Hypo event. Just back from ER.

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Susan and Timmy

Susan and Timmy

Member Since 2017
We are back from the ER with Timmy. Numbers plummeted today. I have no idea why. I am so incredibly freaked out right now. I am afraid to dose him tonight. I'm afraid to move. I'm just afraid. How do I proceed from here? ER vet gave sub q. fluids. Suggested switching to Lantus. Suggested that maybe he was going into remission. Suggested possible somogyi effect. Suggested possible infection, although blood work did not show that. Ketones negative as well. She was really not a fan of Vetsulin or Prozinc. I was 2 hours away while this was happening today. Luckily DH and my boys were there keeping an eye on Timmy and testing and then calling me, and then taking Timmy to the ER, while I cried and raced (safely) to the ER.

He was starved all day yesterday and then this a.m. He boycotted Sheba so he has been eating BFF tuna and salmon, which he loves. I did have to dose him 2 hours late last night, unavoidable. Other than that I have no idea what happened. Vet also suggested dosing with a sliding scale. I am not too keen on any of the vets FD knowledge right now. Please help me sort this out. :(
 
Oh, no, how horribly scary!!!!

Not eating was no doubt the root cause-- not enough food on board when the insulin hit.

Lantus is a good insulin for cats, easier to manage safely than Vetsulin, so that is a point in the favor of the ER vet. Looking at Timmy's spreadsheet he doesn't look like he's quite at remission point, so he may need some insulin support going forward, and it might be easier to do with Lantus.

Was it a symptomatic hypo, or was it just the low numbers that triggered the trip to the ER? I ask because, while he was treated safely, a symptomatic hypo sometimes means greater insulin sensitivity, which means extra caution is warranted going forward.

Finally: :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I'm just curious if Timmy was showing signs of being low? Orion has dropped below 40 and showed no signs. I know all cats are different. Just wondering if you caught it with a routine test or if there were signs. So glad your family was there to get him the help he needed!
 
Adding: once the dust settles from today's events, I really would think seriously about an insulin switch, I think you would find Lantus much less stressful to manage. Along with advantages to the insulin itself, there is an extremely large and active Lantus/Levemir forum on this site, with people around pretty much at all hours. It makes events like today's less terrifying-- you always have experienced voices guiding you through and telling you what to do.

How is Timmy feeling now?
 
Very scary... I agree a more gentle insulin might put your mind at ease and be more gentle on Timmy-
If Timmy is not a "regular" eater you may want to look at lev as well. We have used vetsulin-pro zinc -lantus and now lev where we are staying because my Dre picks at his food so I feel much safer knowing the lev doesn't start to work for around 3-4 hours (ECID) generally lev cats have a reverse nadir. Dre is also a diver and lev seems to have flattered him out a bit. There are lots of experts in the forum that can help you....:bighug:
 
Nan & Amber said:
Oh, no, how horribly scary!!!!

Not eating was no doubt the root cause-- not enough food on board when the insulin hit.

Lantus is a good insulin for cats, easier to manage safely than Vetsulin, so that is a point in the favor of the ER vet. Looking at Timmy's spreadsheet he doesn't look like he's quite at remission point, so he may need some insulin support going forward, and it might be easier to do with Lantus.

Was it a symptomatic hypo, or was it just the low numbers that triggered the trip to the ER? I ask because, while he was treated safely, a symptomatic hypo sometimes means greater insulin sensitivity, which means extra caution is warranted going forward.

Finally: :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the hugs. It was a scary day for us all. He really showed no symptoms. They tested him more today because of the early blues. Although on the way to the ER my son kept having to shake him a little to make sure he was still with us. He kept putting honey on his gums the whole way. I'm really proud of all my guys. They really came through for Timmy.

The way I typed it was very confusing, but he was starved and eating all day yesterday and this morning. I switched his food to the BFF and apparently is is amazing because he keeps asking for it. We are considering changing to Lantus after today. I guess the pens are more affordable. At any rate, I just want my peace of mind back.
 
