6/9 Sister BG 140, Dosing Help, pls.

[Ann & Sister]

Sister had her first blood draw for BG today at 1:00 at her new vet's office, 7 hours after her a.m. Lantus injection. BG was 140, normal the vet tech said. I asked what type glucometer they used, human or pet, a question I would never have asked if not for this message board. The tech said they use a canine glucometer but adjust it for a cat to get correct results.

When Sister was tested May 27 and diagnosed with diabetes, that vet's BG number was 431!
Since Sister's new vet is off today, I want to ask you what to expect next.
Will injections cease immediately or will they taper off? She is getting 1/2 unit 2X a day.
Will there be a subsequent test to validate these results or should there be?
I am assuming that like humans, she will always have diabetes and need the best diet possible and close monitoring.
Thanks

 

[Hercule's mum]

Hi Ann, Welcome to the board.
Is good news that the insulin is managing to get Sister's blood glucose much lower. For a reference, most non-diabetic cats have BG beltween 99 and 50.
Each cat has a different journey, so is hard to predict. Some change their diet to low carb wet food, and have their diabetes controlled (i.e go into remission) after a few months. Many will need insulin injection for the rest of their life. Let's hope sister follows the first path

As people say here often, it is a marathona nd not a sprint, and there is a lot of information to accumulate. The best is to read through a few times all the sticky notes on the forum mainpage (https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-basaglar-glargine-and-levemir-detemir.9/). It would also be helpful to look through many of the other user's threads, and look at the spreadsheets each of us keep (there is a link at the bottom og each poster), so you can get an idea of different trajectories and managements.

Ask lots of questions!

 

[Ann & Sister]

Hi Ann, Welcome to the board.
Is good news that the insulin is managing to get Sister's blood glucose much lower. For a reference, most non-diabetic cats have BG beltween 99 and 50.
Each cat has a different journey, so is hard to predict. Some change their diet to low carb wet food, and have their diabetes controlled (i.e go into remission) after a few months. Many will need insulin injection for the rest of their life. Let's hope sister follows the first path

As people say here often, it is a marathona nd not a sprint, and there is a lot of information to accumulate. The best is to read through a few times all the sticky notes on the forum mainpage (https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-basaglar-glargine-and-levemir-detemir.9/). It would also be helpful to look through many of the other user's threads, and look at the spreadsheets each of us keep (there is a link at the bottom og each poster), so you can get an idea of different trajectories and managements.

Ask lots of questions!

Oh, now I am disappointed. I believed the vet tech when he said 140 was normal. Sure sounded good.
Sister has already transitioned to 1/3 low carb wet, 1/3 fresh chicken/salmon, and 1/3 Purina Pro Plan DM dry. The Zero Young Again dry arrives Friday. All 5 of my cats are going to be making this diet transition. I will have lots of questions for my vet when she returns.

 

[tiffmaxee]

If you can get off all dry it will be so much better. YA causes some cats to go up in BG but it’s not as high as dry dm at all. The BG is good because of the insulin. What is her dose now? We really need a spreadsheet and testing to help you.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Ok. The insulin is doing it’s job. Without it the BG would climb. My first week Max dropped on a pet meter to 60. I wasn’t testing but started after that vet visit. I thought Max would not do well with my testing him but I never had a problem. He was easy !

 

[Ann & Sister]

If you can get off all dry it will be so much better. YA causes some cats to go up in BG but it’s not as high as dry dm at all. The BG is good but tests because of the insulin. What is her dose now? We really need a spreadsheet and testing to help you.

Dose is 1/2 unit Lantus 2X a day.

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

That's a great number at a vet visit! But agree with @tiffmaxee. Since Sister is responding so well to the insulin, the best way to keep her safe is to start home testing. Otherwise you won't know how low she is going. It could be that she experiences hyperglycemia while she is at the vet but going low while she is home and calmer. If you take away the dry food, it could drop even lower. I would not do that until you start home testing.