Deep breathes Fran! This is not nearly so difficult as you may think. Let's just take this one step at a time.
If you have decided to use the AphaTrak meter, use it for all readings and don't bother doing comparisons with the other meters. They will only serve to confuse you. Even two human meters do not produce exactly the same reading on the same drop of blood so sticking to one meter gives you a much better idea of how kitty is doing. While it's always a good idea to have a spare meter to use in a pinch, I would suggest you re-order the AT strips well before you anticipate needing them so you always have a good supply available.
It's important to
not focus on each individual reading you take. Readings fluctuate for all sorts of reasons so what we focus on is the pattern over time. As you collect more data you will start to get a much better picture of exactly how the insulin is working for Elliott.
You can start the Lantus on your own. Other have done so quite safely and successfully with the guidance of the folks here. I would however strongly suggest you advice your vet that you are doing so to keep communications open. There is no need to go through another admission to start Lantus. In fact, starting insulin in the vet's office often results in too high a dose being prescribed due to the BG stress elevation cats often exhibit. Some cats will have BG numbers 100 or more points higher in the vet's office than they do at home. Starting at a low dose keeps kitty safe and avoids the "somogyi" effect because yes kitties can experience that too.
The Lantus with an expiry date of Feb 2018 is fine. Please note that while the makers of Lantus test it for human use and give shelf life guidelines that are quite tight (28 days once open) based on human usage, we do not follow those guidelines. We keep our insulin in the fridge even after opening. By doing so, you can use up most if not all the insulin so the Lantus you are getting will last a long time but exactly how long will depend on what dose Elliott ends up needing.
When you receive the Lantus and are ready to start, post in the Lantus/Levemir forum and get advice from people with years of experience using those insulins. They will help you make the transition and assist you with day to day questions. Lantus is a depot insulin so it is important to keep doses/dosing times consistent. There are two ways to use Lantus.....Tight Regulation (
TR documentation link ) and Start Low and Go Slow (
SLGS guidelines link ) . I would suggest you read through these documents and decide which method you are most comfortable with. Both are good but TR does require an exclusively canned food diet and a little more BG testing.
One last note. Your vet may have suggested testing Elliott at mid cycle but the nadir (lowest reading) does not always fall at +6 hours post shot (they tend to be a bit of a moving target) and with the Vetsulin, I believe the nadir may be a little earlier (+4 or +5) so it would be advisable to catch some readings before 6 hours to see if Elliott is going too low on the Vetsulin. This would also help you intervene and steer him with food should he be dropping quickly.
Just saw your latest note.....
I know you started a thread the other day but Elliott had not had such a low reading then. I really think you should start another thread and call it something like "? Urgent dosing advice with NPH needed due to low reading of 42". That will get more attention and more specific help as I seriously think a dose reduction may be needed.
I know this all seems so overwhelming right now, but I assure you, it gets much easier and you'll soon wonder why you got so wound up. And great job on the signature and linking Elliott's spreadsheet. I can see it just fine!
