Update on Basic

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Basic's Mom

Basic's Mom

Member Since 2023
I finally spoke with his vet. DK, and not DKA means that there are ketones present. They hadn't become acidotic yet, thankfully. She explained that it will take at least a week for them to leave his body. I asked about subq fluids and she said provided he is eating and drinking, she doesn't think it is necessary. Let me know what your opinion on this is because again, this is all very new to me. I will get the ketostrips that someone recommended. I will also pick up his antinausea meds tomorrow too. I am waiting on the email regarding the spreadsheet. I will complete that when it is done. Again, the only records I have are from Monday forward. Today his BG has averaged around 250. It has been his best day since diagnosis. His insulin was upped to 2 U twice a day, provided he eats well. 1 unit if he doesn’t eat well. I'm grateful for everyone's help. I am completely overwhelmed with information. I was clearly upset when my cat was being diagnosed so I wasn't taking notes. My focus was on what I needed to do to get him better, not understand vet terminology. That will come with time. Again, I'll post all his info in the spreadsheet when I receive it. Thank you to everyone that has advised me on how to help my boy. Hope I answered everyone's questions. This system layout isn't super easy for me to follow, so if I didn't like or reply, I missed it. Nothing personal.
 
Linking your first thread for continuity https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-member.282017/

Yes, please get the Ketostix to test for ketones. Once your kitty has had them, it means you need to be aware that he is more prone to them than a cat that doesn’t seem to get them so I would test every day at the moment and then a couple of times a week while his BG is above normal. It is so much easier to do that than to have to deal with ketones or DKA which is a very serious illness. If he is ever off his food or is lethargic, test for ketones.
I would make sure Basic is drinking plenty. If he is not one to go to the water to drink, add a teaspoon of warm water to all his meals and snacks. It is insulin and food and fluids that will keep ketones away. So we want him to be eating well and don’t skip any dose of insulin. are unsure if you should give the dose if the Bg is a bit low…stall, don’t feed and test again in 20 minutes to see if the BG is rising. And post and ask for help. Do you have any data added yet to the SS?
I can’t see any
 
I have a few questions on how to input his info. With this libre and the app, I haven't written any of his info down because it is recording it. It only has a graph on my end and stops recording anything over 400 and just says high. Not sure how to record that because his numbers won't be accurate.

Thank you for the info on ketones. I will get the strips when I get his anti nausea meds in the morning.

I did read someone suggesting the water. I added some this evening. He has only eaten about an ounce this evening. Probably 4 total for the day. I did see him drinking water too. I'll keep a close eye on him. I will definitely not skip any insulin shots. I'm here because I care and want what is best for my cat. I am grateful for your time and energy. So is my cat.

Currently, his libre is taking his BG constantly. I haven't had to test his BG myself. I'm sure I will have questions when I have to.

Starting tomorrow I will track the numbers as requested. I asked the individual that is helping with my SS how to enter the data I currently have. I don't want to mess up the flow. As soon as she answers, and I have the time, I will upload everything accordingly.
 
Sybil said:
His insulin was upped to 2 U twice a day, provided he eats well. 1 unit if he doesn’t eat well.
Click to expand...
Did the vet tell you this?
We increase or decrease by 0.25 units not whole units

SLGS
Hold the dose for at least a week:
  • Unless your cat won’t eat or you suspect hypoglycemia
  • Unless your kitty falls below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L). If kitty falls below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) decrease the dose by 0.25 unit immediately.
After 1 week at a given dose perform a 12 hour curve, testing every 2 hours OR perform an 18 hour curve, testing every 3 hours. Note: Random spot checks are often helpful to "fill in the blanks" on kitty's spreadsheet. The goal is to learn how low the current dose is dropping kitty prior to making dose adjustments.
If nadirs are more than 150 mg/dl (8.3 mmol/L), increase the dose by 0.25 unit
  • If nadirs are between 90 (5 mmol/L) and 149 mg/dl (8.2 mmol/L), maintain the same dose
  • If nadirs are below 90 mg/dl (5mmol/L), decrease the dose by 0.25 unitunit
I'm going to tag Bron abo about what you said about the doses
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
 
