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

[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......