Insulin Overdose Symptoms in Cats

If your cat has diabetes, her pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, causing high blood sugar, and you understand that maintaining her blood sugar level throughout the day can be a fine balance. Determining proper insulin dosage requires a little guesswork and trips to the vet to check your cat’s glucose curve. Sometimes, despite the best of efforts, a cat will get too much insulin.

Blood glucose levels change through the day, and even with consistent communication with your vet, your cat's insulin needs may change over time. Insulin overdose leads to low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms include lethargy, disorientation, nausea, weakness, abnormal behavior, increased appetite, unsteadiness and rapid heartbeat. More severe signs include seizures and coma. Any sign of insulin overdose requires immediate veterinary attention, as it can rapidly lead to death. If you notice your cat has lost weight, has started eating more and is drinking and urinating more than usual, take her to the vet for a new glucose curve.