Questions about food

[Kiel]

Our cat Loki was diagnosed with Feline Diabetes two days ago. Started his treatment last night at 7:30. 2 units of lantus insulin. One solo star pen was $87 from costco. I found a vial online through diabeticpromotions.com for $48. Is it more cost efficient for me to do the pen or the vial?

How good is insulin good for after opening? I have heard 28 days to 3 months.

He took to switching to the canned food diet just fine. Our non diabetic cat not so much. She is barely eating
any of it. He seems to be fine with water or without. She ate his leftovers with the water or what was left of it. And a little of it with water and without herself. I just bought a small bag of natures instinct high protein dry food to feed to her incase he gets some while we arent looking until i can switch her over to the canned food herself.

Also the walmart glucometer ReiOn i think it was. Does it include a lancet to prick the ear? I saw a kit that had a lancet and reader but the strips were $54 for a 100 i think.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Our cat Loki was diagnosed with Feline Diabetes two days ago. Started his treatment last night at 7:30. 2 units of lantus insulin. One solo star pen was $87 from costco. I found a vial online through diabeticpromotions.com for $48. Is it more cost efficient for me to do the pen or the vial?

How good is insulin good for after opening? I have heard 28 days to 3 months.

He took to switching to the canned food diet just fine. Our non diabetic cat not so much. She is barely eating
any of it. He seems to be fine with water or without. She ate his leftovers with the water or what was left of it. And a little of it with water and without herself. I just bought a small bag of natures instinct high protein dry food to feed to her incase he gets some while we arent looking until i can switch her over to the canned food herself.

Also the walmart glucometer ReiOn i think it was. Does it include a lancet to prick the ear? I saw a kit that had a lancet and reader but the strips were $54 for a 100 i think.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi!

It is a better deal to get the pen as it will keep the potency of the insulin much longer. With the vile, you end up throwing half of it away before you'd need it.

If the pen is stored in the upright position, at the appropriate temperature, and in a stationary spot in the fridge - all while drawing the insulin out of it properly each time it's used, can last for several months. I used a pen for 3 months, until the last drop. I've seen others who have used one up until 6 months.

Most of us buy our Lantus from Canada, where you can buy a 5 pack of pens for $175 with tax and shipping - but right now Canada Post is possibly going on strike, so the ability to order from there currently might be delayed. It's called Mark's Marine Pharmacy, if you want to check it out for the next time you need Lantus. A pack of 5 here in the US would be close to $500 dollars so it's 1/3 of the cost and I'm from the city in which the pharmacy is located (but I live in the US) so I can vouch for the legitimacy.

The Nature's Variety Instinct dry is too high in carbs for a diabetic, so if he did get into it, it could affect his numbers. If possible, I would try and feed separately or there are a couple of dry foods that are low carb for kibble addicts or while you're transitioning - Young Again Zero is one of them, only available online.

The Relion Meter at Wal-Mart does not come with lancets to my knowledge but they are in the same area for about $2.50 you can 100 of them.

 

[Kiel]

Odd question. But which way would be the correct upright position. The part where you draw out of facing down or up. I would presume down but just want to make sure we are doing everything right.

 

[Erica & Carter]

Odd question. But which way would be the correct upright position. The part where you draw out of facing down or up. I would presume down but just want to make sure we are doing everything right.

I do mine facing up in a little mason jar in the fridge. If it's the pen, it should have a lid. So the lid facing up.