Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Any UK folks with an interest in this topic - and half an hour to spare - might like to listen to (RVC vet) Stijn Niessen's views on insulin choices for cats in the UK.
He talks of finding that cats tend to do better on insulins with longer durations. In the UK those are the veterinary insulin Prozinc, and the human insulins lantus/glargine and levemir/detemir.
He also talks a bit about feeding diabetic cats (lower carb diets) and the frequency of feeding. He says that if a cat was naturally a grazer prior to diagnosis then there is no reason to change that, and that smaller, more frequent meals can be easier for the insulin to deal with. (He makes clear though too that there is a difference between cats that are natural grazers, and those who are just greedy and will eat anything put in front of them...)
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-referrals/news-events/clinical-podcasts/49-insulin-choice-in-cats
Note: There is currently a supply issue with Prozinc, with a few vets having it in stock (or able to get it from Canada), and many vets not having it in stock.
He talks of finding that cats tend to do better on insulins with longer durations. In the UK those are the veterinary insulin Prozinc, and the human insulins lantus/glargine and levemir/detemir.
He also talks a bit about feeding diabetic cats (lower carb diets) and the frequency of feeding. He says that if a cat was naturally a grazer prior to diagnosis then there is no reason to change that, and that smaller, more frequent meals can be easier for the insulin to deal with. (He makes clear though too that there is a difference between cats that are natural grazers, and those who are just greedy and will eat anything put in front of them...)
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-referrals/news-events/clinical-podcasts/49-insulin-choice-in-cats
Note: There is currently a supply issue with Prozinc, with a few vets having it in stock (or able to get it from Canada), and many vets not having it in stock.
I'd be very wary of helping out on a hypo 911 at the moment. The principles are still sound but the specifics may leave something to be desired (*cough*).
