Seizures

[Chantel and Spooky]

Hi, I’m new here and have been managing my kitty’s diabetes at home since March. Spooky is 15yrs, 7.5lbs (she’s always been this size), has pancreatitis and the start of kidney disease. She’s on a low dose of Lantus because her BG isn’t that high and I have a glucometer for home monitoring. She’s usually between 12-15 when she gets insulin and she’s only given 0.5u which puts her to 8-9 at +6hr.
It’s odd…Spooky will occasionally have what looks like a seizure or fainting but when I check her BG, it’s 10. She has had her other health issues for about a year and the seizures did not start until insulin was started. Her vet doesn’t really have any answers.
Is it possible that she is dropping too low, having a seizure, and the stress of it causes her to spike back to normal within a few minutes?
Her appetite has been great so I really don’t think this is hypo induced.

I guess my main question is…
Has anyone ever had or heard of a cat having seizures on insulin for a different reason than being hypo?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Can you describe what the seizures look like? They must be very scary. How often are the seizures happening? I have seen cats here have seizures, but not related to insulin or blood sugar values.

Some cats on Lantus nadir earlier (or later) than +6, so you should mix up those tests a couple hours on either side. That might catch some lows you aren't otherwise seeing. Tests at night are also a good idea.

 

[Chantel and Spooky]

It happened two days in a row near the end of April and then it didn’t happen for a month. Now she’s had 3 in 2.5 weeks. The one tonight happened at +3hr.
She goes onto her side, limbs go stiff, and head tips back.
They always happen after waking up from a nap.
Occasionally prefaced by ear or paw twitches.

I’ve done curves and checked her BG every 2hrs and it’s never been lower than 8.

It’s either unfortunate timing or somehow insulin related. It never ever happened until we started insulin. If we stop insulin, they also stop. It’s bizarre.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Have you discussed the seizures with your vet? They may be for some entirely different reason than the insulin. However, you could try switching from Lantus to Prozinc. It's pharmacology is different than Lantus..