Calloway's glucose STILL high at 469 on Feb 13th :(

[jennielynn1970]

This cat is driving me nuts! I've been treating him for diabetes now for 3 months, and we're still not regulated. I took him back to the vet today for a blood glucose check, and he was 412!! He's on Purina D/M food dry and canned. The only thing he gets that isn't diabetic in nature is treats, and he gets those twice a day for when he gets his insulin. He's such a good boy when he gets his insulin too, and the vet said treats were allowed, so I don't want to stop giving him those. He did say I could use the canned food as a treat, but they're expensive and I'll never get 2 cans of wet food eaten in a day. Even with the others, they won't finish that much canned food.

We're now up to 5 units of insulin twice a day. The vet also commented that Calloway has put weight back on, and that's not good. SIGH. Before it was "don't let him lose too much weight", then he gained some back, lost a little more, now gained some more back. He's still a little over 17lbs, and a chubber. So, what is it? Lose weight? Don't lose weight? I'm getting frustrated and confused by the different comments (2 different vets, same practice).

Anyone else deal with a cat with diabetes and having issues controlling the glucose levels? Anyone not having issues and have suggestions??

[Freedom]

How frustrating! I mean, it's not like my Dad, who keeps "cheating" and eating stuff he shouldn't, lol.

You may get more help from a pet diabetes forum? I know this one gets a lot of good reviews:
http://www.petdiabetes.net/

You can google and find cat specific ones as well.
cat diabetes forum
brings up plenty of options.

[Moesha]

It took me about 8 months to get Morgan's insulin regulated. But it was every time we went to have his sugar checked, we had to keep dropping the levels, well except for the first time. I went from 8 units once a day to 5 twice a day. From there it came down one unit at a time (like 4 twice a day, to 3 twice a day). He isn't on any insulin anymore and hasn't been for a year and a half. He eats a rationed amount of the DM dry. It is usually 3/4 to 1 cup of food a day. He would get a small spoon of wet food in the mornings before we found out about the diabetes. Then when he had to have the shots and the vet said that he needed to eat when we gave him the insulin, we started giving him another spoon of wet food in the evenings also. He is still on that schedule. He eats mostly dry and the wet food is his treat. Like I said though it is only a small spoonful, so what is left goes in the fridge. It takes him several days to go through a whole can. I don't use the DM canned food. I use mostly Nine Lives Tuna Select. It is very high in protein and low in carbs, even more so than the DM actually. That is his treat, although occasionally I will give him one or two tempations. There is a website that I can't find at the moment that lists the protein vs carb amounts in commercial cat foods.

I'm also housesitting a cat that showed up at my house 8 years ago and I found him a home. His mom is on vacation, so he is at my house. He is also diabetic. She didn't change his food. He eats Nine Lives dry. She doesn't regulate how much he eats either. He is regulated with 4 units twice a day. I guess a lot of it depends on the cat.

I also have other friends that had a very hard time regulating their diabetic cat. They used a different kind of insulin though.

My vet uses Vetsulin. My friends live in Knoxville and I forget which insulin they used, but I know it was much more expensive. What kind or brand of insulin does Calloway use? I hope you can get everything regulated for him. It is frustrating I know!

ETA: I found the website. There are links here to both wet and dry food charts. Here's the link.

[jenluckenbach]

I am so sorry for Calloway. I only had 1 diabetic cat, and it was over 6 years ago, so my memory fails me. But getting him regulated was completely impossible. I wish Calloway a better outcome.

[jennielynn1970]

I gotta say, I don't only give him 1 or 2 Temptations, lol. Ooops. I guess I should start the canned food as his treat and do the fridge thing. I'll check out the Nine Lives canned food too.

I'll have to see what insulin he gets. I know it's $80 for the small bottle of it. I almost fell over when I saw the bill. Granted, the last bottle lasted for almost 3 months, but that was also with lesser amounts being used in the beginning.

The vet said to give him 1/2 c. of food a day. That's not much, and I know he'll lose weight on that, which will probably have the other vet telling me he lost too much too quickly, lol.

[Grace]

Never had a cat with diabetes, but I know it is difficult for a human to lose weight while on insulin, so maybe it's the same for a cat.

3 months is not a long time, though. It can take time to get regulated on any medication - to get the correct blood levels.

[Catlady711]

I know how frustrated you and Calloway are over the insulin. Sorry that things haven't straightened out sooner.

