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Calculation of Initial Insulin Dosage for Diabetic Cats
The dose of Caninsulin and the interval between injections has to be tailored to suit each individual diabetic cat.
Hypoglycaemia
As hypoglycaemia is a major concern and to be avoided at all costs
- The animal's body weight should be rounded down to the nearest whole kilogram
- The calculated dose of insulin rounded down to the nearest whole unit
This helps to avoid overdosing particularly during initial stabilisation.
Insulin dosage for diabetic cats
Starting dose:
- 0.25-0.5 IU/kg body weight twice daily.
Pre-treatment blood glucose concentration is used as guidance for the calculation of initial insulin dose in cats. See table below:
| Baseline blood glucose concentration (mmol/l) | Baseline blood glucose concentration (mg/dl) | Initial Caninsulin dose (rounded down to the nearest whole unit) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| <20 mmol/l | <360 mg/dl | 0.25 U/kg body weight | 1 unit |
| >20 mmol/l | >360 mg/dl | 0.5 U/kg body weight | 2 units |
Remember to round the cat’s bodyweight down to the nearest whole kilogram and the calculated dose down to the nearest whole unit.
Avoid unduly high starting doses in cats, especially in overweight cats, where the ideal bodyweight should be used. The maximal dose should ideally not exceed 2 IU per injection in the first 2-3 weeks of treatment.
Subsequent dose adjustments should be in increments of 1IU per injection. For more information see dose adjustment.
All cats should be weighed accurately before commencing treatment (and at follow up visits).
