Re: Fox Terrier with diabetes
Randy,
So good to hear he did ok overnight. I was worried with the huge drop in a short period of time.
What is Bandit currently eating?
Dogs are different than humans in some ways regarding diabetes. They can usually use the insulin to cover both meals and basal needs but some adjustments may be needed along the way to balance insulin/food/exercise out. Doses can also take 3-5, sometimes 7 days to settle in. This is because the residual insulin from one shot to the next builds up in the background and can have a lowering effect over time.
So best advice is to be patient, take it slow. Many people here move in 1/2 or even 1/4 unit increments. You can also get syringes with 1/2 unit markings on them at Walmart http://www.relion.com/diabetes/syringes
An ideal target range for dogs is 100-200mg/dl. Many dogs can't achieve that tight of control however and 100-250mg/dl is just fine. The renal threshold in dogs is about 180 before they start spilling glucose into the urine. Dogs also don't have the same side effects that people do when it comes to diabetes. The main concern with dogs is cataract development.
I know you said your wife's a nurse so I thought I'd highlight some differences. I know I had to 'forget' some of the human diabetes knowledge I had and learn the differences that exist in canine diabetes.
Take care!
Patty
Randy,
So good to hear he did ok overnight. I was worried with the huge drop in a short period of time.
What is Bandit currently eating?
Dogs are different than humans in some ways regarding diabetes. They can usually use the insulin to cover both meals and basal needs but some adjustments may be needed along the way to balance insulin/food/exercise out. Doses can also take 3-5, sometimes 7 days to settle in. This is because the residual insulin from one shot to the next builds up in the background and can have a lowering effect over time.
So best advice is to be patient, take it slow. Many people here move in 1/2 or even 1/4 unit increments. You can also get syringes with 1/2 unit markings on them at Walmart http://www.relion.com/diabetes/syringes
An ideal target range for dogs is 100-200mg/dl. Many dogs can't achieve that tight of control however and 100-250mg/dl is just fine. The renal threshold in dogs is about 180 before they start spilling glucose into the urine. Dogs also don't have the same side effects that people do when it comes to diabetes. The main concern with dogs is cataract development.
I know you said your wife's a nurse so I thought I'd highlight some differences. I know I had to 'forget' some of the human diabetes knowledge I had and learn the differences that exist in canine diabetes.
Take care!
Patty
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