New on Lantus, itching and scratching - side effect?

Tinker's Mom

Tinker's Mom

Member Since 2017
Tinker has been on Lantus 1 unit BID for 6 days. He seems to be really itchy. Scratching his chin/ear, nibbling at his legs. NOT at the injection site. Has anyone noticed this as a side effect from Lantus? The only other causes are seasonal allergies or maybe the semi-new treats he's getting. I don't remember him itching the last time he was on Lantus. TIA
 
Hello and welcome Laura and Tinker. What food is Tinker eating? Any recent changes? Most allergic reactions I have seen are due to food, but stress can do it too. Anything besides the insulin changes?

Also, have you been able to get any mid cycle tests? I also see some preshot test data missing. It is really important for his safety to get those tests. You have a note about difficultly getting BG test. Anything we can help you with? What size lancets are you using? Larger (smaller number) are better at first, maybe size 28.
 
I am having a hard time getting samples. He has been really squirmy lately and also I have been pricking his ear with no blood coming out, which is weird because I was able to get samples before. I feel so bad to make him go through it and try multiple sticks. Also I am having some personal health issues so I have skipped some testing. Anyway according to SLGS I thought I was supposed to give him a low dose for a week and then do a curve? I just bought new lancets to try and help, 28 gague. I was able to get a sample tonight.

I haven't changed his food. Just some semi-new treats.
 
Sometimes warming the ear helps to make them bleed. You can rub their ear between your fingers or some have used socks with rice in them and heat them up in the microwave.

I personally have not used lancets before on my cat. I use actual needles but maybe you could try just using the needle and hand poking. Then you have a little bit more control over the pressure and place you'll be poking.

Where on the ear have you been poking Tinker?
 
What type of new treats are you using? What are the ingredients?

SLGS says to test before every preshot, and spot checks when you can, plus a curve once a week. I am glad the new lancets worked. I used lancets, it held it by hand. You have been getting some nice preshot numbers, but I really wonder how low he is going in the middle of the cycle.
 
Welcome to the forum Laura! I hear ya on the squirmy cat detail...my Luci wasn't going to have any part of that poking in the ear thing...we had quite a time getting started. Took two of us to actually get it done and it was an exhausting business. Fast forward a few months and Luci settled in for the tests - I told her that her life depended on it - so she finally decided the treats she got every single time - whether I was successful or not, were worth the pokes...she actually comes when I whistle now and often just sits there in her testing location waiting for me! The important thing is to do the testing in the same place every time. Have your testing stuff set up and close by so you're not fumbling for anything. Always provide a treat or food (maybe a chocolate for you!) for Tinker. The more you test, the easier it'll get. I poked Luci 5 times the first time I tried testing her ears - dropped the meter, dropped the blood drop...it was a disaster...but we kept trying...so you'll get there - I promise! I always use a baby sock with the toe filled with uncooked rice - warmed in the microwave for a few seconds - to support and warm her ear. It helps the blood flow and keeps me from poking my thumb. I also use freehand with the lancets - that little device prevented me from seeing what I was doing...

Testing is the key to this - and as you and Tinker progress through it, he'll catch on. I hope these tips are helpful.

When you post today, please start a new condo/thread each day - post your title like this:

9/25 Tinker AMPS ### - it's imperative that you test before giving insulin. It can be very dangerous to give insulin without knowing his current blood glucose. Then getting some mid-cycle tests is your goal today. We need to see how low this dose is taking him. You may be giving too much insulin...his pre shot numbers are very nice - which could mean he's already getting into lower numbers mid-cycle.

Great job on the signature! Once you've read the stickies at the top of this forum and have selected a protocol (TR or SLGS) you'll want to put that in your signature too.
 
You all are so sweet. I decided to try the lancet clicky pen instead of freehand and I think that is going to work much better. One challenge is that our house is on the market so we had to change his testing location to a different room. I think it's confusing for him. Also I was using the warm sock but I think I tried skipping it. Obviously not a good plan.

If I were to get just one pm test, how many hours after his shot should I do it?

P.s. his numbers were never much over 200 to begin with so we didn't have far to go.
 
When you test may depend on your cat. Right now, there's not enough information to give you a definite answer. With a kitty whose numbers are typically below 200, I'd be testing more. You have no idea how low Tinker's numbers may be going. You may have missed dose reductions. I would suggest getting a +3 and then another test somewhere around the middle of the cycle. The +3 will help you know if Tinker's numbers are dropping at Lantus onset. Since dosing decisions are based on the nadir, you want to see how low the numbers are. In the evening, you would want to get a test before you go to bed.

In addition, you need to do a curve on a weekly basis. Right now, you don't know when onset and nadir fall so it's hard to make any decisions about how Tinker is doing..
 
Half way point, may or may not be the nadir, but it's a good test to start. Try mixing up when you test over time, and that'll give you a good idea what is happening, along with the curve data.
 
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