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  • #1

    Insulin response time?

    My Westie was recently diagnosed with diabetes. This is the third week of insulin injections twice a day. The first two weeks we had him receiving 6 units of insulin and now we have bumped him up to 6 units since the blood glucose curve didn't show adequate results (high end was 21 and low end was 16). I'm continuing to monitor his glucose at home and after almost a week at 6 units, I'm still reading between 25 and 31 on the glucose monitor. His energy is generally low and he pants or breathes quickly at night.

    I'm frustrated and and wondering if this is normal? Shouldn't I see some response to the insulin? Could he be resistant to the insulin? Could this be insipidous diabetes?

    Please help me with any comments!
    Krista and Gordy (9 yr old Westie)
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  • #2
    Re: Insulin response time?

    Hello and Welcome to you.

    It does take alot of time at the begining to get those numbers down, we have all been there with you at the frustrated bit, Honest. But the best advise I received from the expereinced forum members was to make one small change at a time, wait a week then review and add another one tweek if needed.

    Pippa my westie has been diagnosed 9 months now and is doing great, it took many months though to get here ( and one bout of pancreatitis over xmas that we are just getting over).

    Can you tell us abit more about your westie? Age, weight, what insulin he is on and food he is eating. Oh and what glucose meter you are using is useful to know too as many of us use human type menters that can read a bit different to the vet alphatrack meter.

    Its great that you are testing yourself so soon, many of us do test at home and find it a really good tool to get our pups as well regulated and safe as possible. I also remember being told that dogs tolerate higher numbers quite well, its the sudden lows that are of real concern and may lead to hypos.
    Has your vet mentioned checking for ketones in his wee? I think this is recommended if the sugars are high to rule out ketoacidosis. Is he on 2 meals a day and 2 injections a day?

    Sorry so many questions to bombard you with. I really hope you can pop back to tell us more about your lad so we can all chip in and offer some more help.

    Welcome again. Jen x
    Pippa; Westie, diagnosed 17th April 2012 at 6.5 years old, 8.7kgs, 6.8 units canninsulin bd, Burns high oats food . Lives with George 9 (Black lab), Polly 19 (cat) and Basil 15 (diabetic mog for 5+ years). Im Jen and we live in West Wales where it rains too much!

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    • #3
      Re: Insulin response time?

      Hi and welcome to you and your Westie

      I see Jen has already been on with great advice. I have a Westie too called CJ and its taken 7 months to get him to a good BG range. Mind you he often throws me a high or low number. It does take time to get the dosage right and as Jen says its beter to go slow. I know its difficult whe you see the high numbers but I used to take CJ out for a run as exercise brings his BG levels down. It is all very daunting at first but hang in there you will get there. You have found a great forum and the people here have lots have experience and great advice.

      We have all been in the same place as you so dont despair you will get lots of help from all of us here. Dont feel bad about asking any questions everybody will be happy to help.

      Well done for doing the BG testing so soon! Its a lifesaver. One thing I forgot to mention is that it is important not to feed them in between meals even with a small treat as it can raise BG levels - I know what little beggers those Westies can be!!

      Anne-Marie and CJ
      Anne-Marie and CJ Westie , Born 13 Jan 2004, dx May 2012, Weight 9.5kg, 6 iu Caninsulin Twice daily. Mixture of food - baby formula and mixture of chicken and vegetables . 4-6 feeds a day due to pancreatitis which is under control.

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      • #4
        Re: Insulin response time?

        Thanks Jen and CJ! I feel so good that I found this forum... it's been a hard go and a big transition! To answer your questions: Gordy is 9 yrs old, 24 pounds (he's a big boy but not overweight for his size). He's on Caninsulin and I use the Alphatrack2 and eats twice a day - dry food Hills Prescription. He's the pickiest eater EVER so I have to add a topping. I usually cook him some ground beef or chicken or fish by boiling in water.

        Some good news... I took his blood in the afternoon yesterday and it read 13.1 and that was after a good walk. Morning and evening readings continue to be high, this morning was 28.

        Can anyone comment on panting or fast breathing? He seems to do this in the evening only...

