Fluctuating levels

[Fluffsmom]

Diagnosed 03/15/21
Not on insulin yet.
Feeding nutro perfect portions salmon and chicken pate... and removed all dry food 24 hours ago
Im in the process of creating a spreadsheet (im new here)
But these are his levels
03/20 First read ever 5:30 pm —75 ate two hours bf
03/20 second 11:30pm —90 ate 6 hour bf
03/21 third read 7:54am —320! Ate 8 hour bf
03/21 fourth read 11:45am —245 ate 4 hour bf
03/21 fifth read 7:00pm— 66 ate 6 hour before

what can cause such fluctuations? It’s very confusing to me. Im happy he goes down without insulin but these up and downs confuse me as to whether he truly needs insulin.
If he drops on his own then how or why would i give him insulin?
Is 66 too low?
What level high or low is emergency?

ty in advance!!!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Is 66 too low?

Maybe if insulin is being given but no problem if no insulin.

what can cause such fluctuations?

When is he fed/ate with respect to the times/BG listed? In diabetic cats BG tends to go up after eating.

 

[Fluffsmom]

Maybe if insulin is being given but no problem if no insulin.

When is he fed/ate with respect to the times/BG listed? In diabetic cats BG tends to go up after eating.

i updated to list fed times. I thought eating would cause a spike but even between no eating he spiked.

 

[FrostD]

This is on low carb food? No chance he's sneaking some higher carb stuff he shouldn't be?

 

[Fluffsmom]

This is on low carb food? No chance he's sneaking some higher carb stuff he shouldn't be?

im feeding him nutro perfect portions pate. The salmon or chicken.
I stopped his dry food completely about 24 hours ago.
I think i need to test him after its out of his system maybe. I guess that may take a few days

 

[Fluffsmom]

This is on low carb food? No chance he's sneaking some higher carb stuff he shouldn't be?

I have a pet camera. I saw my other cat opening the cabinet trying to scratch the bag open and eat the dry food!!! I ran home lolll. He would have definitely taken part in the crime and eaten some. Im grateful for the cam! I placed the dry food on a shelf out of reach. it was not opened or scratched yet. Im glad i have the pet cam! $25 on chewy and well worth it!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

To me it could be that Fluff has what is called a sputtering pancreaticas. That is sometimes the pancreaticas is producing insulin and sometimes not.

 

[SashaV]

The dryfood needs some time to clear from his system. I had to use dry March 9, look how long it took to clear..

 

[Fluffsmom]

The dryfood needs some time to clear from his system. I had to use dry March 9, look how long it took to clear..

i checked it out. So you give him his normal dose even when he is at 70’s?

 

[Fluffsmom]

To me it could be that Fluff has what is called a sputtering pancreaticas. That is sometimes the pancreaticas is producing insulin and sometimes not.

i woke up today and his number is up.
395
It seems to be high in the morning and level out during the day. He is not on insulin and im wondering how is that manageable with these erratic numbers?

 

[SashaV]

i checked it out. So you give him his normal dose even when he is at 70’s?

We have a motto here, shoot low to stay low. It takes some time, and a lot of help and support from this forum to shoot that low.

 

[Fluffsmom]

We have a motto here, shoot low to stay low. It takes some time, and a lot of help and support from this forum to shoot that low.

his numbers are all over the place.
Normal through the day but a highest level in the morning.
Im very afraid to give him insulin when his level goes down to 66-75. Do cats that are not on insulin show levels this low on their own?
I called the vet to bring him in. Because my brain is turning to mush reading so much literature

 

[SashaV]

his numbers are all over the place.
Normal through the day but a highest level in the morning.
Im very afraid to give him insulin when his level goes down to 66-75. Do cats that are not on insulin show levels this low on their own?
I called the vet to bring him in. Because my brain is turning to mush reading so much literature

You're not supposed to shoot that low, when you're new.
I definitely think you need to wait for the dryfood to clear the system. On insulin the last number to come down, is the one in the morning. @Bandit's Mom what's your take on this?

 

[Fluffsmom]

You're not supposed to shoot that low, when you're new.
I definitely think you need to wait for the dryfood to clear the system. On insulin the last number to come down, is the one in the morning. @Bandit's Mom what's your take on this?

please note he is not yet on insulin.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

please note he is not yet on insulin.

Please don't start the insulin yet. Do you know if he was tested for ketones at diagnosis? What meter are you using?

The removal of dry food can take as long as a week to affect numbers.

I can set-up a spreadsheet for you to record all the readings.

 

[Fluffsmom]

Please don't start the insulin yet. Do you know if he was tested for ketones at diagnosis? What meter are you using?

