Neuropathy paralyzing one leg

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BridgetD

BridgetD

Member Since 2021
Does anyone else have a diabetic cat with neuropathy in only one rear leg? He also has FIV and is losing a lot of weight. Have got opinions from 2 vets, they don’t know if it is from his diabetes or FIV. We are thinking FIV affecting him neurologically because his BS numbers are pretty well controlled. Can neuropathy develop with diabetes that is keep pretty much controlled? Thank you!
 
Hi there,

Here was your last post:https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/help-blood-sugar-489.247252/

What do you and your vets mean when they say the numbers are pretty well controlled? Without a spreadsheet it's hard to know. Vets have a very different idea of what is "controlled," because their concern is hypoglycemia and assume caregivers are unable to handle it. With hometesting and the help of members here, many caregivers can avoid hypo situations. Neuropathy can strike cats who have experienced extended periods of time in hyperglycemia, and that means numbers above 300 on a human meter.

Was a fructosamine test done? The last time you posted in May your cat's levels were very high. Is he still on Prozinc? How many units?

Supplementing with methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) can help with neuropathy, and lots of cats here on the FDMB have had success with it. Buy the capsules from a health food store and put sprinkle in food.

It sounds like it could also be arthritis. I don't know how old your cat is.

It would help us to help you a lot if you could, as suggested by @Deb & Wink the last time you posted, to set up a spreadsheet and a signature. Here are the links again:

HOW TO CREATE A SPREADSHEET

New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
 
Hello,
Thank you for the reply. He is just very lethargic weak, very anemic and counts are very low. The vets always just blame everything on his FIV, but I was hoping it was the diabetic neuropathy. The two different vets said they have never seen neuropathy in just one rear leg, but both legs are very weak and have no muscle. The left rear has progressed rapidly over two weeks and he is almost paralyzed in it.

His fructosamine was 350 in July and they said that’s where it should be between 300-400. Just this week it was 254 and they said that’s too low and to lower his insulin. He had been on Prozinc 2.5 units twice a day, but dropping down into the 80s during day sometimes but always in the 300s in the morning.

I was unable to figure out the spreadsheet last time. I will try to figure it out again, so that it can be posted.

Is it possible to get diabetic neuropathy in only one leg?

I started the zobaline Metyl B12 last week but hasn’t helped, it has worsened over the last week.

thank you!!

PerfumedCatMom said:
Hi there,

Here was your last post:https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/help-blood-sugar-489.247252/

What do you and your vets mean when they say the numbers are pretty well controlled? Without a spreadsheet it's hard to know. Vets have a very different idea of what is "controlled," because their concern is hypoglycemia and assume caregivers are unable to handle it. With hometesting and the help of members here, many caregivers can avoid hypo situations. Neuropathy can strike cats who have experienced extended periods of time in hyperglycemia, and that means numbers above 300 on a human meter.

Was a fructosamine test done? The last time you posted in May your cat's levels were very high. Is he still on Prozinc? How many units?

Supplementing with methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) can help with neuropathy, and lots of cats here on the FDMB have had success with it. Buy the capsules from a health food store and put sprinkle in food.

It sounds like it could also be arthritis. I don't know how old your cat is.

It would help us to help you a lot if you could, as suggested by @Deb & Wink the last time you posted, to set up a spreadsheet and a signature. Here are the links again:

HOW TO CREATE A SPREADSHEET

New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
Click to expand...
 
If you need help with the spreadsheet, @Bandit's Mom can help you set it up. It would help us IMMENSELY to see how your kitty is doing.

A fructosamine of 350 is on the high side. It is showing you the AVERAGE glucose levels over the course of several weeks, and it could be that he's spending too much time in the 300s can causing the neuropathy. Usually cats with neuropathy have a plantigrade stance and walk on their knees: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=937221549740436

This is why I suggested that it could be arthritis if it's just in one leg. My civvie was limping for a while as she is a fearless and sometimes imprecise jumper. Doctors gave her a 3 day course of Onsior and she is fine. I also give her extra fish oil in her food to help with inflammation.
 
the vets told me fructosamine between 300-400 is exactly where they want them, they said 350 was perfect. The vet did tell me 250 was too low for a fructosamine though.

It is definitely not arthritis because he has no pain or feeling and no movement. When the vets manipulate his leg and pull back he has no reflex to pull it forward or backwards, it’s just dead, drags. Is there a way to post a video?

