Diabetic Neuropathy, encouraging words?

Status
Not open for further replies.
JaimeAnne

JaimeAnne

Member
Hello,
My sugar kitty Sabu was diagnosed 2 weeks ago w/ bg at 586. Last week his level was 250 and today it was 160. Have a starter kit from FDMB but still intimidated to poke him, considering even the vet techs have trouble and end up using a seringe...

So, it's looking good but he's developed diabetic neuropathy and it's heartbreaking to see him try to walk and try to jump into bed or on our lap and see the helpless look in his eyes!! :cry:

Also, he isn't eating much. I've been to the vet twice since his diagnosis and have left with a new medication each time. He's on an appetite stimulant every 3 days, and now gets Tumil-K Gel (potassium glconate) for his neuropathy 2 times per day--which he hates, he just drools it all out...

Any other sugar kitties out there with neuropathy that has been reversed with treatment??? Or should I just get used to carrying him when I need him to be more than 5 feet from where he currently is...

Thanks!!!
 
:-D Thank you, Cindy!! That was just what I needed to read!!

I just ordered the Zobaline & I am going to research the Tumil-K that the Vet prescribed, his potassium was low which is why he prescribed it, but I think he's under the impression it will help his neuropathy too, but I had heard about the methylcobalamin but didn't know where to find it, and did have the information with me at the vet today to ask him about it.

I gave Sabu his Tumil-k about 5:40 and he finished his first full serving of food in a week, his 1 unit of Lantus at 7pm (which hubbins said he took like a champ) and just 5 mins ago he walked down the steps from the 2nd floor where he has stayed for the last week and is laying on the floor near me--a major improvement already, but I know it's baby steps b/c I'm sure he won't get up the steps himself but it's great to see him trying to be his social self again!!

I can't wait to see what the Zobaline does for him!! :smile:

Thanks again!! Once we get past this, we'll start home testing... confused_cat
 
Take a peek at this article : http://felinediabetes.com/weak-back-rear-legs.htm

Now look at that cat. That was my sweet Rambo - one of the worst cases of neuropathy the vets ever saw. They gave him no hope. FDMB told me about Methyl B12, and between that and regulated BGs, his neuropathy reversed completely. Made a believer out of the vets! :-D

Methyl B12 and regulated BGs. That's the trick... so consider starting the hometesting sooner than later. You won't regret it.

Best of luck!!!
 
I just want to add a bit of encouragement regarding the hometesting...

When Jesse was diagnosed and the vet tech showed me how to poke his ear he freaked. She ended up wrapping him in a blanket. I said oh my God, I can't do this!!! But after a few days I got up my nerve and was able to do it.

What I found was that not only was Jesse completely stressed at the vet's, but the vet was doing it all wrong (at least where Jesse was concerned). She was poking the inside of his ear flap, which meant the ear was being held tightly and bent - two things Jesse hates. What I do is smear his ear flap with a little Vaseline and let it go. Then I put a cosmetic square on the inside of his flap and poke and let go of the ear. When it starts to bleed I hold it very gently and get the reading.

Now Sabu could be totally different than Jesse, but I encourage you to try. It's funny how most of us take to the shots real easy, it's the poking that's scary :smile:
 
JaimeAnne said:
My sugar kitty Sabu was diagnosed 2 weeks ago w/ bg at 586. Last week his level was 250 and today it was 160. Have a starter kit from FDMB but still intimidated to poke him, considering even the vet techs have trouble and end up using a seringe... So, it's looking good but he's developed diabetic neuropathy and it's heartbreaking to see him try to walk and try to jump into bed or on our lap and see the helpless look in his eyes!! :cry: Also, he isn't eating much. I've been to the vet twice since his diagnosis and have left with a new medication each time. He's on an appetite stimulant every 3 days, and now gets Tumil-K Gel (potassium glconate) for his neuropathy 2 times per day--which he hates, he just drools it all out... Any other sugar kitties out there with neuropathy that has been reversed with treatment??? Or should I just get used to carrying him when I need him to be more than 5 feet from where he currently is...Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Shaikha has had two bad problems with diabetic neuropathy, both of which were reversed with oral methylcobalamin fairly quickly.

