regulating with insulin?

[stacysclass]

This may be a really dumb question but what happens if you never get your cat regulated with the insulin? Sweetie seems MUCH better, he has cleaned hisself up, he is eating, no more loads of urine in the litter box and way less drinking. He is actually starting to fight me now when I test his BG level. I was just curious to see if this happens and what to do then?
Yes, if you check his SS, you will see I have missed BG levels during the day but I have been bed ridden sick.... I am feeling better today. So I will start to check tomorrow. I have increased his insulin to 1.25.... maybe he needs more? I will wait until I get better readings of BG levels (+2, +4...etc). Thanks!!

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

Some cats will always need insulin. Every cat is different (ECID). But as long as their diabetes is managed with a good low carb diet, home testing and insulin, they can live for many years. And every once in a while, there comes a cat that has been on insulin for years and suddenly their pancreas kicks in and they are able to go OTJ. :mrgreen:

 

[Deb & Wink]

Stacy, sorry to hear you've been unwell. Sending get well vines and hope you feel better real soon.

It's still early days with treating your cat Sweetie for diabetes. Barely 2 weeks since diagnosis isn't it?

There is still a good chance of remission. From what you are describing, with Sweetie cleaning himself, eating better, drinking less, and those puddles in the litter box getting smaller, you are already seeing some wonderful signs of improvement. Good job! Treating diabetes is an exercise in patience. I know, it can be frustrating at times as we want our kitties to get better right away. Unfortunately, it took time for the diabetes to develop and it will take time to get him regulated and give his pancreas time to heal.

So, Sweetie doesn't like the ear pokes much anymore? Feeling a bit feisty is he? Are you giving him some low carb treats to help with the testing? Bribes are a good way to gain his cooperation.

Perhaps, review this document on Ear Testing Psychology to make it more comfortable for him and gain his cooperation. Cats don't like someone looming over them, so if you can test him so he's more elevated, up on a counter or table or chair, that may make him feel more comfortable.

 

[BJM]

It is rare, but sometimes there are cats with very erratic glucose levels, usually because there is another medical condition present which make food intake and digestion erratic.
An example would be inflammatory bowel disease. Some days, the cat eats fine and keeps everything down with no problems. Other days, the cat may refuse to eat, or vomit, or have diarrhea, or some combination of those things. Obviously, that makes it very difficult to manage the glucose level.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

I hope you are feeling better now. Because I think you need to get more tests. Mire tests will tell you how well this dose is working and if you need to change it. The more strict you are now, the better the chance of remission or good regulation...

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

..This may be a really dumb question but what happens if you never get your cat regulated with the insulin?

Hi Stacy,

As someone else said "Some cats will always need insulin". And some cats don't achieve regulation either. But it is possible for an unregulated cat to still have a very good quality of life.

My own cat took several years to approach anything close to regulation. His numbers were all over the place (but were mostly very high). He'd respond to insulin, and then he wouldn't respond. I tried everything I, and the other folks here, could think of, but nothing seemed to make any difference. I felt guilty that I wasn't doing a better job. And I felt sure that he was doomed to a poor quality of life. But that hasn't been the case....

Despite the initial long period of (mostly) high numbers, Bertie's health improved. His coat became shiny. His neuropathy resolved. It seems to me that insulin has an effect in the body that is not necessarily represented in the blood glucose numbers.

In time, his body seemed to get better at using insulin. And a change of insulin helped too. And now I would say he's pretty well regulated! It just took him a while getting there! ;-)

So to answer your initial question, unregulated cats can still live happy lives.

It's 'early days' for you though, Stacy, in Sweetie's sugardance. And there is every possibility that he will soon become regulated. And you never know, he may even go into remission one day!

Eliz