Prozinc vs. Lantus

[JennC & Diago]

I need help understanding a bit more about Lantus. I understand Prozinc is similar to Vetsulin and Novolin N meaning it's an in and out insulin, it doesn't build in the kitties system. Lantus from what I've read in the sticky's is a depot filling insulin. My kitty upon initial diagnosis was on Novolin N but I found it didn't last long in his system. He recently went back into remission for a second time after steroids, but I'm keeping an eye on things. I want to be prepared if we need to go back on insulin to talk about a better insulin option than Vetsulin or Novolin. I've heard Lantus is really good for kitties, it's more gentle but the "depot" is why I have questions. Bascially, my question is if Lantus builds up a depot, how do you know when not to give insulin, since the depot could still have insulin leftover? And doesn't this throw off injection time later?

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Hi. Have you read the sticky posts at the top of the Lantus forum? There is one about the insulin depot.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I use Levemir which is very similar to Lantus and it is a depot insulin. I very seldom skip a dose if I get an abnormally low PS BG value. Instead, I give a reduced dose Lantus/Levemir like consistent dosing to keep the depot full. Giving a reduced dose vice skipping a dose does not mess up the depot as much and thus maintains a more constant BG. If I would skip a dose, the next PS would be very high and it would take a few more cycles to get back to normal. When to reduce dose or skip a dose is based on past experience. Just be conservative. Unless your cat has had a DKA, better high BG than too low.

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

What the depot does is it helps for you not to have the big drops that you have with other insulins (at least most of the time) because there's always a small amount of insulin (the depot) in the cat's sistem so in theory he's never without insulin, that is part of the reason why the protocols establish a number of days you have to keep a given dose without changing it so that the depot is formed, and just after it is formed you can establish if you remain with the dose or change it, that way when you establish a new dose you are already taking into consideration the depot and the effect it has.

Actually with this type of insulins the best you can do is to stick as much as posible to the schedule the less changing it the better

 

[JennC & Diago]

Thank you all