Help again please

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Hlivermore20

Member Since 2019
I need some help/guidance. My cat was diagnosed a week ago, started on 2 units of Glargine. We’ve been blindly dosing, until yesterday. His BG yesterday morning was 226, we skipped the morning dose because he had some weird symptoms. I gave him 2 units last night, and this morning he’s very lethargic. I can just tell he’s not right. I tested him, and he was 139, so skipped a dose. He only ate half his food (which is very weird because he’s always STARVING). 3 hours later, we tested again and now he’s 388! What do I do? Give insulin?? He usually gets his dose at 7:30am and pm. It’s 10:30am now. I have also poked his ear probably 100 times in the last 24 hours and have only gotten 3 readings, so this has all been terrible. . ***additional note - he’s had urinary blockage in the past so he’s been on/still is on prescription diet. Very high carb. I’m switching him today to a low carb high protein canned food.
 
Hlivermore20 said:
had some weird symptoms.
Click to expand...

What were the symptoms? If you set up our spreadsheet, along with getting some midcycle tests, it will help us figure out what’s going on. If you’re switching to a low carb food from a high carb one, a dose reduction is warranted as is some extra testing. Here are the instructions for the spreadsheet. If you need help, let us know and we’ll do it for you.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
 
You may find that his urinary issues are lessened by a canned diet, and you can add in a little water.
Make sure you don't change his diet if you aren't able to test frequently.

When I was getting Rhubarb used to testing, I would do my routine, and only poke twice if needed. Regardless of outcome, I'd give her a treat and leave her be until next time. I was able to teach Rhubarb before insulin, but when you have skipped a dose, that's a good opportunity to test without pressure.

I use tiny bits of steak as a treat for her, and many people use freeze dried chicken- both are low carb.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Well done starting the test the blood glucose numbers. It will get much easier as you and your kitty settle in to it!

As mentioned above as the prescription food is very high carb, do not switch over until you are able to test during the cycle. And do it gradually over a few days as the change in food could drop the blood glucose more than 100 points. So adjusting the insulin will be important. When you decide to do it, come online and someone can help you through it.

Were ketones mentioned at all when your kitty was diagnosed?
If I were you I would get a bottle of Ketostix the next time you are at Walmart or a pharmacy. You just need to collect a urine specimen from kitty and dip the test strip into the urine then read the result exactly 15 seconds later in a good light. Anything above a trace needs vet attention. The reason we like to test unregulated diabetic cats, especially new ones, for ketones is because they can be more prone to getting ketones which can lead to the dangerous ketoacidosis (DKA). This can be avoided just by testing for the ketones.

If you could set up your signature (that is the small writing below everyone's thread) that tells us about you and your kitty and then we don't have to keep asking you the same questions over and over again. People who help you will always look at the signature and the spreadsheet before offering help. Make sure you mention what type of glucose meter you are using....human meter or pet meter thanks.

Are you feeding during the cycle, not just at the time of the injection? We recommend giving several smaller meals during the day and night. Most of us feed at shot time and two or three other times during each cycle, using during the first half of the cycle when the insulin is strongest.

You asked about giving the insulin 3 hours later than normal....the problem with that is it will completely throw out the shooting schedule. If you get a lower than normal number at shot time you can stall for 20 minutes, don't feed, then test again to see if the number is going up. For newly diagnosed cats we suggest you don't shoot numbers under 200 until you have some data on the glucose numbers.
Here is a link for new members you might find useful
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216680/#post-2450969

It is a big learning curve in the beginning and can be stressful but it does get a lot easier and you will soon be in a manageable routine. Keep asking lots of questions, we are very happy to help.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Well done starting the test the blood glucose numbers. It will get much easier as you and your kitty settle in to it!

As mentioned above as the prescription food is very high carb, do not switch over until you are able to test during the cycle. And do it gradually over a few days as the change in food could drop the blood glucose more than 100 points. So adjusting the insulin will be important. When you decide to do it, come online and someone can help you through it.

Were ketones mentioned at all when your kitty was diagnosed?
If I were you I would get a bottle of Ketostix the next time you are at Walmart or a pharmacy. You just need to collect a urine specimen from kitty and dip the test strip into the urine then read the result exactly 15 seconds later in a good light. Anything above a trace needs vet attention. The reason we like to test unregulated diabetic cats, especially new ones, for ketones is because they can be more prone to getting ketones which can lead to the dangerous ketoacidosis (DKA). This can be avoided just by testing for the ketones.

If you could set up your signature (that is the small writing below everyone's thread) that tells us about you and your kitty and then we don't have to keep asking you the same questions over and over again. People who help you will always look at the signature and the spreadsheet before offering help. Make sure you mention what type of glucose meter you are using....human meter or pet meter thanks.

Are you feeding during the cycle, not just at the time of the injection? We recommend giving several smaller meals during the day and night. Most of us feed at shot time and two or three other times during each cycle, using during the first half of the cycle when the insulin is strongest.

You asked about giving the insulin 3 hours later than normal....the problem with that is it will completely throw out the shooting schedule. If you get a lower than normal number at shot time you can stall for 20 minutes, don't feed, then test again to see if the number is going up. For newly diagnosed cats we suggest you don't shoot numbers under 200 until you have some data on the glucose numbers.
Here is a link for new members you might find useful
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216680/#post-2450969

It is a big learning curve in the beginning and can be stressful but it does get a lot easier and you will soon be in a manageable routine. Keep asking lots of questions, we are very happy to help.
 
majandra said:
You may find that his urinary issues are lessened by a canned diet, and you can add in a little water.
Make sure you don't change his diet if you aren't able to test frequently.

When I was getting Rhubarb used to testing, I would do my routine, and only poke twice if needed. Regardless of outcome, I'd give her a treat and leave her be until next time. I was able to teach Rhubarb before insulin, but when you have skipped a dose, that's a good opportunity to test without pressure.

I use tiny bits of steak as a treat for her, and many people use freeze dried chicken- both are low carb.
Click to expand...

Hi - not trying to hijack this thread but you said you only poke twice if needed. If for some reason you still aren't getting a reading or the blood is everywhere from a vein hit, do you still inject or do you not inject since you couldn't get a reading? That happened to me last week.
 
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