We returned to VCA with Duke this morning, and I gave my first insulin shot, under veterinary supervision, of course.

The good news is that it was easily accomplished. The needle used for insulin is very small and ultra-thin, and it’s given subcutaneously. That means just under the skin. No need to stick the needle into muscle. It didn’t seem to phase Duke in the least.

This was a huge relief. A lot easier than giving him a pill. We can do this.

There was other good news. The insulin he is starting out on is “Lantus”. Do a Google search for “lantus” and “cats”, and there are a number of reports of cats going into remission after temporary use of Lantus. So we’re trying to maintain a very positive attitude.

The hard part, by most accounts, is getting to the correct dosage and keeping Duke stable over the course of a normal day. He’ll have to get two shots, one morning, one evening, after eating. We left him in Dr. Sakamoto’s care for overnight observation during his first 24 hours receiving insulin, just in case of a negative reaction of some kind. We’ll pick him up tomorrow and go from there. Weekly follow-ups with the vet are recommended for the first month as they seek the right dosage.

He’s starting out at a low dose, which should decrease the chances of problems. It can be increased over time, if necessary.

Even at the Costco Pharmacy, insulin is expensive, just under $100 for a small vial. Hopefully, it will last several months. Actually, the hope is that he won’t need the insulin treatments more than a few months. We can hope!

In the meantime, we’re already thinking months ahead to our next scheduled trip and arrangements that will have to be made for Duke while we’re gone.