41 Comments

Sheri
October 26, 2022

Hello, my eight year old 40 pound Australian Shepherd was acting weird for a couple of days. She does have some joint problems, so I’m not sure if her behavior was caused by pain or not. She was shaking and could not lie down. So it looks like joints to me but I’m also concerned about diabetes. I checked it today and it was 56. That seems low. So I checked my other dog and hers was 70 and she’s a 50 pound corgi border collie mix. Should I be concerned about the Australian shepherd with blood level at 56?

Andrew P
March 22, 2022

If my cat is healthy weight and has mmol around 10-15 for most of the day but for a short period of the day it hits 22 and goes back down is that bad?

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
October 14, 2021

Hi Kathy,  You should check with your veterinarian as soon as possible to work on getting your dog's diabetes regulated.

Kathy Wyler
October 6, 2012

What does it mean if my dog has good readings morning and evening- fasting numbers around 250 but he is high mid day - high 300s-low 400s?

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
June 28, 2021

Hi Nancy, Diabetic cats can definitely be tricky to get regulated.  Please work directly with your veterinarian to make any necessary adjustment's to your cat's insulin or diet.  It's absolutely critical that you avoid making any changes without direction from your veterinarian.

Nancy
June 27, 2021

Newly diagnosed 10 year old neutered male cat. Started on PZI but the 0.5 unit sends him into hypoglycemia. I have been able to reduce this by half to approximately 0.25 units which seems to work but there has to be an rasier way. Would Lantus be a better choice? Or maybe he’s not diabetic? Also, he a grazer, and getting him to eat over an 1/8 of a cup of food is impossible. Then he hangs out at normal feeding time looking forlorn. Suggestions appreciated. He’s on the Libre sensor.

Leonard W. Kolcz
June 24, 2021

Our very old border collie mix has been diabetic for about five years and we are giving her novalin. it seems to work.

Rebecca Padrick
June 17, 2021

FYI - Per my Vet, Walgreens and Publix now sell the Freestyle Libre for $30-40 as of yesterday.

Joe Cecchini
March 27, 2021

I have been using the 2 week Libre monitoring system for over a year, and it works well on my dog. Not yet approved for dogs as of yet, but at least I'm not guessing. Cost about $60 per month, but my dog is worth it

Deborah Jordan
February 15, 2021

My friends will be angry i have read this as it contradicts what Ive been told by groups who now believe that having a diabetic cat makes them an expert and contradict much advice from their chosen vet but also tell others when to ignore their vet. Would like to know how milking the site elevates BG. I don't as it makes cat scream but i found that ear spot by using the lancet only and not the annoying clicker pen!

Candice
January 24, 2021

If you plan to change your cats diet AFTER they have started insulin you must be VERY CAREFUL as the level of carbs in the food can impact the insulin need IMMEDIATELY, as in that very first time you feed them low carb. Making the possibility of dangerously low BG levels and hypoglycemia. Read up on it before attempting and be prepared to check your cat's BG several times per day . If your cat is on high carb food switching to low carb may be better but you must do so VERY CAREFULLY

Nancy Gibbons
January 4, 2021

Hi!  My 15-year-old cat has been diabetic for 9 years. I monitor his BG twice a day.  He can be in the 400's for days and then the 200's, then back up to the 400's. I feed him appropriate food for diabetes, good protein, low carbs, no dry.  He had been getting 2 units of Lantus every 12 hours, but after a bad hypoglycemic episode, and some charting, I have reduced it to 1-1/8.  My question is, if controlling diabetes means keeping his numbers as close to normal as possible, then I am not achieving that. Can anyone really "control" their cat's diabetes?  What should I be doing differently?

Sarah Rosen
December 12, 2020

My shihpoo is 13.5 years old and was diagnosed in august of 2019. We almost lost him to DKA, and found out that way. He has been on human insulin, and vetsulin... 7U 2 times a day, but recently had some surgery and went back into DKA from the stress I suppose. He was in the doggy hospital for 3 days, and while he was there he saw a specialist that changed his insulin to Levemir, with a sliding scale dosing curve. It does not seem to be working... he is on a prescription diet that I have fed him for about 18 months now, and it's low fat, higher protein, and high fiber, but the blood sugar spikes are insane... he can easily go from 112 to 389 within just 1 hour of eating, and it goes so high sometimes that his " button" just says high, and then I have to spot check him. It doesn't stay high, it eventually goes down, but I'm starting to think he will just always be difficult to regulate. I'll do anything for him, and have, I just wish he would have more normal blood sugars, and not have it look like a roller coaster on his Libre.

