Probably switching this weekend.

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arozeboom

arozeboom

Member Since 2011
Some of you might remember me posting a couple of weeks back...my vet recommended we switch Ruby to Lantus from PZI because of her wacky numbers. I was convinced she just needed more time to adjust to the PZI. Now, especially after this past weekend, its pretty obvious its not working. I think I'm going to make the leap to Lantus this weekend. I've read everything I can here on the boards about Lantus and its got me a bit freaked out. It seems like Lantus is a lot less predictable than PZI. I'm usually gone 11 hours a day on weekdays and can't come home mid-day to test Ruby. Occasionally I have to be to work early or stay later. I'm worried that my schedule isn't going to allow for the Tight Protocol so here I am. Ok, I'll be honest. I'm more than freaked out by this, I'm downright scared. I need to do what's right for Ruby because she needs to get better. Right now I'm not holding out hopes to get her OTJ any time soon. If that happens, I'll be ecstatic but I'm not crossing my fingers. What I want is for her to get down to an acceptable range and to stay away from the pinks and reds. The roller coaster she's been on for the past 2 months must be wrecking havoc on her tiny body and its breaking my heart to see her happy and bouncing around like a kitten one day and then just sleeping all day the next. This girl means the world to me and now I'm beating myself up for not making the change when I was supposed to. I know every cat is different, but I could use hearing some success stories.

Have any of you made the switch from PZI to Lantus?
 
Hi hi,

First of all...breathe :) That is the most important thing. You already did so much and I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit! You read all the stickies, you realized that PZI wasn't optimal for Ruby and now you're going to begin Lanus...you did all your homework, be proud of yourself! Tell yourself, "yeah sure it took a couple of months to organize things, but at least I did and a couple months is nothing compared to what it could have been. I care about Ruby, she knows it, and we are going to work together to make everyone happy". Really, honestly, you didn't do anything wrong!! If anything, you've been doing everything right! :)

I started Kitten on Lantus so I'm not help in the success stories of switching, but I can tell you that I felt the same was - overwhelmed, feeling like you're not helping, basically the "I'm going crazy" feeling. I cried...man did I cry at the beginning. Kit wouldn't want to sit still, I was using thicker needles and I couldn't get him to not freak out with the shot, couldn't home test, ahhhhh!!! But then magically, it gets better. I didn't think that it would, but it really does!! Kit was quite high at the beginning. Then slowly working with the dose, we are actually moving our way down in dosage. I never thought that I could be this calm about it all. Every once in a while, I actually stop, take a step back, and am proud of myself. You will get there too!

Here we follow the Start Low Go Slow Approach. There's a sticky about it. Basically the difference is that you hold doses longer (1-2 weeks) as opposed to 3-6 cycles - due to not being able to test so frequently. Can I assume that you're home testing? You'll want to get the preshot numbers - to make sure that its safe to give insulin. Then if you can get a mid-day test, then that's awesome but if work doesn't allow it, then at least get the before-bed test. Then on a day that you're home, you can do a curve, testing every 2-3 hours. This will be able to help you find Ruby's nadir (lowest point). It is knowing this information that you'll be able to make dose adjustments. Usually this is between +4-+8 but for a while Kitten's has been even at +12. With some data, you'll be able to find this. So you do the best that you can :)

Most of all, dont be scared. We will hold your hand and make sure that you're ok. Lantus is probably not as "unpredictable" as you may think.

Let me know if I can answer anything else --- I'm still kinda new but I feel like I've learned so much over the last month and a half. Pretty soon you'll feel the same way and you'll be helping someone.

Hope you managed to de-stress a bit and enjoy the evening!!
 
I was having a bit of a moment there last night, wasn't I? :oops: I tend to get totally overwhelmed and emotional about all of this late at night.
My husband even got me a bracelet last month that says "Breathe" but I sometimes I forget to read it.

Today I've been chatting with Laurie & Mr. Tinkles and she's been a HUGE help. She made the PZI to Lantus transition awhile back. I've made the decision to switch starting Friday night and now I'm ready for it. I'll probably start out on the TR board because it seems a lot busier and I know I'll need a whole lot of hand holding for awhile.

