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),
• 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
• diabetic remission

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 plotted before the insulin dose is changed.

Urine glucose and ketone monitoring can be used to check whether a blood glucose curve should be plotted; it should not be used alone 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 should be adjusted as infrequently as every 1-3 weeks. Increments of 1IU per injection are recommended.