Struggling to get levels into acceptable range

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Lilly’s Mom

Lilly’s Mom

Member Since 2018
Hello, l’m new to the group and really struggling to get Lilly’s levels into an acceptable range. She is on Lantus (since mid March - diagnosed at that time) Lilly is a 13 yo rescue who looks like a rag doll. She is large - 12 pounds and is very, very resistant to wet food. She is on DM dry for diabetics. She got up to 7 units of Lantus every 12 hours but one day she crashed, couldn’t stand and I rushed her to the vets. He levels were so low they were not measurable so we started over. That was a couple weeks ago. Now I’m terrified to give her too much - but she is often in the 400 to 600. I have a home testing unit and did a curve. If I can get het into the 300’s, that is good for her. I see that most of you keep them lower than that.... but I’m so afraid of another crash. I almost lost her. She is now on 4 units twice a day but her levels are still high. Would it be better for her if I did a lower dose but every 8 hours? I’m so worried about her.
 
The DM dry food is too high in carbs. You could slowly switch over to the wet. It will take time, but it can be done. Be sure to test her BG before every shot to avoid hypos.
 
Hi Lilly's Mom, and welcome to the group. I am sorry I am not experienced or knowledgeable enough to answer your questions. However, I do know that others will have input. There are a couple of things you can do that will help other members help you. First, make a signature that will always display under each of your posts. You can enter Lilly's stats like gender, weight, age, Dx date, what type of insulin used, what dosage, what type of BG monitor you use, type of food, any other medical issues, a general geographic location so that ppl will know how much of a time difference there may be. This will save you from being asked to supply the same info again and again. Take a look at some other members signatures, or mine, to get an idea. Second, create a spreadsheet so that members will be able to see the BG data, they like to look at as much data as possible before making recommendations.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
I wish you the best on working to help Lilly.
 
If you can set up our spreadsheet we can better help you to help Sweet Lilly. As Donnalea said testing before each shot is crucial and getting some tests during the cycle to see how low the dose takes her is also important. If you need help with the spreadsheet, let us know and someone will do it for you.
 
I will try the spreadsheet tonight. Yesterday I did a curve (a friend is teaching me) I have the Advocate PetTest meter. She started at 469 @ 8:30pm, got 3units of Lantus. 10:30pm @ 474, 11:30pm @ 557, Next Day- 7:20am @ 576, fed at 8:30 and 3units Lantus, 9:30am @ 378, 11:30am @ 317, 2pm @ 330, 4pm @ 457, 6pm @ 560, 8:30 fed and 4units of Lantus, 9:30pm @ 492, 11pm @ 337, midnight @245. This morning @8:30am HI(over 600 and my meter says HI), fed and 4 units of Lantus, 9:30am @ 557, 1:30 and 3:30 both at HI.

I just tried making the wet food really soupy like someone here suggested and praise God, she ate some of it. Not much but I’ll take it. I know I NEED to get her on wet food but I have had a hard time. When she was first diagnosed I had to syringe feed her for two weeks to get her to eat. Thank you for any and all help.
 
Lilly’s Mom said:
I will try the spreadsheet tonight. Yesterday I did a curve (a friend is teaching me) I have the Advocate PetTest meter. She started at 469 @ 8:30pm, got 3units of Lantus. 10:30pm @ 474, 11:30pm @ 557, Next Day- 7:20am @ 576, fed at 8:30 and 3units Lantus, 9:30am @ 378, 11:30am @ 317, 2pm @ 330, 4pm @ 457, 6pm @ 560, 8:30 fed and 4units of Lantus, 9:30pm @ 492, 11pm @ 337, midnight @245. This morning @8:30am HI(over 600 and my meter says HI), fed and 4 units of Lantus, 9:30am @ 557, 1:30 and 3:30 both at HI.

I just tried making the wet food really soupy like someone here suggested and praise God, she ate some of it. Not much but I’ll take it. I know I NEED to get her on wet food but I have had a hard time. When she was first diagnosed I had to syringe feed her for two weeks to get her to eat. Thank you for any and all help.
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If she really likes her dry food, you can crush some up in a food processor or blender and sprinkle a small amount on her food as a topping. Sometimes this helps the "kibble junkies" feel like they're still getting their beloved dry food as you wean them over to wet, lol.

EDIT: Please do not switch your kitty over to a wet diet until you are home testing! Lowering the amount of carbs she consumes will also lower her blood glucose, and her insulin dose may have to be adjusted accordingly. That kind of food transition requires close monitoring and frequent BBG testing!
 
You might add your meter type to your signature, let ppl know you are home testing. Yes, you know how high her numbers are, and you will test at different times of day/night as you can, to see how the numbers change. Plus, when you change to low carb wet food, that lowers BG. Testing lets you know what's happening, and protects Lilly from hypos. Testing is one of the best things you can do for her.
 
I know but I’m so afraid she will go too low and crash again. THAT was a really terrible day for Lilly. Right now, I’m trying to get her out of the 600’s. I’m going to the grocery store to get a syringe to feed her canned food. I wish I could help her understand it’s because I love her.
 
Oh joy.... she is down in the 400’s!!! I know that is still to high but I’m celebrating being out of the 600’s. I had to syringe feed her but honestly, I don’t mind a bit if it gets her on a healthier path. I syringe fed her fancy feast pate....one of the recommended ones. I also found this pouch that has only 3 ingredients - chicken, broth, and tuna. She liked it and ate some of it herself. It’s by Farmers Market 3 oz. I didn’t see that one listed on that comprehensive list. Has anyone heard of this?
 
