A: “Diabetic management is multi-faceted, but it can certainly be achieved,” says Dr. Wendy Hauser, a board member of the American Animal Hospital Association. “Vetsulin would be ideal because it’s designed for pets, but I do have clients whose dogs do fine on human insulin, though some don’t. What’s important to know is that if you switch insulin, you should talk to your vet about the dosage. Insulin brands are not necessarily interchangeable.”
Hauser adds, “It’s wonderful, and really significant that your dog has lost weight. Your veterinarian can suggest a (wet or dry) diet. Perhaps, you’d consider going back to what worked previously (the Hill’s prescription diet), and consider the savings on human insulin as a kind of compromise.”
Q: My Welsh Corgi was diagnosed with diabetes earlier this year, when he hit 44 lbs. My previous vet scared me to death about this, prescribing Vetsulin (insulin) and Hill’s Science diet W/D prescription food (wet and dry), not to mention syringes. All of this treatment cost a small fortune.I switched to a different veterinarian. Also, a friend told me to go to Wal-Mart, where I switched to a human insulin called Novulin N. I get needles there for much less money. I’ve also started making my own dog food from ground turkey, vegetables, barley and eggs — and my dog eats it like candy. The veterinarian thinks this is a good idea since there are no preservatives in the food I prepare. The great news is, my dog is down to 39 pounds. My question is about dry food: Is there one you’d suggest? I’ve tried several low fat diets, but they give my dog loose stools. — P.R., Las Vegas, NV
Hauser, of Parker, CO, says she goes to the supermarket, too, and knows beef, chicken or turkey are not cheap, and adds, “It’s hard to believe there’s a significant price difference between preparing your own dog food and buying a manufactured food.”
Making food for any pet doesn’t always go as planned, as many recipes on the Internet aren’t adequate. It’s important to follow the directions of a veterinary nutritionist, not just some stranger on the Internet who says, “I know pets,” or even a human nutritionist. What’s more, diabetic animals have special nutritional needs.
Humulin N
This intermediate-acting, human recombinant insulin is not approved for use in dogs, but it is safe and efficacious for controlling blood glucose concentrations in dogs.
The results of a recent study evaluating Humulin Ns efficacy in 10 client-owned dogs showed that it effectively controls diabetes mellitus when given subcutaneously twice a day but that postprandial hyperglycemia can occur in some well-regulated dogs.1
The suggested starting dose is 0.5 U/kg given subcutaneously twice a day. Reassess the dogs clinical signs and perform a serial blood glucose curve one week after starting therapy.
Can you use human insulin on pets?
Detemir (U-100 human recombinant; Levemir, Novo Nordisk) is a long-acting insulin that can be used in both dogs and cats. Detemir is a human analog insulin engineered with modifications that allow it to bind albumin with high affinity in the subcutaneous and intravascular spaces, prolonging the insulin’s absorption.
How long after eating should you give a dog insulin?
I was out to dinner with one of my favorite vet clients last week and he asked me what differences exist between human diabetes and pet diabetes. I honestly couldn’t come up with any huge difference other than the fact that humans have longer lifespans than dogs and cats, so veterinarians get to treat fewer of the long term than MDs see. Perhaps because of this difference, we veterinarians don’t need to be as rigid with our glucose goals as medical advisors for human diabetics.
Human diabetics are unable to adequately utilize the energy they get from food because of a lack of insulin or inability to respond to insulin. The same goes for pets. Human diabetics with elevated blood sugar overwhelm their kidneys’ ability to concentrate urine and subsequently pee excessive amounts. They are constantly thirsty for trying to catch up on hydration. The same goes for pets. Unregulated diabetic people may lose weight despite having a voracious appetite. Pets? Yep, it’s the same.
Human diabetics can sense when their blood glucose is elevated or low and can give themselves insulin or eat something to compensate. Uh oh! Here’s a big difference between human diabetes and pet diabetes. It’s the opposable digit our critters lack! They would have a heck of a time with a syringe, not to mention they don’t have a checking account to pay for their medical supplies. Yep, our diabetic pets are reliant on their humans.
Perhaps the difference in diabetes in pets compared to in people, is it is more in how we treat the disease, rather than the disease itself. I know folks who would go to the moon and back to help their pets live better. I’ve also met folks who view pets as disposable. And then there are the folks who would do anything for their pets but may be limited by financial or time constraints. Every situation is a bit different. The key is to find a veterinarian who can formulate the ideal diabetes protocol for your situation.
Diabetic humans nearly always check their blood glucose before eating anything. Home glucose checks are now a feasible option for pets with the great technology available these days. It is really easy for pet owners to get a glucose reading without hurting their pets. I’m not saying that checking your pet’s glucose twice daily is the best routine for you and your pet, but it is now at least a viable option for those who choose to do so. Folks who elect tight diabetic control for their feline diabetics will likely check a blood glucose at least twice daily. Or, if a cat is going into diabetic remission, they will likely need to check a blood glucose before giving each insulin injection.
If your pet is a really good eater who is well-regulated, you probably don’t need to check a blood glucose before each feeding. For pets whose lives revolve around their next meal, periodic glucose curves to ensure regulation are probably perfectly adequate. Of course, we want you to have a blood sugar test kit at other times so that if your pet is acting goofy or ill, you know how to adjust the insulin dose for that situation.
It appears the answer to my friend’s question is that there isn’t much of a difference between human diabetes and pet diabetes. It’s more a matter of how we treat the disease.
As always, I enjoy hearing from our readers and clients. You can email me at [email protected]. I get a lot of our article topics from questions by readers.
NOTE: Consult your veterinarian to confirm that my recommendations are applicable for the health needs of your pet.