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You are not far off the mark at all @superchemicalgirl that is just what is happening
the beast's do not respond much different than man is he under 10lbs
I would have said 2u tid or 3x daily but slowly lower
now or he will crash add one afternoon working up you should see marked response
start with 1u noon
 
Yeah, I've dealt with a lot of IDMM patients during my nursing career. When he was diagnosed, I told my husband that when I retired I hadn't expected to be taking care of another elderly diabetic but here I am.

Yep, you do know, Superchemicalgirl, don't you? LOL. He's using U-40 Vetsulin porcine in a zinc suspension. Merck makes it. It would be simpler if he was able to accucheck and put him on a sliding scale. I asked the vet about that and he said no, wouldn't work in a cat. Every time they accucheck him they do a draw and put the blood on the stick that way. His diet has been switched to Science for diabetic kitties. High protein, high fat, low carb. THAT is where I'm thinking the problem is. The prescription diet along with the insulin is dropping his blood sugar too low. Right now he weighs 12.4 pounds. At time of diagnosis, he was down to 11.4.

Interesting thought, Penny1960. Most insulin dependent humans are on a TID and if necessary, AC and HS schedule. So why not a cat or dog also? I once took care of a diabetic that was so brittle that you could give him his insulin, walk out to my med cart, walk back in the room and he would be unconscious with a blood sugar of 2. We would give him an IV bolus fo glucose and he would be awake, and joking with us before we had the whole dose in him.

We really are trying everything we can to give this little guy a bit more time with us.
 
microchick said:
Yeah, I've dealt with a lot of IDMM patients during my nursing career. When he was diagnosed, I told my husband that when I retired I hadn't expected to be taking care of another elderly diabetic but here I am.

Yep, you do know, Superchemicalgirl, don't you? LOL. He's using U-40 Vetsulin porcine in a zinc suspension. Merck makes it. It would be simpler if he was able to accucheck and put him on a sliding scale. I asked the vet about that and he said no, wouldn't work in a cat. Every time they accucheck him they do a draw and put the blood on the stick that way. His diet has been switched to Science for diabetic kitties. High protein, high fat, low carb. THAT is where I'm thinking the problem is. The prescription diet along with the insulin is dropping his blood sugar too low. Right now he weighs 12.4 pounds. At time of diagnosis, he was down to 11.4.

Interesting thought, Penny1960. Most insulin dependent humans are on a TID and if necessary, AC and HS schedule. So why not a cat or dog also? I once took care of a diabetic that was so brittle that you could give him his insulin, walk out to my med cart, walk back in the room and he would be unconscious with a blood sugar of 2. We would give him an IV bolus fo glucose and he would be awake, and joking with us before we had the whole dose in him.

We really are trying everything we can to give this little guy a bit more time with us.
Click to expand...

you had to go with an insulin that isn't for human use and that i'm not familiar with, eh?

The recommended dosing for this is every 12 hours in cats, per the package insert. The timing in regard to food appears to be with or immediately following a meal. It says no adjustments made if the cat is fed free choice (just every 12 hours). The recommended beginning dose is 1 to 2 units per dose. Are you using a U40 syringe to be sure of accurate dosing?

http://www.vetsulin.com/PDF/Vetsulin-Package-Insert.pdf

More info about time to peak and lasting effects of the insulin. I think you may be correct that it's too much too soon especially with a change from less carb food.

Edited to add: if the cat is 15 or 16 the goal at this point likely wouldn't be tight glucose control, but rather prevention of ketoacidosis/death and significant microvasculature damage (kidneys/eyes).
 
Last edited:
microchick said:
Quote:
superchemicalgirl said:
What type of insulin (regular, nph, glargine, aspart) and when are you giving it in regard to meals?

In humans if the blood sugar is lowered too much too quick the person will feel hypoglycemic when they're not because they're used to high levels. They get lowered slowly.

I don't work on animals but I know a lot about drugs in humans.
Click to expand...
penny1960 said:
You are not far off the mark at all @superchemicalgirl that is just what is happening
the beast's do not respond much different than man is he under 10lbs
I would have said 2u tid or 3x daily but slowly lower
now or he will crash add one afternoon working up you should see marked response
start with 1u noon
Click to expand...
microchick said:
Yeah, I've dealt with a lot of IDMM patients during my nursing career. When he was diagnosed, I told my husband that when I retired I hadn't expected to be taking care of another elderly diabetic but here I am.

Yep, you do know, Superchemicalgirl, don't you? LOL. He's using U-40 Vetsulin porcine in a zinc suspension. Merck makes it. It would be simpler if he was able to accucheck and put him on a sliding scale. I asked the vet about that and he said no, wouldn't work in a cat. Every time they accucheck him they do a draw and put the blood on the stick that way. His diet has been switched to Science for diabetic kitties. High protein, high fat, low carb. THAT is where I'm thinking the problem is. The prescription diet along with the insulin is dropping his blood sugar too low. Right now he weighs 12.4 pounds. At time of diagnosis, he was down to 11.4.

Interesting thought, Penny1960. Most insulin dependent humans are on a TID and if necessary, AC and HS schedule. So why not a cat or dog also? I once took care of a diabetic that was so brittle that you could give him his insulin, walk out to my med cart, walk back in the room and he would be unconscious with a blood sugar of 2. We would give him an IV bolus fo glucose and he would be awake, and joking with us before we had the whole dose in him.

We really are trying everything we can to give this little guy a bit more time with us.
Click to expand...
Awww...your poor kitty. That would not be fun for him when his sugars not quite right. I don't think numbers always tell the whole story.
I can feel when I'm down and when I have to eat better than the numbers can tell me. I can also feel when I've gone over.
I'm type II. I take gliclazide and metformin. I was sick for years Actually right after I was married. I'd share a coke at the theatre and I'd get sick.
I finally figured out sugar was a culprit even though it never showed in my sugars. I always asked, diabetes runs in my family.
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when I was going to have my son in 2000 and they told me my sugars would right themselves right away...lol.
They didn't. It took until 2008 for me to be "officially" diagnosed, 2013 for medication.
I'd agree...that's a lot of change so quickly for his system.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for responding and sharing your wisdom Superchemicalgirl and Penny1960

Yes, I'm using a U40 on him. We kicked him back to 3 units BID. I feel guilty. It's the first time I've ever countered a vets RX but he isn't living with the little guy and seeing how he is acting.

Penny, first and foremost, take care of yourself.
 
playing with critters here also thank heaven all healthy minor alergies
Snowball growing leaps and bounds but healthy.... impatiently waiting for
eggs to hatch only 1 dozen due in the next 24 hours
having a few hours to myself today
 

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