? Recently hypoglycemic cat, opinions needed!

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AlisonRiley

AlisonRiley

Member Since 2016
My Sweetpea is diabetic and recently I had a scare with her and it turned out she was hypoglycemic. She has been well managed on 1.5 units of Lantus twice a day (every 12 hours). The vet took her off insulin for 4 days over the holiday weekend and Peeps seemed to improve so much, I was sure she was going to take her off the Lantus entirely since she said she may not be diabetic anymore.

So yesterday she went in for another fructosamine test (184) and a blood glucose test (300), and my vet said to start giving her 1 unit of Lantus twice a day. I gave her the shot last night and cried, I felt like I was harming her. My mom did her am shot. I came back from an appointment a few hours later and she seemed ill again. I called the vet and she said to lay off the insulin for a few days again.

From my knowledge 184 is quite low for the fructosamine number, so wouldn't the insulin make that number even lower causing her to go hypoglycemic again? I feel like she shouldn't be on the Lantus anymore at all. Please shed some light on this for me given her numbers, I'm so nervous. My girl is also nearly 17. Thank you!
 
AlisonRiley said:
184 is quite low for the fructosamine number,
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A fructosamine test gives you an average of BGs over the previous couple of weeks. Certainly insulin dosing can affect this average. The best way to know what's going on with your kitty is to learn to test her BG at home. That single BG test at the vet's office of 300 could have been raised because of stress. Home testing can give a better idea of how she's doing at her current dose. If she's had episodes of hypoglycemia the dose might be too high.
 
Yeah definitely time to start testing at home. Since the fructosamine test is a 2-3 week average it doesn't really tell you much. A bg of 300, while it could be raised from vet stress and possibly a bounce from going too low, tells us that she probably does still need some insulin support. Normal on a human meter is 50-120 and on a pet meter it's 68-150.

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
 
I totally agree, I also think that the only way you can know what's going on and if she needs insulin or not is to home test and by home testing you will also make sure she is ok before shooting and it will definitely help you avoid an hypoglycemic episode
 
Thank you! I really don't think she would let me do it. Even if she would, I can't afford the supplies right now. Do you guys think she'd be okay without the insulin until Tuesday? She seemed better without it honestly.
 
AlisonRiley said:
Thank you! I really don't think she would let me do it. Even if she would, I can't afford the supplies right now. Do you guys think she'd be okay without the insulin until Tuesday? She seemed better without it honestly.
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Testing supplies aren't super expensive.

1. Relion micro or confirm meter from Walmart $18
2. Box of 100 extra test strips $36
3 box of 26 or 28 gauge lancets $3
 
AlisonRiley said:
Thank you! I really don't think she would let me do it. Even if she would, I can't afford the supplies right now. Do you guys think she'd be okay without the insulin until Tuesday? She seemed better without it honestly.
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I can't advise you on the insulin. However, if you do decide to skip it's critical that you test urine daily for ketones (using Keto-stix or similar) to keep your kitty safe from DKA. (See forum sticky "Are you testing your cat for ketones?") If any test is positive, call the vet straight away for advice on how to proceed (day or night; ketosis is a medical emergency).


Mogs
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Thanks for the info! My vet has never even mentioned ketones to me. I feel ill prepared for this obstacle. That and I'm broke, ironically due to vet bills.
 
Maybe keep an eye on the FDMB Supply Closet to see whether you might find some supplies there to help you with the BG testing. Even if you could do a couple of spot checks it would be a help. Or ... do you have anyone in your social circle who's diabetic? They might lend you their meter to take a couple of readings.

AlisonRiley said:
I feel ill prepared for this obstacle.
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I think pretty much all of us arrive here in that boat. That's why God gave us FDMB! :) Technical and moral support available 24/7/365. :bighug:


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Maybe keep an eye on the FDMB Supply Closet to see whether you might find some supplies there to help you with the BG testing. Even if you could do a couple of spot checks it would be a help. Or ... do you have anyone in your social circle who's diabetic? They might lend you their meter to take a couple of readings.
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Actually I do, one of my best friends. I just left her a message. Thank you for your suggestions! It's been an overwhelming day between her medical issues and my own, all on 1 hour of sleep. :confused:
 
Ace! Hoping your bestie will be able to lend a hand. Be sure to let us know the results if you get any tests in. Ideal would be tests at preshot AM and PM plus a mid-cycle on either AM or PM cycle around the expected nadir time for your insulin.

Sending :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug: for you all.


Mogs
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AlisonRiley said:
Actually I do, one of my best friends. I just left her a message. Thank you for your suggestions! It's been an overwhelming day between her medical issues and my own, all on 1 hour of sleep. :confused:
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Great! She may even have a backup meter she can loan you! If you give allow carb treat with each attempted test, your cat will soon come to accept them. We have lots of other tips to help as well for difficult patients.
 
Post on the Supply Closet that you are in need of these items, in the last 1or 2 weeks someone was giving these items away on the Supply Closet. I don't know if they are still available, but I doubt it, but you could still look.
 
AlisonRiley said:
Thank you! I really don't think she would let me do it. Even if she would, I can't afford the supplies right now. Do you guys think she'd be okay without the insulin until Tuesday? She seemed better without it honestly.
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Alison, Sweetpea might surprise you. Myagi was aloof, non affectionate his whole life... until this diabetes. I believed 10000% no way would he let me test. I was wrong. If he's in line of sight I just show him meter as he comes. If he's under bed, I shake the lancets (makes same noise as shaking kibble but isn't deceptive lol) - and he comes. He wants the treat but more so the extra loving! And remember, Sweetpea will know you're helping her! Best of luck! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I think you will be surprised even if at the beginning they may resist a little is like they understand you are helping them and they allow it with no trouble and even cooperate.

If you can manage to have a few strips 6 at least maybe some more in case you have some difficulty and ruin one or two you could make a curve at home and that would help a lot to know how he's really doing and what his numbers are right now and it will be considerably less expensive than at the vet.

Later on if you need to keep giving her insulin you would need at least 2 a day to make your preshoot test that in my opinion are indispensable to keep him safe
 
Thank you all for your suggestions! I would have replied sooner, but I had a bladder cancer scare. Just found out my biopsy results were negative for cancer, phew! Been kind of down but I feel better now.

Sweetpea is also doing great on .5 units of Lantus just once a day. Will take her back to the vet within the next 2 weeks.
 
AlisonRiley said:
Thank you all for your suggestions! I would have replied sooner, but I had a bladder cancer scare. Just found out my biopsy results were negative for cancer, phew! Been kind of down but I feel better now.

Sweetpea is also doing great on .5 units of Lantus just once a day. Will take her back to the vet within the next 2 weeks.
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That's wonderful news on your biopsy report!!!! Glad Sweetpea doing better too! :bighug::bighug:
 
AlisonRiley said:
Thank you all for your suggestions! I would have replied sooner, but I had a bladder cancer scare. Just found out my biopsy results were negative for cancer, phew! Been kind of down but I feel better now.

Sweetpea is also doing great on .5 units of Lantus just once a day. Will take her back to the vet within the next 2 weeks.
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Omg congratulations on your test results! How relieved you must feel!
 
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