We have two cats both twins, brother and sister. The brother is diabetic. I didn't take any readings before he became diabetic. His sister who is not diabetic always stays in the range 3 to 4.5 (54 to 81). Am I right in thinking his ideal range is the same? He is a larger cat and slightly overweight, 6.6kg, she is slim at 4.4kg. Both 9 years old.
what is normal?
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Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Hi,dbdb said:
When I've tested my non-diabetic cats they have similar readings to your non-diabetic; usually between 3.5(63) and 4.5(81). The given normal range for a cat seems to vary a tad depending on which source the info comes from but seems to be approximately 2.7(49) to 7.2(130) (or even a smidge lower or higher). So, yes, I guess technically this would be the 'ideal range', but for a diabetic cat on insulin the numbers you'd aim for would depend on a lot of different factors; type of insulin, how the cat responds to insulin, how well the care-giver can monitor the cat, the cat's diet, any other health issues...etc, etc...
The most important health concern when using insulin is to keep the cat safe from hypoglycemia.
Injecting insulin into a cat is not 'an exact science'. It's not necessarily possible to predict the precise outcome of any insulin shot. There are so many variables. Insulin absorption may vary; the cat's appetite may go up and down; the food may change; the cat might throw up it's meal; or the cat may get an infection - or even a furball, and feel unwell; the pancreas may start producing it's own insulin, which may be consistent or intermittent....
Some people may 'aim' for a nadir (lowest glucose number) of around 5 (90). Some people with a lot of data about how their cat responds to insulin, and able to keep good control of their cat's blood glucose levels, may aim lower. And some may settle for a nadir higher than 5. Some people may have cats with extremely eratic or wonky numbers, or may struggle to ever get close to a nadir in normal or near normal numbers, and will settle for the best they can get! (My cat was like this for the first 3 years of his diabetes).
My cat is prone to steep blood glucose drops and has had 3 hypos (so far!). So I don't deliberately aim for low nadir numbers. I currently 'aim' for a nadir of around 5 as I feel that gives some margin of safety. And even though, despite all the data I've collected, I aim for around 5, my cat fairly often has nadirs of around 3(54) to 3.5(63) at the moment (probably because his appetite has just decreased at this time of year). I'm pretty happy if I see those numbers at nadir, but I don't aim for them.
Edited to add: All of the above assumes, of course, that the care-giver is testing the cat's blood glucose at home. And the majority of care-givers with diabetic cats out there don't test at all.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Different sources will give you different values for the range.
Wikipeidiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_in_cats
home testing). For general guidelines only, the levels to watch are approximately:
mmol/L mg/dL(US)
<2.2 <40 Readings below this level are usually considered hypoglycemic when giving insulin, even if no symptoms of it are seen. Treat immediately
2.2-7.5 40-130 Non-diabetic range (usually unsafe to aim for when on insulin, unless your control is very good). These numbers, when not giving insulin, are very good news.
3.38-6.88 61-124 This is an average non-diabetic cat's level, but leaves little margin of safety for a diabetic on insulin. Don't aim for this range, but don't panic if you see it, either. If the number is not falling, it's healthy.
5 90 A commonly cited minimum safe value for the lowest blood sugar of the day
5.5-10 100-180 Commonly used target range for diabetics, for as much of the time as possible.
7.8 140 According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), threshold above which organ and pancreatic damage may begin in humans.
<13.33-15 240-270 Feline Renal threshold for glucose, when excess glucose from the kidneys spills into the urine and roughly when the cat begins to show diabetic symptoms. See Hyperglycemia for long-term effects of high blood glucose on cats.
16.7 300 Approximate maximum safe value for the highest blood sugar of the day, in cats, to avoid neuropathy and complications. Some cats can go on long-term at this level or higher, but there will be side effects eventually. Check for ketones.
>20 >360 Check for ketones frequently, be sure you are giving insulin. Cats are much more resilient than dogs or humans at these high levels; nevertheless, the blood sugar should be lowered. The cat can feel any of numerous ill effects both short and long-term, see hyperglycemia for details.
Wikipeidiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_in_cats
home testing). For general guidelines only, the levels to watch are approximately:
mmol/L mg/dL(US)
<2.2 <40 Readings below this level are usually considered hypoglycemic when giving insulin, even if no symptoms of it are seen. Treat immediately
2.2-7.5 40-130 Non-diabetic range (usually unsafe to aim for when on insulin, unless your control is very good). These numbers, when not giving insulin, are very good news.
3.38-6.88 61-124 This is an average non-diabetic cat's level, but leaves little margin of safety for a diabetic on insulin. Don't aim for this range, but don't panic if you see it, either. If the number is not falling, it's healthy.
5 90 A commonly cited minimum safe value for the lowest blood sugar of the day
5.5-10 100-180 Commonly used target range for diabetics, for as much of the time as possible.
7.8 140 According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), threshold above which organ and pancreatic damage may begin in humans.
<13.33-15 240-270 Feline Renal threshold for glucose, when excess glucose from the kidneys spills into the urine and roughly when the cat begins to show diabetic symptoms. See Hyperglycemia for long-term effects of high blood glucose on cats.
16.7 300 Approximate maximum safe value for the highest blood sugar of the day, in cats, to avoid neuropathy and complications. Some cats can go on long-term at this level or higher, but there will be side effects eventually. Check for ketones.
>20 >360 Check for ketones frequently, be sure you are giving insulin. Cats are much more resilient than dogs or humans at these high levels; nevertheless, the blood sugar should be lowered. The cat can feel any of numerous ill effects both short and long-term, see hyperglycemia for details.
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