We use Novolin 2 times a day and give 3 units. We are 2 weeks post dx. She has transitioned to all wet food and no dry. Fancy feast classics. She missed some insulin over weekend due to hiding from strange company in our home. She seemed to be improving despite the 2 times she missed her insulin. 1 time Saturday and 1 time Sunday. She seemed her best on Saturday and Sunday eves. She even seemed fine on Monday eve after 3 consecutive injections of 3 units each every 12 hours. Today she did not eat from 8 am - 8 pm. And her breakfast was maybe half of normal. I had to go search for her and when I found her I could tell she didn't feel well. I gave her good that she ate some of and her injection. She continued to decline for about 2-3 hours. Some mild recovery at 4-5 hours. Agitated and restless but has eaten about every 2 hours and taking fluids. She is not comfortable. I have not been home testing but did try to start tonite and failed. I'm afraid she might be hypo but not sure. I'll try to test again but now she's very agitated with me. Can anyone tell me about Novolin? Good or bad choice? Dosage?
Sick kitty
- Thread starter Denahalle
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Larry and Kitties
Member Since 2009
By Novolin you mean N or NPH since Novolin is a family of insulin that include N (NPH), R and combinations of R and N.
3 units is a high starting does since usually 1 unit is the starting dose.
Are you home testing the BG? Most of use do.
Without knowing the BG it is very hard to determine the cause of the probome. Maybe too much insulin.
I would contact your vet.
Where are you located?
Maybe someone can help yo learn to hometest.
3 units is a high starting does since usually 1 unit is the starting dose.
Are you home testing the BG? Most of use do.
Without knowing the BG it is very hard to determine the cause of the probome. Maybe too much insulin.
I would contact your vet.
Where are you located?
Maybe someone can help yo learn to hometest.
MommaOfMuse
Member Since 2010
I have used Novolin in the past and it is a lousy choice of insulin for a cat. It hits fairly hard and fast and drops BGs fast but wears off in about 6-8 hours. The only real way to control BGs is to give it every 8 hours or what is known as T.I.D (three times a day).
With it you really NEED to be testing at home. If we can help in anyway to get you testing at home please give us a general location and we will try to round up a member that is local to you to give you some hands on help.
Mel and The Fur Gang
With it you really NEED to be testing at home. If we can help in anyway to get you testing at home please give us a general location and we will try to round up a member that is local to you to give you some hands on help.
Mel and The Fur Gang
I just wanted to let you know that, though I am not giving insulin shots yet, my cat is also not doing all that well with all the adjustments. It is a very frustrating and hard disease to control I am finding especially when all we want to do is help our buddy. My cat today is also not eating and is quite grumpy with me. Not a good start to the day. My thoughts are with you and hope things get straightened out for you and your kitty soon.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Er ...... we use a candle or rainbow to mean a cat has passed away. If you go back to that post and click edit, you can clear the candle.
While you work on home testing, see my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for some assessments you may find helpful. In particular, you'll want to pick up some KetoDiaStix or generic to test the urine for ketones and glucose. The presence of ketones and/or glucose suggest not enough insulin, but are not as precise as blood testing.
While you work on home testing, see my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for some assessments you may find helpful. In particular, you'll want to pick up some KetoDiaStix or generic to test the urine for ketones and glucose. The presence of ketones and/or glucose suggest not enough insulin, but are not as precise as blood testing.
Kimmied
Member Since 2014
I too think a vet check visit might be the thing to do right now just to be on the safe side. Is your kitty constipated? Sometimes Hank acts like that if he is constipated. It's hard for you not knowing what his BG number is. Home testing is important and a little tricky till you get the hang of it.
Hank started out on Novolin N. Take a look at his spread sheet and you will see that on most days the insulin had worn off by +6 (after an injection). I only stayed on it cause my vet told me to" hang in there, that he can get the cats usually regulated around 225". Well, that's not my goal for Hank! Remission is my goal for Hank and that's not going to happen on Novolin! Yes, the dosage is high for just starting out but I think at one time Hank was up to 6u 2x/day. Novolin does drop the levels real fast.
So, yes, I believe Novolin is a bad choice unless you could give the shots 3x/day.
The 3 longer lasting insulin's that are used by most are; Lantus, Levimer and ProZinc. I'm real happy with the ProZinc. I'm a newbie but am starting to get the hang of testing and injections.
If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask. We have all been where you are and we are trying to pay it forward by helping out.
Kimmie
Hank started out on Novolin N. Take a look at his spread sheet and you will see that on most days the insulin had worn off by +6 (after an injection). I only stayed on it cause my vet told me to" hang in there, that he can get the cats usually regulated around 225". Well, that's not my goal for Hank! Remission is my goal for Hank and that's not going to happen on Novolin! Yes, the dosage is high for just starting out but I think at one time Hank was up to 6u 2x/day. Novolin does drop the levels real fast.
So, yes, I believe Novolin is a bad choice unless you could give the shots 3x/day.
The 3 longer lasting insulin's that are used by most are; Lantus, Levimer and ProZinc. I'm real happy with the ProZinc. I'm a newbie but am starting to get the hang of testing and injections.
If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask. We have all been where you are and we are trying to pay it forward by helping out.
Kimmie
JoyceOlive
Member Since 2014
I Welcome you and agree with the others that Novolin is a bad choice.And Larry is right,that is starting at too high a dose. Our vets mean well,but not all of them know what they are doing with diabetes in cats,bless their hearts.And yes,it sounds like he may be having too much insulin ,with lack of appetite and hiding like that,restlessness and agitation,etc.Please get a human glucometer as soon as possible and start home testing( I love my Walmart Relion Micro,very affordable and you only need a speck of blood.Your not alone,tremendous guidance and moral support here on this site! Best of luck to you and your kitty.
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