Bobbie and Marcia follow-up

[Marcia Sellen]

Now I have had 14 year-old Bobbie on her new diet of low carb fancy feast for a little over a month. Since my introductory post I have learned to use the ReliOn Prime glucometer with success. She actually let me do it and my first reading is 278 taken a couple of hours after she ate. Her initial reading at the vet's office was 500. I have read the articals on the home page about what diabetes is and I know that a normal glucose reading should be in the range of 70 to 120 (depending on the cat). My husband is convinced that the new diet will be the solution to the problem if we give it more time. I, on the other hand am concerned that we better get to the vet soon with a 278 reading and I've been advised in that direction. My question is, how dangerous is a 278 reading and do I have wriggle room time-wise?

 

[CandyH & Catcat]

the sooner you get to the vet and onto an appropriate dose of insulin, the more likelihood that you can get her diabetes under control

you've done great to test at home -- the timing on the test would be even more indicative if you tested before she eats -- it's also possible that a 278 reading is partly influenced by the food she ate; still, for many cats, the "food spike" of blood glucose has just about disappeared a couple hours after eating

the new diet makes a BIG difference, we've seen cats drop as much as 200 points with a diet change -- and the 500 at the vet is partly accounted for by the stress that all vet visits seem to cause (cat equivalent of "white coat syndrome")

tell your husband that the earlier you intervene with a diabetic cat, the more likely the outcome will be great .. not promising anything, but yes, sooner the better

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

The best way to tell how well the diet is working is to test her before feeding. Even low carb food will raise BG levels after feeding. Also if insulin is needed, you would test before feeding.

 

[Idjit's mom]

Hi Marcia, how ya doing? Please set up the signature and spreadsheet so we can see Bobbie's info and her numbers when you post.

Setting up your signature (light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the country/time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.

How to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. You will see how the trends and patterns emerge, and members can review his/her progress before offering suggestions or advice:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

This info goes a very long way to help us provide good advice and make suggestions.

Just to let you and hubby know, Idjit was on insulin for a very short time & with the diet change he went into remission. That's no insulin, but he really did need that little bit of help to heal the pancreas and get his own insulin production back "on line". It doesn't always happen, but I have read that the sooner treatment is begun, the greater chance of early remission. We still test just to be sure he's still on track, and know that if anything like an illness, injury or infection can alter the current remission.

If you consider insulin, please look into Lantus. You can get one pen, instead of a vial, for much less cost and be able to use all if needed, and if not, much less wastage.

If you will test before you feed Bobbie, and if you can during the day, plug in that information on the spreadsheet we can see what is happening.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Hi Marcia, how ya doing? Please set up the signature and spreadsheet so we can see Bobbie's info and her numbers when you post.

Setting up your signature (light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the country/time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.

How to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. You will see how the trends and patterns emerge, and members can review his/her progress before offering suggestions or advice:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

This info goes a very long way to help us provide good advice and make suggestions.

Just to let you and hubby know, Idjit was on insulin for a very short time & with the diet change he went into remission. That's no insulin, but he really did need that little bit of help to heal the pancreas and get his own insulin production back "on line". It doesn't always happen, but I have read that the sooner treatment is begun, the greater chance of early remission. We still test just to be sure he's still on track, and know that if anything like an illness, injury or infection can alter the current remission.

If you consider insulin, please look into Lantus. You can get one pen, instead of a vial, for much less cost and be able to use all if needed, and if not, much less wastage.

If you will test before you feed Bobbie, and if you can during the day, plug in that information on the spreadsheet we can see what is happening.

All set up!!! Marcia did a great job of setting it up and I posted it to her signature.

 

[Idjit's mom]

All set up!!! Marcia did a great job of setting it up and I posted it to her signature.

Thank you very much Marje!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Thank you very much Marje!

You’re welcome!

 

[Margie and Jackson]

Now I have had 14 year-old Bobbie on her new diet of low carb fancy feast for a little over a month. Since my introductory post I have learned to use the ReliOn Prime glucometer with success. She actually let me do it and my first reading is 278 taken a couple of hours after she ate. Her initial reading at the vet's office was 500. I have read the articals on the home page about what diabetes is and I know that a normal glucose reading should be in the range of 70 to 120 (depending on the cat). My husband is convinced that the new diet will be the solution to the problem if we give it more time. I, on the other hand am concerned that we better get to the vet soon with a 278 reading and I've been advised in that direction. My question is, how dangerous is a 278 reading and do I have wriggle room time-wise?

My cat was diagnosed in December 2018 and abandoned at a shelter 3 months later barely able to walk. His owners didn’t seem to have given him insulin regularly. I was surprised when I saw his vet records that it took so little time for his condition to decline. That said, many cats need insulin for a short time if they’re treated quickly after diagnosis. Good luck taking care of Bobbie!