? Steroids for diabetic cats

[Lisa and Smoky]

Smoky went to get an ultrasound done yesterday. The vet called with the results and said that he had quite a bit of inflammation. She said his allergies could be causing this in his bowels, his liver and pancreas are also affected. The vet said he can't have steroids due to the diabetes. Does anyone have any ideas on what else I could give him? His new vet is hoping switching to Lantus will help with this issue. However, I have to wait until Sunday to start him on it. She says I need to be able to observe him all day and do a curve.

The problem is that smoky is very underweight and it is hard to find a food that he can eat with his food allergies. All of the FF, Friskies and Nine Lives food has chicken or poultry by products in their ingredients. The weruva and tiki cat food he can eat but doesn't like much. I am so frustrated right now.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

The vet said he can't have steroids due to the inflammation.

That does not make sense. One common use of steroids is to reduce inflammation. However. most steroids raise G/increase insulin needs and thus should only be used on a diabetic cat if really necessary.
Budesonide is one steroid that stays in the GI tract and usually has little effect on BG/insulin needs. One common use of budesonide is for IBD
I have used budesonide for tow og my diabetic cats and one civi

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

That does not make sense. One common use of steroids is to reduce inflammation. However. most steroids raise G/increase insulin needs and thus should only be used on a diabetic cat if really necessary.
Budesonide is one steroid that stays in the GI tract and usually has little effect on BG/insulin needs. One common use of budesonide is for IBD
I have used budesonide for tow og my diabetic cats and one civi

Oops, I meant he can't have steroids because of the diabetes

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

That does not make sense. One common use of steroids is to reduce inflammation. However. most steroids raise G/increase insulin needs and thus should only be used on a diabetic cat if really necessary.
Budesonide is one steroid that stays in the GI tract and usually has little effect on BG/insulin needs. One common use of budesonide is for IBD
I have used budesonide for tow og my diabetic cats and one civi

I will call my vet and ask her about the possibility of him taking this medication.

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

However, I have to wait until Sunday to start him on it. She says I need to be able to observe him all day and do a curve.

Hi Lisa! This above needs a bit more thought...sounds like your vet may not be used to using Lantus. Doing a curve when starting Lantus isn't going to tell you much. Lantus is a depot insulin, the first 2-3 days doses mainly go to establish this 'depot', very little actually available for use by the body. Think of hard candy - when you first put it in your mouth, there's a bit of it available for your enjoyment but most of it is still solid. 3 minutes later, put in another piece of hard candy. Now you have 2 hard pieces but neither is giving you much at a time but combined there IS more. Add another piece, even more. Lantus sort of works that way. A curve should be done when the full dose becomes effective in 5-7 days. Make sense?

HUGS!

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

Hi Lisa! This above needs a bit more thought...sounds like your vet may not be used to using Lantus. Doing a curve when starting Lantus isn't going to tell you much. Lantus is a depot insulin, the first 2-3 days doses mainly go to establish this 'depot', very little actually available for use by the body. Think of hard candy - when you first put it in your mouth, there's a bit of it available for your enjoyment but most of it is still solid. 3 minutes later, put in another piece of hard candy. Now you have 2 hard pieces but neither is giving you much at a time but combined there IS more. Add another piece, even more. Lantus sort of works that way. A curve should be done when the full dose becomes effective in 5-7 days. Make sense?

HUGS!

Thanks! I was thinking that same thing about waiting a week to do a curve. He has been on vetsulin and my new vet said she starts cats out on the Lantus.

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

my new vet said she starts cats out on the Lantus.

You may want to ask her what she expects from this first day curve. If her response is to 'see how the insulin is working', you might want to ask for further clarification as you've been told or you read or whatever that it takes 5-7 days for Lantus to be working at it's peak thru each cycle.