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Pugsley & Feline Diabetes

Pugsley & Feline Diabetes 2003 UPDATE

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Pugsley & Feline Diabetes 2003 UPDATE

16 February 2003 - On 4 November 1998 I started a spreadsheet to keep track of Pugsley's glucose level, ketone level, insulin dosage, food eaten per meal, and his weight. These pages became a major part of my life for a little over two years. As I look over these pages now I see them evolve, becoming more detailed as my roommate and I discovered what daily information we needed to know to keep Pugsley healthy.

The first insulin Pugsley received was Humulin, synthetic insulin made for people. At his worst Pugsley was receiving 8 units of Humulin, twice a day. Pugsley was eating Hill's Feline W/D formula, can and dry food. By adjusting his food and insulin intake we were able to get Pugsley's insulin shots down. During a ten-day period in November 1999 Pugsley only needed one shot. We were ecstatic! We thought we had finally gotten him under control and shot free. Unfortunately his glucose readings went up and we had to resume insulin shots. In January 2000 our vet recommended that we try using PZI insulin, an animal-based insulin. One of his other patients was getting really good results from it. On the night of 11 January Pugsley received his first shot of PZI insulin. Before we switched Pugsley to PZI he was taking twelve units of Humulin per day. Shots of PZI were only six units per day.

We moved to a new town and started to see a new veterinarian in February 2000. In October 2000 our vet recommended that we try a new cat food for Pugsley. 19 October Pugsley ate his first can of Purina DM Diabetes Management Brand Feline Formula. Pugsley immediately responded to the new food. On 26 October Pugsley did not receive any insulin shots. By 27 December 2000 I stopped filling out the spreadsheets. Pugsley was no longer insulin dependent.

Pugsley has been doing really well on the Purina DM. There was a problem when we tried to switch him to the dry DM formula and his readings went up. A bottle of insulin and a return to the canned DM eventually got the sweetie cat back on track, but it did take three months.

I hope this update provides some useful information on coping with feline diabetes. With patience and love your cat can have a long, healthy, and happy life.

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