Newbie here with a "Sugar Kitty". Our little 6 year old furball was diagnosed with Diabetes last month. She had gotten very skinny and started drinking tons of water and had a few bladder control episodes. Her initial blood glucose reading was pretty high (350) but we have her on PZI twice daily now, and it's down to about 200. The PZI was very expensive thru the vet ($150 for a 10 ml vial) and based on the 3.5 units were giving her twice daily that's less than a two month supply. Kitty is only 6 years old so she's going to be with us for quite some time and I really need to try and find a somewhat cheaper source for the insulin since I'm going to need a new vial about every 50 days or so. None of the local chain pharmacies around here carry the PZI and I'm hoping you guys can recommend a reliable online source for my sugar babie's PZI that is a little cheaper than thru my vet. Thanks, and god bless.
Newbie with questions
- Thread starter Scoobedoo
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BJM
Member Since 2010
Welcome to the board.
Are you home testing the blood glucose levels? That will keep her safe and make sure you are not giving her too much insulin.
The dose seems a bit high to me. What are you feeding her?
If you are feeding dry food or a prescription food and switch to a low carb, canned, over the counter food, you may be able to drop the insulin dose, which will cut down on the prescription costs. Cat Info, written by a vet, discusses feline nutrition and provides a food chart of common US brands and the percent of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrate. When feeding a diabetic, you want to keep the percent calories from carbohydrates below 10%.
CAUTION: for safety, do not make any food changes unless you are home testing
And where are you located? What we recommend may be location specific.
Are you home testing the blood glucose levels? That will keep her safe and make sure you are not giving her too much insulin.
The dose seems a bit high to me. What are you feeding her?
If you are feeding dry food or a prescription food and switch to a low carb, canned, over the counter food, you may be able to drop the insulin dose, which will cut down on the prescription costs. Cat Info, written by a vet, discusses feline nutrition and provides a food chart of common US brands and the percent of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrate. When feeding a diabetic, you want to keep the percent calories from carbohydrates below 10%.
CAUTION: for safety, do not make any food changes unless you are home testing
And where are you located? What we recommend may be location specific.
Thanks for the reply. She's only been on insulin less than 30 days, the initial dose was 1 unit of PZI, but that wasn't bringing her numbers down very much, so we have been gradually increasing it at the Vet's direction. Last week she had a Fructosamine test, which the vet told us would show how well "regulated" she is, unfortunately the test came back as only "fair" and that's when the vet had me bump up the dose of PZI from 3 to 3.5 units twice daily. The good news is she's gaining weight, she had lost almost 4 pounds since her routine vet visit in January, she's gained back almost half of that and is drinking way less water, and no more bladder issues. Vet is encouraged by all these developments, and says it can take some time to get things stabilized and settle in on the right dose for long term use. She's going back to the vet in 3 weeks for another Fructosamine, and at some point a "curve". FWIW, kitty hasn't had any side effects and no indication whatsoever of hypoglycemic episodes. I'm feeding her Wellness core dry food, but might consider a canned if she'll eat it. I have a good relationship with our vet, she's been in the business a long time and I trust her, she seems to feel that although we haven't turned things around completely, were headed in the right direction, and to coin a phrase, Rome wasn't built in a day. I'm not doing home testing at this point, but I might consider it at some point. BTW, I'm in the Mid Atlantic region, Frederick County Maryland to be exact, not far from the Washington DC metro area if that's helpful at all in finding a cheaper source for the PZI. Thanks again.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Most of the Wellness canned foods are under 10% calories from carbohydrates. A less expensive option is Friskies pates or Fancy Feast Classic Pates.
Important though, not to change the food without being able to home test OR to drop the insulin from 3.5 units to about 1-1.5 units if you do so. Changing the food to low carbohydrate levels may reduce glucose about 100 mg/dL. It did in Spitzer and took him down from 3 units to 1 unit or so.
Wellness Core Original is supposed to be about 11%; a recent post stated it was more like 17% calories from carbohydrates.
Evo Cat & Kitten dry has about 8% calories from carbohydrates.
Young Again 0 Carb actually has about 5% calories from carbohydrates; its internet order only.
Important though, not to change the food without being able to home test OR to drop the insulin from 3.5 units to about 1-1.5 units if you do so. Changing the food to low carbohydrate levels may reduce glucose about 100 mg/dL. It did in Spitzer and took him down from 3 units to 1 unit or so.
Wellness Core Original is supposed to be about 11%; a recent post stated it was more like 17% calories from carbohydrates.
Evo Cat & Kitten dry has about 8% calories from carbohydrates.
Young Again 0 Carb actually has about 5% calories from carbohydrates; its internet order only.
If you are lucky enough to have more than one vet within a reasonable distance, You might try shopping around for a different vet. My current vet (an animal hospital) charges about 2/3 of what your vet is charging for a 10ml bottle of 40U/ml PZI.I suspect they are selling it at about their cost. On the needles front, they are more expensive than the VetIPPS certified online pet med websites after you factor in the online places shipping costs. However I am currently using them, since the insulin is so much less. I haven't bothered to ask for a separate script for the needles to save a little cash. (In part because I am trying to convince them to switch my cat to a insulins that is 100U/ml which are different but cheaper needles.)
Though if you switching vets any savings on the first bottle at the new vet would be eaten up by the initial visit/tests with the new vet. In the long run it might save you some money.
Though if you switching vets any savings on the first bottle at the new vet would be eaten up by the initial visit/tests with the new vet. In the long run it might save you some money.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi and welcome to the FDMB. Would you please tell us your first name and your cat's name?
Sorry, I've never purchased the PZI or Prozinc so can not suggest a less expensive place to purchase it.
My name is Deb and that tuxie pictured to the right is my sugardude Wink. He loves his Fancy Feast classic and Friskies pates. They are keeping him in remission right now. That OTJ in my signature means off-the-juice, insulin being the juice.
Sorry, I've never purchased the PZI or Prozinc so can not suggest a less expensive place to purchase it.
My name is Deb and that tuxie pictured to the right is my sugardude Wink. He loves his Fancy Feast classic and Friskies pates. They are keeping him in remission right now. That OTJ in my signature means off-the-juice, insulin being the juice.
Hi Deb, my name is Scott. My little sugar girl's name is Tanzie, a green eyed mostly white Calico. She is 6 years old and we got her from a litter of kittens who someone had abandoned along with their momma when they left their apartment. We've had her since she was just 8 weeks old, she's really my college age daughter's cat, but has stuck to me like Velcro since she was a baby, and I must confess, I spoil her mercilessly. She is just the sweetest, friendliest little girl, unlike our other cat who is rather aloof and fussy. People say treating feline diabetes is like a marathon, and I'm prepared to go the distance. You all are great, and thanks.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Scott and Tanzie!
You might pose the question over on the Insulin Support Group for PZI. Someone there might have a suggestion of where to find the Prozinc at less cost.
You might pose the question over on the Insulin Support Group for PZI. Someone there might have a suggestion of where to find the Prozinc at less cost.
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