How long before I see results?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mplsmuse

Member
I apologize if this is on the board somewhere. I've searched and online and can't seem to find much. Gus is just two weeks into twice daily, 1 unit ProZinc, U-40 syringe. He's also been transitioned to wet food. He definitely appears to be feeling better - no more urination out of litter box, less water drinking, cuddly, jumping again. That makes me feel confident that the insulin/diet change is helping. However, his numbers still seem to be in the high range. His highest - at start was 390. His lowest was 216. I suspect he finished off some dry food in his sister's bowl last night, hence the higher readings there. (The civvy cats are still getting some dry with the wet to help them transition.)

I guess I'm just wondering - is this normal? His first follow-up appt with the vet is on Sat 16 (3 weeks exactly from diagnosis). I just got so little info from the vet when he was diagnosed that I don't even know what his blood sugar was before we started treatment. How fast should I be seeing a drop? I realize the the diet change will have impact. Any input is appreciated. I know the impact isn't overnight...and I'm definitely not a real patient person. :lol:
 
There is no definite answer, Robyn, except that Every Cat is Different. Your numbers are not bad. It would be very helpful to get some midcycle numbers so you can see when and where his lowest point in the cycle is. If he is sneaking some dry, some cats are very carb sensitive and that can be keeping the numbers a little high.

If you could get a couple midcycle numbers, and they are not super low, it might be time to increase the insulin by .25 units. But without some more numbers, we are just guessing. He could be going down super low and bouncing back up, or he could be flat or it could be an inverse curve. If you can't get some numbers midcycle during the day, you might set your alarm and get up to get a number around nadir at night. Or fill out the picture by getting an "out of the door" number in the morning and "in the door number" at night. You can also get a number before you go to bed at night.

I would encourage you to also post on the PZI forum: viewforum.php?f=24 You are more likely to get dosage advice there than here on Health. And you can look at other's threads and spreadsheets to see how others are doing with ProZinc. It is a smaller forum than Health, but you will get responses in the morning and evening.
 
Thank you Sue! I will get some additional testing numbers and check out the PZI thread. I just had no idea if his numbers were really bad, ok, or typical for this point in treatment. I have loved my vet and everyone there but I felt a little abandoned due to lack of any information from them upon his diagnosis - other than, here is how to give him insulin. This forum and the people on it truly saved me and my sanity.
 
Don't forget, BG testing at the vet is often raised, and vets erroneously base the dose
on that artificially high number.

You're making progress. If the vet suggests a dose increase, I would say NO MORE THAN
1/2 unit more. That is, 1.5u 2x/day. Just say you're not comfortable with more and
you want to go slow with dose increases.
 
Thanks, Karen. I am, admittedly, nervous about how my vet will react to my spreadsheet, but very willing to stand my ground if asked to do a larger increase than what you've mentioned. I'm hoping that she will be open to me taking some numbers and getting some advice via email or phone after this check up. He's pretty calm at the vet because he's had to go there so much in the last year for his thyroid check-ups and tests. In fact, he's even gotten better with the car ride, but I still don't want to hall him in too often.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top