Starting Basaglar today

Amanda Wenger

Amanda Wenger

Member Since 2020
Hello! Lila will be transitioning from Vetsulin to Glargine today and I’m wondering about the starting dose (just so I’m prepared when we see the vet).

She was put on vetsulin supposedly short term while recovering from DKA and has been on it for about three weeks but it is NOT working for her. Her dose has been between 1-1.5 units but it doesn’t last the full 12 hour cycle.

Prior to the vetsulin, she was on Prozinc from 6/21-1/22 but was not very well controlled. I think her dose on that was 1-2 units.

She is a rescue and was in foster care from September until this past Friday when I adopted her.

Thanks so much!
 
Hi Amanda, and welcome to the forum. Someone who is better with dosing will probably chime in soon, but here is your last post for continuity: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ke-it-through-the-weekend-on-vetsulin.259285/

This forum gets really busy, so please read the posting guidelines here: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ir-biosimilars-land-experience-updated.46014/

The most helpful thing to us would be if you could fill in your signature with information like the cat's name, age, foods she is eating, other conditions, etc., as described in the link above. This will tell us at a glance about your cat so we don't have to ask you all the time the same questions.

Hope the glargine helps Lila!
 
Hi Amanda, welcome to FDMB! Thank you for adopting a sugar baby! :bighug:

Since Lila dropped to the 60s on 1.5U of vetsulin and some cats have as strong initial reaction to a new insulin, I think you might want to start at a slightly lower dose, say 1U.

I will tag a couple of other senior members for dose confirmation:
@tiffmaxee
@Wendy&Neko

Like Katherine suggested, it would be really helpful if you could add her basic info to your Signature so that we don't keep asking you the same questions every time you post! :-)

Here's how you can set-up your Signature:
  • In the Menu, under your user name, click on Signature.
  • Add info we need to help you:
    • Caregiver & kitty's name
    • DX: Date
    • Name of Insulin (do not include dose or frequency)
    • Name of your meter
    • Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
    • Dosing: TR or SLGS or Custom (if applicable)
    • DKA or other recent health issue (if applicable)
    • Acro, IAA, or Cushings (if applicable)
    • Spreadsheet link. Please put the signature link on the bottom line of your signature information, on its own, so it is easy to find.
  • Please do not put any information about your location in the signature for security reasons. If you wish to add your country location, please add it to your profile.
  • There is a limit of two lines. You may separate info with commas, dashes, | etc.
  • Be sure to click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom.
 
Welcome! It’s good you are switching insulin. Did you start basaglar this morning? If so it would be good to leave space on the spreadsheet between the two.
 
Katherine&Ruby said:
Hi Amanda, and welcome to the forum. Someone who is better with dosing will probably chime in soon, but here is your last post for continuity: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ke-it-through-the-weekend-on-vetsulin.259285/

This forum gets really busy, so please read the posting guidelines here: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ir-biosimilars-land-experience-updated.46014/

The most helpful thing to us would be if you could fill in your signature with information like the cat's name, age, foods she is eating, other conditions, etc., as described in the link above. This will tell us at a glance about your cat so we don't have to ask you all the time the same questions.

Hope the glargine helps Lila!
Click to expand...
Katherine&Ruby said:
Hi Amanda, and welcome to the forum. Someone who is better with dosing will probably chime in soon, but here is your last post for continuity: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ke-it-through-the-weekend-on-vetsulin.259285/

This forum gets really busy, so please read the posting guidelines here: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...ir-biosimilars-land-experience-updated.46014/

The most helpful thing to us would be if you could fill in your signature with information like the cat's name, age, foods she is eating, other conditions, etc., as described in the link above. This will tell us at a glance about your cat so we don't have to ask you all the time the same questions.

Hope the glargine helps Lila!
Click to expand...


Thank you! Yes, I will get that information entered in ASAP. I feel like I have been flying by the seat of my pants this weekend as Leila’s BG was way more unstable than I anticipated
 
tiffmaxee said:
Welcome! It’s good you are switching insulin. Did you start basaglar this morning? If so it would be good to leave space on the spreadsheet between the two.
Click to expand...

Hi! Her appointment is in one hour so I will have more information about exactly when the switch is happening afterward. I will definitely leave a couple blank spaces on the spreadsheet to indicate the change.
 
If you gave a shot this morning, 12 hrs from that shot would be the soonest you could start the Lantus.

