I have a 12 yr old cat who was recently diagnosed w/ diabetes. I have now twice had to bring her to the hospital because her blood sugar got to low & she started acting funny. It doesn't seem like this insulin is helping her w/ her blood sugar. It will read too high to even get a number but it depends on the timing. Shouldn't there be less of a bell curve or spikes throughout this process? She is at the vet being monitored right now & waiting to see what the next step will be. Anybody run into this? Is there alternatives? :roll:
diabetes not under control yet
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Larry and Kitties
Very Active Member
Please tell up a few more things like:
type of insulin
dose of insulin and frequency (twice daily?)
what are you feeding and how often
are you home testing? If yes what are some of the Blood glucose values you have gotten.
SInce the cat is going low, the insulin is working but maybe you are giving too much insulin or the incorrect type.
type of insulin
dose of insulin and frequency (twice daily?)
what are you feeding and how often
are you home testing? If yes what are some of the Blood glucose values you have gotten.
SInce the cat is going low, the insulin is working but maybe you are giving too much insulin or the incorrect type.
Jen & Squeak
Very Active Member
Sounds like a very crazy treatment protocol. I don't know any cats who eat that much, and 9 units twice a day is an insane dose to be giving any cat, let alone without hometesting.
Can we help you get things going in a more sane and safe manner? If you haven't already, please read the fdmb faq listed just a few threads above...
JEn
Can we help you get things going in a more sane and safe manner? If you haven't already, please read the fdmb faq listed just a few threads above...
JEn
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
What type of food is she eating? Is it dry that she's snacking on throughout the day?
The dose is high, back when we first started out my vet dosed Tucker on Humulin N using his weight, he started on 4U BID. It proved to be too high of a dose and he didn't like that insulin, we quickly switched to PZI and a few years later switched to Levemir, this is the insulin he's on now and he responds much better to it.
Do you test blood sugar at home?
The dose is high, back when we first started out my vet dosed Tucker on Humulin N using his weight, he started on 4U BID. It proved to be too high of a dose and he didn't like that insulin, we quickly switched to PZI and a few years later switched to Levemir, this is the insulin he's on now and he responds much better to it.
Do you test blood sugar at home?
My cat Oliver was eating close to 30oz or more a day before he was regulated.
Appetite will change when you have the cat more in control. Are the cans of food 3oz cans?
Also what is the food you are feeding?
Where are you located? I think most people will suggest that you monitor your cat's BG yourself; home testing will let you know if it is safe to give a shot or not. You are shooting likely too much insulin but don't know it without testing. If you pick up just a regular blood glucose meter at your local pharmacy, you can test your cat's BG at home and people here can help you.
If you are giving insulin but the cat's BG is dropping too low, it means that the insulin is working but you are giving way too much. If the vet is basing dose on your cat's weight, how much does your cat weigh?
Did the vet say any details about the heart murmur or just that your cat has the murmur.
Does your cat have any other health issues or on any meds?
I can't comment on the insulin you are using except that the dose is likely too high and should be lower; I use Levemir for both of my cats, and it's working very well.
Appetite will change when you have the cat more in control. Are the cans of food 3oz cans?
Also what is the food you are feeding?
Where are you located? I think most people will suggest that you monitor your cat's BG yourself; home testing will let you know if it is safe to give a shot or not. You are shooting likely too much insulin but don't know it without testing. If you pick up just a regular blood glucose meter at your local pharmacy, you can test your cat's BG at home and people here can help you.
If you are giving insulin but the cat's BG is dropping too low, it means that the insulin is working but you are giving way too much. If the vet is basing dose on your cat's weight, how much does your cat weigh?
Did the vet say any details about the heart murmur or just that your cat has the murmur.
Does your cat have any other health issues or on any meds?
I can't comment on the insulin you are using except that the dose is likely too high and should be lower; I use Levemir for both of my cats, and it's working very well.
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
What type of insulin did you switch to? What dose?
Most of us didn't know how to hometest before we got here. Check out this link, it has helpful videos and information from our members here on how to hometest.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287
Most of us didn't know how to hometest before we got here. Check out this link, it has helpful videos and information from our members here on how to hometest.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287
I failed to mention she was on Science Diet W/D & then switched to M/D.
It is prozinc that they changed her to. She is being started at 2 & they checked her BG 3x today & they were all high.
She ended up losing a pound when we found out what was wrong which she has thankfully gained back though. She around 8lbs right now.
The heart murmur seems to be at a level 2 & I can't afford an ultra sound right now.
I have spent $500 in the past two days & am unemployed so am having financial difficulty w/ this. All the syringes I had from the humilin is now useless & I can't really do anything w/ it.
It is prozinc that they changed her to. She is being started at 2 & they checked her BG 3x today & they were all high.
She ended up losing a pound when we found out what was wrong which she has thankfully gained back though. She around 8lbs right now.
The heart murmur seems to be at a level 2 & I can't afford an ultra sound right now.
I have spent $500 in the past two days & am unemployed so am having financial difficulty w/ this. All the syringes I had from the humilin is now useless & I can't really do anything w/ it.
BJM
Very Active Member
Diabetic Cats in Need may be able to help with some basic home testing supplies.
You can feed over the counter canned foods, rather than Rx foods @ $1.50 or more a can. Dry foods are usually high carbohydrate and make it more difficult to control the diabetes. For more discussion of canned vs dry, plus managing some conditions, go here http://catinfo.org
Here are more tips for controlling costs
You can feed over the counter canned foods, rather than Rx foods @ $1.50 or more a can. Dry foods are usually high carbohydrate and make it more difficult to control the diabetes. For more discussion of canned vs dry, plus managing some conditions, go here http://catinfo.org
Here are more tips for controlling costs
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