Trial OTJ tips?

[threesenough]

Tobby is still on the same vial of Lantus that we started in September. He gets 0.5 a unit twice a day. His numbers at home and at the vet have been consistent for the last two months. I get to be home between the holidays so I'm going to stop the injections and do testing three times a day. I really think that his vial is degraded and he is holding his own. He has lost weight and his acting like a kitten again.

Other than the testing three times a day are there any other tips for the trial OTJ?

Regards,
Threesenough

 

[Deb & Wink]

Well, we actually recommend that you drop the dose down to 0.25U and then to 0.1U before you stop the insulin completely. You need to eyeball these tiny doses. The 0.25U dose is halfway between the half unit marks on your syringe and the zero line on your syringe. Here's a picture of the 0.1U dose

Of course, some cats have a mind of their own, and don't want to follow the normal recommendations!!! ohmygod_smile :lol: ohmygod_smile :lol: Wink was one of those kitties. He was dropping too often into the 30's and 40's so I thought I'd stop the insulin for a day or two, let the lantus insulin depot drain a bit, and then restart at a lower dose. Yup, dropped down to 0.1u and skipped over a lot of those intermediate reductions.

I think you might want to try this first, the smaller 0.25 dose, hold for a week, then the 0.1U dose, hold for a week. Of course, if the numbers drop under 50, you reduce the dose ASAP.

We want a strong remission that will last you a long time.

What do you think?

ETA: You don't have a SS so we can't see how well your kitty has been doing, so it's really hard to know if your cat is ready for an OTJ trial. What do you mean by the "numbers have been consistent?"

 

[threesenough]

I knew this was the right place. At home he posts between 62 and 74 every other day when I test him at night before dinner. At the vets they read him right around the 100 mark. Ok, so first step would be the .25 unit and go from there, my syringes only do 0.5 as the lowest dose. So we would go between that and zero right? The husband is already laughing at the amount we give him now.

What is an SS? I keep his readings on a calendar and then transfer them into a spread sheet when we go to the vet.

Threes

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Your husband might not want to laugh, my bailey has had a hypo on 0.25units.. Some cats do respond to very small doses, it's amazing!

Anyway I would seriously try and get some mid cycle tests, because if he is going under 50 then you know for sure the dose is too high and want to drop it. Remember the highest blood sugar of the day is at preshot as the insulin is pretty much worn off by then. Mid cycle is when you see the lowest blood sugar of the day generally. Also if he stays 50-130 for a week that's another reason to drop dose as deb said.

Here is how 0.25 looks.. http://s214.photobucket.com/user/jillsphotos2/media/Lantus Group/025unit-1.jpg.html

 

[Deb & Wink]

A SS is our spreadsheet. We use a standard format SS, set up in a google docs free account. Nice color coding for the number ranges and you can link it to your FDMB account to give us read only access.

Directions on SS setup and link

AMPS = morning pre-shot test
PMPS = evening pre-shot test
U = number of insulin units
+1 = 1 hour after shot
+2 = 2 hours after shot
+6 = 6 hours after shot
+x = x hours after shot

Ok, so first step would be the .25 unit and go from there, my syringes only do 0.5 as the lowest dose. So we would go between that and zero right?

Yup, ibetween those 2 lines. There are no syringes that have 0.25U markings.

You really want to get some mid-cycle tests, to see how low he's dropping.

I have a question on the testing you are doing. That test you are doing at night before dinner. When is that test taken in relationship to the time you give your cat insulin?