Cali Cat

[Cali Cat and Rosi]

Wow I didn't realize you could get automated feeders for wet food. I will definitely check that out!

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Rosi.

How are you and Cali Cat doing today?

I just had a look at Cali's spreadsheet and I see you gave a dose of 0.50 last night and she had a very good nadir.

Have you got urine ketone test strips at home? Reason I'm asking is that I wonder whether a dose less than 1.0IU Caninsulin might be safer for Cali but it's important to check for ketones if one reduces the amount of insulin given.


Mogs
.

 

[Cali Cat and Rosi]

Well I am am not sure about last night because she did wake me up at 3am biting and was licking, after not having did that for a few nights. But I did go to bed earlier last night and her last snack was a few hours earlier then the nights she didn't get me up till 6. I am going to start looking around for an automatic feeder. It will have to wait until I can get some money.
I went to my pharmacy and they didn't have ketone tests nor did they even know what I was talking about so I'll need to check somewhere else. Its been pouring all day and it's a long walk to shoppers drug mart lol...

Rosi

 

[Critter Mom]

I'm not sure but he could've been referring to that Pen. Thanks for the feedback it is very helpful to know you've used this device before. The size will either be easier for me or much worse lol. I need to hold it to see if I will be able to physically use it every day. Was the size why you stopped using it?

I found the Vetpen to be very heavy and very long. I found it cumbersome when trying to give an injection and it made me feel very nervous about possibly hurting Saoirse. (My hands shake a lot.) I only used the Vetpen to give a handful of doses because at that time it became dangerous to continue Saoirse's treatment with Caninsulin because of the big drops in BG it can produce: she was in good numbers but not in remission but because of the way Caninsulin works it would have put her at risk of a hypo episode. If I had had to continue on Caninsulin I would have switched back to conventional insulin syringes - both for greater manual control and also because they allow for greater control over dose size (e.g. 0.25IU, 0.75IU).

Also can I ask how long Saoires was on Caninsulin before you switched to Lantus and why you switched?
It seems many people, most people are using Lantus and recommend it.

While it is true that some cats do fine on Caninsulin, some even achieving remission, in light of the research I did if I had had the choice I would have started Saoirse on Lantus because it is longer-acting in cats. In particular, some studies have shown that the remission rates for newly-diagnosed cats treated with Lantus (and Levemir) within six months of diagnosis are much higher than for an intermediate-acting insulin such as Caninsulin. I wanted to do my best by Saoirse and I thought that Lantus offered my girl the best chance of successful treatment and better overall quality of life.

While it is possible to treat with other insulins in the UK At the time of Saoirse's diagnosis Caninsulin was the only insulin fully licensed for feline diabetics in the UK and therefore vets were legally required to prescribe it first. Under UK drug cascade rules vets can legally prescribe non-licensed treatments if first-line treatments are proven ineffective or unsuitable for the patient. Saoirse's BG data her journal of observations were sufficient to allow my vet to prescribe Lantus for her. (Caninsulin didn't keep her safely regulated and it made her feel really unwell.)

A large number of cats have much smoother BG levels throughout the day on longer-acting, gentler insulins like Lantus and Levemir. This, plus the reasons listed above, are why they are the preferred insulin choice of many members here. Indeed, an increasing number of members have developed a preference for Levemir over Lantus because their cats seem to be happier on Lev.


Mogs
.

 

[Critter Mom]

Well I am am not sure about last night because she did wake me up at 3am biting and was licking,

Extra hunger may be either due to higher or lower numbers.

I went to my pharmacy and they didn't have ketone tests nor did they even know what I was talking about

Keto-diastix test both glucose and ketones. Alternatively you can use urinalysis strips with a broader range of tests; just make sure that one of the tests is for ketones. (I use Bayer 10SG Multistix but there are other similar products on the market.)


Mogs
.