Hi ... My buddy Scottie and I .are new to diabetes. while I've read a great deal, I'm having problems with reactions to the initial PZI insulin shots. Scottie is a 10-year old male neutered tabby. He was 16 lbs. pre -diabetic diagnosis and has dropped 4 lbs in the past 2 months. When diagnosed 2 weeks ago, his blood sugar was > 400. No ketones; no other apparent problems. Within days of his diagnosis, I switched him to a low-carb high protein canned diet which he loves. The Vet started him on 1 unit of PZI twice a day. After the third shot, he refused to eat (VERY unlike him). Vet said to discontinue insulin until he started to eat normally again, get a home blood test kit, restart the insulin a\t 1/2 unit once a day; and then begin doing a glucose curve testing on the third day. Sunday I tested his blood for the first time (quite tricky to do!) and it was > 400. I gave him his insulin. He ate and acted normally pretty much all day. Today, I had to tear the house upside down for him after feeding him (he only ate a little) so as to find him to give him his shot. He was hiding under my clothes in my closet. I gave him ths shot and he never came out of the closet for the rest of the day. I checked on him a couple of times and he seemed OK ... just lethargic and depressed, but not disoriented. However, pretty strange behavior for this particular cat. About 7 PM tonight, I carried him downstairs, did a blood check (364) and offered him some food, which he readily ate. Later this evening, my husband said he was hanging out on his chest while they watched TV (I had to go out of town for 24 hours for work). He's supposed to get another insulin shot tomorrow AM but I am very hesitant to give it to him colnsidering his behavior today. Is this type of reaction "normal"? Is he just getting used to the insulin? Please help ... I don't feel like I know what I am doing, yet Scottie's life could depend on it. Thanks - Jeanne
Help - insulin reactions
- Thread starter JeanneMM
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Beth & Atlas
Very Active Member
Jeanne, welcome to FDMBs. You are in the right place and it sounds like you are doing the right things with home testing. Good for you and lucky Scotty!
My first concern is the fast food switch to low carb. generally that greatly reduces the need for insulin. When switching food to low carb, we encourage more frequent testing to see where the numbers are going. We like to get at least mid-cycle numbers, not just pre-shot numbers. This way we can see if there are really low blood glucose (BG) numbers during the cycle.
It sounds like you should probably not shoot below 200 until we have more information.
You may want to have a hypo kit on hand. Please read: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15887
I would encourage you to get some Keto-stix at the drugstore to check Scotty's urine for ketones, until you get his numbers consistently down.
Some other folks should be along to help you out who are more experienced with PZI. So, hang tight.
Edit: Is your husband able to do some of the tests too?
My first concern is the fast food switch to low carb. generally that greatly reduces the need for insulin. When switching food to low carb, we encourage more frequent testing to see where the numbers are going. We like to get at least mid-cycle numbers, not just pre-shot numbers. This way we can see if there are really low blood glucose (BG) numbers during the cycle.
It sounds like you should probably not shoot below 200 until we have more information.
You may want to have a hypo kit on hand. Please read: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15887
I would encourage you to get some Keto-stix at the drugstore to check Scotty's urine for ketones, until you get his numbers consistently down.
Some other folks should be along to help you out who are more experienced with PZI. So, hang tight.
Edit: Is your husband able to do some of the tests too?
Charliemeow
Very Active Member
Hello and welcome! My Charlie is a social kitty who has been on prozinc for 1.5 months now. Did your vet do a full blood panel on Scottie for his diagnosis or just check his sugar level? Maybe there is some underlying health issue here? Or maybe he is just struggling a bit to get used to the new normal in his life? Some kitties take very easily to the ear pokies and shots (Charlie included thankfully), but I'm sure some take a little longer to adjust. Since I'm still new, that's all the input I have. We have some veterans on here and hopefully they will have some input for you soon!
judy and squamee(GA)
Very Active Member
Hi and welcome! So lucky for your cat that you are doing all the right things (coming here, asking questions, testing BG level)! I am not that experienced, but the first time my cat was on insulin (a year ago for a few months) she did a lot of hiding. That eventually wore off. I am not saying that it is normal behavior---I really don't know. But it did not turn out to be anything serious in my case.
