should i be worried???

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wsugold

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ok, this morning was my first injection w/lantus this morning. we gave it to simba at 7am. next dose will be at 7pm.
however, i just checked his blood w/the walmart meter and it was 440!
when i had checked it the other day it was 359. do i need to take him to the emergency vet?
when he was diagnosed he was 438 so i think i might be over reacting but i don't know and this is the highest he has been since diagnosed.

we are doing 1 unit 2x a day w/the lantus.
 
It usually takes several days for Lantus to begin lowering BGs. Lantus works by creating a depot or reserve, sometimes referred to among us as "shed," and until that has been established there may not be marked changes in blood glucose levels.

No, you do not need to take him to the vet, unless he is vomiting, lethargic, seems distressed, etc. Although it is still not good for them to have high BGs, they tolerate it much better than humans.

If you have not been told to do so, now would be a good time to get ketone test strips and learn how to collect the urine to use them. There are several tricks to collecting urine, just ask if you'd like some help with that.

Ketones can develop quickly and are sometimes seen in newly diagnosed diabetic cats who have lost weight, are inappetent or have an infection. Sometimes the diabetes has been going on for a while before the owner takes the cat to the vet, that is one reason why ketones seem to happen more frequently with newly diagnosed cats. They can occur for any diabetic cat, even one which has been on insulin for a while, but we see them more frequently for cats just starting on insulin.
 
It's okay. Breathe.

I know the numbers look scary. Sometimes Lantus takes 5 days to settle in. Right now your kitty is just beginning to build up the depot of insulin. You don't have to take him to the ER, unless he has other symptoms like inappetance. I would highly encourage you to go out tonight and buy some ketone test strips (if you don't alread have them), and test your cat's urine as often as you are able to. If he shows over a trace of ketones, he needs to go to the ER.

Otherwise, feed him as much low carb food as he wants to eat, right now, and shoot the insulin as close to 12 hours apart as is possible. Others will be along to help you and encourage you.
 
I can't help (never used Lantus) but I can encourage and empathise. Let us know when ever you get a new BG number.
 
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