My diabetic cat's blood sugar is low. Was skipping insulin right?

Hi, I'm Dr. Johnson. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A blood sugar of 36 is too low. Do not give Gir insulin. Continue to feed him small meals and put some Karosyrup on his gums. Call your Veterinarian in the morning to discuss what they would like to change. Signs of low blood sugar are: salivating, crying, staggering, vomiting, increased respiratory rate, seizures, and or twitching. If you observe any of these things seek immediate veterinary care. I wish Gir the best!

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.

If the insulin and syringe is U40 then yes, 5 should be 5 units (it is important to use the same graded syringes and insulin as this would invalidate the graduations otherwise). Blood glucose should be checked resting and fasting as a meal or strenuous exercise will affect readings - a schedule of timings before meals/exercise should be arranged in order to compare readings. Changes the the dose rate given should be made only in consultation with the treating vet - we are not legally in a position to prescribe medication as the animal must be under the direct care and supervision of the prescribing vet in order to make these decisions

Hi Sarah, I'm glad Neelix is responding well to treatment. Yes, it should be fine to do the dosing you described. Just be sure she eats first before giving the insulin. Watch her closely after the 4 unit dose to make sure her blood sugar doesn't go too low. If you notice anything abnormal then get her to an ER vet for an exam. Best wishes.

It should drop quite fast if Morpheus is on an adequate dose of insulin, 295 is still a little high but it is definitely a good progress already, if it stays at the same level he might need a slight adjustment of the insulin dosage.

Take him to the emergency vet right now. This is serious hypoglycemia and it could kill him. He may be in remission and may not need any more insulin. However this needs to be checked by a veterinarian. But for now it is very important that he be seen at the ER.

It doesn't sound like her blood glucose level is under control, if she is an easy cat to handle I would recommend doing a glucose curve and generally checking the glucose levels regularly until her condition improves. Here is a good website that explains about the glucose curve: http://www.vetsulin.com/vet/Cats_Monitoring_About.aspx