BG running high - dry food related?

[suwannee79]

My diabetic cat, who only eats wet food now, has gotten into our other cat's dry food (EVO grain free weight management) the last few days and has had super high numbers - I can understand the high numbers the days he got into the dry food but how long does dry food take to leave the system?

We first got a 525 a few days ago but it seemed like an anomaly, we're still trying to get my little guy regulated but that number was a first. Three days later we got a few more readings in the 500s but we discovered that he'd gotten into the other cat's dry food. We had been keeping the dry food on our kitchen counter which is pretty high and my diabetic cat's hind legs had weakened when he was sick and first diagnosed but as we've discovered they must have healed bc now he's gotten onto the counter and into the dry food. The last time he had any dry food was yesterday morning and I caught him pretty quickly so he didn't get too much, but prior to that he probably had almost 1/2 a cup of dry food over a day.

We're now completely hiding the dry food and I'm going to see how his numbers look this afternoon and go from there, just wondering if these numbers are dry food related or if something else is going on? I did a curve a little over a week ago and he was in every range except the 500s....I'm just so confused based on his numbers what his deal is :shock:

Also, we're getting pretty low on insulin, does it lose any strength when it's almost gone?

 

[doombuggy]

Not sure about your insulin question, as I never used all mine up. Cedric was only on Lantus for a month and I then give the vial to a co-worker who has 2 FDs to use.
While Cedric's spreadsheet in my signature below needs to be updated with his readings from 4/30 and 5/28, if you look at the readings for May 2011 you can see the reduction in the numbers as I reduced his intake of dry then took it away. By the time I took it away he was getting AT MOST 1/4 cup a day. 24hrs later his numbers droped by about 100 points. So, yes, i think the dry food is spiking your numbers.

I was reluctant to take away his dry food since I work 7 days a week and he is home by himself (well, not anymore). I ended up getting an automatic feeder that gives him 2 meals during the day when I am at work. When I took in the neighborhood stray, he got a feeder too. Dallas eats what Cedric eats. No dry food in this house, since Cedric can't have it. Dallas is happy with whatever I give him anyway.

Bottom line is you might have to try to get your other cat to eat just wet to prevent this type of thing from happening again...JMTC (just my two cents).
Good luck!

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

You had some really nice numbers before the dry food, so yes, I think that could explain the current numbers. As far how long it takes to get out of his system, every cat is different.

I'd give it another cycle and see what happens. And get rid of the dry! :mrgreen:

 

[hmjohnston]

Dry food will effect the numbers- when Sneakers snuck out and got into the neighbor cats food her numbers spiked and her numbers stayed wonky for well over a week (she holds the carbs like a miser) until she spent the last bit.

PZI- I used one bottle before switching and it can loose its effectiveness- mainly because you have to mix the insulin and other stuff in the bottle (cloudy stuff and clear stuff). If you don't mix it enough you could be getting a stronger or weaker solution mix each time you take out the insulin and, over time, the improper mixing can leave a weaker solution overall. Did that make any sense?

It's like mixing trail mix. You have the same amount of nuts, raisins, and m&m's to start out with and you mix them all together. But they get packed in the car and they settle some or jostled around when hiking, so when you start to dish them out you may start with an equal mix or you may get more raisins, nuts, or m&m's. By the time you are finished with the bag all that are left is the raisins and who wants to eat those without nuts? I never did.

Hope this helps.

 

[mrotis]

Anyone know a Vet in Astoria Queens area with ample knowledge and experience with Feline Diabetes