Since you're in the US, semglee is often a cheaper option. Or, a lot of us order from Mark's Marine Pharmacy...most of us prefer the pens because they stay fresher longer because they're smaller volume (opening one pen every few weeks/ months vs keeping a 10mL vial open for long time).

Make sure you get the U100 syringes. If you go the pen option you do not need the needles for it, can just stick the syringe straight in the pen but do not put any air into the pen...we have pictures to show you if you need jt
 
Thank you! I was given some Basaglar pens by the rescue as it was the plan to change her insulin ASAP once I got her. Fortunately, I am familiar with glargine because my other kitty was on Lantus for a steroid induced diabetes. I will probably go with semglee when it is time for me to purchase. That was just coming out as my kitty went into remission.

I will post an update after her vet appointment.
 
Lila got a full workup at the vet and they will call with all the results tomorrow. Other than being underweight, she did not find anything concerning in the physical exam. I asked for a B12 shot and the vet said it is OK for me to continue giving her fluids as needed at home. We decided to try the Freestyle Libre while we are figuring out her dosing so I need to pick that up and get it installed but I'm going to go ahead and start the glargine this evening. That way, I can stay up and take some readings. She wants to start at 0.5 unit given how frail Lila is right now and because she did dip pretty low on the 1.5 of Vetsulin. Does that seem like a reasonable plan?
 
For a kitty recently DKA, it’s not a good idea to drop the dose so much, or even at all. And you should be testing daily for ketones. If you are, please put the results in the spreadsheet, so we’ll stop asking about it.

How is Lila’s appetite now? She on any other meds due to the DKA?
 
Her appetite is great. I am trying to get 300 cal worth of food in her each day to help her gain weight back and that has gone well so far. She is not on any medication for DKA. I do have gabapentin, Zofran, Cerenia, and mirtazapine at home for my other kitty that I can use in a needed as well as a bag of lactated ringers.

I added the ketone information to her spreadsheet. I have been checking her urine every chance I get. I do have a blood meter but I don’t have the calibration solution and I think I need that before I can use it, correct? I plan to keep giving her fluids to flush out the remaining ketones.

So do you think starting at 1 unit would be better for her? My only concern is that I work outside of the home for the rest of the week so I would not be able to test her mid day, only in the evenings.
 
Which blood ketone meter do you have?

Thanks for adding the ketone test results. With moderate yesterday, you need to give sufficient insulin. We do suggest switching when you can monitor more.
 
Honestly, I am desperate to get her off of the Vetsulin so I will make arrangements to come home and test. She just threw a 570 PMPS.

The meter is KetoSens.
 
Part of that is likely a bounce. The depot will take 5-7 days to build but sine cats have a strong response to the first one or two cycles. Will you be able to get a +2 befriended you leave for work?
 
Yes, I can get a +2 for her for her first 5 cycles as needed. It would be helpful to know what times will be the most important to get readings. Thank you for all your help!
 
Amanda Wenger said:
Yes, I can get a +2 for her for her first 5 cycles as needed. It would be helpful to know what times will be the most important to get readings. Thank you for all your help!
Click to expand...

That’s good because lantus usually onsets at +2. We do suggest that you be home to test every 2-3 hours for the first few cycles. We have no clue when he will nadir. It could be +4-7 or even later. I know you are eager to switch. @Wendy&Neko When do you think she should start lantus?
 
Amanda Wenger said:
The meter is KetoSens.
Click to expand...
I can't think of anyone using that one, so don't know who to ask about the control solution.

If you can get a +2 in the AM before you leave, and if it's lower than the AMPS, then getting a second test around +5 to +6 might be good to start. Maybe lunch break? If you have the time in the morning, post with the +2 and we can help you decide when next to test. It'd hard to predict exactly when in advance.
 
Both Walmart and amazon carry the ketosens control solution. Honestly, I would just use the meter anyway without solution because the trend is important too because the small vs moderate vs large range is big. Just take it with a grain of salt
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I can't think of anyone using that one, so don't know who to ask about the control solution.

If you can get a +2 in the AM before you leave, and if it's lower than the AMPS, then getting a second test around +5 to +6 might be good to start. Maybe lunch break? If you have the time in the morning, post with the +2 and we can help you decide when next to test. It'd hard to predict exactly when in advance.
Click to expand...

So I started her last night and got a +2 and +5. So far today I got a +2 and can get another +5. Good news is no ketones this morning!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top