Recently diagnosed first at home glucose curve

[Fluffles]

1. hi everyone, Fluffles was recently diagnosed and trying to educate myself as much as possible about this very overwhelming disease. Initially at the vet his blood glucose was around 550. I immediately changed his diet to fancy feast classic chicken and he was started on 1 unit of lantus 2xs a day. Earlier last week he went to the vet and had a glucose curve done. It should be noted he gets extremely stressed in the car and the vet. He ate very little at the vet and his higher numbers were around 350 (not sure about nadir but I believe all numbers were high). Vet had me increase to 2 units of lantus 2xs/daily. The vet requested I try my own curve this weekend which I have. It has been really difficult to say the least but I think both the cat and I are getting better at it. My question (finally) is the numbers I am getting do not create a curve at all. They are just ping ponging in the range of 225-240 all day. Does anyone know what that means? I was under the impression it should create a curve when the numbers are graphed. Please help, thank you!
   
   
   

 

[Kris & Teasel]

1. hi everyone, Fluffles was recently diagnosed and trying to educate myself as much as possible about this very overwhelming disease. Initially at the vet his blood glucose was around 550. I immediately changed his diet to fancy feast classic chicken and he was started on 1 unit of lantus 2xs a day. Earlier last week he went to the vet and had a glucose curve done. It should be noted he gets extremely stressed in the car and the vet. He ate very little at the vet and his higher numbers were around 350 (not sure about nadir but I believe all numbers were high). Vet had me increase to 2 units of lantus 2xs/daily. The vet requested I try my own curve this weekend which I have. It has been really difficult to say the least but I think both the cat and I are getting better at it. My question (finally) is the numbers I am getting do not create a curve at all. They are just ping ponging in the range of 225-240 all day. Does anyone know what that means? I was under the impression it should create a curve when the numbers are graphed. Please help, thank you!
   

That's a fairly good range for a newly diagnosed cat. They rarely show a classic curve until they're well into a more regulated state. This takes time. We don't recommend increasing from 1 unit to 2 units in one jump. That's a 100% increase. So far the BG numbers on the day you did the curve were safe numbers. A curve only gives you a picture of one day's BG behaviour. It can be quite different on other days. That's why we promote the use of a good daily home testing routine and logging that data in the spreadsheet we use here. Would you be willing to do that?

 

[Fluffles]

I looked at your spreadsheet and I'm not sure I understand it. When/how often daily? I can try, I'd like to minimize as many vet visits as possible (both because it's stressful for fluffles and expensive!). The testing was really difficult but I felt like by the end of the day today we were getting into a little more of groove with it.

Also I mentioned to my vet that when we started with the insulin (one unit) he was very lethargic. It seems to improve with time (both time as in hours since given insulin and time as in days that pass). She tested him for pancreatitis and said it was negative. She said she had never heard of that reaction and had no answer. I believe he's having the same reaction with the increase, just seems really tired and perks up a little more just before meal time. Have you heard of this? And do you think I should go against the vets advice and just be giving him 1.5? He's a big cat, 18 lbs if that makes any difference

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I believe he's having the same reaction with the increase, just seems really tired and perks up a little more just before meal time

Yes, it's actually quite common...think about it this way...Your cats body has been used to living at a high glucose level for awhile now (because cats are so great at hiding that they're sick!)....Now, you're giving insulin to try to change that...It's going to take some time for his body to adjust.

And do you think I should go against the vets advice and just be giving him 1.5? He's a big cat, 18 lbs if that makes any difference

Lots of us don't do what our vets tell us....lots of us don't even take our cats to the vet for their diabetes once we get our script and learn what we need to know! My own cat hasn't been back to the vet for her diabetes since I got our first script over 4 years ago! I listened to the people here....the ones that have been dealing with this disease 24/7/365 (some for many years) and did what they told me to do!

