Cat tired after insulin

Pumpkin just started on insulin today, the vet prescribed 1 unit 2x/day. I gave her her first dose around 11am today, after she ate half a can of food around 10:30. Shortly after the shot, she seemed to get really tired and just wanted to sleep. She started crying for food around 1:30 so I gave her a little bit (she's been free-fed all her life so this 2 meals per day thing is going to be a big adjustment for her). After eating again she started perking up and seemed normal. Is it normal for cats to get tired after insulin?

 

Yes, this is a very common reaction at the beginning of treatment. It generally improves as the kitty's body gets used to insulin. One unit twice a day is a good starting dose. Re feeding: most of us feed several small meals a day even though we were advised to feed only twice a day by our vets. The scattered small meals satisfy the kitty more and can help to stabilize blood glucose.

If you could set up your signature (the light grey text under our posts) it would help us get key info quickly. Here's how:

• click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
• click on "signature" in the men that drops down
• type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using /glucose meter you're using/what he eats/any other meds or health issues he has.

Another thing that will help us help you if you'll start BG testing at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. We can all see it and look at it before offering advice: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/