Paula C. Nolin
October 17, 2020

My 8y cat diagnosed in july. I am still checking levels at home 2x day, insulin now 3u bid, on dm can and dry bid with small canned snack 2x day. Levels were roller coaster until recently but still not WNL in afternoon. Hopefully this trend will continue.

Stephanie Lardner
October 12, 2012

To Sam Harper Try changing your cats food.  Maybe he does not like it very much. My 14 yr old cat eats only Fancy Feast Classic Pate, and I have no problems with him eating. We just increased his kcal from 300 to 330, in 4 meals a day. He had become ravenous. Vet also increased night insulin from 1 to 2 units.  Now I am checking his water intake.  Hope this helps, I know the carb amounts for the food should you need it.  It is a lot of work, good luck with Aristotle.

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
October 5, 2020

Hi Michele, those are good questions, but they are questions that will be much better answered by your vet since they know your dog best.  It's great that you're being so diligent about tracking; please follow up with your vet to find out your target goals.

Michele Adamski
September 29, 2020

Our dog was recently diagnosed and I found a great spreadsheet for tracking blood sugar. We're trying to get him stabilized with how much insulin to give him. What are the general target ranges for times of the day e.g. before meals, bed time, before/after exercise, 1-2 hours after meals. Thanks!

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
September 28, 2020

Hi Joanna,  Unfortunately -- because it would be so much easier for all parties involved -- oral diabetes medications don't tend to work in dogs and cats.  So, I'm afraid your best bet is to stick with your vet on this one.  But please, let them know you're having difficulties giving the medication. 

Sam Harper
September 26, 2020

My cat (Aristotle) is 15 years old. He was diagnosed four or five months ago. After educating myself about feline diabetes, I took him completely off dry cat food, and now he only eats Tiki, which is the highest protein, lowest carbohydrate food I could find. This helped tremendously. The only problem is that he won't eat very much at a time. If I give him too much, he'll leave most of it in the bowl, and it just goes bad. So I have to feed him every two hours unless he's sleeping. Now, he wakes me up multiple times during the night so he can eat. While my cat is doing a whole lot better (he went from 4 units twice a day to 0.75 units twice a day, he gained some of his weight back, and his neuropathy is almost completely gone), it has taken its toll on me. I'm constantly exhausted, and my head is spinning during the day like took too much Benadryl the night before. I love my cat, but he sure has become high maintenance. 

Joanna
September 23, 2020

My vet does not know of or is just resisting the idea of switching my diabetic dog from injectable insulin TO an oral like Glipizide. I have been struggling with trying to give him his shots for 2 years now. Is there concrete studies that will convince her it’s an option

Colleen Whillans
August 15, 2020

My cat will be 13 in September. He was diagnosed with diabetes in March 2017. It took from then to July 2018 to get the right dosage of insulin. From July 2018 til July 23rd we had the right dosage. He is on Prozinc, Diabetic dry vet food. He was 14 pounds when diagnosed. Now he is 17.7lbs. So didn’t gain much. So after taking my cat to the vet to have his yearly check up they noticed his Blood Glucose level was 16.6. So they adjusted his insulin. So he went from 4 ml in the morning and 3.5 ml at night to both 4 ml morning & night. Was out camping August Long weekend and did his blood count July 28th. It was low 3.5. So called the vet and they dropped his dosage to 3.5 morning & night. I took it again July 31. One was 2.9 and the other was 4.3 two hours later. So vet knocked it down to 3 ml morning & night. Did another count August 11th and it was still low. So vet told me to drop dosage to 2.5 ml morning & night. I am hoping we can get his insulin stablized again. He still acts like a kitten. But he does have A little bit of cataracts but I am hoping to keep him around longer then 13 years.

Jackie
August 14, 2020

My Maltese is eight years old. I have been trying to keep the glucose at a balance level but it’s a little hard to do that today I took a glucose it was 112 how much insulin should be given for that level in the 100’s.

