Price difference for insulin for Cats / Swap

[Broke]

Hi all,

Our 15 year old cat was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 weeks ago.

The vet ordered in the insulin and needles and we have just purchased a glucose reader so we can test at home ourselves to put less stress on our cat and save money we don't have for expensive vet fees.

The vet put our cat on Prozinc insulin and after doing some quick research online we can order a different brand of insulin ourselves called Caninsulin with the vets prescription - the vet charges £7.50 for writing the prescription.

Caninsulin is around half the price of Prozinc insulin. Obviously I understand this is something we should also discuss with our vet but unfortunately I am a job seeker on the breadline and every trip to the vet is expensive for us.

Family kindly helped us with the approx £350 bill so far but I can't expect them to keep helping us out as we need to continue to be responsible and again earning parents for our pets.

From what I have read Prozinc insulin is longer lasting and newer type than Caninsulin. However many people it seems do use the older type for their cat with good results.

We have gone from 1 unit to 2 units and in the 3rd week now at 2.5 units. Our cat is improving but still drinking more than normal. We have pretty much cut out all Carbs in his diet and will be doing his glucose curve again next week at home.

It's all been a bit of a shock as our cat even though he is 15 has been so well up until recently. He used to jump from our Barbecue to our storage box about 2.5 meters away no problem like a much younger cat could. And play wrestle with our younger 3 year old cat.

Is your cat on Caninsulin? and if so does your cat respond well to it.

Thanks

 

[Bluetit1802]

Caninsulin is around half the price of Prozinc insulin. Obviously I understand this is something we should also discuss with our vet but unfortunately I am a job seeker on the breadline and every trip to the vet is expensive for us.

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I am sorry to hear about your cat. According to my vet there has been an explosion of cat and dog diabetes recently, much like with us humans. I put it down to all the carbs in the food and the added cereal with less meat and fat content.

However, you don't need to visit your vet to ask about changing his insulin. A phone call would do just as well I'm sure.

Fingers crossed he gets better.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi and welcome!

I would agree that asking a quick question about insulin can be done on the phone. You may not even have to speak to the vet. Just leave a message asking the question with the receptionist, and they will get back to you with the answer.

A couple of years ago I had two v helpful phone calls with the vet (long story, but it was a cat with a hurt paw, x-rays and a referral), and there was no charge for the phone consults at all, although we had paid standard fees for the appt a few days before.

Edited to add:
You may also find it very interesting to look up different ways to feed diabetic cats, and the impressive results that some people get with feeding raw prey-model food. It REALLY doesn't have to be any more expensive than normal cereal-stuffed cat food. But please bear in mind that switching a diabetic on insulin from a high carb diet to a low carb diet may result in hypos, unless there is frequent testing and very careful monitoring of blood glucose.

Hope your cat is feeling better!

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @Broke ,

Welcome to the forum.

What's your cat's name?

OK? I've no direct experience with cats, but did help my old boss with a Diabetic Jack Russel on insulin.
Well, I do have first hand insulin experience myself. Lol.

"Vetsulin" or the variants for smal animals is (from memory.) a U40 strength.?
Most human Ds will use a U100.
Whatever you do. With regards to choosing syringes. Make sure the purpose is specifically for the measurement dosage for your cat's insulin...
Hypoglycemia. Like humans using insulin. D Animals can go low. If you cat is acting confused? Nosediving into the bowl, staggering, headbutting the door... Feed it carbs as you would a human. Trust me, I've seen a dog on a low & told his owner to quickly throw it a biscuit..

I wish you all the best.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Our cat was on caninsulin, but he's a T3c, and his sugar was all over the place. As yours is a "regular" T2, I'm hoping it'll work just fine: don't see why there should be any problems. BUT, and this is important... If you switch insulin, make sure you have needles to match. Night went from Caninsulin to Lantus, (for humans) and the unit size is different. We kept shooting him into hypo's because the hypodermic needles had different unit sizes. (The vet over at the university said we could use the same needles. No. We couldn't.) Just something to check. AND, if you're reducing your cat's carbs, and still shooting insulin, you really need to know his levels. With reduced or no-carb and his insulin use still going up while you're shooting blind, he could drop like a stone. Do you have a, oh, what to call it... Something like a seringe but without a needle, to just force something down his throat? Because if he hypo's you need to get some fructose (a teaspoon or so) mixed with water down his gullet, IF he's unable or too confused to eat/drink something carby himself. If he walks like a drunk, like, he can't walk a straight line or pukes a lot, always check bloodsugars and act fast! Does your cat go outside? Because if he does and he pukes up whatever he ate, or he eats something that influences his bloodsugars, you need to know. So if financially possible, always check his bloodsugars before feeding and injecting. (We do it simultaneously here, even if Lantus is a basal rather than a bolus.).

Night's been diabetic for oh, I think over 4 years or so now... Maybe 6 even. Every morning we give him the exact same amount of vet's kibble, as in the evening, and insulin (2 units) twice a day. We haven't been on vacation in ages, and we have to plan around his needs always, but hey... It was his meter that told me I was diabetic. His illness helped diagnose mine. And he's the world's most amazing lovely cat. (As, in all likelyhood, is yours. )

Good luck!

