Update on Mala

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hroswitha

Hroswitha

Very Active Member
Last week, Mala (11 year old sugar kitty who has been in remission 5 years) was taken off the steroid ear drops used to cure an ear infection. Her bgs had gone up to over 300. We had hoped she would go back into remission again once off the steroids a week or so.

It hasn't happened. She is testing above 300 still, although she is asymptomatic. She is interactive, energetic, and hungry, but her glucose levels are way too high.

I am willing to try insulin again, and hope to get her back into remission. However, what I don't want to do is take her to a vet's office for blood work. First, I will have trouble affording the tests. Secondly, after the stress of a car ride, her bgs will be WAY too high (last time she was tested at the vet, she was over 500, though her home readings never got above 350). Thirdly, the dosage recommendations of a vet will not necessarily guide our dosage at home - we will do what we did before, and work up a curve on her sugars within a week of insulin use, then slowly decrease her insulin with the hopes of dropping her into remission. The dose recommended by the vet - who is a good vet, but not on board with the home testing thing - will only serve as a starting point.

What recommendations do you all have for Mala at this point?
 
Your plan sounds like a good one. I would get one of the three insulins most popular here - PZI, Lantus or Levemir. Not only are they mild and long lasting, there are support groups for each insulin with people who can help you with dosing.

I would think you should plan on frequent testing as her insulin needs may change as the antibiotic works and the infection clears.

And I would urge you to start low - maybe .5 units twice daily? You can always increase it as needed.
 
Is there a way to get access to small amounts of Lantus without getting the blood work done at a vet?
 
It is by prescription in the US. You might look in our Supply closet to see if anyone has any. You can always get it from your vet, get his dose suggestion and come home and do it yourself. Be sure to read the stickies on the Lantus support group forum. They have tips on how to buy it cheaply, how to store it, the needles to use, etc.
 
I have gotten a single pen of Lantus from the vet. He didn't insist on doing a blood work up - thank God. He initially has recommended shooting 2 units, then do a curve on Saturday. I believe that's too high.

Right now, Mala is a-symptomatic. She is registering at 300+ at 6+ hours. I am planning to start shooting at .5 units tomorrow morning, then do first check on her bgs at around noon.

Any other recommendations?
 
Check out the Lantus support group site: viewforum.php?f=9 Read all the stickies and then post as a Newbie asking for dose advice.

Set up a spreadsheet. It helps you keep track of doses and patterns and when you need dosing advice, it is invaluable for us to see your history. It has been loading very slow and is difficult on some computers. Ask if you need help. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207

You'll do great and so will Mala.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top