Quick question

[Breanna H]

Tigger gets a large dose of Lantus and it has been "stinging" him and it has been hard to get it into him. As I was injecting the dose, he pulled away. Half made it in. Without thinking, I plopped him over and injected the rest. I am now in panic mode thinking I may have done something bad. Has anyone ever done this? It was his regular dose, just half in two different spots. Should I be worried?

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

No, that's fine.....as long as it was just half a shot + half a shot in the same syringe

The problem comes when people think they did a furshot and go back and fill another syringe and "double dose" since they don't know how much got in the first time.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Agree with Chris-- no problem if it's all part of the same dose!

On the stinging, I know you just switched to Lantus, but you might want to consider Levemir. It's a similar (depot-type) insulin to Lantus, but doesn't seem to have the same sting at high doses.

 

[Breanna H]

No, that's fine.....as long as it was just half a shot + half a shot in the same syringe

Agree with Chris-- no problem if it's all part of the same dose!

Yay! Thank you guys!
I was thinking it was fine but I wanted to double check!

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Wow that is a high dose! Just wondering if it would help making sure it’s room temperature, if you don’t already do that...?

 

[Breanna H]

Wow that is a high dose! Just wondering if it would help making sure it’s room temperature, if you don’t already do that...?

I keep my lantus in the refrigerator. I thought it had to be kept there? So it is always cold when I inject it.

 

[Patty & Teal'c]

I keep my lantus in the refrigerator. I thought it had to be kept there? So it is always cold when I inject it.

Yes definently refrigerate to make it last longer. However it is ok to fill syringe a few mins earlier to allow it to warm up a bit.

I fill syringe cap and lay on counter, then fill food bowl, get out testing supplies and scoop up Teal'c to test, if he isn't already waiting on me lol. Then test place food down to make sure he eats. This allows the insulin a few mins to warm up a bit. The only problem is if he is too low and I have to do a token dose or skip, I would be wasting some or all the insulin in that syringe.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I used to hold the syringe where the insulin is, in between my fingers for a bit before shooting, to help warm a bit. As we've discussed, at some point Levemir will be the solution.

As for splitting the dose, that is something that some people with higher dose cats have done to try to get better numbers. Two shots = two pools of Lantus. The surface area which is precipitated is larger with two pools than one. I have seen a few people deliberately try splitting the dose, or some just have to when the dose get too large (above 30 units). Mixed results whether the split dose makes a difference.

 

[JanetNJ]

I've heard levemir doesn't sting at larger doses. I switched to ProZinc when we hit 5 units because her vetsulin stung. The ProZinc didn't sting at all, even when we were giving 12 units.

 

[Breanna H]

Yes definently refrigerate to make it last longer. However it is ok to fill syringe a few mins earlier to allow it to warm up a bit.

I used to hold the syringe where the insulin is, in between my fingers for a bit before shooting, to help warm a bit. As we've discussed, at some point Levemir will be the solution.

I will definitely have to try this and see if it helps! I usually draw it up and give it right away, so I will see if waiting a bit and warming it helps! We are finally going to be switching to levemir after I finish out my Lantus!

I've heard levemir doesn't sting at larger doses. I switched to ProZinc when we hit 5 units because her vetsulin stung. The ProZinc didn't sting at all, even when we were giving 12 units.

He didn't mind the Prozinc at 8u at all. But he has not liked Lantus. I am finishing my lantus out and my vet finally agreed we can try levemir!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Breanne -

If you want to switch sooner, you could see if someone local to you would want to buy your Lantus.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

I do both what Patty said which is leave it out for a few minutes once I draw the syringe and I also rub it with my fingers to get it warm before the shot

 

[Breanna H]

Thank you all for the suggestion of warming the insulin! After I check his sugar, I draw it up and set the warm rice sock on top of it while I get his food ready. It has made a world of difference! He still is a bit angry but not nearly as bad

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Thank you all for the suggestion of warming the insulin! After I check his sugar, I draw it up and set the warm rice sock on top of it while I get his food ready. It has made a world of difference! He still is a bit angry but not nearly as bad

YAY

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

I had another thought. What’s the length of your syringe needle? Maybe a shorter one like 6mm would work better too