 

[Jaylee]

Our cat was on caninsulin, but he's a T3c, and his sugar was all over the place. As yours is a "regular" T2, I'm hoping it'll work just fine: don't see why there should be any problems. BUT, and this is important... If you switch insulin, make sure you have needles to match. Night went from Caninsulin to Lantus, (for humans) and the unit size is different. We kept shooting him into hypo's because the hypodermic needles had different unit sizes. (The vet over at the university said we could use the same needles. No. We couldn't.) Just something to check. AND, if you're reducing your cat's carbs, and still shooting insulin, you really need to know his levels. With reduced or no-carb and his insulin use still going up while you're shooting blind, he could drop like a stone. Do you have a, oh, what to call it... Something like a seringe but without a needle, to just force something down his throat? Because if he hypo's you need to get some fructose (a teaspoon or so) mixed with water down his gullet, IF he's unable or too confused to eat/drink something carby himself. If he walks like a drunk, like, he can't walk a straight line or pukes a lot, always check bloodsugars and act fast! Does your cat go outside? Because if he does and he pukes up whatever he ate, or he eats something that influences his bloodsugars, you need to know. So if financially possible, always check his bloodsugars before feeding and injecting. (We do it simultaneously here, even if Lantus is a basal rather than a bolus.).

Night's been diabetic for oh, I think over 4 years or so now... Maybe 6 even. Every morning we give him the exact same amount of vet's kibble, as in the evening, and insulin (2 units) twice a day. We haven't been on vacation in ages, and we have to plan around his needs always, but hey... It was his meter that told me I was diabetic. His illness helped diagnose mine. And he's the world's most amazing lovely cat. (As, in all likelyhood, is yours. )

Good luck!

Hi,

I'm puzzled. Lantus comes in u100 strength. What syringes do you use to "split dose" inject 4 units of this basal use insulin daily...? Are you using a u40 measured syringe for your cat??

 

[JoKalsbeek]

We get the stuff that normally goes into pens, we just use the needles to inject. It's got half-unit stripes on, so it's two in the morning, 2 in the evening. The caninsulin was a different needle, the units were bigger. Don't have those lying around anymore though.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Hi,

I'm puzzled. Lantus comes in u100 strength. What syringes do you use to "split dose" inject 4 units of this basal use insulin daily...? Are you using a u40 measured syringe for your cat??

 

[JoKalsbeek]

(2 "units" of Lantus in a U40 seringe would have him collapsing, as it was double the dose. You'd think the uni's professor would've known other units apply...)

 

[Pipp]

@Broke may be able to get assistance from these folk..
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/eligibility

 

[Broke]

Hi @Broke ,

Welcome to the forum.

What's your cat's name?

OK? I've no direct experience with cats, but did help my old boss with a Diabetic Jack Russel on insulin.
Well, I do have first hand insulin experience myself. Lol.

"Vetsulin" or the variants for smal animals is (from memory.) a U40 strength.?
Most human Ds will use a U100.
Whatever you do. With regards to choosing syringes. Make sure the purpose is specifically for the measurement dosage for your cat's insulin...
Hypoglycemia. Like humans using insulin. D Animals can go low. If you cat is acting confused? Nosediving into the bowl, staggering, headbutting the door... Feed it carbs as you would a human. Trust me, I've seen a dog on a low & told his owner to quickly throw it a biscuit..

I wish you all the best.

 

[Broke]

Thanks I'll keep an eye on him and will reduce not stop the carbs.
His name is Alfie Moon and he was born in New Zealand. We flew him over to the UK with us 12 years ago.

 

[Broke]

@Broke may be able to get assistance from the PDSA.

Thanks, we have tried not to use the PDSA as we think they are probably overwhelmed. If we have to we will if course. The other consideration is our closest PDSA Vet is Margate which is about a 40 minute drive each way for us and Alfie's not too keen on long journeys these days. Our local vet is 2 minutes in the car and I must say they are very good there.
Many thanks

 

[Jaylee]

Thanks I'll keep an eye on him and will reduce not stop the carbs.
His name is Alfie Moon and he was born in New Zealand. We flew him over to the UK with us 12 years ago.

Ah, named after the Eastenders character... Long may he remain a "player."

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Ah, named after the Eastenders character... Long may he remain a "player."

I thought Alfie Moon was the original drum player in The Who.

 

[Jaylee]

(2 "units" of Lantus in a U40 seringe would have him collapsing, as it was double the dose. You'd think the uni's professor would've known other units apply...)

It may have been an "oversight" from the professor..

If your cat is on full units? It maybe a cheaper option (in the long run.) looking into getting an older style ClikStar pen (or the newer developed AllStar pro.) as opposed to classic syringes then just purchasing the needles for the Lantus cartridge?
Certainly less hassle for you than drawing up to a syringe... I've had experience "drawing up" from the age of 8.

 

[Jaylee]

I thought Alfie Moon was the original drum player in The Who.

Nah mate. That was Keeeeff (Roller in the pool.) Moon !

Diabetic cats is a different "musical."

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Nah mate. That was Keeeeff (Roller in the pool.) Moon !

Ol' timerz is setting in.

Diabetic cats is a different "musical."

That was the conjuring cat mob wannit, big show in London when we were last there in the '80's. Magical if I remember rightly.

 

[Jaylee]

Ol' timerz is setting in.

That was the conjuring cat mob wannit, big show in London when we were last there in the '80's. Magical if I remember rightly.

Ironically? I'm a dog man.. I don't do cats. But a fellow D is a fellow D.
Had to stop tonight on a trip out in my van for supplies cuz a cat was on the "hunt," & went out of sight.. (Could have been under my wheels.) The animal ducked (eventually.) down an open gate on a sngle track road...
I live in the country located in the county of Wiltshire, UK..

The long & short of it. Somebody loves this cat. I would hope someone had the same respect if my dog got lost & was sniffing its way home..
Not that my dog would get lost... He's smarter than that... Lol

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Our kids had a couple of cats, and some else's dog, but we have not had anymore since we moved here.

We had a big problem with feral cats here when we moved in, but eventually trapped most of them and took them to the pound. The animal and birdlife have come back to the area.