Changing a missing injection times

[rugbygrlmel]

Hello all! I'm new to the forum. I have a 13-15 yr old black short-hair male cat named Gilligan.

Gilligan was diagnosed with diabetes about 4 weeks ago and their having trouble getting him regulated. He's up to 4 units (he's only 11.7 lbs). He's on Science Diet WD and has been for the 4 weeks. He has a slight UTI which he is on medication for currently.

To get to my question though.....the vet told me he is to get his injections every 12 hours, no leeway whatsoever. My question is, there is 1 day during the week I cannot be there to give him his injection. It would be closer to either 10 hours, or it would have to wait until then15 hour mark. Any suggestions? Do I skip this day? Can I give him his injection at 10 hours 1 day a week?

Thank you in advance!
Mell & Gilligan

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Hi Mel and Gilligan,

It depends on the type of insulin you use. With Lantus and Levemir, 12 hours is the best schedule. There may be some ways around it if it is just once a week. With ProZinc, it is more flexible.

I encourage you to check out this website by a vet: www.catinfo.org. Food can make a big difference in diabetic levels. If the Science Diet is dry, it is very high carb - a little like feeding donuts to a human diabetic. A lower carb food might bring down the amount of insulin Gilligan is using.

BUT we also encouage home testing to see exactly how the insulin is working. If you would switch to a lower carb diet, be testing first. Our Oliver went down 100 points overnight when we switched from dry Science Diet to wet Fancy Feast. If we'd given our usual insulin dose, he would have hypoed.

Let us know if and how we can help. we'd love to!

 

[Deb & Wink]

Hi Mell and Gilligan and welcome to the message board.

Well, with that high carb Hill's W/d food, it's no wonder you're having trouble regulating Gilligan. The dry W/d is about 37% carb, the wet around 26% We recommend that you feed <10% carbs.

Please do not switch the food unless you are home testing as the switch to a lower carb food can cause a 100 point drop in BG (blood glucose) levels.

The vets and shelter had my Wink on the Hill's W/d. After I transitioned him to low carb wet food, Fancy Feast classic pates, he soon went into remission on off the insulin.

 

[BJM]

When the infection clears, his glucose may drop significantly. For his safety, please test his blood glucose before each shot and at the anticipated lowest glucose point post shot

For these insulins, which are good for cats as they last about 12 hours between shots, the nadir is:
Lantus - about +5 to +7 hours after the shot;
Levemir - about +7 - +9 hours after the shot
ProZinc or BCP PZI - about +5 to +7 hours after the shot

For these insulins, which are not recommended due to under 12 hours duration between shots, the nadir are/is:
Vetsulin/Caninsulin - about 3 hours AND 5 hours after the shot (its a mixture of 2 different duration insulins); tends to wear off about +10 hours after the shot
Humulin or Novolin N - about +3 to +4 hours after the shot; tends to wear off by +8 hours after the shot