Is it safe to increase my cat’s insulin dosage after receiving multiple blood-glucose readings above and below the normal range?
Original Question: Hi I have contacted you in the past regarding my cat’s diabetes. We are working hard to try and get her into remission if at all possible. I did as you said and upped her dose and we finally started seeing some really great numbers with her, perhaps a little too great at times. We had one reading of 2.0 close to hypo but she showed no symptoms other than extreme hunger, perhaps her body’s way of protecting itself. It seems like she tends to have her lowest part of the cycle at her evening shot time. Is this normal? If I dose her, it seems like her glucose increases with the insulin dose and not decline like she normally does. I think my vet is hinting at increasing her dose but my fear is that I’m overdosing her. I tried to read up on the Somogyi effect but I’m pretty confident that is not happening with her however of course I could be wrong. I would really appreciate your input again if at all possible. We use a human meter. I have ran curves on her using the AlphaTRAK but I find the numbers are quite similar when they are in the lower range and maybe off by 2.0 in the high range. Plus to be truthful, we just can’t afford the strips for the AlphaTRAK as we tend to test perhaps more than normal. I just love my girl to death and I truly only want what’s best for her and to keep her safe while we try for remission. Thanks in advance. - Holly
Apr 13, 2018
Hi Holly,
Thanks for the question.
On the surface, it’s a simple answer. The normal range for blood glucose in a cat is 4 – 9.7 mmol/L. On your curve day, you only have one single reading in the normal range.
Bottom-line….this is not under control. A dosage increase is needed.
I would expect a cat with readings like these to be exhibiting increased water intake, increased urination, increased appetite and reduced ability to gain weight.
We always change glargine by small increments. I don’t give out dosing instructions to a client or patient I have never seen so I would agree that your veterinarian should decide on the new dosage to try.
All the best,
Dr. Clayton Greenway
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