Specific time to administer insulin after eating?

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Kerri2455

Kerri2455

Member Since 2017
Hello,
Is there a specific time frame to administer insulin after my kitty has eaten? Ive been told wait 20-30 min, I have heard do it right away. Just not sure if it matters really or if it does, then what is the proper time frame to inject him in.

THANKS in advance
Kerri
 
Hi Kerri,

Which insulin are you using? (There are different guidelines for different insulins.)


Mogs
.
 
Lantus typically has a fairly gentle onset. With Lantus you do the preshot test and then feed straight away. Assuming it is safe to give the insulin (high enough BG) and the kitty is eating OK you can then give the Lantus dose straight after food. Indeed, some members very familiar with their kitties give the Lantus dose while the kitty is distracted by their meal!

With Vetsulin/Caninsulin or Novolin N, these insulins typically have a harder, faster onset and can drop BG by a big margin very quickly after dose onset so it's recommended to allow about 30 minutes after feeding before giving Vetsulin/Caninsulin and up to 60 minutes before giving Novolin N. The delay is needed to ensure that the kitty's system is 'primed' with enough glucose in the bloodstream ready for these insulins to go to work upon when the dose really gets into its stride (early in the cycle).

NB: There may be occasions where a Lantus kitty may be having appetite problems and perhaps doesn't eat very much at injection time. While you're getting familiar with insulin treatment it's a good idea to post over on the Lantus & Levemir forum asking members for suggestions on how to proceed with dosing for a cycle when a kitty doesn't eat much at preshot time. Eventually you'll learn more about your kitty's typical pattern and know what to do when appetite's slow/iffy; it'll fast become second nature. :) And when in doubt, always seek a vet's input.


Mogs
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Ok, so you mentioned preshot test- you mean the testing of his BG at home? I don't do that YET. I'm trying to learn all this and we started testing this weekend but everyone is SO HYPED up to eat when i get up at 6 and I am still half asleep that i haven't tested before feeding.
He's never not wanted to eat so I hope that wont happen.

Thanks for suggesting the post on the Lantus and Levemir forum. I didn't realize there was a forum insulin specific. Good to know.

I had heard that Lantus was a slow acting insulin and kind of time released through the day so hopefully this is the case.
 
Yep. Lantus is what is known as a depot insulin. With each dose some of the Lantus is stored under the skin and it gradually releases. With repeated doses of the same size the depot gets topped up to a particular level (dose dependent) and as the insulin stored in the depot gets gradually released into the bloodstream it mimics the action of the between-meal, 'basal' trickle of insulin that would be produced by a healthy pancreas. This makes Lantus typically very good at keeping lower numbers down and BG curves fairly flat (once a 'good' dose is established).

If you check out the 'sticky' posts at the top of the L&L board there's lots of educational material to help you better understand how Lantus works - and how to work with it to help your kitty. :)


Mogs
.
 
Kerri2455 said:
I'm trying to learn all this and we started testing this weekend but everyone is SO HYPED up to eat when i get up at 6 and I am still half asleep that i haven't tested before feeding.
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It won't be long before you're able to do tests practically in your sleep! :D It takes a little bit of trial and error in the early days after Dx but you may find you're pleasantly surprised at how quickly you work out a routine that suits your household and your kitty. :)


Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
Yep. Lantus is what is known as a depot insulin. With each dose some of the Lantus is stored under the skin and it gradually releases. With repeated doses of the same size the depot gets topped up to a particular level (dose dependent) and as the insulin stored in the depot gets gradually released into the bloodstream it mimics the action of the between-meal, 'basal' trickle of insulin that would be produced by a healthy pancreas. This makes Lantus typically very good at keeping lower numbers down and BG curves fairly flat (once a 'good' dose is established).

If you check out the 'sticky' posts at the top of the L&L board there's lots of educational material to help you better understand how Lantus works - and how to work with it to help your kitty. :)


Mogs
.
Click to expand...
Thank You so much!!! I appreciate all the insight and help!
 
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