Vet trouble

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Mphair84

Mphair84

Member Since 2018
So I'm in the process of trying to get my vet to give me a Rx for Lantus. I'm switching over from Prozinc.

Today I found out that I need to make an appointment to discuss switching over. The message said that " it's not just a simple switch and it's going to set me back.

What kind of information and points should I make?
I'm just scared that they won't give me the Rx.
 
It is just a simple switch from one to the other!
You give the last dose of Prozinc in the am or pm and then 12 hours later you give the first dose of Lantus.
You will need to work out what dose to start on because you have already had your kitty on insulin. We usually suggest you start on 70% of your current dose of insulin. So the nearest easy amount to draw up would be 1 unit if you current dose is 1.5 units.That is because we are not sure how your kitty will react to Lantus so dropping the dose is a safety thing.
It is a different type of insulin to Prozinc. Prozinc is an 'in and out' insulin and one dose does not effect another. Lantus is a 'depot' insulin so a dose can effect another. The depot takes 6 cycles to fill and for the full effect of a dose to be seen. Read the stickies at the The top of the Lantus page so you are ready for the vets questions.
Lantus is a good insulin.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
 
I have read the Stickys, but I'm afraid I'm going to slip up. Lol.

I'm so frustrated. My cat is in high numbers a lot lately. He is pretty much in the blacks a lot. I just upped his do does a little.

This is the same place that told me that I should be basing his insulin on the BG half hour after he eats and not worrying about the 2 hr no food before he gets tested.
 
I agree that it is not difficult to change insulins. Do you share your spreadsheet with your vet? That is all I ever needed to do with my cats
 
First, HUGS! Butting heads with our vets is never a pleasant experience. BUT REMEMBER - YOU pay that vet - they work for you. If you want to change to Lantus, insist that he give it to you. It's very evident that your vet doesn't 'get' feline diabetes - he's trying to apply dog diabetes protocol to a cat. Cats are NOT 'little dogs'.

I made that change from an insulin that works the same as yours many years ago - it was no big deal! You WILL see higher numbers for a few days as the Lantus depot builds but when that is finally established and stable. you'll see much smoother curves.

You got this!!!!
 
I looked at your spreadsheet and up to a couple weeks ago you were getting some decent readings. I am wondering if there may be some type of health issue going on.

How old is your insulin? When was the last time Tuffy had blood work done? When was the last time Tuffy had a dental? All of these can affect the BG levels.
 
Yes
Lisa and Witn (GA) said:
I agree that it is not difficult to change insulins. Do you share your spreadsheet with your vet? That is all I ever needed to do with my cats
Click to expand...
I do, but I don't like to because they "complain" about it because I don't use the exact same dose.

He just had his dental. I feel like I know the issue. His insulin is not as potent and I need new insulin. However, I planned on switching to Lantus at the end of this bottle. I do not want to buy another bottle of Prozinc just to switch it to Lantus. I can't afford that.

I'm going to increase insulin to 1.75 tonight. His numbers are too high.
 
Squeaky and KT (GA) said:
he's trying to apply dog diabetes protocol to a cat. Cats are NOT 'little dogs'.
Click to expand...

How are dogs diabetes different than a cats? Just curious their protocol.

Either way im Switching my cat. I'd prefer not to have to start over with a vet because I'm low on insulin and I can't go without it.

I was planning on starting out with 1u, then working my way up. I will post on the Lantus forrum again when I get the Lantus to ACTUALLY switch and tell them my plan to get approval.
 
When you get the prescription for Lantus make sure you ask for the pens instead of the vial. With the vial the insulin will start to become ineffective long before you use all of it. With the pens you will be able to use almost every drop. Depending on the dose, one pack of pens could last 9 months or more. You do not need the pen needles. You will use them like mini vials.
 
It has been awhile since I have had a diabetic cat, but I think each pen gave me enough insulin to last between 1 1/2 to 2 months before the pen was empty. She was getting 2 units 2X a day.
 
Depends on the dose but like the others have mentioned, the average diabetic kitty will not use a vial before it goes bad so that's why we use the pens as "mini vials". This is a good video to explain how to use the Lantus pens:

Also, we switched from Prozinc to Lantus with very little problem. It's not difficult at all but you can't be reactive to the PS numbers like Prozinc, since Lantus is a depot insulin :).
 
to begin with, I had a very hard time pulling the plunger out to load the insulin, it took almost a *yank* not a steady pull
was several weeks before someone mentioned it's helpful to "exercise" the plunger up and down a time or two

then I noticed that these syringes, from the vet, had the plunger out to the 1 unit mark, fresh from the package, instead of being bottomed out, as I had seen in the past, after having given my kittens their initial vaccinations, back when I was into showing and careful breeding

no wonder I was getting a bubble now and then, or seeing drops filling the syringe instead of a smooth flow

less of a concern with Vetsulin, but still ...
 
My issue was pulling the plunger to get insulin, but I always squirted the extra back into the bottle. :(
 
You don't want to do that as it can contaminate the insulin :). Even more so with Lantus, as the lady in the video says she's using that one because she accidentally let the plunger suck an air bubble back into the pen and that pen is no longer good :(. It sounds tricky to start but it's not so bad. I was terrified I'd ruin an entire pen when we first started :nailbiting:.
 
That's my concern. I may get the vial at first just because it's cheeper, just while I get started. It's more familiar.....lol
 
@Mphair84 make sure you also get the correct syringes when you swap over to Lantus. Lantus insulin needs. u100 0.3ml, 30 or 31 gauge, 6 or 8 mm syringes with half unit markings. Can be bought at Walmarts.
 
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