I''m about as ready as you can be at the thought of dealing with a hypo situation (so I say now! Just wait until it happens and I totally lose it!)
I've got the Rapid Glucose Spray, a big bottle of Karo, cans of Gravy Lovers Fancy Feast and about 150 test strips. We had a semi-hypo situation about a month ago. She didn't show any signs of it but dipped down to 46 at the low point. (That reading is from a Relion Micro - I now use an AlphaTrak which for me, tests higher). Luckily the folks on the PZI board were able to hold my hand all the way. I had the poor husband running out to Walmart at 11:00 at night to get more strips and food!

Thanks for your encouraging words. They go a very, very long way with me!
 
Trust me, I have those moments all the time lol. I think I got to get one of those bracelets too!!! Sometimes I dont know how to take my own advice. I know about those lower numbers...Kit went down to 40 yesterday and I was having a moment too. You'll be ok! I'll keep an eye out on the TR board to see how things go! Goodluck! Even though I know you'll be fine :)
 
Hi there~
These amazing sugar kitties of ours are such incredible & patient teachers.....believe me, I've cried too at times, for wishing I could have helped Louie more~ Just after his diagnosis, we started using a Free style lite meter which was showing much lower numbers than what was truly going on for him, and for 2 months, Louie was not getting enough insulin, and not getting better~ I felt so awful! :oops: Finally we got on track with a new meter and lots of support~ but some kind people here helped me forgive myself and start fresh in that moment with Louie~ he is doing so much better now, and he never held it against me!
You are doing everything you can for your dear kitty, and good luck with switching to Lantus~ we've been happy with it, especially since Louie is now getting the right dosage!
Wishing you the best!
Tracy & Louie
 
I think you should start a post on the Lantus forum with a subject like 'Need dose help for switch to Lantus from PZI.

You will get replies from the many others in the Lantus forum who have made the switch before.

If you are not at too high of a dose, you could likely switch with a starting dose of 1u Lantus.

Be sure to read their notes about Lantus as it's a diff sort of insulin having a shed and being longer lasting.
here are some links to the stuff to read:


Tight Regulation Protocol
Lantus & Levemir – Insulin Depot –AKA- Storage Shed
Lantus & Levemir – Data Ready to Shoot Low Numbers
Lantus & Levemir: Info, Proper Handling & Storage has picture of syringe and insulin pens.
Lantus & Levemir: What’s the Difference?

Now Lantus is a great long lasting insulin, but so is Levemir. I know that over in the Lantus forum, they are into alot more testing, but like you say, you are away between shots and can't do that much testing..... don't worry about it because lots of people have to work and we all find a way to do our best. So long as you test just before each shot to be sure it is safe to shoot, see if you can get a before-bed test, and then when you have a day off, see if you can fit in a curve.

One thing you will learn is that you base your dosing for Lantus/Levemir on the lowest bg number, so you are not going by the ps number for shot amount, but rather the lowest number around mid cycle.

Lots to learn but you should have no problem at all... there are lots of people here and over in the Lantus forum who can help you every step of the way.
 
I chatted quite a bit with Laurie & Mr. Tinkles today and she helped calm me down. I'm going to post on the TR board on Friday morning to see if they can offer any dosing advice for Friday night. Lately Ru has been on .6 unit of the PZI. I would rather start a bit lower and work my way up, if needed, rather than give her too much.

I've read all the info posted here and so far, its more confusing than anything. I'll work my way thru it. Like I said earlier today, I was having a bit of a meltdown last night. Slightly embarrassing now but I needed to get it out. :YMSIGH:
 
Racci was on PZI first and switched to Lantus and it was scarey but turned out to be the best thing for Racci. She is doing so much better on Lantus! Racci is almost resistant to insulin and had to go all the way up to 5u of lantus at one time to start to get her numbers down. She was doing great and down to 3u and 3.5u once each day & pretty regulated until she got sick and got all screwed up again. I am now in the process of trying to regulate again and have currently got her on 4u 2x to see if that does it. I find lantus pretty predictable, not unpredictable. Its Racci who's unpredictable. :lol:

I hope you are successful with it like I feel we were. The real difference is the shed. Lantus builds up in the body and pzi doesn't. There is usually some lantus on board left over in the cat which can be a good thing. Don't be scared just study it and you'll see, just like you learned pzi you will learn lantus.

Melanie & Racci
 
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