Lethargic cat one week into insulin

[KirstinMay]

Hi all,

Tlr cat has been on insulin one week and has now quit eating 24 hours

My cat Desi was diagnosed a year ago. She had lost weight, which was how I noticed. She went on 2 units twice a day. We changed food to TikiCat A month later her sugar was low and and a month after that she was off the insulin entirely. For a year, she was great and gained back some weight.
Well two weeks ago I noticed maybe a tiny weight loss and she was desperate for people food. I took her in and they confirmed her sugar was high. They told me to start her on 2 units twice a day. But I ordered my own glucose meter this time.
Well she started insulin Monday. Yesterday I noticed she didn't eat much and gave her half a dose of insulin. Today she hah not eaten at all. An hour ago she peed on the floor. She is laying around and very lethargic.

This afternoon her sugar was 268. An hour ago I called the emergency vet and she advised to test again. She read at 316. Vet advised a single unit of insulin and retest in an hour.

Any thoughts on why Desi is scaring me so bad past midnight on a Saturday?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi Kirsten and Desi and welcome to the forum.
Can you tell us what type of insulin Desi is on please and his weight?
Starting on 2 units is quite a high dose. Most cats start on 1 or 1.5 units.
It is really important Desi eats. More than 24 hours without food can be dangerous for a cat, so try and get some food into him...any food will do at this point. Try hand feeding him.
Have you tested for ketones in the urine? This is my concern at the moment with Desi lethargic and not wanting to eat.
If you don't have a bottle of Ketostix, I would go out and buy a bottle of them from Walmart or a pharmacy as soon as you can.
This is a priority!
Then collect a specimen of urine from Desi and test it for ketones. Just follow the directions on the bottle.
Anything above a trace of ketones needs a vet visit as it can easily turn into ketoacidosis (DKA) which is a very serous illness in cats.
I am surprised the ER vet didn't mention ketones to you.
She could have a UTI.
If you can't get any Ketostix because of the hour of the day and he won't eat, I would take him to a vet tonight and ask them to test for ketones and also a UTI.
Please keep us posted.