Question - Lantus Switch

[CheechMama]

Hello! My girl was on Vetsulin 1u 2x a day for 3 weeks with minimal differences. We switched her to Lantus 1u 2x a day — how long until we see a change? Do people test at home on Lantus? I read it can be stable due to the depot? I read the Lantus 2 types of dosages but I’m struggling to know what is best for her.

 

[CORKY]

Hello! My girl was on Vetsulin 1u 2x a day for 3 weeks with minimal differences. We switched her to Lantus 1u 2x a day — how long until we see a change? Do people test at home on Lantus? I read it can be stable due to the depot? I read the Lantus 2 types of dosages but I’m struggling to know what is best for her.

Lantus is a Depot insulin which means that it will take 5-7 days to see a difference in levels also feeding several meals or snacks during during the day besides the two mail meals is important to keep the insulin depot, the protocol for Lantus is test-feed-shoot

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Lantus is a better insulin than Vetsulin. Did you also change to the U-100 syringes from the U-40 syringes used for Vetsulin?

It's best if you can home test her blood sugars. Insulin needs can still vary over time in cats. Cats are one of the few creatures whose pancreas can heal, meaning less insulin is needed, and there is the potential outcome of diabetic remission if a cat gets regulated fairly quickly. This post has tips and videos to help you learn to home test: Hometesting Links and Tips

 

[CheechMama]

Hello both! Yes, switched to U 100 needles. It’s been 3 days so far so good to know for days! We tried getting a test tonight in and the machine said error but we will try tomorrow.

We leave her access to wet food all day and if it is empty, I top it up. Is that ok? She could stand to gain weight, and if there is food she will eat.

 

[squeem3]

Common reasons for a meter error is not enough blood on the test strips or the meter timed out waiting for the drop of blood to be applied to the test strip. If there's an error code, check the meter instructions for what the code means.

It's ok to leave canned food out all day. Most people use a programmable timed feeder so their cat can eat small meals throughout the day.

 

[CORKY]

What Squeem3 meant that yes many people that are not home use a programmable wet food feeder but you cat should not eat at least 2 hours prior to shot, since food alters the glucose level and you want a true level in order to shoot, but 3-4 small meals or snacks low carb food during the day plus they the main meals before shot, you will be testing throughout the day at least 2–4 readings, so when you test and you don’t see your cat going to feed, you might not get a realistic glucouse level

 

[CheechMama]

I’m not sure how to get her not to eat 4 hours prior to shot! Do you put the food away?

 

[CORKY]

Yes is important to get a good realistic reading, cats get used to changes especially food changes, she might give you a hard time, but you want to know how the insulin is working throughout the day and in-between, you can trick her at testing time, give her just one ONE! kibble just before you prick, for association, but only a couple of test don’t get her used to it, then while she’s feeding and has her face in the bowl pick up the scruff just below the head, careful, pick it up well, then while she’s bone is close by , shoot straight down always, to avoid a fur shot, if you get a fur shot, we all do at one time or another, do not shoot again, there’s a possibility that some insulin when in, you just wait for the next shot, this is to avoid a hypoglycemia episode

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I’m not sure how to get her not to eat 4 hours prior to shot! Do you put the food away?

For new members, we suggest not leaving food out after +10, or two hours (not four) before the next shot. That food can influence the next preshot number (make it higher), and you don't want to shoot a lower blood sugar number that is inflated with a recent meal. That is, until you've got to the point where you know how much of a numbers bump your cat gets from food. Also, not a problem if it's a higher preshot number. The concern is when it's a lower one. So you would just lift the food dish a couple hours before shot time. If you have an automated feeder that rotates, you can program it to rotate to an empty bowl at that time.