12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 ,+3/156

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Cini Mini's Mom

Cini Mini's Mom

Member Since 2011
Yesterday's condo here: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58211

Recap of yesterday's BG readings:

AMBG - 120
+3 - 144
+5 - 121
PMBG - 137

Sorry about not getting many readings yesterday, I was really tired after the PMBG and fell asleep on the sofa till this morning.

So... I have Good News, Bad News, and Questions

Good News - I think I know why Cini's BG readings have been higher than what we would like to see. It's because ......

Bad News - The Feline Asthma is back :sad: What I thought was a hairball a couple of days ago was really him wheezing. What woke me up on the couch this morning was Cini having a full on asthma episode. This means he'll have to go back on inhalant steroids twice a day. Flovent HFA 220mcg, two puffs twice a day.
So, the stress of a brooding asthma attack was why we were seeing the high numbers.

Questions - I left a message for the Vet on her voice-mail yesterday to let her know it was 5 days OTJ but she hasn't called me back yet. So I have a couple of new questions lined up for her today.

I'd appreciate every one's input if you know the answers or if you think I should ask any additional questions.

1. How much of an effect does inhalant steroids have on FD? I know injectable would play havoc with Cini's system but inhalant is supposed to be milder.

2. Maybe the effect of the inhalant steroids combined with Cini feeling better from it would hold his BG readings where they are? Essentially cancelling each other out? Or, am I going to see some really whacky spikes especially right after I give him a dose of inhaler?

3. At what point should I stop the OTJ trail while he's on the steroids? When he gets to a 200 BG reading? Or should I let him ride it out because we know the reason why his BG numbers are not "normal"?

Thanks you guys for all your support. Here's hoping we can get Cini through another day OTJ.

AMBG reading to follow in about a half hour.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -Good News/Bad News/Quest

I don't have first hand experience with feline asthma. What I've seen, though, is that everyone's cat responds differently to the inhaled steroids. (It's really no different than systemic steroids -- some cats have big reactions, some don't.) I think you're going to need to watch Cini's response and let his BG numbers guide you.

If Cini's numbers stay outside of the normal range, I'd restart insulin. My thinking is that the stress that the asthma and steroids puts on your cat's system means that it will tax his pancreas. I'd want his pancreas to get as much support as it needs until the asthma is under control or his numbers get him back on a trial.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -Good News/Bad News/Quest

Thanks Sienne.

Cini's AMBG was 124. Not too shabby, but 4 points out of normal range of 50 - 120.


How far out of range should I let him wander?
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -Good News/Bad News/Quest

Hi there

Sorry to hear Cini Min is having a recurrence of the asthma.

I too have an asthmatic kitty who did go off the juice about 4 months ago. I too had wondered what the impact of the flovent/inflammation would have on her numbers. And I still test a number of times during the week.

It seems that the flovent treatment doesn't impact her glucose directly. But the inflammation does. During the high peak pollen months her numbers go up a bit but do stay in a normal range. She is on the highest dose of 2 puffs of 220 twice a day right now. No coughing but I can tell when there is some inflammation...she gets hoarse and swallows a bit more. This week her numbers were a bit elevated. Highest was 133 and just going down to 100 about 4-5 hours after eating......so I knew something was up.

Sienne had good advice about getting the asthma under control. And if she needs a little juice to help support the pancreas a bit longer...that's OK too. The good news is that you now know what is causing the increase in numbers and the treatment of flovent won't change the numbers by itself but reduce the inflammation and help the glucose numbers decrease.

Keepin paws crossed for you guys.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -Good News/Bad News/Quest

I think if you're seeing constant numbers that are above 150, I'd give consideration to insulin. However, I'd change your subject line to reflect your question so you can get more input.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -AMBG 124 -Asthma Questio

Thanks Tena and Sienne.

I'll keep an eye on his levels. Hopefully that full moon works in his favor and helps to pull him down. I'll do a +3 and a +4 today and post later.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min- OTJ Trial Day 6 -AMBG 124 -Asthma Questio

Hello!

My Zoe has asthma, she was diagnosed with asthma after being OTJ for several months. Once I started her of inhaled steroids (Flovent) I never saw any increase in her blood sugars. While she was OTJ her BG readings were between 60 and 80......after starting the flovent, they never changed.

The way I understand Flovent ......the flovent molecule is too large for a significant amount of it to be absorbed into the blood from the lungs.....so the systemic effects of inhaled flovent are minor if any at all. Of course, I understand that every cat is different......but in my experience I haven't noticed any side-effects from it.