        Thanks for your support!!
        Krista
        Krista and Gordy (9 yr old Westie)

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        • #5
          Re: Insulin response time?

          be a bit careful of walks and exercise they can drop quite a bit during

          always bring liquid sugar with you karo or honey or something like that

          my jesse panted quite a bit and shallow breathing at the beginning and was very lethargic not sure if it was from the insulin or fluctuations in blood sugar but it did stop something to keep an eye on because there is some stress going on

          since you are testing (very good thing ) once at a dose for 5 days you can do a curve a test at fasting (before food and shot ) and every 2 hours after that till next fasting or longer some do 24 hours

          this tells you what blood sugar is doing throughout the day you look what is problematic we like to see blood sugar as flat as possible but there maybe big drops and or rises in blood sugar thats what is problematic stable blood sugar but elevated may need more insulin we base dose adjustments on the lowest number not the highest or the average
          Jesse-26 lbs - 16.5 years old ,11 years diabetic, one meal a day homemade and a vitabone snack . 3 shots of Novolin( under the Relion name ) a day . Total insulin for a 24 hour period is 6.5 units of NPH insulin .
          Jesse earned her wings on 6/21/2021

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          • #6
            Re: Insulin response time?

            Gordy sounds a smashing boy!

            I dont know about the panting or fast breathing, sorry, but think JesseGirl is sensible in suggesting a glucose curve to look at his blood levels over a 12 hour period. This give so much info on the highs and lows and lets the insulin dose be safely and slowly increased if needed. Have you or your vet considered this yet? I have done all Pippas curves at home myself and then talked to the forum and my vet about increasing doses. Bet you were pleased too see that 13 reading! Was he drinking alot when first diagnosed and has this decreased back to a more normal amount?

            Sorry to hear hes a picky eater, Pippa is a gannet! and would eat anything and her own body weight if allowed! I weigh out her meals on a little kitchen scale to make sure she has the same amount both meals, many find this useful as using cups or eye measurments can vary the amount tremendously.
            Pippa; Westie, diagnosed 17th April 2012 at 6.5 years old, 8.7kgs, 6.8 units canninsulin bd, Burns high oats food . Lives with George 9 (Black lab), Polly 19 (cat) and Basil 15 (diabetic mog for 5+ years). Im Jen and we live in West Wales where it rains too much!

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            • #7
              Re: Insulin response time?

              Hi krista.
              I agree with Jesse girl and Jen that it would be a good idea to do the 12 curve to see his highest and lowest nos. CJ used to pant a lot in the evening - especially at night ( he sleeps on our bed) but I think this was because his numbers were higher at night. He does not do this any more since I have got his numbers down . He was feeling bad then too as he had a corneal ulcer and then pancreatitis.

              CJ is on caninsulin too. What dose is gordy on? The 13.1 sounds like he came down after his walk. The curve will tell you his lowest no and then you might make an adjustment in the insulin dose but only a small amount in conjunction with your vet. If you post the curve here the experienced members will give you great advice too.

              It does take time to get the dose right . You are doing great !

              Anne-Marie
              Anne-Marie and CJ Westie , Born 13 Jan 2004, dx May 2012, Weight 9.5kg, 6 iu Caninsulin Twice daily. Mixture of food - baby formula and mixture of chicken and vegetables . 4-6 feeds a day due to pancreatitis which is under control.

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              • #8
                Re: Insulin response time?

                Hi Krista
                Our dog used to pant quite a lot, only in the evening, during the first few weeks after he was diagnosed. He would never usually pant before that. I assumed it was because of high sugar levels though I never understood why it happened only in the evening.
                He had lost the use of his back legs as well at the time so I used to bring the water bowl to him when he was panting as he was often hot and thirsty with it. He also stopped the panting if we cuddled him or stroked him to relax him and get him off to sleep.
                It all calmed down as we got him better regulated and he has not panted like that for quite a long time. It just gradually went away.
                Hope that helps to reassure you. It all just seems to take time and you have to be very patient and keep on at it!
                Antonia
                Eddie - Lab x golden retriever. Weighed 63lbs. Ate Canagan. Diagnosed October 2012. 13units of Caninsulin twice a day. Had EPI as well as diabetes. Died 20 June 2017. Loved forever.

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