Does Aggy need increased insulin? Please help!

[AggyBear]

My baby girl has been on Cerenia + Mirataz and is eating regularly again. I withheld last night + tonight as she's been eating with no issue.

But....Now she's drinking more + BG numbers are higher (spread sheet up to date).

Do I need to increase the insulin?

What could be going on? Should I get her to the vet again?

Also, what are the best cat insulin medications? I need to know which is best to give her. Any thoughts or advice I would greatly appreciate. I want my girl to get better!!!!

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Samantha,

I'm glad to hear that Agatha has started eating normally again.

The higher numbers may be contributing to the increased thirst.

Can you get any BG tests done between +2 and +5 after each dose (AM and PM)? Those are the hours where you're most likely to catch how low the dose may be taking Agatha and that's the info you need in order to determine how the dose is working and whether it needs to be adjusted. Given that Agatha dropped down to the greens when she had no insulin, I would worry about how far down she might drop on the 1.0IU dose. If the dose drops her BG very fast early in the cycle, or if it drops her into unfamiliarly low/too low numbers then particularly with this insulin she might then head back up into the higher numbers you're currently seeing. The only way to determine what's happening is by getting tests both at preshot and during the hours when the insulin is most likely to be having its greatest effect.


Mogs
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[AggyBear]

Can you get any BG tests done between +2 and +5 after each dose (AM and PM)?

Thank you for your response. This would be tests done 2 to 5 hours after the insulin shots?

If (rather, when) I get ProZinc for her, Chewy says the 10ml bottle has 40 units. So if she stays at 1 unit twice daily.... That bottle will only last 20 days? Is that correct? I want to get her switched asap!

 

[Dyana]

I looked up the ProZinc at Chewy and it says 40 units per ml on the label. Ten 10 ml would be 400 units. Some people get good results with their cats on Vetsulin. It is a harsher insulin and doesn't have a long duration. Lantus, Levemir, and ProZinc are a more gentle and longer lasting insulin. I only have experience with Lantus and Levemir, and they are both given every 12 hours. I don't have experience with Vetsulin, but I am wondering why you didn't give any insulin in the PMs the last two nights.
The drop into green, is most likely what caused him to bounce and have the higher numbers the past few days.
Maybe posting in the Vetsulin forum and ask for advice on whether you should increase, decrease, or split the dose would be helpful.

 

[AggyBear]

I didn't realize I didn't fill that in! She's been getting 1 unit still. Thank you for catching that.

 

[Critter Mom]

Thank you for your response. This would be tests done 2 to 5 hours after the insulin shots?

Correct.

Here's a graphic showing an 'ideal' response of a feline diabetic to a safe dose of Vetsulin (for a cycle not affected by bouncing):

The above provides a fairly good illustration of the curve that BG levels typically follow for Vetsulin, so you can see why the recommendation to test between +2 and +5. It is important to note that nadir time can move around, hence the need for a spreadsheet to track your kitty's individual pattern of response.

Note: Testing at +2 can help identify fast drops, and also early nadirs (some cats metabolise insulin faster than others so dose onset and nadir times may come earlier in the cycle as a consequence). If BG has dropped a lot between preshot and nadir then that's a signal to keep a closer eye on BG in the hours immediately following. Some caregivers give a small feed of regular low carb food at this time to steady the drop.


Mogs
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