Using Novolin R—immunity to it?

[Howiesmom]

I’ve been using Novolin R to supplement Levemir for Howie. With his unknown cause in spiking BGs this past month (no infection can be found anywhere), I’ve been giving him copious amounts of R almost daily (and multiple doses most days) to try and lower his BG to give the Levemir a better number to work with. (NOTE: Howie is a high dose cat with acromegaly and IAA). Can they become immune to the R over time to the point it just doesn’t work? I’ve been adjusting his R scale and I’m to the point where I’m questioning whether I should continue to use it. I started a new bottle in July, so it’s not expired. @Wendy&Neko indicated that 40+ units a day of R on top of his Levemir is quite high but ECID. I’m just wondering if there’s any advice out there for me? I’m in the process of switching his food over to Weruva as his Dr. Elseys pate food is not available and they’ve switched the formula anyway. I realize a food switch (even with carbs at 5% or lower) is not helping to solve any mysteries.

I’m chasing the proverbial green streak again that he had for so many months leading up to mid-July when something just flipped. When I was using R on a more regular basis in winter/spring, I did find a dose that would drop him the 80-100 points. Now, it hardly seems like it’s doing anything despite increasing the R scale.

 

[JL and Chip]

I agree that that is a lot of R daily. I’ve not heard of a cat becoming “immune” to R. I used it on Tubby long term and on Charlie and Chip situationally.

I don’t see on the spreadsheet where you started the new R vial, but it’s always possible (though maybe unlikely) that you somehow got a bad vial. I’d probably get a new vial just to rule that out. And of course, be vigilant when dosing from the new vial because if the old vial did indeed lose its efficacy (during shipping to or storage by the pharmacy, etc), you could have some dramatic BG shifts.

Acro cats are a challenge and a mystery at times … sigh. I hope you get things sorted out soon.

 

[Howiesmom]

I agree that that is a lot of R daily. I’ve not heard of a cat becoming “immune” to R. I used it on Tubby long term and on Charlie and Chip situationally.

I don’t see on the spreadsheet where you started the new R vial, but it’s always possible (though maybe unlikely) that you somehow got a bad vial. I’d probably get a new vial just to rule that out. And of course, be vigilant when dosing from the new vial because if the old vial did indeed lose its efficacy (during shipping to or storage by the pharmacy, etc), you could have some dramatic BG shifts.

Acro cats are a challenge and a mystery at times … sigh. I hope you get things sorted out soon.

I just bought a new vial yesterday as he’s gone through half a vial in less than a month. It is the same lot # and same expiration date (7/2023) as the one I’m using now that I started on 7/9/21.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I was away, but am back. Glad to see the L increases are bringing some greens again. As JL suggested, I'd mark the start of a new vial on the SS remarks.