12/20 Abby ...Is it even making a difference?

[megmonger]

Hi everyone,

Been a while since I posted. I'm looking for opinions on Abby's BG levels with Lantus (see my ReliOn spreadsheet in signature). Vetsulin was clearly not working for us. But it just doesn't feel like we are moving any closer to getting out of the sea of pink, let alone into blues. Shouldn't we be getting a better dip in terms of low-point delta from her AMPS and PMPS values?

Thanks for any advice, and hope everyone is having a nice holiday season.

Thanks

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Have you had test done for acro and/or IAA?

I am going to tag @Wendy&Neko so she can take a look.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Here is the link to your previous post here. We include those for continuity and so we can see what was discussed previously.

Sorry that Abby's numbers don't seem to be budging much. At least you are starting to see some mid level blues, but I can totally sympathize with having a cat that seemed to love pink. Some cats just need more insulin than others, and you need to keep increasing as per the dosing method, until you find the dose that moves her. My Neko needed 8.75 units, we have some cats on much more. It's ECID, or each cat is different on the amount of insulin they need. When kitties get up to 6 units in dose, we suggest that they get their cats tested for what is called "high dose" conditions, specifically acromegaly and IAA (insulin autoantibodies). Neko had both those conditions. Acromegaly, a benign tumour on the pituitary, is a condition that one in four diabetic cats has. You can get both those conditions tested via a blood draw that is sent to Michican State University. Might want to start discussing with your vet. If either or one is positive, you just keep increasing unitl you find the dose that Abby needs (at the time).

@LizzieInTexas Typing - just slower than you.

 

[megmonger]

Here is the link to your previous post here. We include those for continuity and so we can see what was discussed previously.

Sorry that Abby's numbers don't seem to be budging much. At least you are starting to see some mid level blues, but I can totally sympathize with having a cat that seemed to love pink. Some cats just need more insulin than others, and you need to keep increasing as per the dosing method, until you find the dose that moves her. My Neko needed 8.75 units, we have some cats on much more. It's ECID, or each cat is different on the amount of insulin they need. When kitties get up to 6 units in dose, we suggest that they get their cats tested for what is called "high dose" conditions, specifically acromegaly and IAA (insulin autoantibodies). Neko had both those conditions. Acromegaly, a benign tumour on the pituitary, is a condition that one in four diabetic cats has. You can get both those conditions tested via a blood draw that is sent to Michican State University. Might want to start discussing with your vet. If either or one is positive, you just keep increasing unitl you find the dose that Abby needs (at the time).

@LizzieInTexas Typing - just slower than you.

I was going to ask what acro and IAA were, thanks I had not heard of them before. We'll look into that as well now.

 

[saltycat]

The general idea with Lantus or Levemir is a flatter curve through the day then with other "in and out" insulins like prozinc, vetsulin, etc. You could think of Lantus and Levemir like a time release capsule. Ideally you get to the point where they stay pretty flat throughout the cycle. It looks like you are seeing some decent action on the 5.5u dose. I would continue following the protocol for dose increases and you will find the right dose. I've been reminded many times that feline diabetes is a marathon not a race, it can take time to find that right fose. Slowly increasing the dose is the safest and best way to find the right dose without skipping past the right dose for Abby.

My boy is/was a high dose kitty as well. It took quite a long time before we got his numbers under control.

 

[megmonger]

The general idea with Lantus or Levemir is a flatter curve through the day then with other "in and out" insulins like prozinc, vetsulin, etc. You could think of Lantus and Levemir like a time release capsule. Ideally you get to the point where they stay pretty flat throughout the cycle. It looks like you are seeing some decent action on the 5.5u dose. I would continue following the protocol for dose increases and you will find the right dose. I've been reminded many times that feline diabetes is a marathon not a race, it can take time to find that right fose. Slowly increasing the dose is the safest and best way to find the right dose without skipping past the right dose for Abby.

My boy is/was a high dose kitty as well. It took quite a long time before we got his numbers under control.

Thank you for the perspective and encouragement!