New to PZI-starting Friday - Any advice

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dmartini4

dmartini4

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Hi there
We are new to the PZI site
Shakespeare was diagnosed last year and has been on Lantus for 4 months.
It seems that Lantus can not control his number, his neuropathy has been horrible since October so
our Vet says that PZI might be able to help

SSOO.... we are switching tomorrow night. my vet says to start him at 2 units but everything I read says
to start at 1 unit. I prefer to start at 1 unit...any advice there would be great

He has been on 3.25 units of Lantus but I know that it differs and I want to start him
at a lower dose anyway.

I will start tomorrow night so I can watch him over the weekend

thanks for any advice and I look forward to talking to all of you

Denise and Shakespeare
 
Welcome, Denise (and Shakespeare)

PZI is very different than Lantus. You have probably already read the info, but here it is: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=32799 Doses are based on preshot numbers more so than Lantus although nadirs are also taken into account. PZI is more of a "what you see is what you get" insulin. There is no shed so dosing can be more variable and does not have to be on a 12/12 schedule.

I don't blame you for wanting to start low. With PZI, you don't need to wait a week to see how it is working. You should know what you need to do regarding the dose in a couple days. With higher ps numbers, we tend to think of dosing in .5 units. When you are dealing with lower ps numbers, we consider .25. Most people here use 100U needles with the conversion chart: http://www.felinediabetes.com/insulin-c ... rinter.htm

This forum is smaller and not nearly as busy as Lantus. There are generally people on in the am and pm. If you have an urgent question and no one is on, we'd encourage you to also post on Health. We will help all we can.
 
My experience has been with a VERY difficult cat, so I'm not sure if any of this applies but I have come back to pzi after trying Lantus. I have a high needs insulin user and my vet cut her dose in half when we changed, she crashed. Changing doses, I think, should be done in small increments. You can always start at 2u and see how it goes from there. pzi is a very forgiving insulin but it likes sameness ..... are you dosing b.i.d.? I wish you luck I think you will like it here.
Nancy and Payne, finally doing some better :smile:
 
Hi Denise, and welcome! Sounds like you are starting off on the right foot with `1U. Let us know how things go and ask any questions you may have---we like to be helpful! Hope ProZinc turns out just right for Shakespeare!
 
Denise I just read some of your threads over in lantus. I know you are scared and that Shakespear seems to have terrible nueropathy and a hard time walking. It broke my heart when you described being unable to sleep and just watching him all night and helping him to the bathroom. That was YOU right? I don't want to get the wrong person. Is this situation still occuring, the difficulty walking? Your SS does not look too bad at all really. Whatever dose you choose, 1 or 2 units you are accustomed to checking often so you should know in short order if it's the right dose or not.
Welcome to our little Island of PZ-I and feel free to ask many questions.
I wonder if it is as hard to switch to this insulin as it was for me to go from pzi to levemir! Very very different usage with this insulin ok.
 
Just wanted to say hello and welcome Denise and Shakespeare (love that name!). Fingers and paws crossed that Shakespeare likes PZI. I'm a newbie so don't have much experience for dosing advice, but I try to be a good cheerleader.
 
thank you all for your input. I am very nervous but I am sure we will adjust
I have the 40 needles so if I give him the 1 unit with the 40 needles is that ok?

It is good to hear that it is not as structured (12/12) as Lantus. I almost got into an accident a couple
of nights ago trying to get home in time for his 12 hour shot.
I was 20 minutes late and felt bad all night

Yes shakes and I are often up all night.(Yes that was me on the Lantus board) his neuropathy is so bad it breaks my heart and I carry
him where he want s to go (and yes sometime I am wrong)

but I am hoping we can get regulated here and that his legs will get better soon

thanks and any input on the u40 needles would be great

looking forward to getting to know all of you
 
yes Denise the U40 syringes are correct. each unit is larger of course than the U100 syringes which will be ALOT easier on your eyes!!!! did you get the ones with half unit marks?
I know you are administering B12. I wonder why the neuropathy is so bad. The numbers never seemed so really terrible. Do you have any idea?
Is he any better at all?
Do you live east or west coast?
Lori
 
The U40 needles will work great for .5 and 1 unit doses. If you get down into the smaller doses, then you can change over as needed.

I am sure you have tried the MethylB12? Neuropathy It is supposed to help along with regulation.
 
Thanks, so we will be starting tomorrow and yes very glad that the needles are larger
and easier to read!
We live onthe east coast in northern NJ. and yes I give him his B12 (5 pills a day)
the vet and myself still can not figure out why his legs are so bad when his numbers could be so much worse!
That is why I am switching and hoping PZI will help
thanks and
Looking forward to getting to know all of you!
 
Hi Denise and Shakespeare welcome to PZI!
I am not going to offer any dosing advice, my cat is still not regulated and has wide swings but he is much better than when we first started.
Just wanted to say something about the neuropathy. My cat Henry started having trouble jumping up on things and walking on his wrists and hocks about the end of January/first part of Feb.. I took him to the vet because I thought thats what was wrong with him and although he had very high AM numbers and flat curves most of the time, he had started to be somewhat lower overall by the first part of Feb. When the vet examined his feet and watched him walk she thought it was not neuropathy but rather a spinal problem. He had xrays and has disc disease in his spine which is causing his wobbly unsteady gait. He has difficulty in the litter box and also walks a little and has to rest.
Just wanted to let you know I sympathize with you, its difficult to watch your kitty be unable to do things he used to do easily.
Hope you get good numbers with the PZI.
 
Your spreadsheet reminds me a lot of my Oscar's spreadsheet in the beginning. A lot of the same numbers with the rare occasional breakthrough to blue or green. He was one of those cats that I just had to up the dose until his body couldn't fight it anymore and then *slowly* bring down the dose when necessary. I have a strong suspicion that your kitty will be the same way.
 
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