Robert
August 8, 2020

Liked the article.  It was informative. I have an elderly cat that just turned 17.  She's been diagnosed diabetic going on 4 years, and tolerated the insuln well. Two weeks ago she went in for annual visit and her Doctor discovered low b/g levels and recommended taking her off insulin. A week ago, I noticed she wasn't able to stand or walk on her own.  Took her to the hospital and she had b/g levels of 345.  Gave her 2 units and 1 unit later that night.  In addition to a 250 ml IV drip.  Seen the next day and b/g levels were 74.  Continued the IV fluids with no insulin until morning, and b/g levels swung back to 174.  It's gone like that for six days running.  Her blood glucose levels won't stabilize.  Have fed her slurry with syringe all week and her appetite is coming back slowly.  She is rehydrated as well.  Still not strong enough to stand or walk on her own.  But she's alert and responsive to her surroundings.  Any thoughts?

Angela G.
June 30, 2020

My sweet beautiful cat was on Vetsulin for 5 years. I could not monitor her blood sugar. It was too stressful for her and me, so my vet put her on 2.5 units 2x day. She was doing great every day I never saw any symptoms and then OUT OF THE BLUE she had a Hypoglycemic episode where her sugar went down to 20. I rushed her to the vet and they got it under control. She was doing so well but the morning I went to pick her up she had another one and no one was at my vets office overnight to save her. They tried but too much damage had been done and she didn’t make it. I am devastated by this. I’m waiting for my vet to call to give me some answers.  How could another episode happen So suddenly when she was doing so well again?

Beth DeVinney
June 15, 2020

Great news for pet parents of diabetic dogs! Free style libre!  We have been monitoring our dog Gracie since last November and it is fantastic.    She was diagnosed after going blind over night from cataracts. Purdue University allowed us to use the libre monitor and she is in a study there for her eyes As well.  She gets shots twice a day and it works really well she is 95% regulates.

Fran Munschauer
May 30, 2020

Suzie 10 lb chihuahua on insulin 3 years and has OPPOSITE of "Dawn phenomenon" as in humans. BG 500 at dinner...250+ IN AM..SHE REMAINS ASYMPTOMATIC BUT has had ERRATIC BG LEVELS ON Vetsulin,especially at dinner time...doesn't last 12 hours OR may suddenly work overtime with AM BG 80??? NPH didn't last..Lantus was good except I never slept worrying about 4 am hypoglycemia...I wanted to try a HUMAN insukin (Novolin 70/30) hoping it was better FDA regulated but no DVM uses it. Suzie has had her first medical issue-refused to eat- but resolved next day and chem panel was fine except Hct 24. DVM suspects stomach issue??? My main question is WHY would her BG be 500+ at dinner but 300 or so in AM? Suzie's spreadsheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O1YNDHz-t4REns_tbAN6D_M3AYT6_kgqbHE7JWo6kSM/edit#gid=811447094:

Hilary Rockwell
May 25, 2020

My mom has a 13 year chihuahua that has diabetes and the vet has him on 4 units of insulin in the morning and 3 in the evening but his sugar is still 350 to 400 and they can't get it down :(

Christy Corp-Minamiji. DVM
March 22, 2020

Hi Charlene,  I'm so sorry you're having this struggle. Managing diabetes can be such a pain!  Unfortunately, the only way to get a handle on it will be to work closely with your veterinarian. 

Charlene Kendrick
March 22, 2020

My Buchon is 14. For the past three years we have been giving her insulin twice a day! She started off with a 4 then a five! But since I check morning and night I usually give 5 in the morning and if necessary 6 at night! I have dropped down to 4 if she is low! Tonight she was HI. I guess that means as high as she can go! I do not know anything else to do! They can change her insulin but they said it would cost a lot! Help!

Jennifer
March 6, 2020

My 10 year old terrier was diagnosed 7 weeks ago, is on Vetsulin. He started at 3ml and has been increased to 9ml. He is still not regulated, with very high levels in the morning (~650) before his shot and levels around 350-450 in the afternoon. When he was first increased this last time, he had levels in the 100's, but it only lasted a day. I was told by some folks on the Facebook support page that because my Vet increased more than 0.5ml at a time - she increased 1.5ml (from 6.5 to 8) one week and 1ml (from 8ml to 9ml) the next week, that the optimal dose could have been "missed," as though there's a rebound affect. Is this true? I sent my Vet glucose curves, and I believe she increased based on the fact that the lowest levels were still very high. I've read about the Somogyi affect, but I don't think it applies here since the levels never went lower than normal and then spiked up within a day. I do believe that the Dawn affect may apply, but what I really want to know is whether there's some sweet spot number that when missed (increased beyond that number), will cause a dog to stop responding to the insulin altogether.  Thank you!!

