Sofie isn't eating this morning.

[Cathy Ann Merrill]

My kitty Sofie who I adopted about a month ago is diabetic. She's eating fancy feast pate. Last night her blood sugar was 324 @5:52pm. I was told by vet give 5U of Vetulin once a day. So I did. At 2:18 am her blood sugar was 313. She looked like she was tired. This morning at 5:38 am her blood sugar was 278. She didn't want to eat breakfast. She did drink some water. Should I be worried? All she wants to do is sleep. Do diabetic cats sometimes skip a meal? Right NIW I'm just letting her sleep with her kitty friend Danai.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I'm so glad you came here for help! If you could answer these key questions, we can get you on a better path:

• How long before you adopted her was she diagnosed as being diabetic?
• What insulin dose was she started on and how fast was it raised to 5 u?
• Is her appetite generally good?
• Does your vet have experience treating diabetic cats?
• Testing her BG at home is the right thing to do. What type of meter are you using?
• How much Fancy Feast is she getting and in how many meals per day?

Here are my comments:

• This is a high dose of insulin and Vetsulin is strong-acting - ie., it can start acting quickly and drop blood glucose quite low.
• Insulin has to be given twice a day in cats because they use it up quickly. This is especially true for Vetsulin that tends to be shorter lasting than some other types of insulin.
• Any sign of unwellness in a diabetic kitty is a cause for concern because of possible complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis developing.
• A single high dose of Vetsulin can possibly cause her BG to drop too low and then rebound high afterward. Systematic BG testing can reveal a lot about how a dose is working.

Here are my suggestions (all links, etc. below):

• Start a structured BG testing routine right away.
• Set up the spreadsheet we use here because it helps us to help you as quickly as possible.
• Read the guideline for using Vetsulin. This is important because what your vet is recommending isn't the best way to use it.
• By some human urine ketone test strips and test her urine. This is a precaution because she's not feeling well.
• Post often here and ask a million questions.

BASIC BG TESTING ROUTINE:

1. test every day AM and PM before feeding and injecting (no food at least 2 hours before) to see if the planned dose is safe
2. test at least once near mid cycle or at bedtime daily to see how low the BG goes
3. do extra tests on days off to fill in the response picture
4. if indicated by consistently high numbers on your spreadsheet, increase the dose by no more than 0.25 u at a time so you don't accidentally go right past a good dose
5. post here for advice whenever you're confused or unsure of what to do.

This is useful: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

SETTING UP YOUR SIGNATURE AND SPREADSHEET:

Your signature is the light grey text under a post. It gives us key info at a glance. Here's how to set it up.

• click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
• click on "signature" in the men that drops down
• type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using /glucose meter you're using/what he eats/any other meds or health issues he has.

Another thing that will help us help you now that you've started BG testing at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. We can all see it and look at it before offering advice: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

A GREAT GUIDE TO USING VETSULIN:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/beginners-guide-to-caninsulin-vetsulin.186099/

HOW TO TEST URINE FOR KETONES:

• put the end of the test strip right in his urine stream as he's peeing
• slip a shallow, long handled spoon under his backside to catch a little pee - you don't need much
• put a double layer of plastic wrap over his favourite part of the litter box and poke some depressions in it too catch pee.

Most test strips have to be dipped and allowed to develop for 15 seconds before viewing the colour change in very good light.

I hope this helps. Please let us know how you're doing.

 

[Cathy Ann Merrill]

Thank you., Sophie is a 12 yo,blind kitty. Don't know when she became diabetic. I was told by shelter to give Sophie 5U of insulin if she goes above 350. Vet said give it once a day., I got really confused. I was told to check her blood sugar, give her insulin and then feed here. Read here that you check blood sugar, feed her then give insulin 30 minutes later after recheck of blood sugar. I think I'll need to change how and when I feed her and give her insulin. She's been high and low a few times. Vet said give her 5U but I dont need to give 5U all at once.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Thank you., Sophie is a 12 yo,blind kitty. Don't know when she became diabetic. I was told by shelter to give Sophie 5U of insulin if she goes above 350. Vet said give it once a day., I got really confused. I was told to check her blood sugar, give her insulin and then feed here. Read here that you check blood sugar, feed her then give insulin 30 minutes later after recheck of blood sugar. I think I'll need to change how and when I feed her and give her insulin. She's been high and low a few times. Vet said give her 5U but I dont need to give 5U all at once.

If you're game, try the things I outlined above. I also suggest you split the insulin and give half AM and half PM. I'd try 2 u AM and 2 u PM for now. Carry out the testing routine I outlined and see how she does. That's less than 5 u in total but I have reservations about giving 5 u as one dose once a day.

 

[Cathy Ann Merrill]

I'll try what I said. I'll give her 2U This afternoon.