Senvelgo for cat that has been on Insulin?

[PamJV]

Yesterday my vet suggested that Senvelgo might work better for my 20 yr old cat Ricky who has been diabetic since 2016. She mentioned that the manufacturer intends it for newly diagnosed diabetic cats and not for cats who have been on insulin, but she thinks Ricky could be transitioned to Senvelgo. She said the benefit would be that it's supposed to make it less likely that the BG would dip to low levels, and I would just have to routinely check ketones.

I wonder if anyone has transitioned a cat from insulin to Senvelgo? How common are side effects like diarrhea and vomiting?

I have not logged Ricky's BG's in a long time. I don't test him every day because it's not easy to get blood from his old ears. Lately at pre-shot time his BG is 350. He has been hard to regulate as far as getting a good curve. I have given up expecting that. He has difficulty walking because of arthritis and muscle wasting and his bladder has become over stretched so that he can't empty completely and I have to express his bladder about 3 times a day. If Senvelgo could some how improve his diabetes I'd like to try that but it sounds scary to me that they don't intend it for cats that have been dependent on insulin.

 

[Christie & Maverick]

Hello Pam - a couple of thoughts to consider. Cats who are older than 13 are not good candidates and more problematic is that Ricky is already on insulin. Senvelgo is not a medication recommended for an insulin-dependent diabetic cat.

See here for additional information prepared by one of our moderators Info - New Treatments for Feline Diabetes | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I would be very, very hesitant to have a senior aged cat be an experiment for a vet who "thinks" Senvelgo might be an option. This is especially the case given how new this medication is and the explicit contraindications from the pharmaceutical company.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi Pam,

As others have said above, there are reasons why your kitty wouldn't be considered a candidate for Senvelgo.

It's also helpful to understand how Senvelgo works. Senvelgo lowers blood glucose by enabling the body to excrete more glucose in the urine. It's this that lowers the glucose level in the blood.
But a cat on Senvelgo needs to be producing enough insulin of its own in order to maintain normal glucose metabolism, sufficient for the body's basic needs. If the body isn't able to use glucose from the blood (due to too little insulin) there is a much increased risk of ketones, which the body will try to use as an alternative energy source.

It's also the case that cats can hypo on Senvelgo (despite what the manufacturer says about low risk). It may not be common, but it has happened. So it is still necessary to test blood glucose if possible, to ensure the dose is an appropriate one.

I am so sorry to hear that Ricky is having difficulty. And you are a very devoted cat mum who clearly loves him very much (in this respect he is a very lucky boy...).

Big (((HUGS))) to you.

Eliz

 

[PamJV]

Hello Pam - a couple of thoughts to consider. Cats who are older than 13 are not good candidates and more problematic is that Ricky is already on insulin. Senvelgo is not a medication recommended for an insulin-dependent diabetic cat.

See here for additional information prepared by one of our moderators Info - New Treatments for Feline Diabetes | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

Thanks, I read the information. It seems Ricky would not be a candidate for several reasons. Are they basically saying Senvelgo is meant for Type 2 diabetic cats? In other words cats that do produce insulin, and could be regulated through diet or in this case Senvelgo?

 

[PamJV]

I would be very, very hesitant to have a senior aged cat be an experiment for a vet who "thinks" Senvelgo might be an option. This is especially the case given how new this medication is and the explicit contraindications from the pharmaceutical company.

Thanks, I see that Ricky wouldn't be a good candidate. He is 20 years old and has already lost too much weight due to muscle wasting. I don't really mind giving the shots, I was just hoping for something more effective. You are right, it would be too risky.

 

[PamJV]

Hi Pam,

As others have said above, there are reasons why your kitty wouldn't be considered a candidate for Senvelgo.

It's also helpful to understand how Senvelgo works. Senvelgo lowers blood glucose by enabling the body to excrete more glucose in the urine. It's this that lowers the glucose level in the blood.
But a cat on Senvelgo needs to be producing enough insulin of its own in order to maintain normal glucose metabolism, sufficient for the body's basic needs. If the body isn't able to use glucose from the blood (due to too little insulin) there is a much increased risk of ketones, which the body will try to use as an alternative energy source.

It's also the case that cats can hypo on Senvelgo (despite what the manufacturer says about low risk). It may not be common, but it has happened. So it is still necessary to test blood glucose if possible, to ensure the dose is an appropriate one.

I am so sorry to hear that Ricky is having difficulty. And you are a very devoted cat mum who clearly loves him very much (in this respect he is a very lucky boy...).

Big (((HUGS))) to you.


Eliz

Thanks for the information. I hope the vet will also realize Ricky is not a good candidate.