Wondering how long before you consider changing insulin maybe to Lantus or?

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DebG

DebG

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Fritz was first DX on Feb 11,2016. The vet prescribed Lantus which I had him on from Feb12th till March 24th a different vet changed him to Prozinc.
His numbers could be a lot worse, but I'm so new at this I'm not even sure how all this works. I'm spending a lot of time on this forum reading all the different posts most of which are on Lantus, sitting here wondering if Fritz is making progress ?
How long do you stay with one insulin before considering to switch?
I don't want to change if it looks like Prozinc is working and will continue to lower?
I want what's best for Fritz so I lean on the experience of you members that have paved the path.
Seeking guidance!!!!:blackeye:
 
He is at higher ranges and you are at a larger dose. He hasn't been on ProZinc very long, but it doesn't seem to be working all that well. His numbers aren't awful but he isn't dropping much.

I am a firm believer that the best insulin is the one that works best for your cat. You could try Lantus or Levemir.

Have you looked at high dose symptoms? Does anything sound familiar?

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...-other-high-dose-conditions-what-we-know.375/
 
He had blood work in Feb would they have tested him then? If not do they test at the vets?
I have the blood results would someone here be able to look at it?
If he was your kitty what would you do?
 
Vets don't necessarily check for high dose conditions until the cat is on high doses and the bean asks for it.

I am not saying that he has a high dose condition, Deb. It just might be a possibility.

Read the forum info on high dose conditions. It is not an active forum, but there is info there. If nothing rings a bell, then it is less likely.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/acromegaly-iaa-cushings-cats.12/

If he were mine, I'd probably try another insulin.
 
K thank you Sue I'm going there now.
If I do switch is it like starting all over?
I'll go study the Lantus forum sticky
 
You will get advice on whether to lower the dose from Lantus people. Yes, the two insulins are dosed completely differently. Lantus is dosed only on the nadir number. There are specific "rules" about when to raise and lower the dose. The dose is given every 12 hours without variation.

The first thing is to decide whether you want to do the Start Low, Go Slow or Tight Regulation approach. You can read about both on their forum. @Bobbie And Bubba switched recently. She can give you some pointers.
 
Hi Deb, like Sue said, the insulins are very different from each other. The stickies will help you understand Lantus or Levemir better. If you have any questions please ask me and if I can help, I will. Also, it might be a good idea to post in L & L and say that you are possibly switching and what dose you should start out at. Give as much info about Fritz that you think will be helpful ie, on steroids for the asthma.
 
Sue, Bobbie, I know I sound wishy washy but I'm thinking about trying a bit longer. one member mentioned that it is suggested to try an insulin for 6 months before changing, and if I'm not seeing signs of acromeagly to wait usually they start thinking about testing at 6 units on.
Last night his numbers were better not blues or greens but stayed out of the pinks with a yellow AMPS this morning. I also didn't give him any FF classic food, wondering if he could be carb sensitive or gluten sensitive and if that effects BG's?
I can always make the jump over to another insulin.
 
There are no right or wrong choices, Deb. This disease is just not a series of clear cut choices (wouldn't that be nice :p). It might be he needs longer with ProZinc; it might be another insulin would work better. So, you just go with your gut, make a choice and work with that. The nice thing is that he is not running in reds and blacks, so changing now or changing later isn't a big issue.
 
Important differences between Lantus and ProZinc
Sliding scale and more flexible scheduling are possible with ProZinc.
Lantus as used here: more rigid schedule, doses held stable for days unless there is a reduction earned.
 
Deb

I think six months is reasonable to see how an insulin can do before changing. It's too bad the vet switched him from Lantus to PZ after such a short time.

When you are reading, also read up on Levemir. If/when you decide to switch, his Lantus or levemir dose will be about what he's showing a response to on PZ. For many cats, doses over a couple units of Lantus stings but levemir does not.

Even at only 1.25u, it stung my Gracie. I switched her to lev and not only did it not sting but she did much better response. It "seems", but is not necessarily documented in any scientific paper, that levemir csn also give longer duration. It certainly did for Gracie and it gave her a nice, flat curve like Lantus never did.

But, both are excellent insulins.
 
I really appreciate your sharing this.
Im going to keep him on Prozinc.
He's not staying in the blues or greens but has been in the blues and more yellows now.
I did order stuff for the neuropathy.
Im having a hard time getting his stools to be firm. Strange thing is that before dx of fd his stools were more formed and hard. I backed him off carbs to see if his #'s woyld come down and it seems to have helped. Can you recommend anything gor the neuropathy? I ordered the zonboline b12 pills hope thats right?
 
Yes it is , I took him to the vet and a stool sample, he mentioned since Fritz wasn'tshowing any other clinical signs that we could wait and see if it changes.
He did say he would do an ultrasound but with Fritz extra weight putting him under is a greater risk. So we decided to watch.
He has had a few normal colored stools. He did ask me to leave our the fresh chicken liver the next time I make his food as he was wondering since liver is pretty much blood that it might colir it black.
Sorry it took me a bit to get back. I have three bad disks in my neck and they have been acting up, puts me a little under the weather.
 
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