Switching from Glipizide to insulin

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WickedSteppMom

WickedSteppMom

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Our soon-to-be new kitty Frankie has only been treated orally w/Glipizide for the past year, and I don't know anything at all about Glipizide. Do I need to do any sort of taper off from it before switching him over to the insulin, or can I just start everything (transitioning to new food, regular monitoring, insulin, etc.) on Friday morning?
 
I looked Glipizide up on the web.
Glipizide
"Glipizide lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin (a natural substance that is needed to break down sugar in the body) and helping the body use insulin efficiently."

I'd check with the vet. Glipizide stresses whatever residual function the pancreas had left, so we don't encourage its use.

To prepare, you should be able to home test the blood glucose AND I would recommend you pick up some urine ketone test strips too, so you can monitor for them
 
Hiya BJ!

Alyssa is good with the BG testing (She had Stinky go OTJ a month or so back, and there's a lot of green on that SS too). I'm not sure if she had to test for ketones though...


Alyssa, so wonderful what you are doing for Frankie! I hope this dance is a quick one too!
Best to you and Frankie,

Carl
 
I'm so glad you are switching his treatment to insulin. Basically, Glipizide work by forcing the pancreas to produce more insulin. This method of treatment has a few drawbacks:

1. it can stress, or even burn out, an already stressed pancreas, reducing the chances of remission and leading to permanent insulin dependence

2. it is effective in only about 1/3 of diabetic kitties, and can waste valuable time in getting the blood sugars under control

3. there is a significant incidence of liver damage in cats who use oral hypoglycemics (so you may want to have this checked at Frankie's next vet visit)

Since you will be BG testing, I don't see a problem with just diving in and starting insulin right away. And huge thank you for taking on the care of this sweet boy.
 
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