Quick basic question how long vial of Lantus is good?

[Cheryl & Missy]

Hi all just quick question as topic says, I have been giving Missy Lantus insulin, started the vial back end of May so it's been used 6 months. Just had her in for something and asked, vet said to get new, that he generally doesn't like using vials longer then 4 months.

I don't post here because we are not doing home testing she's been doing ok, but we suspect had hypo other week was moving slower getting up then had a seizure, down to 0.5 unit Lantus bid because of that, office sugar was 271 today, we were in for follow up as she has a skin wound. All this happened several weeks ago when our vet was on vacation eeps!

Office sugars have been low 200's so consistent, we had already decreased her to 0.75 before above. We were hoping to get her off, but for now..

Just want to know if Lantus still ok to use or better get new vial?

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Unless the insulin looks cloudy, has floaties in it, etc. you cannot tell if it is good or bad without home testing. Home testing will indicate the viability of the insulin based on whether you are getting consistent numbers or not.

So, yes, it is very possible that you need new insulin.

And I have to ask, is there any reason why you are not home testing? It is the only way to know if even giving insulin is safe or not. You mentioned that you had a hypo, so why after a scare like that, would you not home test?

If you were the one using insulin or your child/spouse, niece, nephew, etc. would you administer insulin blindly and potentially dangerously? Why is it any different because the one receiving insulin is a cat and not a human?

I'm sorry, I just don't understand.

If you need help to learn how to test, we can help you. If you are scared, well we all were when we started, if you think you are going to hurt the cat - pishaw to that, you won't hurt the cat - you hurt the cat by not testing.

OK, I'm off the soapbox now.

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

Unless the insulin looks cloudy, has floaties in it, etc. you cannot tell if it is good or bad without home testing. Home testing will indicate the viability of the insulin based on whether you are getting consistent numbers or not.

So, yes, it is very possible that you need new insulin.

And it's ALSO possible that you'll be wasting what's left because of not testing. Wouldn't a $10 meter and $9 of strips be cheaper than wasting what's left? WE can use a vial until it's completely gone without having it go bad even at just 4 units total each day.

And I have to echo Hillary's question....is there any reason why you are not home testing? It is the only way to know if even giving insulin is safe or not. You mentioned that you had a hypo, so why after a scare like that, would you not home test?

Know why MY vet didn't encourage home testing? Because he didn't know HOW! All he (and the other 4 vets AND vet techs) knew was to draw blood from a vein and use their Alphatrak. They knew no one should do this at home. NOW they all know about ear testing and how it's done because he admitted he didn't know so I showed him.... They were ALL amazed at how easy it is to do. Their tune is very different now!

So....PLEASE let us teach you how, it's not hard, just different. Humans do it many times a day....just because the diabetic has 4 legs doesn't change the disease...

BIG HUGS!