A few random questions

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jkbank

Member Since 2012
Hi guys
A few questions that have been rolling around in my brain. Sometimes I feel like the more I read, the more I don't know!


Just so I have this clear, I've read and read but want to be sure, so in overly simplified terms, is this correct?

Being in "hypo" and having ketones (DKA) are sort of the opposite ends of the spectrum. Hypo means too much insulin and BG too low. Ketones would mean too little insulin and BG too high.

Have I got that right?

Also, can I give Gem roast beef as a treat? Not the meat that you cook in a pot roast, but sliced roast beef like from the deli. It's all meat, no nitrites or preservatives or anything. I've never seen her eat people food before but she got her hands on a piece and loved it. Thought this might be a good option for giving her her medicine.

I decided to try and test Gem this morning. Unfortunately, 2 unsuccessful pokes, and I decided to let it go after that, don't want to push my luck. But at least we can try and get back into the routine. So my question is - I know it's poke, feed, shoot as we don't want that BG number to be affected by food - but how quickly after eating would that spike kick in? Could I try and test her "while" giving her a treat as a distraction, or would that influence the reading?

Thanks as always for all your help.
 
Yep you have it right on 'Hypo" and DKA ...there are some cats that can have ketones at lower numbers but the usual recipe for DKA is not enough insulin + not enough food + infection. Lower the BGs the less likelihood of DKA. However, a true hypo is equally as dangerous and can also be life threatening.

If Gem can tolerate beef. I would think it would be fine to feed her as a treat everynow and then, but beef is one thing that some cats are allergic to, so you may want to use it sparingly.

Yes you can use a treat as a distraction when testing...I do it all the time as well as I think most of us do. Just make sure it is low carb to no carb treat. Food takes about 30mins to an hour to digest and reach the bloodstream thus will not spike their bloodsugar instantly.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Thanks Mel, that's helpful.

So if for some reason I can't get a BG reading first thing, it might be worth it to try again just after she eats, but prior to shot. I think sometimes she is hungry in the morning and is a little more antsy and less tolerable of the pokes! And because of the skin stuff, I really don't want to push my luck. But I figured I might give it a try or 2 to see if I can get some readings and see where she's at.
 
The thought is that, although every cat is different, food may not show up in the readings for 20 -30 minutes or so. So a test during or right after she eats may still be okay. Better than not test at all before shooting.
 
One thing w/feeding sliced meat that I learned the hard way: only feed meats that haven't had anything added to them! I had been buying one kind of sliced turkey for my daughter's school lunch & would split a splice among my 3 occasionally. I had a coupon & caught a sale for a different kind, so we tried it & about the same time we had a run of higher #'s. I checked into the new turkey, lo & behold, it had sugar added! Luckily, my diet-controlled diabetic didn't get sent so high that he ended back on insulin & my guy who is on insulin was easily regulated back into more normal-for-him #'s. I should have known better-I used to work a deli counter!
 
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