Fructosamine test

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Mel and Oreo

Mel and Oreo

Member Since 2013
Hello,
Oreo was recently diagnosed in December 2013.
Our vet wanted Oreo on caninsulin.
For some reason Oreo tends to hit his nadir(95) at 9 hours after injection when we give 2 units. We then had to give 1.5 units the next injection because he was so low and it was a rollercoaster.
Then the vet said to go to 2 units twice daily and we were afraid so we went to 1.75 units for one dose and then on the next dose 2 units.
Oreo went down to a 55 at +9. He was acting odd. He was going back and forth from his bed like he was confused. He stumbled against his pillow. I fed him corn syrup mixed in his cat food. I retested him multiple times while feeding him and he was ok thank goodness! I even poked myself by accident since I was upset!
It really shook me up, but I was prepared because of all the excellent info on the forum.
I called our vet and now she wants 1.5 units twice daily for 2 weeks. Then we will do a fructosamine test.
1.What result do we want on the fructosamine test? I trust the forum more than the internet.
She said if we don't get a good result we could go to 1.75 u twice daily which would be awkward on a 40 unit syringe.
2. I have looked at a BD 3/10cc syringe with half units and it looks like with the 2.5 conversion we could do 1.8 units of caninsulin as 4.5 units on a 100 unit per ml syringe or 1.7 units as 4.25 on the 100u syringe. Is this correct?
Thanks for all of the help!
 
Hi Mel and Oreo,

It sounds like you have already learned alot about this disease and thank goodness, you are home testing. You've caught several lower points and saved him from a dangerous hypo.

A fructosamine test will basically give you an average of Oreo's numbers over the past few weeks. As you are hometesting, you already have that information and can get an even clearer picture by testing him more often. Testing before each shot and at mid cycle will give you a great idea of how a particular dose is working. It tends to be a fairly expensive test and really won't tell you anything you can't find out with hometesting. If your vet insists, you could always plead money issues and tell him you'll be happy to test regularly at home and share your results with him.

As you have been reading, Canninsulin is not one of the favored insulins here. It tends to create a shorter cycle with a harsher onset. But if it is what you have and can afford, with hometesting, you can see if it is going to work for him. It'll take getting some data on your part and adjusting the dose. But if he is one of the lucky cats that get a longer smoother cycle, it can work.

What is Oreo eating? We find wet low carb food really helps bring the levels down.

Keep asking questions and let us know how we can help.
 
We have been feeding Oreo a combo of the FF pate and royal canin feline diabetic food. Only wet.
I asked our vet about lantus when we first found out Oreo was diabetic. She said we would start with this then could change later if I wanted. Now she says that with eight vets in this office they like to stick with mostly one type so they can help each other's patients. Also she said it was the only approved insulin.
I am a pharmacist and I sell lantus and syringes to people all the time for their cats. I am a bit peeved.
I had a friend ask their vet if they would give me a second opinion and they agreed. They said to bring my numbers in for them.
My vet also says that I don't need to test so much.
The reason why I haven't switched already is that we are going on a one month holiday soon and I want no issues when the pet sitter comes to inject Oreo. I am already sick about it since we booked a year ago before we knew Oreo was diabetic so changing now may not be the best. As soon as we are back I will get that second opinion and change Oreo hopefully to the lantus.
I was hoping with the fructosamine test I would at least get the best dose for when we leave.
 
Ideally, you'd teach your petsitter to test. The next best thing is to get a good safe dose for her to shoot. To do that, I'd test a lot before you leave. If you post your numbers, we can help.

You might check the food charts for Royal Canin. Dr. Lisa has a few of the flavors and they all are pretty high in carbs.


http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88162

There are some flavors on this chart also


http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html

Most flavors seem to be above our 8% ideal.
 
With eight vets in the office, I'm surprised none of them have read the AAHA Diabetic Guidelines that show it is not an "approved" insulin for cats. There are only two that are "approved" for cats: ProZinc/PZI and Lantus (glargine). From page 4 of the PDF, page 218 of the journal:
The insulin preparations with the appropriate duration of action in most diabetic cats are glargine (U-10) or the veterinary-approved human protamine zinc insulin (PZI U-40).

This panel does not recommend the veterinary-approved porcine zince (lente) insulin suspension as the initial treatment for the cat, because its duration of action is short and control of clinical signs is poor.
Click to expand...

(Caninsulin is Porcine Zinc.)
 
Thank you for all of your advice,
I cannot find the royal canin diabetic wet food carbohydrate %. It doesn't seem to list it anywhere that I can see on the lists. It does say the dry version has way to much carbs so I returned it to the vet. Maybe the wet is new? It thought it is supposed to have low carbs and with a low glycemic index?
 
Sorry I searched the forum with no luck. I went on the Royal Canin Canada site and asked for the carbohydrate%. We shall see.
 
I was feeding Royal Canin diabetic at first. It isn't on any of the lists, but I think someone called the manufacturer and it is 14% carbs. Still too high for what you want.

Great news on the fructosamine test!
 
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