? Switching to Lantus soon - protocol questions

Panic

Panic

Member Since 2019
We have ordered our pens and will be switching from ProZinc within the next couple weeks, whenever I can find a good few days to spend with her. I'll be doing the SLGL method.

  • She is currently on 1.2u. Do I keep her on 1.2 when I switch?
  • Does it matter how the pens sit in the fridge? Like can they be on their side or?
  • For the first week are there specific times I should be testing?
 
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Welcome. Usually people give 75% of the previous insulin dose. You do know that you need U100 syringes with half unit markings? We change doses in .25 increments. Lantus usually onsets at +2-3 but the first few times when switching insulin I’d test at +1 and +2 and then post asking for suggestions on the next test. Sometimes you get a strong initial reaction when switching insulin.

Have you read the yellow sticky on lantus? It’s a depot drug which is different from what you are used to so it can take up to six cycles for the depot to build.

Ask questions after reading the sticky. Someone is always around to answer.
 
You can switch to your current dose of Prozinc. (You only lower to 75% of the dose if you are switching between two depot insulins and Prozinc is not a depot insulin.) However, some cats do have a marked response when you switch insulin. So if you want to shoot 1.0u, that's fine, too.

If Panic has an early nadir and is used to the feeding times you've outlined, I'd stick with those times. For a kitty with an early nadir, you want to front load the cycle. At some point you may want to try to feed the cycle's worth of food prior to nadir. I'm not sure who said steering drops isn't necessary. It is.

The pens can sit any way you want them to.

Never ask a testaholic how and when to test. My answer: Just like voting in Chicago -- early and often.
 
If you had to stop testing, I would test at +2 at least before bed and when you leave for the day (work, errands, etc) or whenever onset is for Panic on Lantus (whenever you find that out). Just to make sure Panic isn’t having an active cycle while you’re sleeping or away.

Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Never ask a testaholic how and when to test. My answer: Just like voting in Chicago -- early and often.
Click to expand...

This too :woot:
 
tiffmaxee said:
Welcome. Usually people give 75% of the previous insulin dose. You do know that you need U100 syringes with half unit markings? We change doses in .25 increments. Lantus usually onsets at +2-3 but the first few times when switching insulin I’d test at +1 and +2 and then post asking for suggestions on the next test. Sometimes you get a strong initial reaction when switching insulin.

Have you read the yellow sticky on lantus? It’s a depot drug which is different from what you are used to so it can take up to six cycles for the depot to build.

Ask questions after reading the sticky. Someone is always around to answer.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Yes, I already use U-100 syringes on her (I convert from U-40) and have the ones with half-units. I have read the sticky a couple times, planning on re-reading it again, I'm aware of it requiring six cycles for the depot, just wasn't sure of the changes from ProZinc. :) Thank you, I think maybe I'll make a thread when I start for advice like you said!

Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
You can switch to your current dose of Prozinc. (You only lower to 75% of the dose if you are switching between two depot insulins and Prozinc is not a depot insulin.) However, some cats do have a marked response when you switch insulin. So if you want to shoot 1.0u, that's fine, too.

If Panic has an early nadir and is used to the feeding times you've outlined, I'd stick with those times. For a kitty with an early nadir, you want to front load the cycle. At some point you may want to try to feed the cycle's worth of food prior to nadir. I'm not sure who said steering drops isn't necessary. It is.

The pens can sit any way you want them to.

Never ask a testaholic how and when to test. My answer: Just like voting in Chicago -- early and often.
Click to expand...
Panic recently had a failed reduction from 1.2u to 1u so she's back to 1.2u, it sounds like starting her on 1u would be smart then, to be on the safe side perhaps?

Could you explain front loading a cycle? I haven't heard that term. I don't remember who said it but when I asked they said for depot shots you're not steering the drop like you are for in-and-out insulin because depot insulin doesn't drop as badly. So we do still steer the drop?

LOL thank you. Early and often it is. ;)
 
As an example of front loading, Gabby had an early nadir -- at around +3 or +4. In order to offset some of her drama queen tendencies, I fed her at pre-shot, +1, +2 and +3. For a cat who has a nadir at +6, you could spread out the meal installments over a greater amount of time.
 