Just to be clear, we consider testing before every shot (AMPS and PMPS = morning pre shot and evening pre shot) so you are sure you are not shooting into a number that does not need insulin (below 200 in the beginning), and mid cycle. PZI usually starts working about 2 or 3 hours after shot, and has it's greatest effect (we call it the nadir or peak) 4 to 6 hours after shot (we denote hours after shot as "+"---so it would be +4 or +6, for example). By finding the mid cycle number we can tell that the BG level is not dropping dangerously low (dangerous would probably be below 40).
Hope this is helpful. People have been very busy lately, but probably others with more experience will be around later. Good luck, and keep letting us know what is happening!
Just to be clear, we consider testing before every shot (AMPS and PMPS = morning pre shot and evening pre shot) so you are sure you are not shooting into a number that does not need insulin (below 200 in the beginning), and mid cycle. PZI usually starts working about 2 or 3 hours after shot, and has it's greatest effect (we call it the nadir or peak) 4 to 6 hours after shot (we denote hours after shot as "+"---so it would be +4 or +6, for example). By finding the mid cycle number we can tell that the BG level is not dropping dangerously low (dangerous would probably be below 40).
Hope this is helpful. People have been very busy lately, but probably others with more experience will be around later. Good luck, and keep letting us know what is happening!
Gator & H (GA)
Very Active Member
I'll try to address the reactions:
1) Not eating
Are you testing for keytones? How long did your kitty not eat for? There are many things that can cause a cat to not eat. Pancreatitis, really bad dental issues and more.
2) Hiding / lethargic
This is what they tend to do when they are out of control diabetic. Mine would park in a corner under a table or something meatloafed and stare at the wall. They do this because they feel bad. But don't worry, one you get their diabetes under control they come out of it and start feeling better.
Also do make sure to give lots of rewards after you test. So they get used to the idea that testing is a positive thing.
I also removed all the hiding places. You can stuff pillows or whatever under the beds etc.m make sure closet doors are closed [all the time not just at test time]. Once my kitty got used to the fact he could not hide anymore the "scared and hiding" game stopped. I think cats find it psychologically "difficult" to be pulled claws dragging from under a bed. :smile: When the hiding places are gone that drama stops for them and for you.
Basically, IMHO, I don't think any of the reactions you have listed are because of the insulin. And good work on getting the home testing going. It is difficult to learn.
1) Not eating
Are you testing for keytones? How long did your kitty not eat for? There are many things that can cause a cat to not eat. Pancreatitis, really bad dental issues and more.
2) Hiding / lethargic
This is what they tend to do when they are out of control diabetic. Mine would park in a corner under a table or something meatloafed and stare at the wall. They do this because they feel bad. But don't worry, one you get their diabetes under control they come out of it and start feeling better.
Also do make sure to give lots of rewards after you test. So they get used to the idea that testing is a positive thing.
I also removed all the hiding places. You can stuff pillows or whatever under the beds etc.m make sure closet doors are closed [all the time not just at test time]. Once my kitty got used to the fact he could not hide anymore the "scared and hiding" game stopped. I think cats find it psychologically "difficult" to be pulled claws dragging from under a bed. :smile: When the hiding places are gone that drama stops for them and for you.
Basically, IMHO, I don't think any of the reactions you have listed are because of the insulin. And good work on getting the home testing going. It is difficult to learn.
A
Anonymous
Guest
is your kitty acting terrified when you give the injection or when you test?
it's all new for him and if he spooks easily this can happen.
i know one member who literally had to chase her cat all over the house to get a shot and a test.
another one had to wear leather glove and a leather jacket while doint it.
both of those situations got much better when the cat was acclimated to the process.
hope your kitty is just scared and nothing more.
it's all new for him and if he spooks easily this can happen.
i know one member who literally had to chase her cat all over the house to get a shot and a test.
another one had to wear leather glove and a leather jacket while doint it.
both of those situations got much better when the cat was acclimated to the process.
hope your kitty is just scared and nothing more.
Angela & Blackie & 3 Others
Very Active Member
I, too, hope that your cat is just simply scared with the new change to his daily routine. It's a lot for both beans and kitties to get used to. What I do for Blackie is whenever I give her a test, I usually follow it up with some boiled chicken bites (just boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut up into bite sized morsels and boiled in water). I sometimes have the tub of chicken (not KFC, of course) in front of her to let her know that when I get the test, she gets a morsel or 2. It helps. Try also brushing as an alternative to giving treats. Alternate on occasion so that kitty doesn't always think that he's going to get treats each time. Brushing can also become a treat, too.
Wishing you and your kitty much success with this new process.
Wishing you and your kitty much success with this new process.
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