PerfumedCatMom said:
If you need help with the spreadsheet, @Bandit's Mom can help you set it up. It would help us IMMENSELY to see how your kitty is doing.

A fructosamine of 350 is on the high side. It is showing you the AVERAGE glucose levels over the course of several weeks, and it could be that he's spending too much time in the 300s can causing the neuropathy. Usually cats with neuropathy have a plantigrade stance and walk on their knees: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=937221549740436

This is why I suggested that it could be arthritis if it's just in one leg. My civvie was limping for a while as she is a fearless and sometimes imprecise jumper. Doctors gave her a 3 day course of Onsior and she is fine. I also give her extra fish oil in her food to help with inflammation.
Click to expand...
 
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BridgetD said:
I feel like my vets are just not knowledge because they told me fructosamine between 300-400 is exactly where they want them, they said 350 was perfect. I thought it seemed high also.
Click to expand...
PerfumedCatMom said:
A fructosamine of 350 is on the high side. It is showing you the AVERAGE glucose levels over the course of several weeks, and it could be that he's spending too much time in the 300s can causing the neuropathy.
Click to expand...

Fructosamine ranges use a different scale than blood glucose ranges. 350 Fructosamine is "excellent" control (which doesn't mean you should decrease the dose...it means the dose you're giving is doing a great job at keeping your cat's glucose in a good range)

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/reference-ranges-for-fructosamine-test.196850/
 
BridgetD said:
I was unable to figure out the spreadsheet last time. I will try to figure it out again, so that it can be posted.
Click to expand...
@Bandit's Mom can help you set up your SS so members can help you,she can also set up your signature which is at the bottom of everyone's post in gray, it's information about your kitty, look at Tyler's
She will send you a private message look for it in your inbox
 
BridgetD said:
I started the zobaline Metyl B12 last week but hasn’t helped, it has worsened over the last week.
Click to expand...
It takes a while for the effects of Zobaline to work, so give it a bit more time. Since it's a B vitamin, any excess is excreted in urine so it should not hurt. Hope he starts to improve soon! :bighug:
 
BridgetD said:
I replied to your email. Thank you so much!!
Click to expand...
I see from the info you provided me for your Signature, that you are feeding Puma RC Glycobalance Dry. That is high carb. If he will not eat wet food, maybe you could look at transitioning him first to a low carb dry food? Young Again Zero, Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein (chicken flavour) and Wysong Epigen are all 5% carbs or less.

A change to a low carb diet could significantly impact his BG numbers and greatly reduce his requirement of insulin. So any transition in diet, has to be made gradually and with careful monitoring of the BG (with home testing) so that you can adjust his dose, if necessary. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
 
I have not tried the Young again so could try it, but I tried the other two with no success. He has late stage FIV so the vets said just to keep him eating is key. That’s what’s really hard. The FIV I feel is taking over and causing the neurological paralysis I’m afraid .

Bandit's Mom said:
I see from the info you provided me for your Signature, that you are feeding Puma RC Glycobalance Dry. That is high carb. If he will not eat wet food, maybe you could look at transitioning him first to a low carb dry food? Young Again Zero, Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein (chicken flavour) and Wysong Epigen are all 5% carbs or less.

A change to a low carb diet could significantly impact his BG numbers and greatly reduce his requirement of insulin. So any transition in diet, has to be made gradually and with careful monitoring of the BG (with home testing) so that you can adjust his dose, if necessary. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
Click to expand...
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
Hi there,

Here was your last post:https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/help-blood-sugar-489.247252/

What do you and your vets mean when they say the numbers are pretty well controlled? Without a spreadsheet it's hard to know. Vets have a very different idea of what is "controlled," because their concern is hypoglycemia and assume caregivers are unable to handle it. With hometesting and the help of members here, many caregivers can avoid hypo situations. Neuropathy can strike cats who have experienced extended periods of time in hyperglycemia, and that means numbers above 300 on a human meter.

Was a fructosamine test done? The last time you posted in May your cat's levels were very high. Is he still on Prozinc? How many units?

Supplementing with methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) can help with neuropathy, and lots of cats here on the FDMB have had success with it. Buy the capsules from a health food store and put sprinkle in food.

It sounds like it could also be arthritis. I don't know how old your cat is.

It would help us to help you a lot if you could, as suggested by @Deb & Wink the last time you posted, to set up a spreadsheet and a signature. Here are the links again:

HOW TO CREATE A SPREADSHEET

New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
Click to expand...
I filled in the spreadsheet for the last two months. Can you please look over it? Thanks
 
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