him and he didn't seem to care. I'll try it out and see how it goes if I can figure out what depth number to use. I'm sure someone on here can help.
 
Last edited:
Cara and Sabrina said:
After fretting about it, I've come to point where I'm moving forward with the belief that the priming is something the pen manufacturers/pharma companies are instructing because there is a slight chance of there being a bubble or issue, and priming is the best possible way to accurately administer the insulin. However, we don't live in a perfect world, and trying to do everything to the nth degree also creates other types of problems in life. Plus, suggesting the priming benefits the pharma company as it will require the product to be used up more quickly, so from their viewpoint as a business, suggesting priming is a win-win.
Click to expand...
My vet tech told me I only need to prime the pen the first time I use it so that's what I do. She has had diabetic cats herself for a long time so has a lot of experience. Wasting double the dose to test it doesn't make sense to me. Maybe if I was using a human dose which is so much larger I wouldn't mind wasting that much but I can't afford to waste four doses to give two every day.
Cara and Sabrina said:
I have struggled with anxiety and generalized anxiety in the past, and trying to handle all of this information and making decisions has definitely ramped up my anxiety!
Click to expand...
Me too and getting conflicting information doesn't help. I have decided to listen to my vet tech first, and then take a consensus of opinion from the posts I read on here and what makes sense to me. I have gotten a lot of good info here. I use the pens because I have a needle phobia and they make it easier for me. I realize that the syringes are probably better but until I have this under control the pens work better for me. I wish that some people would understand that the same thing doesn't work for everyone. Cara, from what I have read on here just about everyone started out with the same anxiety and worries as we have and they all seem to have made it through. :-) Maybe it's like a rite of passage? I have decided that once I get this under control and feel like I know what I'm doing I will foster diabetic cats from some of the rescue societies around here.
 
There are a number of reasons to not use the needle tips for the insulin pens. The primary reason is that they will only allow you to make a 1.0u dose adjustment. That large of a dose change may be appropriate for a human. It's not appropriate for a cat. We change doses in 0.25 to 0.5u increments. Please purchase syringes. You will likely need a prescription for syringes - most states require it these days. You will want to purchase U100, 3/10 syringes that are 31 gauge, 8 mm that are in half unit increments. Please make sure that you get syringes that are measured in half units -- it will make your life with FD much easier. This sticky from the Lantus/Basaglar/Lev board discusses caring for your insulin and has information on syringes.

The other major issue is priming the pen. @Peggy & Clawdius - you were given incorrect information. Go to the manufacture's site for Lantus. The pen needs to be primed for every dose. This means you are wasting 4u of insulin daily. And, as noted above, you cannot calibrate your dosing when using a pen needle.

Regarding refrigeration, we suggest refrigerating your cat's insulin. The insulin pens were developed for human use and humans travel more than our cats. As a result, a vial of insulin might need to be carried along for long periods of time without refrigeration which was causing insulin potency and shelf life to be affected. Thus, the pens were developed. They are sealed and pressurized so there's no air in the pen. However, in most cases, human dosing is much larger than for our kitties. Your cat's insulin will last a lot longer. so, it's recommended to keep the temperature constant and the best place to do that is the refrigerator. Frequent changes in temperature can have an effect on the pen mechanism.
 
Peggy & Clawdius said:
My vet tech told me I only need to prime the pen the first time I use it so that's what I do. She has had diabetic cats herself for a long time so has a lot of experience. Wasting double the dose to test it doesn't make sense to me. Maybe if I was using a human dose which is so much larger I wouldn't mind wasting that much but I can't afford to waste four doses to give two every day.

Me too and getting conflicting information doesn't help. I have decided to listen to my vet tech first, and then take a consensus of opinion from the posts I read on here and what makes sense to me. I have gotten a lot of good info here. I use the pens because I have a needle phobia and they make it easier for me. I realize that the syringes are probably better but until I have this under control the pens work better for me. I wish that some people would understand that the same thing doesn't work for everyone. Cara, from what I have read on here just about everyone started out with the same anxiety and worries as we have and they all seem to have made it through. :) Maybe it's like a rite of passage? I have decided that once I get this under control and feel like I know what I'm doing I will foster diabetic cats from some of the rescue societies around here.
Click to expand...
You're lucky that your vet tech has personal experience with a diabetic cat. The vet I'm seeing is very nice but her experience with diabetes in cats is limited. This forum is great and helpful. But like you mentioned, we aren't all going to jump onto the same page for every topic, and the reality is that we appreciate the information to help us figure out what will work for us.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top