Hypoglycemic crisis

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hdnurse

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We have a 16 year old neutered male black and white domestic cat who has been diabetic for about 9 years. He was placed on NPH insulin by his vet at the onset and has been getting increasing amounts over the years. His dose was 11 units 2 times a day. His diet consisted of canned about 1/3 can of canned food 2 times a day with dry food out all the time. A week ago, he had an episode of large amounts of vomiting and diarrhea which led to a hypoglycemic crisis. He was in the emergency hospital for a week and is now home. They put him on PZI insulin at 2 units a day, but were unable to get his blood sugars stabilized. His appetite is still decreased and we are trying to increase it. He eats about 1/8 to 1/4 can of canned food in the morning and maybe 1/8 at night. We are giving him the 2 units and are to go back in a week. In addition he receives 150 ml Lactated Ringers under his skin once a day for a week. Today is day 2. Any suggestions on food (now he gets Friskies mostly chicken with fish) and the best type of insulin for established diabetic cats. I realize that it will take time for him to regain health and strength, but would like to do whatever possible to help him. Obviously, we had not consulted a diabetic forum before.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My partner is a chemist so is interested in the construction of the different insulins, their mechanism of action and what the latest research recommends for established diabetic cats.
 
11u was a very high dose unless there is an underlying condition as stated.
is he still on dry??
home testing is the best way to help your cat. this way you will always know if it is safe to give insulin.
also lo carb high protein wet food from janet and binkys chart, anything under 10 grams carbs. fancy feast classics, friskies, nine lives,special kitty plus their are higher end ones also. can add water to that to help increase water intake
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html
 
A couple of things to encourage your kitty to eat more are:
add hot water to his food - makes it smelly and a bit soupy
sprinkle a bit of parmesan cheese over the wet food
use Fortiflora - needs to be purchased from a vet or online.

A quarter or an eighth doesn't sound like much food unless the cat is very small.
 
dian and wheezer said:
11u was a very high dose unless there is an underlying condition as stated.
is he still on dry??
home testing is the best way to help your cat. this way you will always know if it is safe to give insulin.
also lo carb high protein wet food from janet and binkys chart, anything under 10 grams carbs. fancy feast classics, friskies, nine lives,special kitty plus their are higher end ones also. can add water to that to help increase water intake
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html
Click to expand...


There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what we mean in the right-most
column of Binky's chart. Just to provide the real scoop:

It's 10% of calories from carbs, not 10 grams of carbs.

You can only get this information from Binky's charts, or by doing the math yourself
and calculating it on a dry matter basis. Not all the manufacturers will even give the
information if asked.

You cannot get this info from the can label, though you can determine the quality of
the ingredients. Look for REAL meat as the first ingredient...CHICKEN, not chicken by-products.
Avoid corn and corn products, wheat and wheat gluten, especially if listed among the first four
ingredients.
 
Hi hdnurse, and, of course, your sweet furry boy (name would be helpful...),

Long ago and far away (end of May 2003) when Gizmo was diagnosed diabetic and DKA in the same breath at age 14, I immediately asked my co-workers if anyone had any experience with FD. Enter Gordon, our IT guy, and his sugar cat, Boy Cat...

Boy Cat was diagnosed long, long before at age 10. Gordon and his girlfriend never home tested. They used science class kind of strips to test his urine. Boy Cat was on adjusted doses of NPH based on pee smell/tests for ten years. Diabetes didn't take him. Being 20 did...

Even after I blessedly found the FDMB, my first message board experience, I continued to hold a special place in my heart for Boy Cat, and always will... I believe he colored my emotional train wreck approach to dancing with Giz... Yet, we blissfully, and occasionally chaotically, danced for four more years! Thanks to everything I learned here...



hdnurse said:
We have a 16 year old neutered male black and white domestic cat who has been diabetic for about 9 years. He was placed on NPH insulin by his vet at the onset and has been getting increasing amounts over the years. His dose was 11 units 2 times a day. His diet consisted of canned about 1/3 can of canned food 2 times a day with dry food out all the time. A week ago, he had an episode of large amounts of vomiting and diarrhea which led to a hypoglycemic crisis. He was in the emergency hospital for a week and is now home.
Click to expand...

