Losing weight, not eating enough, want to switch insulins

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Heytherr

Member Since 2019
TIA this is a long post. I want to switch my CKD sugar kitties insulin. He is currently on Vetsulin. How do I do this safely and how do I know which one to go with and what the costs are. Is there a document somewhere that lists the pros and cons of each insulin for cats? My sugar cat is currently on 1u Vetsulin BID. I am nervous about my kitty getting super low numbers on a better insulin, does that happen??

I feel like a terrible cat mom because I do work long shifts so I'm only able to test him when I'm home. I've been trying my hardest to get my kitty to eat more wet food he's on the weruva pates but I can't get him to eat too much of it he barely finishes one can a day and I feed him multiple x a day when I'm home. I'm also worried he is losing too much weight fast. He had blood work done a couple months ago, I can post if needed. Any help appreciated!! TIA!!
 
This is a good place to start.
I'm not up-to-date on insulin costs.
Lantus is expensive in the US. A lot of people order from Canada where it is much, much cheaper.

It would help tremendously if you could update your spreadsheet. We are data driven.

There is a tab on your spreadsheet where you can post your labs. You also need to put it the reference values.

You might want to change the title of this thread to "Losing weight, not eating enough, want to switch insulins" – there is a blue box in the upper right hand corner of this thread "Thread Tools". Click on it, then click on "Edit Title"
 
Welcome back Heytherr! Glad you reached out. I hope someone here can address your questions adequately. I think Kel has made a good start. It would help immensely. Its a huge load on a helper to answer these questions without posted data. That said I'm guessing your work is such that you just plain run out of hours in a day. (((((Heytherr))))) This doesnt make you a terrible anything. We all do what we can with what we have. If you DO have any data written down, hopefully you will be able to transfer that data soon.

I cannot give dosing advice. So will leave that to the more experienced insulin users.

I hope this message finds you in better spirits about yourself because...We have ALL walked in your shoes in, one manner or another.
This too shall be dealt with success.;)
jeanne
 
Hi Heytherr,

Heytherr said:
I'm also worried he is losing too much weight fast.
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If your cat is currently running in numbers similar to those in your spreadsheet from late July then that is probably a major factor (possibly the single factor) contributing to his weight loss. Also, your cat's response to Vetsulin is very typical in that it drops BG levels a good deal in the hours immediately following the administration of each dose and peters out around +8. An insulin that typically lasts longer in cats should help to keep your little one in better - safe - numbers for a longer time each day. That would help him to regain and maintain weight.

As Red has mentioned above, if you could update your kitty's spreadsheet BG data that will help us to help you better. :) If the weight loss is as rapid as it sounds then the sooner you can do things to improve your cat's regulation the better. In the interim, I'd suggest you keep food available to him all the time with the exception of the two hours before each preshot test. I would also recommend that for the time being you do a daily check of his pee for ketones (as a general precaution because of the weight issues and high numbers). You can pick up ketone test strips in Walmart or local pharmacies. Here are some helpful resources:

Checking Your Cat for Ketones

Tips for Collecting Urine Samples


Heytherr said:
I am nervous about my kitty getting super low numbers on a better insulin, does that happen??
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There's a risk with any insulin, Heytherr, but with regular home testing and an up-to-date spreadsheet you will be able to minimise and manage that risk, regardless of the insulin being used to treat your cat. Granted, there are members here using certain longer-acting, more cat-suited insulins who choose to regulate their cats very tightly but that is a choice, not a requirement, when using such an insulin. Tight regulation does not suit everybody's situation. You need to develop a regimen that is manageable for you and with which you will feel confident you can keep your cat safe and well. Hopefully we'll be able to help you a little with that. :)


Mogs
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Red & Rover (GA) said:
This is a good place to start.
I'm not up-to-date on insulin costs.
Lantus is expensive in the US. A lot of people order from Canada where it is much, much cheaper.

It would help tremendously if you could update your spreadsheet. We are data driven.

