Starting dose- ANOTHER diabetic cat!

[Aly & Sparky]

Sparky is still in remission- but now her mom has Diabetes too.

Vet suggested giving her Lantus- 1u BID. Sounded high to me, I'm thinking .5u BID. I'm not terribly experienced with Lantus though so thought I would see what you guys thought. Sparky was only on lantus for a few weeks, and I didn't really get a chance to get a feel for it.

Moonie is a larger cat, no ketones, BGs steady around 290 without insulin, sugar in urine over 2000mg (the highest level on the stick).

I appreciate the input.

 

[BJM]

You safe option is to go with 0.5 units every 12 hours and see how she responds.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

There is a weight based formula that you can use for calculating the initial dose of Lantus:

initial dose = 0.25 x ideal weight in kilograms​

Unless your cat is unusually large or small, this often comes out to approximately 1.0u. You can always start at a lower dose if that makes you more comfortable. You may want to take a look at the starred, sticky notes at the top of the Lantus board to familiarize yourself with the insulin. As an overview:

• Tight Regulation Protocol: This sticky contains the dosing protocol that we use here. There are also links to the more formal versions -- the Tilly Protocol developed by the counterpart of this group in Germany and the Queensland/Rand protocol developed by Jacqui Rand, DVM and published in one of the top vet journals.
• New to the Group: Everything you wanted to know about this forum and more. Info on our slang, FAQs, links to sites on feline nutrition and to food charts containing carb counts, how to do a curve and the components to look for, important aspects of diabetes such as ketones, DKA, and neuropathy, and most important, info on hypoglycemia.
• Handling Lantus: how to get the maximum use from your insulin and what to not do with it!
• Lantus depot/shed: This is an important concept for understanding how Lantus works.
• Lantus & Levemir: Shooting & Handling Low Numbers: What data you need in order to be able to work toward remission or tight regulation as well as information if you have a low pre-shot number or a drop into low numbers during the cycle.