I just registered today. I posted on another board but nobody using Toujeo there.
It has been nearly four years since my cat developed diabetes, yet his blood glucose levels have never once stabilized.
To begin with, the first veterinarian I consulted was not knowledgeable about feline diabetes cats, and I regret that he did not receive proper treatment.
During that time, he suffered an episode of ketoacidosis and nearly died.
That vet tried many types of insulin (insulin intended for dogs first) but simply increased the dosage whenever blood glucose levels were high.
Eventually, he was administering 6 units of Levemir.
After researching and gathering information, and through my own trial, I managed to reduce the dose to 3 units, though he still experienced sudden spikes or drops in blood sugar.
Later, I moved to the U.S. and could no longer obtain Levemir, so I switched to Lantus under a vet's instructions while his levels stabilized in the 200–300 range for one month on 3 units, then became erratic again afterward, ultimately leading to a second episode of ketoacidosis.
He was admitted to the ICU and treated by an internal medicine specialist focusing on diabetes, but even after extensive testing, they could not pinpoint why his blood glucose levels would not stabilize.
We decided to try a newer insulin, Toujeo, and have been using it for five months now.
Even though, his blood glucose levels remain unstable, some days they are in the 100–200 range, other days in the 300–400 range, and there are days when he experiences sudden hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
In addition to diabetes, my cat has hyperthyroidism and has undergone tooth extraction surgeries due to tooth resorption, leaving him with only his upper right back teeth and canines.
He has also suffered from severe pancreatitis twice in the past. While he had a strong appetite during the first year of his diabetes, his appetite has become very inconsistent now that three years have passed.
I rarely see him begging for food or waiting for meals the way he used to.
The internal medicine specialist, having reviewed his medical history and test results from his hospitalizations, maintains that Toujeo is the only remaining option for him. However, the fact that Toujeo can only be adjusted in one-unit increments is a major issue.
Since Toujeo has such a long duration of action, I worry about the risk of hypoglycemia if my cat doesn't eat the food from the automatic feeder during the night or while we are out.
Does anyone have experience managing a diabetic cat that is difficult to treat, like mine?
I tend to do a lot of research and have tried absolutely everything for my cat so far.
He eats normal food because refused to eat all low-carb food.
When he was first diagnosed, I fed him prescription diets from Hill's and Royal Canin, but after developing ketoacidosis, he rejected both.
Since then, I have tried to feed him foods with the lowest possible carbohydrate content.
The problem is that even if he eats a food at first, he soon gets bored of it and won't touch it again.
I’ve lost count of how many different types of food I’ve tried with him!
I decided that getting him to eat is the priority, so I currently feed him what he will actually eat (Royal Canin, Pro Plan, and Natural Balance).
I would love to hear any advice you might have. Thank you.
It has been nearly four years since my cat developed diabetes, yet his blood glucose levels have never once stabilized.
To begin with, the first veterinarian I consulted was not knowledgeable about feline diabetes cats, and I regret that he did not receive proper treatment.
During that time, he suffered an episode of ketoacidosis and nearly died.
That vet tried many types of insulin (insulin intended for dogs first) but simply increased the dosage whenever blood glucose levels were high.
Eventually, he was administering 6 units of Levemir.
After researching and gathering information, and through my own trial, I managed to reduce the dose to 3 units, though he still experienced sudden spikes or drops in blood sugar.
Later, I moved to the U.S. and could no longer obtain Levemir, so I switched to Lantus under a vet's instructions while his levels stabilized in the 200–300 range for one month on 3 units, then became erratic again afterward, ultimately leading to a second episode of ketoacidosis.
He was admitted to the ICU and treated by an internal medicine specialist focusing on diabetes, but even after extensive testing, they could not pinpoint why his blood glucose levels would not stabilize.
We decided to try a newer insulin, Toujeo, and have been using it for five months now.
Even though, his blood glucose levels remain unstable, some days they are in the 100–200 range, other days in the 300–400 range, and there are days when he experiences sudden hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
In addition to diabetes, my cat has hyperthyroidism and has undergone tooth extraction surgeries due to tooth resorption, leaving him with only his upper right back teeth and canines.
He has also suffered from severe pancreatitis twice in the past. While he had a strong appetite during the first year of his diabetes, his appetite has become very inconsistent now that three years have passed.
I rarely see him begging for food or waiting for meals the way he used to.
The internal medicine specialist, having reviewed his medical history and test results from his hospitalizations, maintains that Toujeo is the only remaining option for him. However, the fact that Toujeo can only be adjusted in one-unit increments is a major issue.
Since Toujeo has such a long duration of action, I worry about the risk of hypoglycemia if my cat doesn't eat the food from the automatic feeder during the night or while we are out.
Does anyone have experience managing a diabetic cat that is difficult to treat, like mine?
I tend to do a lot of research and have tried absolutely everything for my cat so far.
He eats normal food because refused to eat all low-carb food.
When he was first diagnosed, I fed him prescription diets from Hill's and Royal Canin, but after developing ketoacidosis, he rejected both.
Since then, I have tried to feed him foods with the lowest possible carbohydrate content.
The problem is that even if he eats a food at first, he soon gets bored of it and won't touch it again.
I’ve lost count of how many different types of food I’ve tried with him!
I decided that getting him to eat is the priority, so I currently feed him what he will actually eat (Royal Canin, Pro Plan, and Natural Balance).
I would love to hear any advice you might have. Thank you.
