Priss said:
Hi,
I read not to give a shot if the sugar reading is less than 200. The last couple days our reading has been staying at about 175-190 so I skipped the shots like recommended, she's on one unit twice a day of lantus. It's staying around the same now without the insulin. Is this normal for a cat on a canned diet? Should I continue giving her a shot but lower the dose despite the under 200 readings? Our vet said they want her between 100-200.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth!
In the beginning it is usually safest NOT to shoot a number under 200. 175-190 is still considered being in a diabetic range, so you do want to treat your cat. Do you have the ability and interest in testing your cat more often than preshots? If so, then you MAY have a little more freedom to shoot lower BG numbers. What you would want to do is make sure you have plenty of test strips, high carb food, karo, and ability to test every hour (or more) if your cat continues to drop. So for example, I would NOT want to give my cat insulin after getting a lower preshot and then walk away for the day. I would want to test 1 and 2hrs after insulin (+1/+2). I would continue to test every 30-60 minutes if numbers were dropping so I could intervene with high carb food or karo in order to keep my cat safe.
Lantus works best on a 12/12 schedule...giving it consistently. If you are unable to give 1u every 12hrs because the preshots are lower than you feel comfortable shooting (and for good reasons!), then you will want to consider lowering the dose.
Have you recently switched from dry to wet food?
How often have you been able to test?
Has anyone pointed you to the link on how to set up a spreadsheet? If you do this and need help, it will be much easier for people to do so. Looking at a spreadsheet can help see patterns over time and make safer decisions regarding dose.
How to set up and link a ss to your signature:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207
Also, if you have a chance, setting up a profile can be helpful for others as well so you do not have to keep repeating yourself on what you are feeding, shot times, other health issues, etc.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17766
Keep asking questions! Your kitties numbers are very close to normal range. I might encourage you to read a bit more on the different lantus protocols and lots of other information about lantus on the "tight regulation" board:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php
