switching from vetsulin to lantus Have ???

[bbwyo]

After last Fructosamine test showing 428 and discussions with Vet we are switching to Lantus. The pharmacist has the pens available...I'm used to using the vial and syringes. How are the pens different to use?

We are switching from .5 cu of Vetsulin 2x daily to 1 unit of Lantus 1x daily. How will this be different than using the Vetsulin. I understand with V the onset is faster and with Lantus slower longer? I have not been testing since my Relion tests seemed to be so out of line with the Fructosamine tests... and I understand this possible reasons for this thanks to FDMB. But the one time I tested in the last 3 weeks was in the evening and was 122, I checked with the Vet who said go ahead and give the dose. It was fine but Kitty still had symptoms of of high glucose. I'm a little nervous about the pens so would appreciate any info along those lines. Thanks for your help.

 

[Chris/China (GA)/Garfield]

Actually, you can't compare the fructosamine numbers with the hand held meters.....they use an entirely different scale.

With the pens, you just pull the cap off and there's a rubber stopper underneath....just like a vial!! The only difference is that with the pens, you don't shoot air into the pen to equalize the pressure first....they're already pressurized

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome. My Neko went from Caninsulin/Vetsulin to Lantus too. There is lots of good information in the Sticky Notes on the top of this forum. For example, Lantus is dosed twice a day in most cases. It is very important to test frequently when you start on Lantus. Some catsnhavr a strong initial reaction to the insulin.

 

[bbwyo]

Hello and welcome. My Neko went from Caninsulin/Vetsulin to Lantus too. There is lots of good information in the Sticky Notes on the top of this forum. For example, Lantus is dosed twice a day in most cases. It is very important to test frequently when you start on Lantus. Some catsnhavr a strong initial reaction to the insulin.

what exactly do you mean "some cats have a strong inital reaction to Lantus? or did you mean just insulin? She's been on the Vetsulin for a couple of months now.

 

[bbwyo]

Actually, you can't compare the fructosamine numbers with the hand held meters.....they use an entirely different scale.

With the pens, you just pull the cap off and there's a rubber stopper underneath....just like a vial!! The only difference is that with the pens, you don't shoot air into the pen to equalize the pressure first....they're already pressurized

View attachment 29807 View attachment 29808

I have the solo star but the pen has a "needle" component that screws into the pen

 

[Chris/China (GA)/Garfield]

I have the solo star but the pen has a "needle" component that screws into the pen

Yes, they all do but we don't use the pen needles....we use regular U100 insulin syringes to pull the insulin out of the pen (like shown in the 2nd picture)

 

[Wendy&Neko]

What I mean is that some cats will have very active cycles early on, by going lower. Extra monitoring is recommended.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

we went from vetsulin (which made him feel awful) to pro zinc (didn't last long enough) to lantus better and happy but would dive too low (he is a diver to start) and finally to lev which seems to be working out much better as it is slower and we can steer with food. All of this to say the first week as Wendy said he had a strong response to lev that leveled out after a week to so.