Shadowsfamily

[shadowsfamily]

Hello, it says to introduce yourself and cat on this page but couldn't determine exactly where, so I started New Topic. Sorry if that isn't the right place.

Shadow is a 14yo, male, gray tabby who lives with us in the Twin Cities, MN area. He was rescued by my mother-in-law who lives in the country in Northern Minnesota. Since he is a clone of my first gray tabby (other than gender), she called and told us about the kitty she found. The rest was history and he has ruled the roost since.

Shadow was diagnosed with diabetes in February of this year and we have been learning about feline diabetes. He is on Lantus glargine, currently 2U a.m. and p.m. He seems to do well, but then all of a sudden will start peeing copious amounts and in inappropriate places, tends to be more aggressive about eating/begging, and lies more by the water dish (though he has always been a water-playing cat). This seems to occur when the glargine is hitting right around the 3mo mark after opening (refrigerated and liquid still clear). Every time we talk to our vet, wonderful as she is, she wants to do a glucose curve at $150. We are out of testing strips and that's also about $100. All of this has really added up financially, so I am seeking some experienced advice.

My questions are as follows: 1) Is there a way to test the glargine's efficacy other than simply buying a new vial? 2) Is this consistent with other members experience with glargine?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Helene & Cleo]

Welcome to you and Shadow!

I can't advise specifically on the lantus efficacy, but I do know that it is possible to get hold of testing strips for a lot less that $100. I've read on here that Walmart sells a perfectly adequate glucose meter, the ReliOn, which has very cheap strips. From memory, less than $15 for 50 strips, and the meter itself costs roughly the same. I'm in the UK, but I'm sure some US forum members can confirm this.

You're right, there is no need to pay $150 for the vets to plot a routine glucose curve. It is a waste of money, and something you can do yourself at home with much more accurate results. Cats get stressed at vets, this gives a falsely elevated blood glucose reading.

I think home testing is going to be the only way to determine what's going on with your kitty's glucose levels and reaction to the insulin. Anything else will just be speculation.

However, I must say that the symptoms you mention do imply that Shadow's glucose levels are getting too high, what with the higher than usual hunger, thirst and urination; these are fairly typical of hyperglycaemia.

Get a cheap meter, cheap test strips, and get testing. It's the only way you'll know for sure.

H

 

[BJM]

You may find it helpful to review some of these tips on the care and handling of Lantus

1) Do not shake, rattle, nor roll the vial or pen\; this makes it deteriorate faster
2) Refrigerate on a shelf to prolong its life, not the fridge door (because of #1)
3) Never put any excess back in the vial or pen; it will contaminate the insulin with the lubricant from the syringe.
4) It is much less expensive to get a pack of 5 pens and use a syringe to withdraw the insulin (not the needle tips that go with the pen). Each pen holds 3 mL. One mL is 100 units. Therefore 1 pen is 300 units. At 4 units per day, that is 75 days worth.

If you test with an inexpensive human glucometer at home, you can save a lot of money you'd otherwise pay the vet. Of course, the vet may object and say you need a pricey, pet specific glucometer and strips. Balderdash - the majority of us here are testing with a human glucometer, using pet-specific reference ranges for human glucometers.

 

[Rob & Harley (GA)]

Hi and welcome to you and Shadow,

Starting a new topic is exactly the right way to do it.

It sounds like you are home testing, good for you, so you can do a curve on Shadow at home and save the $150, then send the numbers to the vet.

I'm in the Twin Cities too and have a spare Relion Micro Meter that you can have if you want it, a box of 100 strips cost $36 at Walmart so that may save you some money too. I have heard that the new Relion Prime Meter strips are even less expensive, so you may want to do some comparisons.

Come back and ask any questions that come up. There is also a Lantus Insulin Support Group that has alot of information for you to read in the stickies at the top of their page.

I'm glad you found us.

 

[shadowsfamily]

Thank you Helene, BJM, and Rob for your insight on Shadow's situation! The people he allows to live with him are very grateful!

We will certainly pursue getting strips for the glucometer to evaluate where we are at. Evidently, my husband found a place on Craig's List that had strips for significantly less per box. I know our vet is following standard protocol with the glucose curve, but the last time they tried to do it, they were unable to get the last draw because he was so uncooperative. If I am there, they have no trouble, but he evidently had had his fill of them that day. So, on top of the $150, they couldn't even complete it properly. Luckily, at home he sits right there and lets you do an ear stick without fuss, even purrs, and we have no problem tracking this ourselves.

Shortly after posting, I did come across that Lantus support page and learned many things we need to do differently including drawing correctly (vet instructed us at start of insulin treatment). That's why I really like to hear from those who do this all the time -- no substitute for experience.

Can't tell you how much your help is appreciated. cat_pet_icon

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

check out ebay for strips too. Most of them are cheaper there because they are closer to their expiration date but when you use it
for a cat where you test often, that won't matter. You have more protection buying on ebay than you do from Craig's list.

Here is a great tool to help you keep track ( i also keep a notebook for times when internet is down) of bg numbers.

Get your SpreadSheet Started

This spreadsheet will be needed if you come back and want dosing advise. And you can share it with your vet so he can see your progress
instead of paying him to do a curve.

Hope you keep coming back with more questions.
It's because of everyone here who helped me, my Shadow is now OTJ ( off the juice).