The removal of dry food can take as long as a week to affect numbers.

I can set-up a spreadsheet for you to record all the readings.

thank you so much. I won’t until i have a clear grasp. There is no way im injecting without full comprehension of this. Im fully responsible for him so im taking it very seriously.
I don’t think he was tested for ketones
Machine im using is pet test from chewy.
I had a rough time getting a read this morning.
I want to cry because my boy is so patient but gets fed up. I know pricking him is for his benefit but it makes me so upset having to do it. I wonder if he thinks im crazy or hurting him.
I also have to give him a meal while i prick or else its very hard.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

I don’t think he was tested for ketones

Can you check with your vet on this? It's important. If there are ketones in the picture, we need to start insulin right away.

Machine im using is pet test from chewy.

I haven't heard of anyone here using the Pet Test meter. There are people who use the AlphaTrak but even with that, the readings can vary a lot at higher numbers. If you can, switching to a human meter might give you less erratic readings. Most of us use a human meter. In the US, the ReliOn Prime from Walmart is a cost-effective and popular option.

I had a rough time getting a read this morning.
I want to cry because my boy is so patient but gets fed up. I know pricking him is for his benefit but it makes me so upset having to do it. I wonder if he thinks im crazy or hurting him.
I also have to give him a meal while i prick or else its very hard.

Hang in there. It gets easier with time and practice. Their ears also "learn to bleed". If you give him a treat after every test, that will be something for him to look forward to.

Have you seen this sticky with testing tips?
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/testing-and-shooting-tips.85113/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

[Fluffsmom]

Can you check with your vet on this? It's important. If there are ketones in the picture, we need to start insulin right away.


I haven't heard of anyone here using the Pet Test meter. There are people who use the AlphaTrak but even with that, the readings can vary a lot at higher numbers. If you can, switching to a human meter might give you less erratic readings. Most of us use a human meter. In the US, the ReliOn Prime from Walmart is a cost-effective and popular option.


Hang in there. It gets easier with time and practice. Their ears also "learn to bleed". If you give him a treat after every test, that will be something for him to look forward to.

Have you seen this sticky with testing tips?
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/testing-and-shooting-tips.85113/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

Ok calling vet now to ask about ketones.
I will pick up the human meter today and buy the less expensive strips.
He has been so good its just that im a person who has trouble inflicting pain on anyone lol. Even if it’s for good. Ive come a long way and im so proud when i get a read. I say YAYAYAY Fluff! I hug him and scratch the chin. I also count down with him (this meter has a five second count after the beep) i say ok 5,4,3,2,1 what a good boyyyyyyyyy! Then he gets some more low carb food. Lol!
I will read that clip. All information is helpful for a nervous new mom like me

 

[Fluffsmom]

Ok calling vet now to ask about ketones.
I will pick up the human meter today and buy the less expensive strips.
He has been so good its just that im a person who has trouble inflicting pain on anyone lol. Even if it’s for good. Ive come a long way and im so proud when i get a read. I say YAYAYAY Fluff! I hug him and scratch the chin. I also count down with him (this meter has a five second count after the beep) i say ok 5,4,3,2,1 what a good boyyyyyyyyy! Then he gets some more low carb food. Lol!
I will read that clip. All information is helpful for a nervous new mom like me

Ok calling vet now to ask about ketones.
I will pick up the human meter today and buy the less expensive strips.
He has been so good its just that im a person who has trouble inflicting pain on anyone lol. Even if it’s for good. Ive come a long way and im so proud when i get a read. I say YAYAYAY Fluff! I hug him and scratch the chin. I also count down with him (this meter has a five second count after the beep) i say ok 5,4,3,2,1 what a good boyyyyyyyyy! Then he gets some more low carb food. Lol!
I will read that clip. All information is helpful for a nervous new mom like me

Can you check with your vet on this? It's important. If there are ketones in the picture, we need to start insulin right away.


I haven't heard of anyone here using the Pet Test meter. There are people who use the AlphaTrak but even with that, the readings can vary a lot at higher numbers. If you can, switching to a human meter might give you less erratic readings. Most of us use a human meter. In the US, the ReliOn Prime from Walmart is a cost-effective and popular option.


Hang in there. It gets easier with time and practice. Their ears also "learn to bleed". If you give him a treat after every test, that will be something for him to look forward to.

Have you seen this sticky with testing tips?
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/testing-and-shooting-tips.85113/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

I forgot to mention i had purchased the Pet test brand reason i liked it is because it is a 5 second reading with less blood. 0.3 micro liter vs 0.5 microliter
A a new person those two second and blood amount count. Lol! i never knew how long five seconds feel until this. I will check those out though