01/17/22 - AM/PM number usually <100 Is Lucy in Remission?

[Susan and Lucy]

Can someone tell me if my Lucy is in remission? She is down to 1 drop of Lantus (only when her preshot number is over 100 on the Relion). She sometimes has slightly higher numbers in AM and I'm sure it's because she eats before her test. (I leave food out all night.) She is fed 4 cans of FF pate daily, though she only eats a small part of that - I just keep refreshing it to encourage her. She lost a lot of weight when she was diagnosed with diabetes in April 2021 (from 9 pounds to currently about 6.5 pounds) so I feed her as much as she wants. She licks all of the liquid (and I add a little water once a day when I mix in her Methyl B12).

IMPROVED FOOD BOWL - SHE IS EATING BETTER NOW
One very interesting thing is that two days ago, I switched her to an elevated food bowl, and she is eating MUCH better! I read that some older cats have a harder time leaning over to eat (arthritis) and they also get whisker fatigue (overstimulation) when their face has to go too far down into a bowl to eat, making their whiskers come into too much contact with the sides of the bowl. Lucy is 17 so this makes sense. The new bowl sits on a little stand and is a shallow saucer rather than a bowl. I tried several styles and she clearly preferred this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091T8C7PK?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
This seller doesn't sell extra plates, but I found some that are exactly the same (6") from a different seller:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091TQCKCC?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
Maybe this can help another sugar kitty who needs to gain weight.

At any rate, I'm thrilled with her current eating and have high hopes that she will gain some weight now! If she is remission, I will be over the moon!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...wcLAGrGYu6if2Wzx6kzyeam_xI/edit#gid=361360320

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Susan --

I think it's highly likely that Lucy is in remission. I tend to be a stickler for seeing spot checks and you've not gotten a curve in a long time so I'm reticent to say "yes". What I would suggest is to back track to 1/13 when you have both AMPS and PMPS numbers and start a count of 14 days beginning on 1/13. Get tests at your usual pre-test time religiously. If Lucy's numbers stay in normal range after 2 weeks, she's in remission.

Please remember that remission means that her diabetes is diet controlled. It doesn't mean her diabetes is "cured." You will have to keep her on a low carb diet. Just keep doing what you've been doing with feeding her often. It's working!!

I'd also suggest that you check her BG randomly. If her numbers are ever higher than expected, it can be an indication that there's some sort of stress (like needing to have a dental) that's effecting her numbers.

 

[Susan and Lucy]

Susan --

I think it's highly likely that Lucy is in remission. I tend to be a stickler for seeing spot checks and you've not gotten a curve in a long time so I'm reticent to say "yes". What I would suggest is to back track to 1/13 when you have both AMPS and PMPS numbers and start a count of 14 days beginning on 1/13. Get tests at your usual pre-test time religiously. If Lucy's numbers stay in normal range after 2 weeks, she's in remission.

Please remember that remission means that her diabetes is diet controlled. It doesn't mean her diabetes is "cured." You will have to keep her on a low carb diet. Just keep doing what you've been doing with feeding her often. It's working!!

I'd also suggest that you check her BG randomly. If her numbers are ever higher than expected, it can be an indication that there's some sort of stress (like needing to have a dental) that's effecting her numbers.

Thank you so much! I'm in the middle of the most stressful time I can remember: wedding planning for my daughter with all sorts of COVID challenges, moving my elderly parents out of their home this month and into assisted living (2500 sq ft down to 400 sq ft), my own health issues, un-retiring from my job, and way too many other commitments). Through it all, I have done my best to stay as consistent as I can with my sugar kitty, though there are plenty of cracks that we have fallen through. It would be such a gift if Lucy were in remission. I'm so thrilled to see her eating so well with this new bowl. Who would have guessed that a food bowl could make such a difference? Thanks for the encouragement. This forum and the wonderful people in it make such a difference!