newbie wondering about changing insulin

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NRL

Member Since 2016
My vet prescribed Novolin-N, as it is relatively inexpensive and easily accessible in my rural location. I have given 1 unit BID for the past few days. Trident is responding ok to it, but it seems to be shorter acting than some of the other options available, based on the curve I completed yesterday. I do think my vet would be agreeable to an insulin change if I suggest it, but I am not sure I should switch so early in her treatment. She has been on it for less than a week.

Thoughts? TIA
 
I have been following your other post. Although Novolin N may not be the "best" insulin, some kitties on here have done fine with it. It falls into a similar category as Caninsulin/Vetsulin...some kitties do fine and even manage remission...others do not do well and respond much better on one of the longer acting insulins.

Right now you are getting fairly decent numbers with Trident. Since it is only about 5 days since you did the switch from dry food to low carb wet and started on the Novolin, I would be inclined to give it some more time and see how it goes. I can't tell for sure from your spreadsheet how many actual times you have given insulin to Trident...it would be good to put "NS" in the units section if you do not give any insulin...but the numbers are not bad at all..especially if a lot of the time is without having shot. A bit more time to make sure any effects from the dry food are gone and seeing how the numbers go might be a good plan.

I am sure others will weigh in with their opinions as well.
 
You're numbers are in the range of "normal"... even the starting numbers. I do a happy dance when I even see a blue number. I suspect it won't be long that your kitty will not need insulin and will be controlled with diet. I don't think I would worry about switching just yet.
 
JanetNJ I am happy to hear that you think changing her diet will enable her to be off insulin. I was tenuously hoping that might be the case as well, but was afraid to get to excited about that possibility.

So, I am thinking that I won't give insulin unless her meter numbers are above 200 and see if she stays in that 130 - 170 range without it. If I can keep her in that range with diet change only, is that ok? Would she need insulin?

And I am trying to figure out how to test her for ketones. I mean, I get how to do it, but am trying to figure out a viable way to collect a urine sample....
 
Food changes can definitely make a big difference with glucose levels.

At this point you should skip the shot if the numbers are below 200. Some of Trident's numbers are still on the high side so she will still need insulin when the numbers are over 200. It will take a bit of time to see how well she responds to the diet change and having some insulin. Some kitties can come off insulin very quickly, others take a bit of time, and some take a lot more time. Right now the numbers are decent and that allows her body and pancreas to "heal" and hopefully start working better.

Collecting a urine sample with a girlie is a bit more challenging that with a male kitty. My girlie is used to me gathering a sample and she lets me put a small container under when she is in the box. Some people will use a ladle type spoon or scoop. Some will put a bit of plastic wrap on top of the litter and test from there. You don't need a lot of urine to do the ketone test.
 
The normal range for a human glucometer would be 50-120 so some of the numbers are still a tad high but overall, she is looking pretty good. I'm in the "keep doing what you are doing" camp and see how it goes! You might end up setting her back a bit by changing insulin now when she is doing so well so I'd give it more time.
 
Thank you all for your help. Work schedules/commutes make it difficult to monitor her glucose more than twice a day, except on some weekend days, so we will have to continue to work with 2 - 3 readings a day for a while. I am on board with the keep doing what we are doing plan, too.

We do have two other furkids of the cat variety that are not diabetic and everyone shares litter boxes, so getting a litter box ketone value is a bit of a challenge. Right now I have Trident isolated in a room with some water and a plastic wrap covered litter box. Am hoping for a sample to test when I get home.
 
Try isolating Trident after a meal as they often will go then and with any luck you won't need to isolate her all day. ;)
 
Well, she was in a room for over 8 hours today with access to water and a litter box. She didn't urinate. Fed her and kept her lone for another hour. Still no urination. Felt like a prison guard watching someone in solitary, so I let her out. Will try again tomorrow.
 
NRL said:
Well, she was in a room for over 8 hours today with access to water and a litter box. She didn't urinate. Fed her and kept her lone for another hour. Still no urination. Felt like a prison guard watching someone in solitary, so I let her out. Will try again tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Don't you wish you could turn the faucet on and have it work like it does in humans? The sound of "running water" and all!!

These kitties sure seem to be able to hold it when they know we're waiting for it!!
 
She probably peed shortly after you let her out. :woot: One of my GA kitties would quite often go only once daily leaving one huge lump and never had a UTI or kidney issues. ECID!
 
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