Noticing some peripheral neuropathy - problem?

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ohiogal

ohiogal

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Hey all,

I'm still working on regulating my kitty Casey's BG (see the chart, I've added it to my signature), and I've noticed that every once in a while she'll develop some neuropathy in her hind legs (walking low to the ground, sitting down/laying down a lot). It'll last for about a day, then go away. Everything else seems fine - she's eating, drinking, pooping, etc.

Her numbers have always been high - is there anything I can do about this, aside from the insulin and trying to get the carbs and sugar out of her diet? She has a curve at the vet scheduled for next Friday (Feb. 3). Anything I can do until then? Thanks!
 
You need to set your spreadsheet to be shared so others can view it, I think it's on the top right hand side of the page.

Ask your vet about B12 for neuropathy.

I can't access your spreadsheet so I can't see how much data you've been collecting but if you are able to home test ok you are better off doing your own curves - no stress factor involved in the numbers then, assuming Casey doesn't stress when you take the blood test. Also saves you some money of course!!
 
Vyktors Mum said:
You need to set your spreadsheet to be shared so others can view it, I think it's on the top right hand side of the page.

Ask your vet about B12 for neuropathy.

I can't access your spreadsheet so I can't see how much data you've been collecting but if you are able to home test ok you are better off doing your own curves - no stress factor involved in the numbers then, assuming Casey doesn't stress when you take the blood test. Also saves you some money of course!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip about the spreadsheet - I think I fixed the settings, let me know!

I'm going to try to do a curve this weekend, we'll see how it goes. If it goes well I'll call the vet next week and see what needs to be done.
 
I use Methyl B12 (Zobaline brand) which I buy online in pill form from LifeLink. It's made for cats with diabetic neuropathy. You can find out aabout it here:
http://www.lifelinknet.com/siteResources/Products/Zobaline.asp and here: http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Neuropathy . It is not regular B12.

I give 1 pill a day in the morning but have heard of someone else giving 2 a day spaced out. I'm going to ask my vet it that would be okay. My Racci has the same problem. She has good days and bad days but it has helped.



Good luck!
Melanie & Rac
 
Spreadsheet is accessible now, ouch on those numbers! What sort of insulin are you using? 4 units as a starting dose seems very high but maybe I'm unfamiliar with your insulin.
 
ohiogal said:
Hey all,

I'm still working on regulating my kitty Casey's BG (see the chart, I've added it to my signature), and I've noticed that every once in a while she'll develop some neuropathy in her hind legs (walking low to the ground, sitting down/laying down a lot). It'll last for about a day, then go away. Everything else seems fine - she's eating, drinking, pooping, etc.

Her numbers have always been high - is there anything I can do about this, aside from the insulin and trying to get the carbs and sugar out of her diet? She has a curve at the vet scheduled for next Friday (Feb. 3). Anything I can do until then? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have seen your ss and wanted to ask if you have just started giving insulin and if you worked your dose up to 4u BID or did you start at that dose? It's pretty high and lots of cats don't usually need that much insulin.

You can ask your vet about getting B12, I got a vial and gave weekly shots to my cats and they both improved with their issues which related to pancreatitis.

When you do your curve, it would be helpful if you can test every 2 or 3 hrs to get a good idea if the numbers are staying high throughout the cycle, or if there is a dip somewhere. There's no reason at all for you to waste money on a curve at the vet office when you are home testing. One of my cats has higher BG at the vet, and one actually goes lower, so vet curves are not of much use.
If you started at that 4u dose, you may want to consider dropping down to rule out the possibility of giving too much insulin.
 
MelanieAndRacci said:
I use Methyl B12 ... She has good days and bad days but it has helped.
Click to expand...

Sparks, too, had neuropathy issues and they accelerated rapidly. I can't say it's just the Methyl-B12, it's also blood glucose regulation, "regular" BMs, cisapride, occasional sub-Q fluids, wet food diet, weight loss, physical therapy, etc.
But I truly do believe that the Methyl-B helps. Sparks went from needing help getting in the litter box, to being able to jump up on the bed on good days, and there are more good days now :-D

I give a 5000 pill split in half twice a day. Since it's supposedly water soluble and I add h2o to every feeding, it won't hurt him (cats will urinate it out).
When my supply runs low I'm going to get the sugar free version Melanie recommended (Zobaline).

Some posters here do B-12 injections from their vet; I've no experience with that.
 
Hi Care4Sparks,

How many mgs is the 5000? Do you mean it's 5000 mgs? I've been wondering if I could give Racci 2 of the Zobaline. Thanks.

I just saw my answer in your signature. Nevermind. :oops:
 
Vyktors Mum said:
Spreadsheet is accessible now, ouch on those numbers! What sort of insulin are you using? 4 units as a starting dose seems very high but maybe I'm unfamiliar with your insulin.
Click to expand...

Oh, that's not a starting dose. Casey was started out at 2 units back in early December; I started tracking her BG and keeping a spreadsheet just this week. As you can see, her numbers are still freaky high so the vet's been gradually upping her insulin. I've switched her to Fancy Feast Classic and took her off the high-carb snacks, but so far not a ton of improvement. We're still working on it!
 
Gayle Shadoe & Oliver said:
When you do your curve, it would be helpful if you can test every 2 or 3 hrs to get a good idea if the numbers are staying high throughout the cycle, or if there is a dip somewhere.
Click to expand...

That's the plan! I'll have to do it this weekend, though. I have a full-time job and can't be home during the week to do it. So I can only get readings in the morning, when I get home, and then I usually try to take a reading before I go to bed.
 
Junior is using Zobaline for felines, from Life link, Someone sent you the link in an earlier post.

He gets 1 crushed up tab every morning with his FF. From Lifelink, no sugar, no xylitol.

When he started it, he was walking on his hocks, his back was bent, he couldn't go more than a few steps at a time, and he was carried up & down the stairs, and held to the window to look outside.

He now can run short distances, goes up & down the stairs by himself, down faster of course! and jumps onto the bed,, couch, anyting about that high, nothing higher, and I believe with everything else being changed to help him, this was a good addition to his health regimen!

It crushes up pink when mixed with wet food. just an FYI.

good day to all.
 
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