Nan & Amber said:
Adding: once the dust settles from today's events, I really would think seriously about an insulin switch, I think you would find Lantus much less stressful to manage. Along with advantages to the insulin itself, there is an extremely large and active Lantus/Levemir forum on this site, with people around pretty much at all hours. It makes events like today's less terrifying-- you always have experienced voices guiding you through and telling you what to do.

How is Timmy feeling now?
Click to expand...
Timmy is acting like himself. He is a talker, and that let's me know how he is doing. He is certainly having a lot to say about today. He is also wanting the BFF Tuna and salmon soulmates.
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
Very scary... I agree a more gentle insulin might put your mind at ease and be more gentle on Timmy-
If Timmy is not a "regular" eater you may want to look at lev as well. We have used vetsulin-pro zinc -lantus and now lev where we are staying because my Dre picks at his food so I feel much safer knowing the lev doesn't start to work for around 3-4 hours (ECID) generally lev cats have a reverse nadir. Dre is also a diver and lev seems to have flattered him out a bit. There are lots of experts in the forum that can help you....:bighug:
Click to expand...
Timmy is a grazer. He does pick at his food, which is indeed stressful at shot time because he needs that load of food before the shot.
 
Susan and Timmy said:
We are considering changing to Lantus after today. I guess the pens are more affordable. At any rate, I just want my peace of mind back.
Click to expand...

Just a quick note as I'm about to sign off: yes, pens are more affordable, sometimes you can get a local pharmacy to sell you a single pen for a bit less than $100. Many folks here buy the 5-pack of pens from Canada (you need a prescription) from a pharmacy called Mark's Marine-- you can get the 5-pack for about the same price as the single pen, and much less than you'd pay in the US for a vial.

Both Lantus and Levemir have later onsets than Vetsulin-- Lantus a little earlier than Lev, but still giving you a couple hours leeway after the shot to make sure the cat has gotten a meal in. They both also tend to give "flatter" curves than Vetsulin-- very helpful especially as a cat starts to spend more time in blues and greens. Tons (and tons!) of information in the stickies of the L+L forum.

Susan and Timmy said:
Timmy is acting like himself. He is a talker, and that let's me know how he is doing. He is certainly having a lot to say about today. He is also wanting the BFF Tuna and salmon soulmates.
Click to expand...

Very glad to hear that! I bet Timmy thinks today was awesome-- lots of attention, and yummy food!

Great job everyone in keeping Timmy safe today!
 
Nan & Amber said:
Just a quick note as I'm about to sign off: yes, pens are more affordable, sometimes you can get a local pharmacy to sell you a single pen for a bit less than $100. Many folks here buy the 5-pack of pens from Canada (you need a prescription) from a pharmacy called Mark's Marine-- you can get the 5-pack for about the same price as the single pen, and much less than you'd pay in the US for a vial.

Both Lantus and Levemir have later onsets than Vetsulin-- Lantus a little earlier than Lev, but still giving you a couple hours leeway after the shot to make sure the cat has gotten a meal in. They both also tend to give "flatter" curves than Vetsulin-- very helpful especially as a cat starts to spend more time in blues and greens. Tons (and tons!) of information in the stickies of the L+L forum.



Very glad to hear that! I bet Timmy thinks today was awesome-- lots of attention, and yummy food!

Great job everyone in keeping Timmy safe today!
Click to expand...
The Lantus info was my next question. You beat me to it. Thank you. I have a lot of stickies to read and changes to make in the morning. Lantus here we come.
 
Chris & China said:
Here's the Info on buying insulin from Marks Marine Pharmacy in Canada

Hope you have a much quieter night tonight! Sounds like you had a crazy day!
Click to expand...
Chris, Thank you so much for this information. I will be on this first thing in the morning.

We made the decision to dose Timmy tonight since he was in the reds. We gave him 1.5 units tonight, not 1.75 as normal. DH was more inclined to give him the 1.75 units, but I am worried even giving him the lower dose. I will be watching him like a hawk tonight.
 
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