starting dose recommendations requested
- Thread starter Hettie
- Start date
Hello and welcome. Max looks like a real snuggler. 
We take the dose of the existing insulin in mind when switching insulins, so that would be somewhere in the 2.5 to 3.0 range, as 3.25 units of Prozinc got him too low. The reason I am hedging what to suggest is your night time testing. Is there a reason you do not get tests at night? Many cats go lower at night. We determine how to change the Lantus dose based on how low it takes the kitty. Plus some cats react strongly to an insulin switch so you will need to switch when you can monitor closely for a few cycles.
Make sure you read all the Sticky Notes on the top of this forum. Especially the one on dosing methods as people here use one of the two dosing methods described in that Sticky Note. Keep asking questions as we love to help here.
We take the dose of the existing insulin in mind when switching insulins, so that would be somewhere in the 2.5 to 3.0 range, as 3.25 units of Prozinc got him too low. The reason I am hedging what to suggest is your night time testing. Is there a reason you do not get tests at night? Many cats go lower at night. We determine how to change the Lantus dose based on how low it takes the kitty. Plus some cats react strongly to an insulin switch so you will need to switch when you can monitor closely for a few cycles.
Make sure you read all the Sticky Notes on the top of this forum. Especially the one on dosing methods as people here use one of the two dosing methods described in that Sticky Note. Keep asking questions as we love to help here.
Hettie
Member Since 2018
Hello and welcome. Max looks like a real snuggler.
We take the dose of the existing insulin in mind when switching insulins, so that would be somewhere in the 2.5 to 3.0 range, as 3.25 units of Prozinc got him too low. The reason I am hedging what to suggest is your night time testing. Is there a reason you do not get tests at night? Many cats go lower at night. We determine how to change the Lantus dose based on how low it takes the kitty. Plus some cats react strongly to an insulin switch so you will need to switch when you can monitor closely for a few cycles.
Make sure you read all the Sticky Notes on the top of this forum. Especially the one on dosing methods as people here use one of the two dosing methods described in that Sticky Note. Keep asking questions as we love to help here.
Thanks! Yes, he is snuggler!
As you can probably tell, I've been 'experimenting' with his dose. I had him at 3u for a while but his PS numbers were still quite high with mid-cycle numbers still in the 100's (eg 4/3-4/11). He seems to have really large swings...that's the reason I'm considering switching him to Lantus since Lantus seems to give a 'flatter' curve.
I got a few PM tests in the past and it seemed he was relatively flat at night, so that's why I haven't gotten any lately. But another person in the provinc forum also suggested I get some more PM data, so I will collect some more.
Sonia & Leo
Member Since 2018
Welcome Hettie and Max! 
Welcome to the group!
There are a number of differences between Lantus and Prozinc. Most notably, Lantus dosing is based on the nadir, not on the pre-shot numbers. Because of this, routinely getting tests during the PM cycle is important. Some of the bouncing that you're seeing may be the result of numbers dropping lower in the PM cycle and then bouncing up in response. Getting at minimum a before bed test every night will let you know if Leo is in safe numbers.
Lantus also uses U100 syringes. Please make sure you're not using U40 syringes.
There are a number of differences between Lantus and Prozinc. Most notably, Lantus dosing is based on the nadir, not on the pre-shot numbers. Because of this, routinely getting tests during the PM cycle is important. Some of the bouncing that you're seeing may be the result of numbers dropping lower in the PM cycle and then bouncing up in response. Getting at minimum a before bed test every night will let you know if Leo is in safe numbers.
Lantus also uses U100 syringes. Please make sure you're not using U40 syringes.