Lauren & Red
Member Since 2021
I jinxed myself when I said testing him when he was asleep was working. Because right after I said that, it stopped working. The numbers I successfully got from him that way were all with the expired strips.
He cannot be bribed and it’s not getting easier. I have to burrito wrap him but he bites and hisses and howls like I’m murdering him. My neighbors must think I’m this abusive monster. I am so nice and calm and give praise in my sweetest voice despite the fact that he’s hurting me. I’ve even tried to sing to him. Nothing helps. I can test my other cat, no problem in under 30 seconds.
Everyone says that going to the vet gives an inaccurate blood glucose reading because stress can raise the numbers so much. This is certainly true for my cat. He does horribly whenever we leave the house. The problem is, he is so stressed and noticeably upset before/during testing. It usually takes me 20 minutes to get a reading and he knows when tests are coming so he gets stressed before we start. I’m beginning to question whether or not I can rely on my numbers.
The reason I started questioning it was because last night he looked “off”. I can’t explain it but the kind of the look pets get when they’re sick. If anyone knows what I mean? He was also very lethargic, which seems to happen after I gave him insulin. On top of that, he had a “stoned” look with glossy, heavy eyes. I had this gut feeling that something was wrong and that his PMPS would be low. But it wasn’t. He seemed out of it and almost confused at times too. Plus, shaky legs when getting up. Still eating plenty and drinking a lot.
I also use urine glucose test strips because I don’t see the harm in having more info. Anyway, they were always at the highest level. Or second highest.
The past two days, they’ve been negative. Which makes no sense. There’s no way to determine hypo with urine strips which is why they are unreliable. His BG numbers say he’s not close to hypo. Not even low enough to be considered good. How can there be nothing in his urine all of the sudden??
Last night I was scared that my numbers might be wrong and the fact that his glucose urine strips were negative on top of the symptoms I was seeing. So I decided to skip his dose. I thought it was better to be high than to risk insulin if it was the cause. Today he looked back to normal and I decreased the dose a little but gave his injection.
So what do I do when my numbers tell me one thing, but his behavior says another? He’s starting to act a little off again. Am I just crazy? Or could he be reacting to insulin? He’s not sleeping so heavily I can’t wake him. He’s still eating and drinking and moving around ok. He’s not vomiting or having diarrhea. It’s just his eyes mostly and an overall look and demeanor.
I’ve been considering the libre but it ‘s likely not going to help. He freaks out when I put stuff on him. I took a small medicine bottle lid and put the top, flat side on his back (secured with gauze wrap—not too tight but secure) as an experiment. He was flipping on his back, rubbing against walls, stairs and other things around the house. Wouldn’t stop until he got it off and he did so in less than 10 minutes. Slightly amusing, but proved my theory that he won’t cooperate with a libre. Of course, because it would solve all of my problems.
So bottom line— do I trust the BG readings despite the stress and continue to dose based on the numbers I get? Or is that potentially dangerous, all things considered?
He cannot be bribed and it’s not getting easier. I have to burrito wrap him but he bites and hisses and howls like I’m murdering him. My neighbors must think I’m this abusive monster. I am so nice and calm and give praise in my sweetest voice despite the fact that he’s hurting me. I’ve even tried to sing to him. Nothing helps. I can test my other cat, no problem in under 30 seconds.
Everyone says that going to the vet gives an inaccurate blood glucose reading because stress can raise the numbers so much. This is certainly true for my cat. He does horribly whenever we leave the house. The problem is, he is so stressed and noticeably upset before/during testing. It usually takes me 20 minutes to get a reading and he knows when tests are coming so he gets stressed before we start. I’m beginning to question whether or not I can rely on my numbers.
The reason I started questioning it was because last night he looked “off”. I can’t explain it but the kind of the look pets get when they’re sick. If anyone knows what I mean? He was also very lethargic, which seems to happen after I gave him insulin. On top of that, he had a “stoned” look with glossy, heavy eyes. I had this gut feeling that something was wrong and that his PMPS would be low. But it wasn’t. He seemed out of it and almost confused at times too. Plus, shaky legs when getting up. Still eating plenty and drinking a lot.
I also use urine glucose test strips because I don’t see the harm in having more info. Anyway, they were always at the highest level. Or second highest.
The past two days, they’ve been negative. Which makes no sense. There’s no way to determine hypo with urine strips which is why they are unreliable. His BG numbers say he’s not close to hypo. Not even low enough to be considered good. How can there be nothing in his urine all of the sudden??
Last night I was scared that my numbers might be wrong and the fact that his glucose urine strips were negative on top of the symptoms I was seeing. So I decided to skip his dose. I thought it was better to be high than to risk insulin if it was the cause. Today he looked back to normal and I decreased the dose a little but gave his injection.
So what do I do when my numbers tell me one thing, but his behavior says another? He’s starting to act a little off again. Am I just crazy? Or could he be reacting to insulin? He’s not sleeping so heavily I can’t wake him. He’s still eating and drinking and moving around ok. He’s not vomiting or having diarrhea. It’s just his eyes mostly and an overall look and demeanor.
I’ve been considering the libre but it ‘s likely not going to help. He freaks out when I put stuff on him. I took a small medicine bottle lid and put the top, flat side on his back (secured with gauze wrap—not too tight but secure) as an experiment. He was flipping on his back, rubbing against walls, stairs and other things around the house. Wouldn’t stop until he got it off and he did so in less than 10 minutes. Slightly amusing, but proved my theory that he won’t cooperate with a libre. Of course, because it would solve all of my problems.
So bottom line— do I trust the BG readings despite the stress and continue to dose based on the numbers I get? Or is that potentially dangerous, all things considered?
