What to expect
The difference PROZINC will make for your cat
The time it takes to regulate a diabetic cat's blood glucose varies from cat to cat. Typically it takes up to a few weeks to become regulated on any insulin, including PROZINC.
Once your cat's blood glucose is regulated, you will notice an improvement in the signs of diabetes such as excessive thirst and urination, weight loss, and weakness of the back legs. When these signs decrease or disappear, you'll know your cat's blood glucose is improving and your cat is likely to feel better.
If you don't see immediate results, do not attempt to adjust your cat's PROZINC dosage by yourself. It is important to continue following your veterinarian's recommendations.
In a clinical study, most diabetic cats treated with PROZINC showed improvement in excessive thirst (76%) and excessive urination (74%) within just 45 days.1 In fact, about half of the cats in this study improved within seven days!2
About remission
It is possible for a cat's diabetes to go into remission. This means the pancreas resumes its normal function of producing adequate amounts of insulin, and the cat no longer needs insulin injections. This is thought to happen in about 20% of cats.3
The highest chance of remission is at the beginning of treatment. A cat who has gone into remission still needs to be monitored periodically and should still be considered diabetic, because remission is not always permanent and diabetes signs may return in the future.
While remission sometimes occurs, there is no actual cure for diabetes. With patience and diligent care, PROZINC can help bring your cat's blood glucose under control so your cat can live a happy and virtually normal life.
PROZINC insulin, like other drugs, may cause some side effects. Serious side effects can occur with or without warning. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you think your cat has a medical problem or side effect from PROZINC therapy. The most common insulin-related side effect is low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). Please see Safety Info page for more information.
1 FOI for NADA 141-297. (PROZINC)
2 Data on file. St. Joseph, MO: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica.
3 Nelson RW. Disorders of the Endocrine Pancreas. In: Nelson RW, Couto CG, eds. Small Animal Internal Medicine. 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:764-802.