Panic said:
I understand steering the drop is no longer necessary
Click to expand...
Steering any kind of drop (= a bounce trigger on any insulin) is OF COURSE necessary to avoid the said drop. Lantus or whatever.
You simply going to learn how to do it properly with the new insulin.
The times will change.
The onset and nadir will do, too.
Feeding times will depend on how Panic does (onsets, nadirs, etc) on Lantus or any other depot types.
Testing is the answer, as you well know.
I hope he 'll do well.
I wish he does well :)
Panic said:
For the first week are there specific times I should be testing?
Click to expand...
As usual: you need to know the onset, the nadir and IF Panic does late in the cycle dips - many cats do.
First two weeks of testing should provide you with if not answer then a clues. (the late cycle dips are particular to the depot types - a lower number close to the end of the cycle, low but higher still than the nadir earlier).
:) very best of luck!
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Steering any kind of drop (= a bounce trigger on any insulin) is OF COURSE necessary to avoid the said drop. Lantus or whatever.
You simply going to learn how to do it properly with the new insulin.
The times will change.
The onset and nadir will do, too.
Feeding times will depend on how Panic does (onsets, nadirs, etc) on Lantus or any other depot types.
Testing is the answer, as you well know.
I hope he 'll do well.
I wish he does well :)

As usual: you need to know the onset, the nadir and IF Panic does late in the cycle dips - many cats do.
First two weeks of testing should provide you with if not answer then a clues. (the late cycle dips are particular to the depot types - a lower number close to the end of the cycle, low but higher still than the nadir earlier).
:) very best of luck!
Click to expand...


hi, i am sorry to hijack this thread, but i didn't realize that feeding times were linked to onset and nadirs for the kitty? does one need to feed at particular times?
my bandit is still on kibble and a graze eater, i try to spread out her meals across several installments through the day (and night). i read somewhere that this is better for BG regulation and avoids food spikes. am i doing the wrong thing?

(i do take away the food 2-3 hours before a shot so that the pre-shot reading is not influenced by food and i do give her food with the shot.)
 
I am watching this thread as I am about to start Disco on Lantus from Vetulin, too. Have placed the order from Marks for the pens and they are shipping out today. I also purchased a digital caliper from Harbor Freight and will familiarize myself with using that before we start the Lantus next week, and have all the stickies and probably more FDMB docs printed out than I needed to print, and put all in a 3-ring binder with labeled dividers.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
As an example of front loading, Gabby had an early nadir -- at around +3 or +4. In order to offset some of her drama queen tendencies, I fed her at pre-shot, +1, +2 and +3. For a cat who has a nadir at +6, you could spread out the meal installments over a greater amount of time.
Click to expand...
So basically just keeping the food mainly before nadir for the most part like with most insulins?

I think that covers all of my questions, thanks everyone for responses! Pens are expected to arrive Thursday so I'll start her on Tuesday since I'll have a few days in a row off to monitor. :)
 
@Sienne and Gabby (GA) My box of pens just came in the mail - I got them from a reputable seller here but was surprised there was no ice pack?? I thought they'd need to stay cool.
 
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It was an individual here who had a few ladies vouch for her. I just spoke with one and she said her box of pens came without an ice pack as well. It was shipped from up north, I checked their weather and its been in the 30-40Fs there. It's been in the 40-50Fs where I live.
 
They should be fine....the first time I ordered from Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada, it was the end of June and there were 2 national holidays (Canada Day and 4th of July) coming up. My first shipment took 10 days in 90 degree heat. I was still able to use every drop.

The one thing I can tell you is that if the numbers start to trend up and you've been using the same pen for awhile, it can't hurt to try another one. If the numbers go back down, you know the first one may have lost some efficacy, but if you still get the same numbers, you may just need to increase the dose or look for another reason the numbers are trending up
 
Thank you, that's very reassuring. When I saw there wasn't an ice pack I panicked for a moment. I'll keep that note in the back of my mind though.
 
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