That's a big, I'm talking whopping, dose. Then again, no matter what dose, large amounts of vomiting and diarrhea with an insulin-dependent diabetic cat could lead to a hypo crisis... I'm glad he's home. How's he doing? Is he alert? I understand his appetite is still depressed. Did his ER vet's prescribe an appetite stimulant? Or, did they suggest a feeding tube? Yes, that sounds scary, but doesn't have to be. Nor, does it have to be long term by any means. Some cats here have been known to chow down on their own after a couple to few days with a tube... Sometimes cats need to remind their tummies to eat when they haven't been eating so well... Just a humble suggestion as it seems like your furry boy could use some more food...




hdnurse said:
They put him on PZI insulin at 2 units a day, but were unable to get his blood sugars stabilized. His appetite is still decreased and we are trying to increase it. He eats about 1/8 to 1/4 can of canned food in the morning and maybe 1/8 at night. We are giving him the 2 units and are to go back in a week. In addition he receives 150 ml Lactated Ringers under his skin once a day for a week. Today is day 2. Any suggestions on food (now he gets Friskies mostly chicken with fish) and the best type of insulin for established diabetic cats. I realize that it will take time for him to regain health and strength, but would like to do whatever possible to help him.
Click to expand...

Giz was the absolute diva of picky eating... Wouldn't touch cat food except, ironically, Purina DM canned (initially) and then only dry. So I grilled for her -- steak, chicken, and pork chops. She also had a fondness for cheese (preferably extra-sharp cheddar, although provolone and swiss would do in a pinch), yogurt (preferably peach, okay raspberry and blueberry ran a close second/third), human tuna (of course, solid white albacore in water); and, the shrimp from Yung Chow fried rice (rinsed to be sure no onions were involved)... Who needs a lobotomy when you bang your head feeding your cat?!

Here are links to Janet and Binky's Famous Food Charts (both old and new):
New:
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/CanFoodNew.html
Old:
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/CanFoodOld.html



hdnurse said:
My partner is a chemist so is interested in the construction of the different insulins, their mechanism of action and what the latest research recommends for established diabetic cats.
Click to expand...
Tell your partner to check out the University of Queensland (Australia) website. They have info on both Lantus and Levemir. Am going to try to attached two pdfs from them...

Hopeful, healing, hungry hugs for you and your sweet furry boy (name?),
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
 

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dian and wheezer said:
sorry. crawling back in my hole
Click to expand...

Don't crawl back into a hole...It's just that newbies need correct information...
it's overwhelming already. So nothing to "unlearn" later.

I see others state it's 10 carbs, or 10 calories from carbs. Nope.
 
It took Maisey and I awhile to get the PZI right, but once we did wow. The group usually recommends start low and go slow. That was the key for us. It also takes a while for the consistency in numbers. Low's seem to produce high bounces, makes no sense to me, but I'm not a cat. Take deep breaths and cuddle your kitty lots. Our curve days (testing every few hours) really helped get a better feel and confidence. :smile:
 
Thank you everyone for the information and suggestions. Heba is home, but not eating well at all. I am going to try some of the people food and see if that helps. His energy level is very low too, but with the stress his body underwent and the small amount of food, guess that is not unexpected. I will pass on the websites for information. Thanks for the hopeful thoughts too.
 
Fortunately, I've never had to try it, but there is a recipe that a lot of people here swear by. It's called the "liver shake" and is supposed to be fairly appetizing when a kitty has lost his/her appetite. It has lots of nutrients, but isn't nutritionally complete, so it's not good as a long-term diet, but if you need to get Heba to eat, this might be something to try.


I'll see if I can get the link to post properly....


http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=30432
 
can try baby food. the chicken and turkey without onions or garlic in it. I forget the name brand. can also try KFC. that has turned many a cat around in eating
 
Hi hdnurse, and, of course, you too, sweet Heba,

Thank you for the update. We'll continue our hopeful, healing hungry thoughts and prayers for your precious furry boy...

... and our hopeful hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz...
 
Learning to test Heba's blood sugar at home will help you a lot in understanding how he is using the insulin.

Read the tips and links and post any questions
 
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