New and confused about dosing

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Julie Ann Taylor

Julie Ann Taylor

Member Since 2017
Catrina was diagnosed last Saturday with BG at 380. My vet said to start her on 3 units of vetsulin 2 x per day, 12 hours apart and that if her PD-PU's stayed the same or increased, to increase the dose by 1 added unit per dose...and that if her PD-PU's reduce, then reduce 2 units. Does this sound right?
I am concerned because in talking with a friend who had a diabetic cat, he said starting at 3 units was too high. The first 3 unit dose I gave at home seemed to make her slightly glassy eyed so I had her eat and she seemed to get better. I been giving her 2 since then, but she is still at the same PD-PU's level, so not sure what to do tonight.
Obviously I am not home testing yet but I can really see the need to do so. This learning curve is big and I have limited time due to being a caregiver for two family members. I want to take her in tomorrow for a quick BG monitoring but I have medical appointments all day. I know it will get better but I am currently a little freaked out. Any advice appreciated.
 
3U is a high starting dose....We usually suggest starting a 1U and increasing in .25 unit increments

Tests at the vet are often up to 200 points higher than they are at home due to "vet stress"

Home testing is the only way to know what's really going on inside Catrina's body, so the sooner you start, the better for her. It's also a lot cheaper than vet testing. If you live in the US, WalMart has their Relion Confirm or Micro meters and they're used by a lot of people here. The strips are affordable and you're able to get them pretty much any time of the day (or night.....when cats glucose numbers usually go lower)
 
Once you're got your routine down, testing takes only a minute or two so it's not something that will take huge amounts of time.

As far as the PD/PU goes, yes, it's helpful and when you start to notice you're not scooping as much or as often, you're going to be SO thrilled (that was one of the first things I noticed with China and I was like "WOO HOO!!!!") but it takes time to see a reduction....at least a few days usually
 
Chris & China said:
Once you're got your routine down, testing takes only a minute or two so it's not something that will take huge amounts of time.

As far as the PD/PU goes, yes, it's helpful and when you start to notice you're not scooping as much or as often, you're going to be SO thrilled (that was one of the first things I noticed with China and I was like "WOO HOO!!!!") but it takes time to see a reduction....at least a few days usually
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Ok thanks. Good to know it takes time! It's only been 2 days.
 
Chris & China said:
3U is a high starting dose....We usually suggest starting a 1U and increasing in .25 unit increments

Tests at the vet are often up to 200 points higher than they are at home due to "vet stress"

Home testing is the only way to know what's really going on inside Catrina's body, so the sooner you start, the better for her. It's also a lot cheaper than vet testing. If you live in the US, WalMart has their Relion Confirm or Micro meters and they're used by a lot of people here. The strips are affordable and you're able to get them pretty much any time of the day (or night.....when cats glucose numbers usually go lower)
Click to expand...

Great info that will be used. Thank you so much for the taking the time to reply. :)
 
Might be helpful to understand the PD/PU too

They drink copious amounts of water to try to dilute the amount of sugar in their bloodstream. Drinking all that water has to go somewhere!!....so you get huge amounts of urine!

In diabetic cats, there's not enough insulin so they can't get the glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells.....think of insulin like it's a "Key"...and on every cell in the body there's a "Lock"....without enough keys, the glucose that food breaks down into can't get into the cells to nourish them so the cells are starving .....and all that glucose in the blood is what gives you your Blood glucose number

By drinking more and more water, they're trying to "help themselves" basically, but that also puts a heavy strain on the kidneys (which are already the weakest organs in a cat)
 
Chris & China said:
Might be helpful to understand the PD/PU too

They drink copious amounts of water to try to dilute the amount of sugar in their bloodstream. Drinking all that water has to go somewhere!!....so you get huge amounts of urine!

In diabetic cats, there's not enough insulin so they can't get the glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells.....think of insulin like it's a "Key"...and on every cell in the body there's a "Lock"....without enough keys, the glucose that food breaks down into can't get into the cells to nourish them so the cells are starving .....and all that glucose in the blood is what gives you your Blood glucose number

By drinking more and more water, they're trying to "help themselves" basically, but that also puts a heavy strain on the kidneys (which are already the weakest organs in a cat)
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Very helpful. Thanks!
 
Julie Ann Taylor said:
Very helpful. Thanks!
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Testing at home will take a lot of that guesswork away. That was aweful advice from your vet to start at 3 units.... That's more than some cats ever need and he really put her at risk for seizure and death. You start low and raise in small increments as needed. Here's what you do....
Lower your dose to 1.

Go to Walmart and pick up

1. Relion micro or confirm meter $17
2. Extra test strips $36
3. 28 gauge lancets $5
4. Cosmetic cotton Rounds $3
5. Neosporin ointment with pain relief $5

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC.

What food are you feeding?
 
JanetNJ said:
Testing at home will take a lot of that guesswork away. That was aweful advice from your vet to start at 3 units.... That's more than some cats ever need and he really put her at risk for seizure and death. You start low and raise in small increments as needed. Here's what you do....
Lower your dose to 1.

Go to Walmart and pick up

1. Relion micro or confirm meter $17
2. Extra test strips $36
3. 28 gauge lancets $5
4. Cosmetic cotton Rounds $3
5. Neosporin ointment with pain relief $5

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC.

What food are you feeding?
Click to expand...
Thank you for all the practical info. I appreciate it. I am feeding Royal Canin prescription wet food and a bit of Hills prescription dry food since she was a previous dry food junkie, trying to ween her off.
 
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