02/17 SINVER ¿Qué podría estar pasando? ¿Algún consejo?

[xelo y sinver]

We've been giving my cat Lantus for 19 days and she seems drugged; she barely wants to walk, she walks very slowly and crouches down. I don't know if any other cats on the forum have experienced this, but I'd like some advice on what might be happening. We previously switched to Prozinc on the advice of our vet, and he already experienced this. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be going on?

 

[xelo y sinver]

@Staci & Ivy

 

[Staci & Ivy]

We've been giving my cat Lantus for 19 days and she seems drugged; she barely wants to walk, she walks very slowly and crouches down. I don't know if any other cats on the forum have experienced this, but I'd like some advice on what might be happening. We previously switched to Prozinc on the advice of our vet, and he already experienced this. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be going on?

I’m not sure what is going on Xelo.
When did this behavior begin for Sinver?
Please link your last post so people can see what is going on, it makes it easier for them to help out

And please put the date, Sinver’s name in your title as well.

@Suzanne & Darcy do you have any ideas to help?

 

[xelo y sinver]

It started today, ever since we switched to Lantus. He seemed a bit out of sorts, but he was otherwise calmer and eating well, his bowel movements were normal, and he didn't drink excessively. But today, suddenly, I came back from shopping and saw him walking cautiously and not wanting to get up; he prefers to lie down. The last time I took him to the vet, he was like this, and the vet said it was due to diabetic neuropathy. I gave him potassium and B12 supplements, and he improved, but now it's starting again, and I wanted to know if it's because of the change in insulin.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

It started today, ever since we switched to Lantus. He seemed a bit out of sorts, but he was otherwise calmer and eating well, his bowel movements were normal, and he didn't drink excessively. But today, suddenly, I came back from shopping and saw him walking cautiously and not wanting to get up; he prefers to lie down. The last time I took him to the vet, he was like this, and the vet said it was due to diabetic neuropathy. I gave him potassium and B12 supplements, and he improved, but now it's starting again, and I wanted to know if it's because of the change in insulin.

Had you stopped giving B12 and potassium supplements?
I would think if he has neuropathy, it shouldn't matter which insulin you are using.

Had the neuropathy improved before and you stopped the supplements?

 

[xelo y sinver]

He was taking potassium and vitamin B12, but when he improved, I stopped taking them to see how he would do with Lantus. Maybe I'll lower his insulin tonight. I have the impression his body can't handle being so low for so long, so we'll see if the Lantus helps with less of a rebound. But I'm keeping the dose between 100 and 200, without going too low; maybe that's affecting him. The problem is he's a very nervous and stressed cat. Any noise or sudden movement from my son, or any sound, puts him on high alert, and maybe that's affecting his diabetes control too. You never see him calm.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

He was taking potassium and vitamin B12, but when he improved, I stopped taking them to see how he would do with Lantus. Maybe I'll lower his insulin tonight. I have the impression his body can't handle being so low for so long, so we'll see if the Lantus helps with less of a rebound. But I'm keeping the dose between 100 and 200, without going too low; maybe that's affecting him. The problem is he's a very nervous and stressed cat. Any noise or sudden movement from my son, or any sound, puts him on high alert, and maybe that's affecting his diabetes control too. You never see him calm.

I understand about him being nervous, especially with your son.
Ivy is also very timid and nervous around other people. She hides when people are in my house.

It sounds like if you stopped the supplements, the neuropathy came back, since it was better. I might add it back in.

Sinver didn't go too low on this dose (would be under 50 for a recently diagnosed cat, under 40 for a long time diabetic (but I may use caution since he's recent;y back on Lantus).

Why not let him earn a reduction if necessary by going too low? Otherwise, you won't really know how well he's doing on this dose.
Plus, if his glucose is better, his neuropathy may improve.

Just a few things to consider.

 

[xelo y sinver]

You're right, but perhaps it's too high a dose. In three years, we've never gone above 1.50 with Lantus. Maybe it's dropping more at night, but I couldn't keep him on it longer hoping it would go down. Perhaps it didn't drop because I gave him food higher in carbohydrates so the drop wouldn't be so rapid. If I lower his insulin dose, we can always do it later. I'm only going to lower it by 0.25, which he'll barely notice. I know he was doing quite well with this dose, but I'll see if reducing it can prevent those big rebounds he experiences. I'll have time to raise it again. Perhaps his body is better between 100 and 200. Let's try it. Besides my son, I have a cat that chases him around the house. Maybe when I'm not there, she takes advantage of the situation to stalk him, and he's even more scared.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

You're right, but perhaps it's too high a dose. In three years, we've never gone above 1.50 with Lantus. Maybe it's dropping more at night, but I couldn't keep him on it longer hoping it would go down. Perhaps it didn't drop because I gave him food higher in carbohydrates so the drop wouldn't be so rapid. If I lower his insulin dose, we can always do it later. I'm only going to lower it by 0.25, which he'll barely notice. I know he was doing quite well with this dose, but I'll see if reducing it can prevent those big rebounds he experiences. I'll have time to raise it again. Perhaps his body is better between 100 and 200. Let's try it. Besides my son, I have a cat that chases him around the house. Maybe when I'm not there, she takes advantage of the situation to stalk him, and he's even more scared.

