My diabetic cat's blood sugar is high. Why isn't insulin helping?

Please try to bring her appointment forward to get her rechecked and her blood sugar levels controlled more effectively if possible. It may be necessary to change her insulin type but she should also be checked for infections/inflammation etc which may be altering her ability to regulate her condition

Hi there. Pets who are on an insulin dose that is too high can have something happen called the Somoygi effect, which basically means that their glucose levels can drop suddenly and then get really high afterwards as the body "overshoots" as it tries to compensate for the sudden drop. So yes, it's possible for an animal on a too-high insulin dose to have high glucose readings in some cases. This is why blood glucose curves are generally needed to assess the pet's response to insulin. This means checking the glucose level every 2 hours for an 8-12 hour period, to give a clearer picture of exactly how the levels are changing throughout the day. I would recommend talking to the veterinarian who is managing Cupcake's diabetes about how best to monitor her glucose levels and determine if any insulin dosage changes are needed.

I found that in cats often Vetsulin is not able to correct Insulin levels long term and that such cats may do better with Prozinc Insulin. This is something you may want to discuss with your veterinarian. Another problem that often keeps cats from regulating is when they have tartar, gingivitis and bad teeth. In that case a dental cleaning often works wonders. This will also reduce stress from dental pain.

Hi there. Your veterinarian may be able to board Cody for a few weeks so that staff members can administer his insulin regularly, monitor his glucose levels, and make adjustments as needed until he's regulated. Keep in mind, though, that stress can affect glucose readings in cats - so it's generally better for this process to be done with the cat at home, if possible. You don't mention why you're having difficulty - giving the insulin injections, checking his glucose at home, feeding the appropriate diet, or something else? Feel free to post again with more information about what you're having trouble with. We would be happy to try and make some suggestions to help.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as it may be an indication that his diabetes is not well-controlled at the moment. I would highly recommend that you check in with a veterinarian as soon as possible to check for this possibility. If this is the case, they can work in getting him to feel better and then possibly focusing in controlling his diabetes better. Best of luck!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry about Sweet Pea's diagnosis! I would call your Vet today. A diabetic that won't eat is a big deal. They may want to see her today to check her for the presence of ketones. Ketones are formed when a diabetic breaks down muscles and fat to feed the body. But ketones cause the animal to feel sick and perpetuates the cycle of not eating and not feeling well. If ketones are present, usually hospitalization is required to get rid of the ketones. Another cause of a diabetic not eating is pancreatitis. Some cats become diabetics from chronic pancreatitis. The treatment for that is supportive care. Even if you can't bring her to your Vet today, I still recommend that you talk to them over the phone. Maybe they can prescribe an appetite stimulant, but a minimum they can guide you on how much insulin to give Sweet pea while she isn't eating well. Giving insulin at normal doses when animals aren't eating well can cause the blood sugar to drop too low, which is serious as well. I wish you and Sweet Pea the best!

Hi, I think you should check his blood glucose, which I think it’s going to be high. If you can’t because your vet is closed and you don’t have an emergency clinic nearby, I would give him half dose of insulin. Please get in touch if there is anything else we can do for you. Hope this helps.