I'm curious as to why your vet has prescribed potassium for neuropathy though, as well as an appetite stimulant. Back leg weakness can be caused by low potassium but if it is neuropathy causing the problem then potassium won't help at all. Have Sabu's kidney and liver values been checked recently? If you do have to give potassium, I'd stay away from the gel, which most cats tend to dislike. If you wish to use Tumil-K, stick to the powdered version which most cats do like. You can read more about potassium supplements here: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2r6 ... assium.htm. Also NEVER give potassium on an empty stomach! It will definitely upset the tummy. Give it always WITH food. I'm not surprised he's drooling it out if you are giving it alone and without a meal.

Did your vet say why Sabu isn't eating much? I'd be cautious about appetite stimulants. Many times cats who are having problems with appetite are nauseated, and giving an appetite stimulant just leads to food aversions. Addressing the nausea with a true anti-nausea drug may be a better way to go than the appetite stimulant route. Many of the stimulants also have side effects, such as making the cat agitated or causing them to do a lot of yowling. Does your cat have other problems besides the diabetes, such as pancreatitis?
 
JaimeAnne said:
My sugar kitty Sabu was diagnosed 2 weeks ago w/ bg at 586. Last week his level was 250 and today it was 160. Have a starter kit from FDMB but still intimidated to poke him, considering even the vet techs have trouble and end up using a seringe... So, it's looking good but he's developed diabetic neuropathy and it's heartbreaking to see him try to walk and try to jump into bed or on our lap and see the helpless look in his eyes!! :cry: Also, he isn't eating much. I've been to the vet twice since his diagnosis and have left with a new medication each time. He's on an appetite stimulant every 3 days, and now gets Tumil-K Gel (potassium glconate) for his neuropathy 2 times per day--which he hates, he just drools it all out... Any other sugar kitties out there with neuropathy that has been reversed with treatment??? Or should I just get used to carrying him when I need him to be more than 5 feet from where he currently is...Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Shaikha has had two bad problems with diabetic neuropathy, both of which were reversed with oral methylcobalamin fairly quickly.

I'm curious as to why your vet has prescribed potassium for neuropathy though, as well as an appetite stimulant. Back leg weakness can be caused by low potassium but if it is neuropathy causing the problem then potassium won't help at all. Have Sabu's kidney and liver values been checked recently? If you do have to give potassium, I'd stay away from the gel, which most cats tend to dislike. If you wish to use Tumil-K, stick to the powdered version which most cats do like. You can read more about potassium supplements here: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2r6qt/supplies/potassium.htm. Also NEVER give potassium on an empty stomach! It will definitely upset the tummy. Give it always WITH food. I'm not surprised he's drooling it out if you are giving it alone and without a meal.

Did your vet say why Sabu isn't eating much? I'd be cautious about appetite stimulants. Many times cats who are having problems with appetite are nauseated, and giving an appetite stimulant just leads to food aversions. Addressing the nausea with a true anti-nausea drug may be a better way to go than the appetite stimulant route. Many of the stimulants also have side effects, such as making the cat agitated or causing them to do a lot of yowling. Does your cat have other problems besides the diabetes, such as pancreatitis?
 
Thanks Everyone! I wish my vet knew as much as you all are teaching me on this board!!

Wombat,
His blood was tested last time he was in (yesterday) and he was low on potassium-I assume the vet thought that would cause the neuropathy...I ordered the methylcobalamin just waiting for it to get here.

They never said anything about him be nausiated, and he seems to be eating again--not as much as before he was diagnosed, but I have also read that unregulated cats can eat alot...

I am not aware of any other problems, his (whatever causes renal disease) was slightly elevated,which the vet attributed to not eating and have him a subQ fluid (200mg).