Holly
January 18, 2020

Great info! I want to share for other diabetic pet parents. Ask your vet to write you a script for the Style Libre. Our dog has been wearing it for 16 days (second sensor now). It is non surgical and can be applied in about 10 min. You can download the app or buy the coordinating reader at the pharmacy. You can then scan the sensor AND GET AN ACCURATE READING. Our dog has no issues with it. He sleeps wearing it, can be bathed etc. it is amazing. We are able to check his sugars anytime we want and no need to prick him. Without insurance it’s $60 ish dollars for 14 days of tracking. Also, if you are having trouble with using an alpha tracker here is the way to get the blood you need. Insert the lancet into the one thing. Take the cover off lancet. Expose needle tip. Very gently PULL THE LANCET OUT a little bit. (This allows the needle to actually prick the dogs ear!) put the cap back into the pen. Warm up your dogs ear with a warm rag. Massage ear gently. Once the ear looks a little pink, then hold the ear gently against the pen and click the button for the lancet to come out. Flip that ear back and give it a few seconds. You should get enough blood to test. If not gently squeeze ear for blood to bubble.

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
November 26, 2019

Flash glucose monitoring devices such as the Freestyle Libre device mentioned by Z are fairly new.  Here is a link to an article on our sister site Veterinary Partner that explains more about these devices. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=9150771 

Z
November 24, 2019

My doc implanted a temp (lasts 14 days) glucose monitor in the back of my pup's neck. It interfaces with an iphone app called FreeStyle LibreLink. Try it out. It's more convenient than dropping off at the vet. Saved tons of money, but the app is still buggy. Works 90% of the time.

Tani
October 27, 2019

My dog was diagnosed 4+years ago. She is practically blind. We have managed to control her levels most of the time. The last few days her levels have been around 7 and too low to give insulin. Will this be damaging to her not to have insulin.

Michelle Massotti
October 22, 2019

I'm a new mom to a diabetic dog. I purchased an alpha tracker and had a miserable/anxiety day of err codes all day. 10 Lancers and 6 strips with not one reading. I cant afford $107 at the vet for a curve.(we just saved her from ketoacidosis and wiped us out) will the dosage I'm giving her now ever be reduced? (which seems gr8, cause she's eating and drinking and urinating normally) I'm giving exact food and insulin at exact times to help from any fluctuations. 

Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
September 11, 2019

Hi Diana, Unfortunately, diabetes can be challenging to control for many patients.  Also,there are so many factors at play that no one other than a veterinarian who is working with you and your dog is going to be able to assist.  We recommend making an appointment to go through all of your records and concerns with your veterinarian.  I'm sorry you're having such a rough time getting her blood glucose under control. 

Diana Gibbs
September 10, 2019

My dog was diagnosed in Feb this year. We have been doing blood test on her every 2 hours and her blood is so unpredictable. Our vet keeps changing us on her doses and I have been keeping very good records on her. with a higher dose she goes too low and with a lighter dose she is too high. Please help !

Deb Domurat
February 15, 2019

So if your cat's level has been in the mid to high 300's for several checks he should be a insulin?  I knew when my other cat needed it it was over 500, but this cat is up and down :-(

Gus Ray
May 30, 2018

Great article, also of note is A1C for cats and dogs is now available as a test to veterinarians

Tania
April 14, 2017

Thanks for the great article. My sentiments exactly (albeit phrased in a more eloquent way). However, not so good when your boss tells you that you're not giving enough injections.

Julia Dahlke
March 23, 2017

One of most oft-prescribed treatments:  "tincture of time".  It's been around a long time but very effective.  Thanks for the article!

Kate McDuffee
March 23, 2017

A mentor of mine, regarding watchful waiting or benign neglect, used to say, "Don't just do something. Stand there!"