One step closer, a reason to celebrate. I am glad Lilly liked the new food and ate voluntarily. Another step! I am not familiar with it, but you could contact the Farmers Market people and ask about the food percentages. Idjit thinks baked chicken breast is a real treat. I also make chicken bone broth in my pressure cooker, from unseasoned bones, de-fat it and freeze it in ice cube trays. He gets thawed warmed broth with his food sometimes, or if he's whiny and thinks he needs another meal before it's mealtime, he gets some broth.
 
Omg, at 11pm she is down to 136.... I’m overjoyed. The ONLY thing that changed was going to wet food. I picked one from the list of foods....a fancy feast pate with low carbs. I had to syringe feed her, but she did eat the chicken by herself. (I found them on FB and posted asking for the protein, carb, and fat percentages) I haven’t seen that low of a number for her since she crashed, and that was short lived. I can’t wait to see what the morning brings. Jumping for joy!!
 
She's coming down awfully fast, please keep testing her, in case of too low. Pet meter take action number is 68. Read about what to do in case, Health Links/FAQs forum, Index. Be prepared, just in case. All low carb wet food lowers blood glucose by itself.
 
Oh dear, so coming down too fast is not good either.... should I stay up with her tonight?? Maybe at least another check in to make sure? I didn’t know dropping quickly was not good too. So much to learn.
 
Sorry, I don't want to worry you, but better safe than sorry. You said at 11 pm, it's only 9:30 pm for me. I don't know how much time has passed since her last test. Edit: @donnalea take a peek and possibly advise?
 
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There are several low carb dry foods available. If she just won't eat enough all wet food you might see if she likes any of them.
 
I checked her again and now its at 88.....so I'll be up to check her again in a couple. I went ahead and gave her a handful of her DM dry food that the vet gave her. Hoping to help her level off. She ate a bit...not the full meal of a quarter cup but maybe a snack size portion. Ugh. and she had a little diahreah....
 
Chris & Lucy said:
There are several low carb dry foods available. If she just won't eat enough all wet food you might see if she likes any of them.
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Chris & Lucy...what dry foods do your recommend? I have her on Purina Pro Plans Veterinary DM...which is what my vet tells me is for diabetic cats but I'm having trouble getting her glucose down on that one. It really plummeted on wet food so I think thats the way to go, I just need to give her way less insulin than the 4 units I was giving her on the dry food I think. I didn't account well for the change in food. I thought since it was so high (over 600) that even with the switch to wet, I should give her the same 4 units. Now, I think I should have backed it off a bit. Ugh. I'm hoping giving her a snack of the dm will help her even out. Wow, this is tricky!!
 
Oh, I don't know why I didn't think of this beforehand, I syringe fed her some of the better cat food.....at least then I know she got some nutrition and low carb/high protein. I feel better about that. I'll check her again soon.
 
And she is back up to 107. Whew. So glad to have you all on board to help get Lilly regulated and make me aware when she might be going down too fast. Ok, now I can sleep.
 
I didn't see you online anymore after my last response to you. I was concerned, and I'm glad she came back up. Please post on the Lantus forum regarding changing insulin dosage. In my reading it is recommended to change by very small amounts, and more experienced members should advise you on that. We don't want to put Lilly in any danger by radically adjusting insulin, while adjusting diet.
 
There is a dry food chart in one of the stickies. Most people around here feed Dr. Elsey's, Young Again or Wysong Epigen 90. I'm sure there are several others too. More and more manufacturers are coming out with healthy foods for animals. They don't always say 'low carb', sometimes they refer to them as 'high protein'. Most manufacturers are starting to come out with 'grain free', but you still need to watch for other ingredients that raise the carb count.
 
I staid up with her to make sure she was ok, this morning at 7 am she was high..... 550’s, so I fed her wet food and gave her 3units and went back to bed! At 11am sh is at 440. I’ll keep a watch while I try to get her regulated. You guys are lifesavers!!
 
Ta Da....Lilly, the most stubborn cat in the universe, is eating canned food. Now, I found out she doesn't like it in a bowl, only on a plate (hey, she can have it on a gold plated plate if she will just eat it!!) And I have to encourage her....but I didn't have to syringe feed her for the first time EVER. (she is a dry food junkie)

Great big Whew!!
 
I'm glad she's eating by herself. Just please watch her BG, the low carb canned food, if it is low carb, is going to lower BG. We caught a hypo when we tested midday. I sure didn't like it. If you are thinking of reducing insulin to adjust, I urge you to read the information in the Lantus forum and check with experienced members there. It is a balancing act for sure. I didn't do it right, I wish I had listened more to the members here and less to my vet. I was really new and unsure. Idjit is doing well now because of the people here.
 
her numbers continue to decline. Its really amazing the influence food has on her. Since she has crashed before (extreme hypo) I am very, very cautious about giving her too much. So tonight when she ate, she did really well for a bit then stopped. I was concerned she had not eaten enough to offset the Lantus so I decided to wait and re-test in an hour. Usually her BG starts to rise after eating...but its been the DM dry from the vet. Not this that was recommended from this site...very low carb, low fat, high protein. So I kept measuring....and her numbers continued to go down, even after eating. so I didn't want to cause a crash. At 5:15 she was at 424, at 7pm after eating she was at 384, at 9pm she was at 280, and now at 10:30 she is at 163....so a steady decrease despite eating. Today was her first full day on wet food that is low carb, high protein, low fat. I know I need to watch carefully, and I will. So she has not had insulin tonight. I'll stay up a bit and do one more reading before I go to bed but, as she is now, I would be afraid to give her any for fear of causing a crash.
 
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