(.../cont'd.)
If it were my cat, these are the things I would look to do/investigate:
1. Monitor daily for ketones / continue with home BG monitoring / keep brief journal of observations and clinical signs.
2. Optimise Diet - be very careful!
I would schedule a couple of days to devote to testing him and gradually removing all high carb food from his diet (especially dry high carb food). If the food is elevating numbers then transitioning him to all wet, low-carb could dramatically and quickly reduce his BG and therefore his dose would need to be reduced - cycle by cycle as dictated by improving BG numbers.
Here is important safety advice from vet Dr Lisa Pierson about how
critically important it is to monitor BG/reduce insulin as needed when going through a food transition to lower carb food:
http://catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes
With such a high dose of Caninsulin in the mix, anything which suddenly and significantly reduces BG levels could greatly increase risk of hypo so great care and very close monitoring is vital. If my cat was in this position and I wasn't able to monitor a food transition myself I would look to see if the vet could take him in for a few days to do the food transition and adjust dose downwards on a cycle by cycle basis as dictated by any improvements in BG observed as a result of reducing the dietary carb load.
Given that the current diet is Fancy Feast Classics alongside the dry kibble then the carb load in the diet from the dry kibble may not be the only thing driving the high numbers - especially with the Caninsulin dose being so high.
NB: If a diet transition is a route you and your vet agree on I suggest it might be better to do the food transition while Davey is still on Caninsulin since it is an in-out insulin and any dose reductions needed would be more immediately effective than trying to manage the transition and an over-full L-insulin depot at the same time (not a good mix - especially with very high doses).
3. Change Insulin
If it were my cat giving these numbers and showing this response I would ask the vet about switching to a longer-acting insulin as soon as possible after the food transition has been completed. Bearing in mind Davey may possibly
need a high dose, Levemir (insulin detemir) might be the better choice to go for because, unlike Lantus, Levemir does not sting at larger doses. (For general information, many members who switch to Levemir from another insulin often report that their cats appear to be 'happier' in themselves.)
An appropriate dose of a longer-acting depot insulin should give greater duration of effect and hopefully keep BG at better levels for a longer period each day and hopefully stop the preshot BG levels getting as high as they currently are on Caninsulin - especially in the early and late part of each cycle). This might make Davey feel a little more comfortable while you and your vet work to determine what might be driving/keeping his numbers so high.
4. Check for Common Drivers of High BG Levels
The following are things a vet should check for as a matter of course in cats who are difficult to regulate. If your vet has not already done so, I suggest you ask about checking the following as soon as possible (including appropriate blood and urine testing):
- dental disease (x-rays before and after dental surgery are important; if teeth/gums are in bad shape, referral to a veterinary dental specialist is advisable).
- urinary tract issues (diabetics are very prone to these - especially when glucose is present in their urine).
- chronic pancreatitis.
- other illness/inflammation.
- pain.
5. Run Additional Diagnostics for Other Conditions
If none of the 'usual suspects' can be identified as a driver of high BG levels, further investigation into the following may be warranted:
- thyroid dysfunction (routine blood test; may need to be specifically requested as an add-on if other blood work is being done).
- high-dose conditions: acromegaly; insulin auto-antibodies (IAA); Cushing's (specialist diagnostics needed).
- other conditions - as guided by your vet.
Further reading:
- Obstacles to Regulation
- Insulin Resistance
- (ETA) Rebound and Overdosing
http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Insulin_resistance
NB: Other members may have different views and suggestions to offer you.
Mogs
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