Changes in Insulin Requirements in Diabetic Cats

It is not unusual for insulin requirements to change suddenly after a long period of stability.

This can be due to a number of factors:

• infection (e.g., urinary tract infection (cystitis), pyoderma),
• altered exercise regime
• weight loss or gain
• other concurrent illness (e.g., renal failure, heart failure)
• other concurrent endocrine disease, such as hyperthyroidism or Cushing's disease
• corticosteroid or progestogen administration
• remission- in cats treatment may result in remission of the diabetes in about 25% of cases. Continuation with the initial insulin dose will result in hypoglycaemia.

Dose adjustment

Dose adjustment should be based on the clinical response and the results of serial blood glucose samples and not just a single sample. Ideally a blood glucose curve should be made before the insulin dose is changed.

Urine glucose and ketone monitoring can be used to check whether a blood glucose curve should be made, it should not be used alone as, as was in the past, as a basis for dose adjustment.

Changes in dose should be made after a period of adjustment to a particular dose or regime. In cats the dose can be adjusted as infrequently as after 1-3 weeks on a particular regime. Increments of 1IU per injection are recommended.

Click on thumbnail for a guide to dose adjustment: