Managing Diabetes

RE: Managing Diabetes

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 16:49:25 GMT

For cats I prefer to use Pro Zinc these days and ideally aim for Bg to be between min 8 and max 15 mmol/L - don't usually get that good a level of control but that's the idea - if you don't go over 15 they don't get glucosuria, and if you don't go under 8 they won't have a hypo

I find the main use of fructosamine is to confirm a case really is diabetic,, after that it isn't much value to me

I prefer to check blood glucose 3 hours post insulin and again as close to the evening dose as is practical

Initially I am far more concerned about the 3hour post insulin BG level, as I feel hypoglycaemia is much more dangerous , once things are settled I then worry about the evening BG

Generally when you have the dose about right, there is a significant improvement in water intake even if it isn't perfect ( and it usually never will be!)

This system isn't perfect but it works well most of the time. I rarely do blood glucose curves especially in cats

RE: Managing Diabetes

Richard Carter — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:17:19 GMT

There is a very good article that I cannot find at moment written by an American group about low stress, minimal testing DM control and testing in cats because of the white coat effect that is potentially dangerous if cat is actually in remission and hypoglycaemic if given insulin but the blood glucose on testing is consistently high

RE: Managing Diabetes

Richard Carter — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:01:28 GMT

As Laura says- don’t bother with glucose curve- watch drinking and weight ( and appetite). Think home testing with alpha trak on ear tip prick feasible, urine dips a good alternative and fructosamine if you think you have remission. Also found a base treatment of glargine eg 1 iu and careful diet often reduces signs significantly.

RE: Managing Diabetes

Laura Dell'Abate — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:58:01 GMT

With diabetes I base it a lot on clinical signs. If the animal is drinking normally , not polyphagic and no weight loss then the animal is under control . As far as checking for hypos I usually check the urine :) an animal that is diabetic should always have some glucose in the urine . If there is no glucose on several checks then the patient could be going into remission and therefore the dosage should be reduced. You can also get special litter that changes colour when there is glucose or glucose strips are usually great .

My personal approach :)

I tend not to do glucose curves . If possible , I use the free style libre.