Switching to Lantus

Adam2020

Adam2020

Member Since 2020
We are going to the vet today and want to ask if we can switch to Lantus. He has been on Pro Zinc 2 years and it's really not working to keep his numbers down no matter of I increase or not. What do I need to ask him to write on the script I know we need to get new syringes and I am pretty sure Walmart gets them. Is there anything else I need to know ? I will be ordering through Mark's Marine. Do I need to do anything to transition him ?
 
Welcome. You won’t need to do anything to transition. You can start on your same dose. I looked at your spreadsheet. With Lantus you will need to test more than you have been if you choose to follow one of our methods. It looks like you follow SLGS. It also looks like Adam is too used to higher bg and bounces when he hits blue bg. I encourage to get some spot checks rather than relying on one curve a week to decide dosing. Cats often drop lower at night.

I used to order from Mark’s. They are great. They just sent an email that it will take longer to get shipments and to order in advance. You might want to call them and see. Look on the supply closet to see if anyone is selling lantus. I got the pens and was able to use them to the last drop. I had to throw out vials more than half full after about 7 months due to loss of potency.

Please update your signature with food he eats, method, date diagnosed and any other health concerns or medications he takes.

Good luck with the switch.
 
Hi, I just tried to order Lantus from Mark's recently, and was told that the Lantus pens are backordered 6-8 weeks. I ordered another brand of insulin glargine called Basaglar instead, it was about $40 less for the five-pen-pack and so far, I cannot tell the difference from Lantus as far as how it is working on Hendrick.

However, even the Basaglar took about 3-4 weeks to arrive at my house, Mark's advised that the USPS customs hub in Oregon had been closed, meaning all the shipments bound for a Stateside address had to go to LA to go through customs and this was adding considerable delay.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I talked to Chris after I got home and she told me to order Basinger also. She showed me what syringes to get at Walmart also. I don't really use the board much and don't keep up with the spreadsheet I just use a notebook which I know everyone hates it but after 2 years I still never remember to update it anyways. I can test more during the day as needed. He is eating Aldi canned food with eater added. I feel 1/4 can every 4 to 5 hours. He has a timed feeder for night time. He gets his shot 10am and 10 pm. The vet wanted him on prescription food and I said no. After we get the prescription I will probably switch him to the vet I take our other fur babies to. He is nice but his tech and him contradict each other and that worries me of he were to pass along info she might not tell me the correct thing. I knew enough from reading the FB chat to have an idea what I needed to ask for. He has been on Pro Zinc 2 years and at $118 every 4 months that gets expensive and it dosent seem to keep his numbers down anyways. He said he is on a low dose at 1 3/4 units and I said I had him up to over 2 1/2 at one point and didn't see much change. So we will see how he does with Lantus.
 
Also wanted to ask the tech said after I switch Insulin I need to do a curve like a week later to see how he is doing with it. Is this correct ? Now I am second guessing everything she said which sucks.
 
Thank you that's what I thought. I need to do more mid day readings again. And start a new spreadsheet. I have Meniers Disease so some days are a struggle for me but I know I will probably need help too after we switch. I am ordering it today.
 
Yeah the whole point of a curve is to get an idea what the kitty's BG is doing throughout the day.

And actually, if you're doing testing at different times on different days to fill in the picture it is probably more valuable than a single curve done only on one day. More data is always better! So as long as you spread your tests around, a +2, +4 and + 9 one day, next day a +3, +6 and a +10 or or something...you basically build a multi-day curve.
 
Hendrick Cuddleclaw said:
Yeah the whole point of a curve is to get an idea what the kitty's BG is doing throughout the day.

And actually, if you're doing testing at different times on different days to fill in the picture it is probably more valuable than a single curve done only on one day. More data is always better! So as long as you spread your tests around, a +2, +4 and + 9 one day, next day a +3, +6 and a +10 or or something...you basically build a multi-day curve.
Click to expand...
Yes very true good idea on changing the times a little true bit. Adam does pretty well with doing a curve but towards the end he is done with it and I can't blame him either. I will try to test more often as some days are better then others for me. I have Meniers Disease and it gives me Vertigo attacks pretty bad sometimes. Just did 5 days and man it was bad .
 
sorry to hear about the vertigo that sounds awful

And yeah good point, getting tests at different times across multiple days is also easier on Adam, as opposed to a one-day-curve where he gets jabbed every 2 hours for 12 hours straight. Should make for a happier kittah!
 
The only curve Max ever got was the one after his first shot of insulin when my vet wanted to monitor his reaction. After that I did the testing, often based upon his numbers. I agree with all Kyle said.
 
it seems like vets always push curves and most often they want to do them AT the vet and charge you lots of money. Some say this is a standard vet-money-grab practice.

I learned here that if you are going to do a curve, doing it at home is WAY WAY better. Cats get stressed at the vet and that raises their BG. And then I also learned they aren't really necessary if you're already testing a lot.
 
I agree with Kyle about the curve/testing thing. Much better to just do at home and to gather data and fill in what happens with them at different times of day (as well as what they're doing, what they're eating... all normal stuff... which is not what they'd be doing at the vet.) I suppose for a person who does not home test, getting the vet to do a curve might be a little bit useful (but only for a very short time). Cats insulin needs do change over time, and sometimes change quickly, so that curve is just a one day "snapshot" of what was going on with the cat on that day. I'm happy you are home testing. I'm very sorry about the Meniere's disease. I've read about it, and that sounds really tough to deal with.
 
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