For many veterinarians, glargine (brand names Lantus and Levemir) is the insulin of choice for diabetic cats. When used correctly in combination with a high-protein, low-carbohydrate, all-wet food diet, studies show it provides the best chance for diabetic cats to go into remission. Testing blood glucose levels at home will help you manage the diabetes and learn how glargine insulin works for your cat.
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A Fragile Insulin
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Glargine is a fragile insulin and needs to be handled carefully. Open vials and cartridges must be refrigerated at the correct temperature. They should never be shaken, and the insulin cannot be diluted or mixed with other insulins.
Time Release
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Like other time-release medications, glargine needs to build up in the cat's body before it begins lowering blood glucose levels.
Long Acting
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Glargine is a long-acting insulin that can keep cats regulated (in nondiabetic range) for as long as 12 hours.
Give Twice A Day
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While humans can do well with one injection of glargine insulin once a day, cats do best when it is given twice a day.
Gentle Curve
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Unlike faster-acting insulins, glargine has a very gentle onset, so cats rarely make a rapid drop from very high blood glucose levels to very low ones.
Overlap
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Because doses overlap, it's important to give injections 12 hours apart. Shots should not be given early.
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