Help please!

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Victoria & Buttons

Victoria & Buttons

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My buttons has been diabetic for quite some time. She use to be on Levemir but after a DKA episode, the vet switched her to ProZinc. For the past month, we have been doing 2U at evening. I took her back in yesterday and her sugars were borderline on normal. She said to keep doing what Im doing but I still feel I'm not doing the best for Buttons. The vet said she has the start of cataracts. I feel guilty, like its my fault, though the vet said it isnt because of the diabetes. I cant help but wonder. So here i am. I was wondering if you could help me out. Maybe a dosing chart? I'm going to start home testing her more closely today and go from there. Thanks.
 
Welcome! We'd love to help you and Buttons. First, I'd suggest you read the Protocol and Beginner's Guide. They are on the top of the forum and in my signature in blue. You have a nice mild insulin, which is the first step. What does Button eat? We feel strongly wet low carb food is best. A vet explains why here: www.catinfo.org. The final step is home testing. We think it's imperative to know her levels before you give each shot (to be sure your dose is a safe one) and then check mid cycle to see how low the insulin takes her. It sounds like you are planning on that too. Wonderful!

It sounds like you are giving insulin only once daily? ProZinc is dosed twice daily. If not, what can happen is that the levels drop after the shot and then, after 10 hours or so, steadily climb until the next shot 24 hours later. It's important to have her in lower ranges for as long as possible so her pancreas can heal.

We have a spreadsheet similar to the one you used in 2012. The directions are here:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

Be sure to use the world version (it looks like you are outside the US?)

If you like, post daily with her levels and get advice on dosing, and support. Check other's threads and spreadsheets to see how the insulin is working for them. Ask all the questions you like.

I have not heard of a connection between cataracts and diabetes.
 
Welcome. I think cataracts are the aging process just like people. Some get them some don't. I gather Buttons is a senior kitty.

My Smokey has them as well as beginning dementia. I don't think being diabetic makes them more prone to them.
 
borderline normal aint half bad! which test did they use for that? a regular spot check of blood glucose or one of those fructosamine tests? and considering the test was at the vet, where cats can get higher sugar levels just out of stress, sounds pretty good.
 
I believe they did the fructosamine test. I remember her saying that but I believe they did blood work too. Could be wrong there. Should I then be doing maybe 1U morning and night then instead? I think I'm use to the levemir from before because I think that was long lasting? Thank you for your help!
 
Before you change the dose, it'd be good if you'd get in a test or two. Splitting the dose in half is wise, but I am a little worried one unit twice daily might be too much.
 
Welcome! I agree with Sue...if you can get a few tests in we can help figure out a good dose to give twice daily.
 
Okay so I did give her 1U this morning before I read the replies and later on in the afternoon, she puked all her breakfast. So anyways about 8pm, I checked her sugars and they're at 16.4. I only gave her 1u tonight because of the puking.
 
She seems to be doing okay today. No puking up her dinner. No new food, all the same! She may have eaten it too fast, but she puked it up a few hours later so not sure. Her sugars this morning were 19.3 :( I didnt give her any insulin so we'll see how it is in the evening.
 
Hi Victoria, welcome with Buttons! You've already got some great advice!
May I ask, why you haven't given insulin this morning? Because it is advised to give insulin every 12 hours, no matter which type you are using.
 
Oh sorry, it's the different timezones (thought you've already done that yesterday) but not haha sorry for the confussion!
I'm curious to see those tests today then so there is a little more insight on how Buttons is doing during the day.:)
 
I think I confused you, Victoria. We were hoping for some numbers after you gave the one unit last night, to see how low the dose took her, and whether you might need to lower the dose twice daily. This morning, her number is clearly high enough to shoot. Can you give her one unit now? Will that completely mess up your schedule?
 
So I'm a bit stumped. Her numbers shot up after she got into some human food and hasnt really come down. I am at the end of a bottle of ProZinc and I wonder if that could be it. Any thoughts please?
 
Victoria & Buttons said:
So I'm a bit stumped. Her numbers shot up after she got into some human food and hasnt really come down. I am at the end of a bottle of ProZinc and I wonder if that could be it. Any thoughts please?
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A couple of comments.

It is hard to say if Buttons is dropping into lower number during the cycle without some mid-cycle testing. If she is dropping lower at nadir time then the higher preshot numbers could be a bounce into higher numbers in response to low numbers.

Depending on what kind of food she got into it could cause higher numbers for up to a day until it clears the system.

There is always the chance that the insulin is losing effectiveness, depending on how old it is, or if it has been stored properly. Also are you rolling the insulin to completely mix it before drawing up the shot?
 
I'm with MaryAnn. You need some numbers 5-7 hours after the shot to see if she drops lower and bounces or is she is higher overall. Then you'll know which direction to go. If high and flat, raise the dose a bit. If she drops low, don't raise. Wait for the bounces to clear.

Can you get some midcycle numbers today?
 
So I definitely learned my lesson today; to always test before shooting. I was rushing this morning to get to work and figured 1U would be fine, just to come home and see after 12 hours, shes too low. Im even more stumped then before. Should I be doing 1U morning and night or 2U at night?
 
So hard to tell what is going on. Can you get a curve this weekend? Maybe not today, as she is likely to be higher after 24 hours without insulin.

Yes, a very good lesson about testing before each shot!
 
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