How to do curve WE DID IT!!!

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

So following Pandoras diet change, a second urine test has been done which shows no glucose.

Id still like to do a curve though to see her blood levels and how they change through the day. She’s not on insulin yet.

Can anyone point me towards directions / guidance for how to do a curve for a cat not on insulin? Not too sure how to time the tests around feeding etc she currently eats a small meal four times a day.

Thanks!

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

The curve would be made pretty much the same as for a cat on insulin just with out the shot and during the whole process you would feed him normally just remember that the first test would be with out having any food for at least 2 hours before doing it pretty much like you would do with the preshoot test then feed normaly and test every 2 hours if you are going to do a 12 hour curve or every 3 hours if you are making an 18 hour curve

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

The curve would be made pretty much the same as for a cat on insulin just with out the shot and during the whole process you would feed him normally just remember that the first test would be with out having any food for at least 2 hours before doing it pretty much like you would do with the preshoot test then feed normaly and test every 2 hours if you are going to do a 12 hour curve or every 3 hours if you are making an 18 hour curve

Ok cool thanks!

she normally has breakfast at 5 so I’ll get up early!!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

If you would like someone to set up your spreadsheet just ask we have a wonderful member that can do it for you

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

If you would like someone to set up your spreadsheet just ask we have a wonderful member that can do it for you

Thanks - I’ll set up a spreadsheet if the curve shows she does need insulin

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

I can’t believe it I’ve managed to do the first test!

she ate at 5am and I’ve just done it so that’s about 4.5 hours after eating.

she was so good! all through it she was dribbling in anticipation of her treat . Didn’t seem to notice the needle even though I had to poke twice (did it free hand).

Her BG was 5.3 (95) Alphatrak.
Alarm set for 2 hours time.

I’m so proud of her!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Well done getting the first test in.don’t forget the SS. We can’t help you without it.
95 on the alphatrak meter is quite low. I would not leave it another 2 hours before testing again, did you feed her after the test?

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

Well done getting the first test in.don’t forget the SS. We can’t help you without it.
95 on the alphatrak meter is quite low. I would not leave it another 2 hours before testing again, did you feed her after the test?

At the moment she’s not on any insulin, we’re just doing the curve on the vets advice to see whether she needs it or not. Just tested again and she was 6.7 (121). She has her lunch at noon so in about 10 mins.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

At the moment she’s not on any insulin, we’re just doing the curve on the vets advice to see whether she needs it or not. Just tested again and she was 6.7 (121). She has her lunch at noon so in about 10 mins.

Oh I didn’t realise!
Well those numbers are looking very good.

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

Oh I didn’t realise!
Well those numbers are looking very good.

Yes

she was 16.8 (302) in her vet blood test so the rapid diet change and lower stress levels seem to have made a massive difference!

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

she was 16.8 (302) in her vet blood test so the rapid diet change and lower stress levels seem to have made a massive difference!

Hi Amybee (and Pandora!), waving from Surrey!

Those numbers are really lovely.

How did the vet actually diagnose the diabetes? ...Blood glucose test? Urine glucose test? Fructosamine test?
And what kind of diet changes did you make? Was Pandora previously on a higher carb diet at the time of the diagnosis...?
...Just wondering if the initial diagnosis was actually correct, or might have been a misdiagnosis. Or....wondering if the diet change was sufficient to tip the balance to normal numbers...

Eliz

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

Congratulations seems everything went really well with the curve and at least the numbers you posted look really nice

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

Hi Amybee (and Pandora!), waving from Surrey!

Those numbers are really lovely.

How did the vet actually diagnose the diabetes? ...Blood glucose test? Urine glucose test? Fructosamine test?
And what kind of diet changes did you make? Was Pandora previously on a higher carb diet at the time of the diagnosis...?
...Just wondering if the initial diagnosis was actually correct, or might have been a misdiagnosis. Or....wondering if the diet change was sufficient to tip the balance to normal numbers...

Eliz

Hi @Elizabeth and Bertie thanks for asking about me and pand .

The diabetes was disagnosed from a blood test in the surgery showing 16.84 (303) (no fructosamine apparently not enough blood) and urine test positive for glucose. She was under a huge amount of distress for the blood test but she’d had one a couple years previously with similar stress and the BG was half that. She was drinking copiously and peeing so much I was cleaning four to five times a day huge clumps that wouldn’t even fit in the poop bag. Blood showed normal kidney function.

so the vet wanted to start insulin immediately and admit her for a BG curve. After initial shock I focussed my mind and did a huge amount of reading on here and elsewhere, and told vet I wanted to change diet first and try to do curve at home.

She was mainly eating dry biscuits (Purina hypoallergenic due to her poultry allergy which causes terrible itchy ears) and I switched her cold turkey to high protein wet diet and practically overnight the drinking / peeing resolved.

Then I left it a week or so to get used to new diet while I conditioned her ready for BG curve getting her used to rice sock, smell and sound of meter etc but not poking.

She was so good for her BG curve even though she was tired of it by test 5! Her full results were:

09:22 5.3 (95)
11:39 6.7 (121)
13:48 6.6 (119)
16:04 4.8 (86)
18:19 6.4 (115)
21:14 5.1 (92)

she had her usual 4 small meals during the day.
On these numbers I’ve told the vet I don’t think she needs insulin and just waiting to hear back from him now…

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

This numbers do look very good at what time did she had her meals?

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

This numbers do look very good at what time did she had her meals?

I’ve just checked my log and she had small meals at about 5am (timer tray!), 12 noon, 5pm and 9:30pm.

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

I’ve just checked my log and she had small meals at about 5am (timer tray!), 12 noon, 5pm and 9:30pm.

Just checking and I think the slightly higher numbers are explained by she eating and her body reacted just fine lowering the numbers after eating, seems that she's doing ok just with the diet, but do monitor her from time to time so that you can catch any rise in her numbers if that happens in the future

 

[Amybee and Pandora (GA)]

Just checking and I think the slightly higher numbers are explained by she eating and her body reacted just fine lowering the numbers after eating, seems that she's doing ok just with the diet, but do monitor her from time to time so that you can catch any rise in her numbers if that happens in the future

thank you @Veronica & Babu-chiri - the vet never even replied so I have just chased, but in the mean time I will definitely do the spot checks as you suggest. Thanks so much!