The starting dose for an 18lb cat is actually about 2U (IF his ideal weight is 18lbs) , but we usually start them a little lower and then go up as the numbers tell us. That being said, he's responding pretty well on the 1U, so I'd suggest only going to 1.5

Next, we have a spreadsheet we all use here that's really easy to use and extremely helpful. The color coding makes it easier for us to see the "patterns" we look for in how the cat is responding.

Getting the spreadsheet started and filling out the "Signature" information (like you see below all our comments) will really help us to help you and Fluffles! ( I LOVE that name!!)

Here are the Instructions for getting the FDMB spreadsheet...If you have any problems, feel free to send me a private message and I'll be happy to set it up for you. Just click on my name and choose "Start Conversation"

To do your signature, find your name at the top right of the page and there's a drop down menu.....choose "Signature"....a new box will pop up for you to enter information into like:

Your name/cats name, age, sex, date of diagnosis, type of insulin, type of meter, type of food, any other health issues? and a general location where you live.

Then enter the link to your spreadsheet (when it's set up) and hit "save"

 

[Fluffles]

Thank you so much for your very helpful responses! I already have received way more information than I got from my vet and clearly you and many others on this page seem to have a much better understanding of this disease than I have gotten from my vet. I am going to try to set up the spreadsheet tomorrow and may end up taking you up on offer to help. I really appreciate your support. It's quite overwhelming but I'm sure (or I hope) it will be easier as it becomes more routine and I feel more confident in knowing what I'm doing. One more question for tonight, if you don't bring your cat to the vet, do you just call them when you need a new prescription? Are they ok with doing that without seeing the cat? Thank you!!!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

if you don't bring your cat to the vet, do you just call them when you need a new prescription? Are they ok with doing that without seeing the cat?

depends on the vet!! When China needed her first dental, we had to go to a new vet that had the x-ray machine to do it right, so she never treated China's diabetes in the first place

I just made the appointment, told them she was on X units of Lantus and when I needed a refill, I called and asked for it.

I use Marks Marine pharmacy in Canada for my Lantus (like most of us do since it's less than 1/2 the price) and once they have a script on file, you never have to give them a new one....You just ask for refills.

Since insulin is OTC in Canada, they don't require a new script every year

 

[JanetNJ]

I looked at your spreadsheet and I'm not sure I understand it. When/how often daily? I can try, I'd like to minimize as many vet visits as possible (both because it's stressful for fluffles and expensive!). The testing was really difficult but I felt like by the end of the day today we were getting into a little more of groove with it.

Also I mentioned to my vet that when we started with the insulin (one unit) he was very lethargic. It seems to improve with time (both time as in hours since given insulin and time as in days that pass). She tested him for pancreatitis and said it was negative. She said she had never heard of that reaction and had no answer. I believe he's having the same reaction with the increase, just seems really tired and perks up a little more just before meal time. Have you heard of this? And do you think I should go against the vets advice and just be giving him 1.5? He's a big cat, 18 lbs if that makes any difference

Better to give less and have to increase then to deal with a hypo. Do 1.5 for a few days, get preshot tests and a few mid cycle tests and see what that dose does. If it's not enough then you can raise it. Can you set up a spreadsheet like the ones in our signature? It will help us give specific dosing advice based on you readings. If you need help setting it up just ask and someone will help. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you so much for your very helpful responses! I already have received way more information than I got from my vet and clearly you and many others on this page seem to have a much better understanding of this disease than I have gotten from my vet. I am going to try to set up the spreadsheet tomorrow and may end up taking you up on offer to help. I really appreciate your support. It's quite overwhelming but I'm sure (or I hope) it will be easier as it becomes more routine and I feel more confident in knowing what I'm doing. One more question for tonight, if you don't bring your cat to the vet, do you just call them when you need a new prescription? Are they ok with doing that without seeing the cat? Thank you!!!

I just called my vet and said I need a refill, went down and got it. Once I was home testing my cat didnt go back to the vet for a year. . She was getting all my numbers from the link I emailed from the spreadsheet so they just refilled the perscription. Insulin lasts several months