Dog Insulin Levels

by Tanya

Reader Question: Dog Diabetes Levels

My black lab female 8 years old was diagnosed December 4th with diabetes her levels that day were 660 today when I checked her level she was at 316 she is currently getting 22 cc 2 times daily. I guess i am confused as to why they are not dropping ? My vet wanted to test her for Cushing's but because her levels were 275 last week my vet said we did not need to test her.

She gets no snacks other than her 4 health dry food and wet chicken 2 times per day with her insulin.
Any ideas? Does her insulin need to be increased? My lab weights 80 pounds

Thanks,

Tanya

Veterinarian Suggestion: Dog Diabetes Insulin Levels

Hello Tanya,

The best way to determine whether your dog is getting the correct dose of insulin is through the use of a glucose curve. In a nutshell… the dog’s feeding and exercise schedule remains unchanged while its blood glucose level is checked every 2 hours for 12-24 hours. This gives a complete picture of what the dog’s glucose levels are throughout the day, rather than relying on just one or two measurements that may provide misleading information.

If your dog does need more insulin, you must increase the dose gradually. The dangers associated with receiving too much insulin are much greater (at least in the short term) than are those that develop when dogs receive too little. Never increase your dog’s insulin or change her diet without first consulting with your veterinarian. The results can be catastrophic.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM