OK here we go. My Prissy was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago. Her initial BS was 350 so she was given 1 1/2 units twice daily of Lantus (sticker shock). She was checked a week later and her BS was 60 so they decided to hold all insulin for a week and recheck - we were so happy there was no drama at home for a whole week. However, her BS this time was 340 so we are back on 1 unit but only once daily. I'm hoping she will turn around since she had good results after one week on insulin. We are having the worst time with her injections. She now hides so we have to find her and drag her out and hold her down, it is a 2 person job. I would appreciate any advice. Right now I have using the Lantus pens but want to switch to cartridges if I can find them.
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- Thread starter Lolly
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Hello and welcome to you and Prissy. Most people here that use Lantus give 2 shots a day. In most cats one shot doesn't last long enough to cover 24 hours. Have you thought about doing home blood glucose testing? That way you can see how Prissy is doing on the Lantus. It's the safest way to manage a diabetic cat. Cats can go into diabetic remission if their pancreas heals, but the only way to detect that is by blood testing.
Where do you live? Cartridges are available in Canada, but not in the US. Are you using insulin syringes to do the injections? I am using 31 gauge syringes and Neko barely notices them. There is lots of good information about storage and handling of Lantus here.
Where do you live? Cartridges are available in Canada, but not in the US. Are you using insulin syringes to do the injections? I am using 31 gauge syringes and Neko barely notices them. There is lots of good information about storage and handling of Lantus here.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Welcome to FDMB.
Are you shooting (injecting) just under the skin? Or into the muscle? And a low carb treat given every time you shoot may help overcome the resistance. Try plain baked, broiled, boiled, or even raw bits of poultry or meat as a reward.
And, are you home testing the blood glucose? We strongly suggest it as otherwise, you could give insulin when the glucose was so low that it could be dangerous. Plus, it let's you see how well the insulin is working when you do shoot.
Are you shooting (injecting) just under the skin? Or into the muscle? And a low carb treat given every time you shoot may help overcome the resistance. Try plain baked, broiled, boiled, or even raw bits of poultry or meat as a reward.
And, are you home testing the blood glucose? We strongly suggest it as otherwise, you could give insulin when the glucose was so low that it could be dangerous. Plus, it let's you see how well the insulin is working when you do shoot.
Hello,
I am going to echo the other posters and say it's super important to home test. Meters/strips are cheap at Walmart! You and kitty will get the hang of the testing and shooting. Also helpful to create a spreadsheet to monitor, I have one that we used when Ozzie was on insulin which should be below. I also reached out on here prior to shooting if we had a low BG #, which also meant going against my vet and what he thought. Bad thing to blindly shoot.This board is a super great resource.
Have you switched your cat onto a low carb diet? My Oz was diagnosed in 2011 and I switched him to Fancy Feast(we now use wellness) Pate(chicken, turkey, etc). No more dry. He was on insulin for 2 months and then we went into remission, which I believe was due to diet. He's been in remission for 3+ years now.
Hang in there it will get easier!
-Vivian and Ozzie.
I am going to echo the other posters and say it's super important to home test. Meters/strips are cheap at Walmart! You and kitty will get the hang of the testing and shooting. Also helpful to create a spreadsheet to monitor, I have one that we used when Ozzie was on insulin which should be below. I also reached out on here prior to shooting if we had a low BG #, which also meant going against my vet and what he thought. Bad thing to blindly shoot.This board is a super great resource.
Have you switched your cat onto a low carb diet? My Oz was diagnosed in 2011 and I switched him to Fancy Feast(we now use wellness) Pate(chicken, turkey, etc). No more dry. He was on insulin for 2 months and then we went into remission, which I believe was due to diet. He's been in remission for 3+ years now.
Hang in there it will get easier!
-Vivian and Ozzie.
JenM
Member Since 2013
Welcome! I have to agree with everything that's been said here. Home test being #1. My Tink would have likely died in the first couple weeks had I done as my vet wanted and shot blindly. Thankfully I listened to the good people here, who live with feline diabetes 24/7 and started home testing right away. He went into remission almost immediately with the change from dry food to low carb wet (which you should NOT do while shooting blindly).
