From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-11-08 19:00:25 UTC
Subject: RE: questions for those with diabetic ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6253998.1068318025920.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi Patty,
Sorry to hear you have a little one on insulin. I can share my experience with one of my diabetic ferrets. I had 3 in one year.
I found it was easier if the insulin was diluted enough that I could give a bit larger volume, making it easier to draw up in the syringe and adjust doses. Your pharmacy should be able to do this for you. I believe it also provides a better delivery of more of the medication, since there will always be some left in the syringe. My pharmacist used a 10.0 Unit/1.0 ml dilution, and I was able to use the tuberculin syringes I had on hand versus purchasing the more costly insulin syringes. This made it simple for me to understand; 0.10 ml equaled 1.0 unit, and I could increase it by tenths or half of a unit if needed. Also, work closely with your vet.
0.1 unit or even 0.6 is not enough insulin. We made that mistake with my first diabetic ferret, Zeke.
Oscar received 2.0 units to start then 1.0 unit after that, dosing morning and night, however it seemed his bg continued to climb. At one point he got 3.5 units. (5.5 units during that 24 hour period)
That is when we started testing his bg throughout the day, and found it was coming down, but jumping high again before the next dose was due. We dropped his dose to 2.0 units every 8 hours, and he was given a 1 month, 500 mcg Lupron Depot injection. (Oscar had adrenal/pancreatic surgery on 10/8/02 and by 12/10/02 his bg was down to 50, so was started on pred again. He did well for a while, then was lethargic again, and when I tested his bg 1/30/03 it was 270 and he had high ketones.)
Feb. 17th was when we started the 8 hour dosing, and he got his Lupron Depot about a week after that. We continued to monitor him, and were able to lower the insulin until by March 1st he got 0.3 units in the morning, and didn't need any insulin after that. I do not know if the Lupron helped him, but I know it has helped other diabetic ferrets.
Oscar did develop low bg later in the summer of 2003, and needed pred again.
I feel food is very important! While Oscar was on the Chicken Gravy, his bg was in the <300 range on the 1.0 unit dose of insulin, but once he started eating kibble again, it jumped to 446 in just one reading. Looking back, that is when we started to increase his insulin until it reached the 3.5 units in one dose and we went to the 8 hour dosing.
Julie
Author wrote:
> It is a month now since my relatively young ferret was diagnosed with diabetes. I am having a hard time regulating him on Humulin NPH insulin. ... > I will get a range, but it seems that the NPH wears off on average about 10 hours after giving it ... > So after starting at 0.1units twice a day, I am now up to 0.6units twice a day. I want a better control,... >
> Patty
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