Does it ever end? Could he ever be "healthy" again?? :?
 
JaimeAnne said:
His blood was tested last time he was in (yesterday) and he was low on potassium-I assume the vet thought that would cause the neuropathy...I ordered the methylcobalamin just waiting for it to get here. They never said anything about him be nausiated, and he seems to be eating again--not as much as before he was diagnosed, but I have also read that unregulated cats can eat alot...I am not aware of any other problems, his (whatever causes renal disease) was slightly elevated,which the vet attributed to not eating and have him a subQ fluid (200mg). Does it ever end? Could he ever be "healthy" again?? :?
Click to expand...

Sabu's creatinine and BUN levels were elevated? How high were they? Higher levels can impact appetite, but the key to improving that is getting those levels back down. You are giving 200ml subQ fluids now? How often? How big is Sabu? That's a lot of fluid, which is why I ask. Cats with renal failure, if bad enough, may require additional fluid to prevent dehydration, but if the renal failure isn't bad most cats can drink enough on their own. Creatinine and BUN don't "cause" renal failure, they are simply an indicator of it, being waste products of kidney function. Were Sabu's phosphorus levels checked as well? Assuming there is renal failure going on too, you can read a lot more about it here: http://www.felinecrf.org/what_is_crf.htm
 
My cat Mimi had hind legs problem which was caused by diabetes. He was not able to jump on our sofa, his hind legs kept spreading out when he walked. Because his hind legs were weak, I once found him not able to turn his back and peed outside of litter box when he sit in there.
Now he backs to normal. That's few months later after he went OTJ, and his BG remains under 100 every time I test him. Some members do give their cat B12 which should help, I didn't get B12.
It's said the key is keeping his BG in normal range, and you will see him getting better and better, little by little.
I stick to low carbs canned food, no dry food ever again.
 
When I adopted Spot she had severe neuropathy. So bad that she could barely walk. She also was not on insulin at the time - her previous owner had her on Glip.

Within a few weeks of being regulated on insulin and taking Methyl B12, she was walking easily but had a limp. Within 3-4 months, she was running and jumping on things with no problems at all. So yes, a cat can recover from neurapathy. :mrgreen:
 
Cindy + Mousie said:
methylcobalamin will help, as well as starting treatment for the diabetes and getting his glucose levels under control, and you are working on that so :-) it is B12 vitamin but make sure you get methylcobalamin, not cyanocobalamin.

and here's some reading for you to look at as it is fixable
http://www.laurieulrich.com/jasper/

and here's one that alot of people here use
http://www.lifelinknet.com/siteResource ... baline.asp
Click to expand...

Cindy- you have saved me again. I sent an email to my vet with these links. She had prescribed the wrong B12 and I brought it to her attention and she was wise enough to tell me she had never heard of it. She said she would voice authorize it if the pharmacy knew of it. Both CVS and Costco thought I was wrong.

Someone please PM me where I can get it. I have already asked for a new prescription.
 
Here you go : http://www.lifelinknet.com/siteResource ... baline.asp

LifeLink makes Xobaline, which is tried, tested and true here on FDMB. It has a new product now, called Zobaline, which is Methyl B12 specifically for cats! They eliminated all the sweeteners, so no worries.

You can buy Methyl B12 at WalMart, here in Canada, anyway. Just make sure whatever brand you buy does not contain Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) since it can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Most of us give between 3 and 5mg (3000 - 5000 mcg) per day, regardless of body size. Any excess is excreted in the urine, so no worries about overdosing.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for this information. My Sampson just started this yesterday. Lost balance three times. I though it was his sudden blindness on Friday but the vision specialist told me that it may very well be neuropathy. I need to start him on insulin again to to steroid (budesodine) use for IBD. His bg was the highest it's been this evening at 350. Hope it was the stress of the vet. Anyway I have another discussion what is better for a transient diabetic kitty at 17 years old with a lot of issues. Lantus or Humilin?


Thanks,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top