Not only is home testing the smart/safe thing to do (you wouldn't inject yourself or your child without testing first), it is SO much easier on your wallet and your kitty. Vet visits cause stress, and stress raises blood sugar - so the info you get from the vet could be partly BECAUSE kitty is at the vet. Numbers you get at home tell so much more. My vet specifically did NOT want me home testing. I did it anyway. It can't hurt. I also changed vets and my new vet, who is MUCH more knowledgeable about FD, is also VERY supportive of my home testing.
As far as your kitty hiding at shot time - do you give treats? Tink actually comes to ME for testing and his shot, because he knows he gets his PureBites treats (100% freeze dried meat). He was a little reluctant at first (I thought he'd be far worse, as he was always a timid kitty) but he learned quickly that the treats were well worth a couple little pokes.
Not only is home testing the smart/safe thing to do (you wouldn't inject yourself or your child without testing first), it is SO much easier on your wallet and your kitty. Vet visits cause stress, and stress raises blood sugar - so the info you get from the vet could be partly BECAUSE kitty is at the vet. Numbers you get at home tell so much more. My vet specifically did NOT want me home testing. I did it anyway. It can't hurt. I also changed vets and my new vet, who is MUCH more knowledgeable about FD, is also VERY supportive of my home testing.
As far as your kitty hiding at shot time - do you give treats? Tink actually comes to ME for testing and his shot, because he knows he gets his PureBites treats (100% freeze dried meat). He was a little reluctant at first (I thought he'd be far worse, as he was always a timid kitty) but he learned quickly that the treats were well worth a couple little pokes.
Skunky's Mom
Member Since 2014
Wow, and I thought my vet was ignorant!
At least yours was smart enough to recommend Lantus! Mine wanted us on Humulin N. Luckily I read here and learned so much.
You vet doesn't seem to know much. . . just listen to the folks here and pretty much forget about your vet. I mean. . . they told you to stop insulin for a week? Insane.
What dose are you on now? I started on 1/2 unit, twice a day. We are about to ramp up to .75 or 1. I'm not sure yet, I'm waiting on advice from the people here on my next step.
What happened with your cat is they put you on WAY too high of a dose. Luckily it didn't kill her.
I'm surprised you're having trouble with the shots. My cat doesn't even notice. I mean, seriously, she doesn't even notice. At all. I got her some freeze dried chicken treats for after her shot, but mostly I can do it while she's eating her canned food (which she loves).
She didn't much like the ear testing but she got over that quickly. I'm not sure what you mean about "cartridges."
You don't use the Lantus pen like you would on a person. Instead, you use it like a vial. Buy some syringes u100 (preferably with 1/2 unit markings), and draw up out of the Lantus pen with it. Don't ever shoot anything back into the Lantus pen.
there are lots of good youtube videos showing insulin injections, blood testing, etc.
this website is amazing! You can also learn about what low carb food to use. WE were on a low carb diet for about a week or so before I got my insulin, but they say to be very careful making both changes at once. You've got to test test test. Go buy a Relion Confirm or Relion Micro monitor and get to testing!
At least yours was smart enough to recommend Lantus! Mine wanted us on Humulin N. Luckily I read here and learned so much.
You vet doesn't seem to know much. . . just listen to the folks here and pretty much forget about your vet. I mean. . . they told you to stop insulin for a week? Insane.
What dose are you on now? I started on 1/2 unit, twice a day. We are about to ramp up to .75 or 1. I'm not sure yet, I'm waiting on advice from the people here on my next step.
What happened with your cat is they put you on WAY too high of a dose. Luckily it didn't kill her.
I'm surprised you're having trouble with the shots. My cat doesn't even notice. I mean, seriously, she doesn't even notice. At all. I got her some freeze dried chicken treats for after her shot, but mostly I can do it while she's eating her canned food (which she loves).
She didn't much like the ear testing but she got over that quickly. I'm not sure what you mean about "cartridges."
You don't use the Lantus pen like you would on a person. Instead, you use it like a vial. Buy some syringes u100 (preferably with 1/2 unit markings), and draw up out of the Lantus pen with it. Don't ever shoot anything back into the Lantus pen.
there are lots of good youtube videos showing insulin injections, blood testing, etc.
this website is amazing! You can also learn about what low carb food to use. WE were on a low carb diet for about a week or so before I got my insulin, but they say to be very careful making both changes at once. You've got to test test test. Go buy a Relion Confirm or Relion Micro monitor and get to testing!
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