11/18/20 New Member, Emily and Carlito - Glucose levels not going down

[Critter Mom]

With anything higher than trace you do need to consult a vet straight away because it's possible for ketone levels to become very elevated within a matter of hours. I recommend you put in a call to either your own vet's out of hours service or an emergency vet. They should be able to advise you on next steps over the phone. If in any doubt, take Carlito in for assessment and treatment.


Mogs
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[Wendy&Neko]

He definitely has the pot belly though he has lost weight since his diagnosis and switching foods (about 10 lbs) and the loud breathing.

It also seems like his appetite is increasing majorly - he seems crazy hungry only 2 or 3 hours after eating, whereas before he used to be ok for about 4 hours between feedings. Is it ok to feed him extra food when he's nonstop meowing/pacing/seems very distressed?

If he's losing weight, then feed him more. Use your scale as a guide on how much to feed him compared to where you want him to be.

Could you write in the Remarks section of the spreadsheet when you started changing his food? That's an important bit of information when it comes to dosing. I'd also like to see if you can get some more night time tests in. Maybe one just before bed. If you can do that, as well as testing like you are during the day, we'll be able to decide if the dose is too much or too little insulin.

Above trace on ketones is worth a call to the vet. Make sure he's got lots to eat, and water it down so he gets lots of liquid in him. Fluids can help flush ketones.

As for your meter, the particular ear you test shouldn't make a difference. If you get two different readings, try for a third as a tie breaker. Note that in higher numbers, the AT will read higher than the human meter.

 

[CB Terri]

I have to wonder if he perhaps has impaired circulation in one ear? Diabetes damages tiny blood capilliaries in extremeties in humans, which is why people who do not managr their diabetes can lose toes, fingers, entire feet due to poor circulation.
You might do as Wendy says, to get a third sample.

If it were me I would do this by taking one from each ear and a third from a paw pad, or possibly better, the thumb toe on a front leg. Whichever ear closer matches the draw from the foot would be the ear I would trust to draw blood from.

 

[emily + carlito]

If he's losing weight, then feed him more. Use your scale as a guide on how much to feed him compared to where you want him to be.

I think what I wrote may have been confusing -- he has lost the weight slowly over the course of 1.5 years since diagnosis, not since switching foods or all at once. Sorry if that was confusing!

 

[emily + carlito]

I have to wonder if he perhaps has impaired circulation in one ear? Diabetes damages tiny blood capilliaries in extremeties in humans, which is why people who do not managr their diabetes can lose toes, fingers, entire feet due to poor circulation.
You might do as Wendy says, to get a third sample.

If it were me I would do this by taking one from each ear and a third from a paw pad, or possibly better, the thumb toe on a front leg. Whichever ear closer matches the draw from the foot would be the ear I would trust to draw blood from.

I will try to find out how to check him from paw pad, I've never tested that way before and I'm a little wary because he's a bit of a biter with the ears but since my hands are behind his mouth he can't get to me. He was really crazy high this morning in one year (off the charts - meter just read "HI") and then in the 600s second ear. I'll try pads though and see. Thank you!!

 

[emily + carlito]

With anything higher than trace you do need to consult a vet straight away because it's possible for ketone levels to become very elevated within a matter of hours. I recommend you put in a call to either your own vet's out of hours service or an emergency vet. They should be able to advise you on next steps over the phone. If in any doubt, take Carlito in for assessment and treatment.


Mogs
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I'll call today shortly. I haven't been able to find an emergency services vet, and I hate to say it, I can't afford crazy high vet bills like that! I've already opened a credit card to pay for his care and can barely cover all the expenses as is... I am a college students so this is making me go into debt as it is.

 

[emily + carlito]

Could you write in the Remarks section of the spreadsheet when you started changing his food? That's an important bit of information when it comes to dosing. I'd also like to see if you can get some more night time tests in. Maybe one just before bed. If you can do that, as well as testing like you are during the day, we'll be able to decide if the dose is too much or too little insulin.

Above trace on ketones is worth a call to the vet. Make sure he's got lots to eat, and water it down so he gets lots of liquid in him. Fluids can help flush ketones.
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I'll get in test(s) tonight before bed to track better and add that info in. He has lots to eat and is urinating normal amounts, plus he gets subQ fluids every day. Thank you for weighing in!!