Pertinent Info for All

[Opus]

I wanted to pass along info my vet talked to me about as I've never come across this before. It may explain some of the ups/downs with daily BG levels.

My vet said that a diabetic cat's pancreas will still spill out insulin some days. Other days, not as much or none at all. So, the days the pancreas decides to make some insulin and we give our usual injection, our babies could be affected by this unbeknownst to us. Might explain why the BG variances are dramatic some days.

I found this very interesting and wanted to pass it along. I'm also curious if anyone has heard or read about this.

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

This is good reason why testing before every shot is so important. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[BJM]

Yes, we know. We call it a sputtering pancreas. It can make dosing a bit problematic.

 

[Critter Mom]

It also illustrates how vital mid-cycle testing is.

 

[Blamethecats and Hannah]

a diabetic cat's pancreas will still spill out insulin some days. Other days, not as much or none at all. So, the days the pancreas decides to make some insulin and we give our usual injection, our babies could be affected by this unbeknownst to us. Might explain why the BG variances are dramatic some days.

Isn't it great that this can happen?! The pancreas is an amazing little glandular organ... it sometimes tries so hard, even under adverse conditions. As others have said, it can make dosing a little tricky because there is no way to determine if or when it will start sputtering. That's why BG testing is so important, pre-shot and mid-cycle. Thanks for posting, as this reminds us that there is hope, even when we least expect it.

 

[bsmith]

Isn't it great that this can happen?! The pancreas is an amazing little glandular organ... it sometimes tries so hard, even under adverse conditions. As others have said, it can make dosing a little tricky because there is no way to determine if or when it will start sputtering. That's why BG testing is so important, pre-shot and mid-cycle. Thanks for posting, as this reminds us that there is hope, even when we least expect it.

I'm pretty sure that's what was happening with Edwin. He didn't really want to be diabetic, which made my use of Lantus non-standard as I didn't necessarily give him shots twice a day everyday to build up a depot. The BG testing was definitely vital in his case, because if I had just given him insulin twice a day everyday without testing or dosed him even when his preshot numbers were lower, both things suggested by my vet, I might very well have had a very bad outcome.

Since his pancreas seemed to still be trying to get itself together and get working again, I have made some changes to his food. I'm still transitioning to Young Again Zero Carb Mature from Hill's k/d, but already his BG numbers have dropped to where I haven't given him any insulin in six days. Go pancreas, go!