Thoughts on vet's plan?

[Pedro T Cat]

Hello Again,
We've been testing Pedro at least twice per day since my last post (about a week). While it's not drastic, his numbers seem to be trending upward without insulin. I've set up a SS and entered the numbers so you can see. I realize these numbers are pretty close, but they do seem to indicate he needs it. Today our vet prescribed Lantus at .5 u twice per day. With Pedro's relatively low numbers, this seems an appropriate dose to me based on what I've read here...right??

I'm going in tomorrow with kitty for injection tutorials at 9:30am, and the vet said that I should give the first dose at home which I'm guessing will be 10-10:30am. We want to get him on a 7am-7pm cycle, and I'm assuming what the vet will have us do is begin the normal dose schedule Sunday morning. I plan to ask her about it tomorrow, but I'm curious what the forum thinks about this.

The vet also said to wait a week to do the first full curve to let the insulin get into his system. I haven't studied it throughly yet, but one of the sticky threads in the Lantus section seemed to agree. She did say to take some readings Saturday afternoon after the initial dose and to closely observe his behavior, and I plan to take several readings Sunday. Neither my wife or I can be home mid day to take readings during the week, but we can in the evening. I am pretty nervous about that, and I plan to abide by the "don't shoot below 200" rule. I may be able to take a day off in the middle of the week.

Based on other threads here, it seems like we got a good vet. I'm just looking for any advice you're able to give on this plan. Thanks!

 

[Blue]

Hello Again,
We've been testing Pedro at least twice per day since my last post (about a week). While it's not drastic, his numbers seem to be trending upward without insulin. I've set up a SS and entered the numbers so you can see. I realize these numbers are pretty close, but they do seem to indicate he needs it. Today our vet prescribed Lantus at .5 u twice per day. With Pedro's relatively low numbers, this seems an appropriate dose to me based on what I've read here...right??

I'm going in tomorrow with kitty for injection tutorials at 9:30am, and the vet said that I should give the first dose at home which I'm guessing will be 10-10:30am. We want to get him on a 7am-7pm cycle, and I'm assuming what the vet will have us do is begin the normal dose schedule Sunday morning. I plan to ask her about it tomorrow, but I'm curious what the forum thinks about this.

The vet also said to wait a week to do the first full curve to let the insulin get into his system. I haven't studied it throughly yet, but one of the sticky threads in the Lantus section seemed to agree. She did say to take some readings Saturday afternoon after the initial dose and to closely observe his behavior, and I plan to take several readings Sunday. Neither my wife or I can be home mid day to take readings during the week, but we can in the evening. I am pretty nervous about that, and I plan to abide by the "don't shoot below 200" rule. I may be able to take a day off in the middle of the week.

Based on other threads here, it seems like we got a good vet. I'm just looking for any advice you're able to give on this plan. Thanks!

I would say that's a good starting dose - .5u BID - I don't see Pedro's numbers as too low for insulin at all.
If you are going to the vet tomorrow, why now start shots tomorrow as well. I would not worry about being able to test during the week because most people who work can't test then either.

When I was working, I had shot times of 5am/pm so that I could test and shoot with time for a delay if needed and still leave for work by 630 or 7am. Then in the evenings, I was able to get in a couple tests before bed. I would do curves on the weekend, and that amount of testing was good enough to make decisions on dosing as needed. I would now wait until the next week before doing a curve; this weekend would be good practice.

I would start the shots tomorrow, and if it helps you, just post the test numbers and people here can help you on giving shots.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

I think you might have one of the good vets, starting at a nice low dosage.

I think you'll want to get a mid point reading (+6) ever so often to help establish the baseline. You just get it when you can and folks here have said it's okay to wait a few
weeks before getting a bg curve.

It sounds like you've got a great start and have done your homework.
This website it great and so are all the people who are so willing to help.
Good luck!

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

The most important times to test in the very beginning are before each shot. It may take Lantus a few days to start "working" as it builds up a shed, so if you only get preshot numbers for a while, that's fine You just never want to shoot the insulin blind.

After that, as you can. Some people set the alarm for 6 hours after the pm shot, wake up and test and go back to sleep. You can try tests as you leave in the am and get home in the pm. Any data is useful. Waiting on a curve is also wise.

Post if you have trouble testing at first. Very few of us got it on the first try and we all have tips that helped us.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Remember that a curve means testing the cat every 1-2 hours for 12 hours. It is a lot of testing and one that may never be necessary for your cat.

So, rather than focus on doing a curve, I suggest you focus on getting in tests when you are home and can - say every 3 hours or so. Starting insulin today or even tonight (so you can start on your 12/12 schedule of 7/7 is a good idea). If you need the vet to demonstrate how to inject insulin - ask the vet to demo with saline. This way, you can then give the first insulin shot tonight at 7 pm and start on your 12/12 schedule from the beginning.

I learned to inject from the vet using saline solution and it doesn't hurt the cat at all.

If you look at Maui's spreadsheet, you will see that I never did a curve on her. What I did instead was test her at various times during her cycle and it was enough data to make adjustments accordingly.

So, don't stress about a curve or having to do.

And yes. 0.5 is a safe starting dose!

 

[Pedro T Cat]

Thanks for the replies and sorry it took me a bit to reply. This is all very helpful and I feel good about what we've been told to do by the vet. We've been up and running for a few days now and have had no problems yet. Thanks again!

 

[Ry & Scooter]

Nice results already. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but you might want to drop down to .25u or similar so you can shoot 12/12 instead of continually skipping evening shots. Just a thought.