Good luck with the reduction! I hope it helps!

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I did have a member who switched from Lantus to ProZinc due to a negative reaction to Lantus, but I think we may have talked about that and maybe talked with her when you first switched from Lantus to ProZinc? I will look again. I am so sorry this is happening with Sinver! We just spoke over the weekend and you were optimistic about his improved blood glucose numbers.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

It started today, ever since we switched to Lantus. He seemed a bit out of sorts, but he was otherwise calmer and eating well, his bowel movements were normal, and he didn't drink excessively. But today, suddenly, I came back from shopping and saw him walking cautiously and not wanting to get up; he prefers to lie down. The last time I took him to the vet, he was like this, and the vet said it was due to diabetic neuropathy. I gave him potassium and B12 supplements, and he improved, but now it's starting again, and I wanted to know if it's because of the change in insulin.

And is he still getting the potassium and B-12 supplements at this time?

 

[xelo y sinver]

I didn't stop giving it to him once he improved. The course ran out, and I decided to see how he was doing. Since he was already well, today I started giving him vitamin B12 again. Maybe that will help him. If you look at the spreadsheet, it seems he has better numbers with Lantus, but maybe it's too high a dose, I want to think. Sometimes my head just can't make sense of many things, and the vet tells me it's diabetic neuropathy. So I can't ask for advice; he doesn't like Lantus for animals. I'm going to continue with the supplements and lower the dose to see how his body reacts. It's really hard to understand, and I feel frustrated.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Hello Xelo. I remember now who is was whose cat had a negative reaction to Lantus. It was @Kate & Willow. Kate, I hope you will see this and be able to relate your story of Willow on Lantus. I believe Willow even had a seizure (although I do not know the cause.)

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I didn't stop giving it to him once he improved. The course ran out, and I decided to see how he was doing. Since he was already well, today I started giving him vitamin B12 again. Maybe that will help him. If you look at the spreadsheet, it seems he has better numbers with Lantus, but maybe it's too high a dose, I want to think. Sometimes my head just can't make sense of many things, and the vet tells me it's diabetic neuropathy. So I can't ask for advice; he doesn't like Lantus for animals. I'm going to continue with the supplements and lower the dose to see how his body reacts. It's really hard to understand, and I feel frustrated.

Oh sad….. because I see he was starting to have green numbers. Is there a correlation between his lower numbers (or higher numbers)? Have you noticed? You certainly could try reducing the dose by .25 and note any behavior changes or improvements.

 

[Kate & Willow]

Hello Xelo. I remember now who is was whose cat had a negative reaction to Lantus. It was @Kate & Willow. Kate, I hope you will see this and be able to relate your story of Willow on Lantus. I believe Willow even had a seizure (although I do not know the cause.)

Hi Suzanne & Xelo! Yes, Willow had a very adverse and surprising reaction to Lantus. Her veterinarian was shocked by it. Her first few doses of Lantus were very scary- she seemed very uncomfortable and restless, laying down and immediately getting up constantly. She acted very strange. She peed on my bed (has never done this any other time in her life). And yes she did have a seizure out of nowhere one day, and rushed to the vet, but we never got an answer on why she had the seizure. She wasn't hypoglycemic, her BP was normal, potassium etc all normal. I grew up with an epileptic dog so was positive it was a seizure, but I wonder sometimes if it was like, a fainting incident? But she was convulsing- it lasted about 30 seconds. I equated it all to the insulin considering she seemed to be doing worse on Lantus than before we even started insulin treatment. I asked my vet about switching, and we went with ProZinc. She's been doing great on ProZinc ever since October 2024. Her first day on ProZinc was like night and day from Lantus. It was definitely a lesson on trusting my gut, and trusting Willow's body.

 

[Kate & Willow]

We've been giving my cat Lantus for 19 days and she seems drugged; she barely wants to walk, she walks very slowly and crouches down. I don't know if any other cats on the forum have experienced this, but I'd like some advice on what might be happening. We previously switched to Prozinc on the advice of our vet, and he already experienced this. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be going on?

Willow also acted "drugged" on Lantus, and I know how alarming that is. She was not herself.

 

[Gill & George]

Willow also acted "drugged" on Lantus, and I know how alarming that is. She was not herself.

Hi

Willow also acted "drugged" on Lantus, and I know how alarming that is. She was not herself.

Hi Kate, did Willow get extremely hungry on PROZINC? Cello has recently been having those problems.

It sounds like with willow the reaction came when she first started la tus? Is that right?

Sinver was on lantus for a number of years, swapped to PROZINC for a few months, and this reaction has come approx10 days into re commencing Lantus, so not particularly sudden in Sinvers case.