To treat Feline Asthma effectively and avoid using systemic steroids, Flovent should be given twice a day approx. 12 hours apart. Zoe gets 2 puffs of the the 220mcg Flovent twice a day, for a total of 4 puffs per day. If she gets congested or has an asthma attack I have albuterol on hand to use as a rescue inhaler. I have only ever had to use it when she was congested to clear her airways a bit and allow the flovent to get deeper into her lungs to work on the inflammation.

If you have any questions or need me to clarify anything.....just ask!

Sherry
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Day 6-AMBG 124,+3/155

Thanks for the info Sherry.

Cini's +3 was 155 ....meh :-| Typically his +3 is higher than his +4.

+4 coming up in 1 hour.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Day 6-AMBG 124,+3/155

OK, just spoke to the Vet and she pretty much echoed what Tena and Sherry said about Flovent and FD. Inhalant steroids have little to no effect on BG levels because they are not absorbed in the same way injectable steroids are. Her concern on BG levels and Feline Asthma would be the stress from the inflammation more than the steroids.

The Vet wants me to keep Cini on the 2 puffs twice a day regimen for a week and, if he's feeling better, go down to 2 puffs once a day for another week and then 2 puffs every other day for a week and then stop.

And the Vet pretty much said what Sienne did about Cini's BG levels. If he starts drifting back up in to the 150s then start him back on the insulin.

Otherwise, she's very impressed by how he's doing and wants me to give her a call next week with a progress report. :-D
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Day 6-AMBG 124,+3/155

Good luck w/ getting the asthma under control. I hope Cini's BG stay in line with the added meds, but at least now you know.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Day 6-AMBG 124,+3/155,+4/174

Alright well +4 was 174. :sad:

If he continues on this track through tomorrow morning I guess I'll have no choice but to put him back on the juice.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Day 6-AMBG 124,+3/155,+4/174

I'm glad you got your answers from some folks who have the experience with Feline asthma and the inhaler.
Please don't fret to much about having to give Cini some juice...he's been 6 days OTJ, which is more than some of the other kitties have done! I know it's a let down, believe me, Spot has done the OTJ dance at least 3 times and has gone as long at 3 months, but I was happy with what time he did! It's just a little juice to help Mr. P out, that's it!!

Good Luck!
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

Wow!

PMBG of 267! :shock:

I haven't seen a number like that since I got him home from the emergency clinic.

Needless to say his OTJ trial has stopped and I put him back on the same dose we left off - 1 drop of Lantus.

And to top it all off, when I gave Cini the injection he jumped and hissed at me :cry:
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

aw, he wanted to go to the Falls too!

hope this is just a short lapse

sending you a big hug....
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

ouch on the 267! Do you think he got into anything?
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

He will be back on trial very soon, I have no doubts about that. Hang in there!
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

Deb & Spot said:
ouch on the 267! Do you think he got into anything?
Click to expand...


Hey Deb. No, I think like Sienne said, he's a little stressed because of his feline asthma.
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

CD and BigMac said:
He will be back on trial very soon, I have no doubts about that. Hang in there!
Click to expand...

I think he wanted to give his spot in the boat to Milo :-D
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

Just in case you were wondering how stressed he was

IMG_0035.JPG
 
Re: 12/9-Cini Min-OTJ Trial Stopped-PMBG 267 - YIKES!

Hey Cini Mini, sorry about your trial, but we're all having the Full Cold Moon party tonight. Can you come?

Rusty
 
Why would you stop the inhaler???? That makes no sense to me. I'd keep her on what ever low level flovent that would keep her attack free.

Have you joined the two yahoo asthma groups? They are the asthma experts just like FDMB is the diabetes experts. They help thousands of cats with asthma - something your vet doesn't do. Feline Inhaled Meds and Feline Asthma Relief. Please do join and see what they advise for treatment longterm.
 
Hi Karrie,

I'm not stopping the inhaler. I'm stopping the OTJ Trial and putting Cini back on 1 drop of insulin twice a day.

Heaven's forbid I stop his inhaler!
 
I'm confused then sorry :oops:
The Vet wants me to keep Cini on the 2 puffs twice a day regimen for a week and, if he's feeling better, go down to 2 puffs once a day for another week and then 2 puffs every other day for a week and then stop.
Click to expand...
 
Oh that, yes.

Cini has seasonal asthma. He never wheezes unless it's very cold outside.

Thus the reason for tapering off I described in the previous post. And that's only if he's improving, if he's not then we'll stay on 2 puffs twice a day till he is.
 
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