Switching to Levemir from ProZinc (Levemir just arrived!)

Jay Dee

Jay Dee

Member Since 2021
Hi all -

EDIT: The Levemir was just delivered!!! (5/8/2021) - but we are going to wait until tomorrow morning or Monday morning to start. We don't want to start it at night *just in case* there's an issue overnight, and we may not be home tomorrow afternoon to keep an eye on him.

My Snuggie and I will be switching from ProZinc to Levemir.

@Wendy&Neko suggested I start a thread here so that I can have some additional eyes on Snuggie's spreadsheet as we make the switch. He is currently at 5u ProZinc and I will be increasing his dose to 5.5 tonight. My vet had suggested we start at 2u Levemir, but that was when Snuggie was at 4u ProZinc, so i'm a little unsure where to start him to be safe. He's been up to 6u ProZinc, and i don't want to start him too low - he's spent enough time on too little insulin.

I have read through the dosing guidelines and we will be doing SLGS - although with a switch from a different insulin, it'll be more like "start where we need to and go slow" ... This is because I still feed SOME dry (Young Again Mature Zero LID from approx 11pm or midnight to 6am only, i feed him a bowl of wet before we go to bed, he maybe eats 1/4 c of the dry if that) - because he needs to gain/maintain weight and because his sister is a free feeder and will keep us awake at night if she doesn't have access to food (she already protests when i pull the food 2 hrs before his am injection).

I realize this is NOT ideal but this is really all quite a lifestyle change (he also has kidney disease and we give fluids daily and will be starting some additional supplements on Monday as well that require some additional changes in how i feed everyone). My own health issues are suffering, so i'm taking it one step at a time, focusing on what is safe and attainable, and working toward what is ideal. I love this cat with my entire heart and soul but i'm trying not to lose myself too much while I keep him and his sister healthy and happy.

He is probably going to be a higher dose kitty and I will be getting him tested for acro/IAA at his next bloodwork appt in a month and i'm sure we will eventually want to make the switch to TR and figure out the feeding, but right now it's just not possible until we get used to yet another new routine.

So - all that said, looks like i need to make a post daily for SS checks while we transition? Thanks for any help and advice!
 
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Hi Jay Dee, welcome to this corner of the forum!

I switched from prozinc to Lantus, and it was a great switch (even though lately things have gone a bit off...) I am tagging another user that I know switched from prozinc to Levemir
@SashaV

My understanding is that you don't reduce the dose this mutch when switching. Maybe you could go a bit lower, but given Snuggie was in the reds on 5U I would probably start at 4.5U of levemir myself (especially since you are following SLGS)..... But let's see what others say.
 
Oh, and you probably know this, but you'll need U100 syringe (which is different from prozinc syringes- which is a U40 insulin)
 
Hercule's mum said:
Hi Jay Dee, welcome to this corner of the forum!

I switched from prozinc to Lantus, and it was a great switch (even though lately things have gone a bit off...) I am tagging another user that I know switched from prozinc to Levemir
@SashaV

My understanding is that you don't reduce the dose this mutch when switching. Maybe you could go a bit lower, but given Snuggie was in the reds on 5U I would probably start at 4.5U of levemir myself (especially since you are following SLGS)..... But let's see what others say.
Click to expand...
@Hercule's mum thank you! much appreciated and i'll wait to see what others say. I got the u100 needles with half unit markings and have my reading glasses and hand lense from my old field geology days ready to go to read those itty bitty lines :)

I'm so hopeful this switch helps things out. Poor guy has been fairly miserable for quite some time with high BG readings.
 
Welcome Jay Dee. I'm a "newbie" so can't advise on anything but wanted to say it sounds like you have a pretty good plan. I am on SLGS for other reasons but there is no shame in using that protocol. When you are more comfortable with the Levemir, the dose and the numbers you may want to switch to tight regulation. There are great people on this site that will do everything they can to help you get your Snuggie in to safe numbers. The best of luck to you and, definitely if you can, post daily so others can see how you are doing with your kitty and offer helpful advise.
 
Hello and welcome to LBL. If you haven't already, read the yellow starred Sticky Notes at the top of the forum. And we welcome questions here.:)

You want to pick a time to start Lev when you can monitor fairly closely the first two cycles. Some, but not all cats, have a stronger reaction to the switch in insulin. Since Snuggie's not seeing greens, it might not be as much an issue, but I do remember one cat who lived in Pinkland on Prozinc and found his inner green the first day on Levemir, but that was just initially and he ended up on higher doses. Just make sure you have your high carb food ready too. Chances are there will be no drama, as the Levemir depot has to build.

As for starting dose, you could easily go to 5 units of Levemir. Depending when you do the switch and how he does on 5.5 units of Prozinc, he could switch to 5.5 units as well.
 
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I’m reading up on all the stickies. We are increasing to 5.5u ProZinc tonight and after some inner debate, decided to start the switch on Monday when I’ll be in my office all day and he’ll be by my side like always. Also god forbid anything happens, the vet will be open :-)

I’ve watched the tutorials and have looked at the u100 needles to be sure I’ll know what I’m doing. I’ve got a positive outlook for all this and will post daily.

Thanks!
 
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