There is a tab on your spreadsheet where you can post your labs. You also need to put it the reference values.

You might want to change the title of this thread to "Losing weight, not eating enough, want to switch insulins" – there is a blue box in the upper right hand corner of this thread "Thread Tools". Click on it, then click on "Edit Title"
Click to expand...
Sorry I have to get a more recent curve. It has been hard.
 
I give the nightly dose around 6:30 pm. The next time I could do a bigger curve would be Thursday night into Friday early afternoon. Should I test every two hours before I go to bed Thursday and then every two hours after am dose until early afternoon on Friday when I have work?

Critter Mom said:
As Red has mentioned above, if you could update your kitty's spreadsheet BG data that will help us to help you better. :) If the weight loss is as rapid as it sounds then the sooner you can do things to improve your cat's regulation the better. In the interim, I'd suggest you keep food available to him all the time with the exception of the two hours before each preshot test.

Mogs
.
Click to expand...
 
You only need to run occasional curves over a 12-hour period, Heytherr, if you can manage to snag regular preshot and mid-cycle tests.

It would help enormously if you could give us a rough idea of what your work schedule looks like (e.g. 9-5, different shifts, etc.) so that we might be better able to suggest good times for you to grab tests which would throw more light on how Vetsulin is currently working for Felix.


Mogs
.
 
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Thanks for the help. I work different hours each week. This week I have a gap between my day shift job and my night job Thursday night into Friday. I can test Thursday between 6:30pm-12AM and Friday 6:30AM-12pm. Sorry my work schedule is a little crazy. I don't have my schedule for next week yet.

Critter Mom said:
It would help enormously if you could give us a rough idea of what your work schedule looks like (e.g. 9-5, different shifts, etc.)


Mogs
.
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Some other things to think about when considering a new insulin:

Lantus or Levemir: so-called "depot" insulins. Produce gentler curves, but are a bit more rigid about scheduling-- they work best when dosed on a strict 12hr basis.

Prozinc: like Vetsulin, an in-and-out insulin. A little more flexible on timing (12hr dosing strongly preferred, but more wiggle room if the work schedule doesn't allow it).

As Mogs says, you don't have to do a full curve to get useful information if that's hard right now. If you could just get a test before shooting, and possibly one more (an "out the door" test before work, or a "before bed" test before you hit the sack) it would be really helpful. Just the pre-shot tests would tell us a great deal about where Felix is right now :).
 
Long lasting insulins you may want to consider are Lantus, Levemir, ProZinc and BCP PZI. The first two are human insulins that cats respond well to. If you decide to go with either one of these ask you vet for the prescription for pens instead of the vial. You will use the pen like miniature vial. Because the insulin is in smaller containers, you will be able to use almost every drop before it becomes ineffective. One package of pens could last 9 months or more.

The other two were formulated for pets. All of them work well in cats.
 
What @Nan & Amber (GA) said.

If you can get preshots every time you give insulin and then a before bed check each day, preferably somewhere in the +3 to +5 hours after the injection was given but even a +2 test would throw some light on how Felix is doing. Throw in some +3-+5 tests on the AM cycle any time you get a chance and it would all build up to form a picture.


Mogs
.
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
I have learned here that ANY schedule can be worked around. Mainly because life happens. The good people here seem to be able to work up "plans" the fit every schedule. That includes yours! ;):coffee:
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I agree. While it is preferable that you keep a consistent schedule, life happens. Since I tested before every shot, as long as the number was high enough to give a dose and there was at least 10 hours since the last shot, I felt comfortable about giving the shot. This is not what I recommend doing all of the time. I only did it when my schedule did not allow me to be able to give the doses 12 hours apart.
 
Also if you want to I have added a column for my schedule that not only helps me but helps others to help me manage Teal'c's treatment. They at a glance can see if I'm working and my hours. If he is running lower they could look see im home or off suggest an appropriate dose or instruct me to leave down extra food incase. You could consider doing the same.
 
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