Some animals are fairly easy to get under control others are more difficult. It's probably not helping that you have two vets with dissagreeing opinons either.

From what I see at work the ones that seem to have steadier insulin levels were caught early and have a very strict routine for feeding times, amounts and excercise. Not sure if it's as applicable to cats, since we see way more dogs with diabetes than cats, but I'd imagine the principle would be the same.

Is there just one vet of the two that you trust more? Maybe just request to only see that one, that way you don't get conflicting information?

I hope things straighten out soon for both you guys.

[smokey the elder]

I have a diabetic, who was diagnosed 3 years ago. Moby is on what's called "PZI" (protamine zinc) insulin. I seem to remember it took about 6 months to get her regulated. She never went above 3 units twice a day (bid); now at 2 bid. There are different insulins that work better for some cats than for others. www.felinediabetes.com has a wealth of information; they are very big on blood testing. I'm not sure if you want to go there. I don't blood test Moby, but want to learn how to do it.

It's best to stick with one vet's protocol; vets have different strategies for managing diabetes.

Glucose levels (single-point) are not very accurate. Stress can spike glucose. Ask about "fructosamine" test. This measures longer-term regulation. Moby's fructosamine topped out at 565 (poor) and is now at 365 (very well regulated.)This test is typically done every 6 months. I get her kidney values tested at the same time.

[GILL]

Our Patch’s was over 17 when she passed and for 16 years she was diabetic.
It took 8-10 months too get close to regulating it. Then we would test every 6 months. We did have some close calls. It is extremely hard when you walk in and you r baby is comatose with her tongue hang out, so we did have a few runs to emergency.
But I would not have traded it.
So hang in there.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear this. Hopefully you'll be able to get him regulated soon. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

[bowlkat]

We have two (currently)-- one is now past the insulin phase, after about 3 years on it, and stable; the other is stable now, after about 7 months, BUT: The first insulin we tried, he had a massive reaction to it, and WENT MOSTLY BLIND.... it affected his optic nerves, some sort of inflammatory process, and he still has good and bad days, vision-wise, and 'good' isn't really good.... most of the time his eyes are just dilated way out and not seeing much at all. Also, it wasn't regulating his sugar or fructosamine levels worth a damn either. We switched him immediately to another type of feline insulin, the one the other cat had been using, and we got him stable, so he's very happy and healthy and weight-stable and all-- just, mostly blind. So we have two diabetic cats, one of whom is an official FDA Adverse Drug Reaction Report.

It simply takes time- as others have said, every cat is different and their metabolisms take time to adjust and readjust-- keep trying, watch the diet, monitor his sugar and fructosamine, and LOVE HIM-- it's no more fun for him than it is for you...... and I know varying recommendations from different vets can make you nuts, too, but everyone's just guessing, hoping to find the right levels and frequencies and then hoping the cat's metabolism doesn't change again......

[jennielynn1970]

Found this on his insulin bottle, not sure what "kind" it is.

Insulin PZI BCP

I haven't noticed any eye issues, thank god.

[Moesha]

That's the insulin my friends in Knoxville used. It was WAY more expensive than what my vet prescribed. They had trouble getting their kitty regulated with it, but I know many vets prefer it. How often does Calloway go in to be tested? Morgan went every 2 weeks.

[Emeraldgreen]

I'm sorry to hear that Calloway's insulin levels aren't regulated yet. That insulin is expensive! Barney was on Canninsulin and it was pretty cheap. The vet sent us home with half a vial and I think it was less than 15.00. Maybe you could see if another brand could be used that might be more effective for Calloway and cheaper for you.
I have been trying to keep Paddy on a stricter diet and now he is off the Temptation treats altogether and finaly lost a few pounds. I think they are pretty fattening but boy do they love 'em! He loves food so much though that I can give him dry food as a treat because he doesn't free feed so any crunchies are welcomed by him. He gets about a cup in total per day spread out.
Please give Calloway a BIG hug for me.

[weluvcats]

Poor thing...I have never had a cat with diabetes, but I can imagine how difficult and frustrating it must be to get them regulated on their insulin.

I know how frustrating it is to get dueling opinions from different vets about the same thing. Do you have a favorite or regular vet that you prefer? If you can, try to stick with them, although I know it's not always possible to see them if they're in surgery, off for the day, or just booked. In the meantime, ask lots of questions, and trust your gut instincts.

Good luck, and hugs and prayers to you and Calloway!

Judy