Once we can see the BG data we can help you with dosing. We don’t use a sliding scale for dosing as your vet is suggesting. And we go up and down in 1/4 unit increments, not 1 unit increments.
What I would suggest for the time being, until we can see BG data, is if the pre shot BG is under 200, you stall, don’t feed and test again in 20 minutes to see if the BG is rising. And post and ask for help.
If he has only been on insulin since Monday, I would not increase the dose from 1 unit to 2 units. If the BGs were around 250 I am not sure why your vet said increase the dose…well he said to double it …which is not a good idea.
What are you feeding him? Is he still eating well.
So for now you need to make sure he is eating well, you are adding a teaspoon of water to all the meals and snacks, don’t skip any doses of insulin and make sure you test daily for ketones in the urine…this is very important.
Keep posting and asking questions.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Once we can see the BG data we can help you with dosing. We don’t use a sliding scale for dosing as your vet is suggesting. And we go up and down in 1/4 unit increments, not 1 unit increments.
What I would suggest for the time being, until we can see BG data, is if the pre shot BG is under 200, you stall, don’t feed and test again in 20 minutes to see if the BG is rising. And post and ask for help.
If he has only been on insulin since Monday, I would not increase the dose from 1 unit to 2 units. If the BGs were around 250 I am not sure why your vet said increase the dose…well he said to double it …which is not a good idea.
What are you feeding him? Is he still eating well.
So for now you need to make sure he is eating well, you are adding a teaspoon of water to all the meals and snacks, don’t skip any doses of insulin and make sure you test daily for ketones in the urine…this is very important.
Keep posting and asking questions.
Click to expand...

Okay. I won't increase without talking to someone first, and when i do it will be by 1/4 U although im not sure how accurate that would be on this. Very tiny lines. Yes, the vet is suggesting this.

Today, for both shots, his BG was below 200. I had no clue not to give him a shot. I'll ask tomorrow but his shot is between 6 - 6:30 am. I know they are supposed to be 12 hrs apart. If I should be a little more flexible, that fine.

I'm not sure why you can't see his data unless it had to do with me accepting ownership of doc, which I did this evening. I am putting his info on his SS.

Also, should I list his meds somewhere? He is on an appt stim & anti nausea currently.

He isn't eating great, FF pate classic canned. Maybe 5 oz a day. I am still including the warm water in food. Ive seen him drinking some water (not a lot). I will use a ketostrip when i can, i have them now.

I'm still trying to find treats that ate good for him. He didn't like the stage 2 Gerber baby food someone suggested. I am currently giving him temptations when giving him a shot (2 each time).

His vet is supposed to call Monday to discuss things. I need to make an appt for him to have a yest done on his pancreas. She said something about drawing urine to check for ketones. Please let me know your thoughts on these. I would prefer these test be done, but I want advice on them. I don't want to stress him. I just need to make sure there aren't underlying problems.

Thank you again to everyone. Send me messages if I have info missing that would be helpful. Thank you.
 
Last edited:
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Did the vet tell you this?
We increase or decrease by 0.25 units not whole units

SLGS
Hold the dose for at least a week:
  • Unless your cat won’t eat or you suspect hypoglycemia
  • Unless your kitty falls below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L). If kitty falls below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) decrease the dose by 0.25 unit immediately.
After 1 week at a given dose perform a 12 hour curve, testing every 2 hours OR perform an 18 hour curve, testing every 3 hours. Note: Random spot checks are often helpful to "fill in the blanks" on kitty's spreadsheet. The goal is to learn how low the current dose is dropping kitty prior to making dose adjustments.
If nadirs are more than 150 mg/dl (8.3 mmol/L), increase the dose by 0.25 unit
  • If nadirs are between 90 (5 mmol/L) and 149 mg/dl (8.2 mmol/L), maintain the same dose
  • If nadirs are below 90 mg/dl (5mmol/L), decrease the dose by 0.25 unitunit
I'm going to tag Bron abo about what you said about the doses
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
Click to expand...
Thank you for breaking this down. Makes sense.
 
Sybil said:
Also, should I list his meds somewhere? He
Click to expand...
List the medications in the signature.

Sybil said:
She said something about drawing urine to check for ketones. Please let me know your thoughts on these
Click to expand...
There is no need for the vet to draw urine to do the ketones test. This is a test you should be doing at home daily at the moment. You need to get a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy and test the urine. It is not a hard test. You just need to get a urine sample from Basic and test it. Follow directions on the bottle. Report any ketones and if there are. Any ketones then a trace, tell the vet. I have the test strips…good!
Sybil said:
evening. I am putting his info on his SS.
Click to expand...
I can now see the BG data in the SS!
I would stay with the 1 unit dose for now. And he seems to be coping ok with the pre shot around the 150 mark OK, so I would go ahead with that and only stall, don’t feed and test again in 20 minutes if it is lower than the 150.

Sybil said:
He isn't eating great, FF pate classic canned. Maybe 5 oz a day. I am still including the warm water in food. Ive seen him drinking some water (not a lot). I will use a ketostrip when i can, i have them now.
Click to expand...
Keep offering food often. We want him to eat well. What is the name of the anti nausea medication? Make sure you give the anti nausea medication an hour before you give the appetite stimulant.
 
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