Blue AMPS High 8/28/2020

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From one of your threads earlier in the week:

Patty - make a note of these values for future reference:

* Meow Mix Tender Favorites - Turkey & Giblets in Sauce: 13% Carbs

* Meow Mix Savory Morsels in Gravy - Salmon & Ocean Fish: 20% Carbs

(Carb values from Dr. Pierson's 2017 list)​


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
From one of your threads earlier in the week:

Patty - make a note of these values for future reference:

* Meow Mix Tender Favorites - Turkey & Giblets in Sauce: 13% Carbs

* Meow Mix Savory Morsels in Gravy - Salmon & Ocean Fish: 20% Carbs

(Carb values from Dr. Pierson's 2017 list)​


Mogs
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Thanks. I looked all over for it. I copied and pasted into my notes so will have it handy for next time.
 
Critter Mom said:
I only posted it so you'd have the reference handy when you're labelling stuff in your hypo kit, Patty. :)

As Elise says above, you now have an idea of what happens to Blue's BG levels in response to the treats. It's all good.


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OKay, yes I forgot to label but it's done now!

Blue wants to eat again. I gave him a bit of dry food. The Dr. Elsey's PureProtein. I didn't give him dry this morning.
 
Patty and Blue said:
He's at 237 +6 so increased a good bit. It doesn't take much to raise his BG. Is this what other cats do?
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Depends on the cat. Some are more carb sensitive than others. That's why it's important to keep a little note in the Remarks column of what you feed and when during a cycle.

As a kitty spends more time in lower, healthier numbers it may be necessary sometimes to 'steer the curve' by feeding the right type and amount of food at the appropriate point in the cycle. To do so safely and successfully, one needs to know how a cat responds to its insulin and its food.

Keeping the food notes alongside the BG data will help you build up a record of how Blue responds to different carb loads. Should you need to steer his numbers in the future, a glance back at what worked best during previous cycles can help you to choose the right carb load to feed, when to feed, and how much to feed depending on how low Blue's numbers are running and how far along he is in the current cycle. For example you might want to feed a small amount of MC early in the cycle to slow a steep-ish drop in BG (as Elise suggested today). Another example might be where Blue is a tad on the low side but in safe numbers later in the cycle. In such a case, you might feed a small amount of low carb food just to give his numbers a little nudge upwards.


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PS:

Knowing how much, how quickly, and how long a particular quantity/type/carb level of food is likely to raise a cat's BG level - and keep it raised - is extremely important if ever one needs to manage the cat safely out of a hypo. While there are general principles of how to feed a cat out of a hypo, any cat-specific knowledge is hugely helpful.


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I'm hopeful I'll learn all this eventually. Thanks for all the good info and I will start taking more notice of food and what it does to him. I was surprised a teaspoon of gravy and lc FF would make it rise that much but as you say, it's good to know. Looks like he's very carb sensitive.
 
Saoirse only had two hypos, one biochemical and one symptomatic (while still in the normal range - 4.4 Alphatrak - after a drop that would give the Angel Falls a run for their money), and one biochemical.

The symptomatic hypo occurred after the very last time I took any dosing recommendations from our vets. I gave her a liberal amount of honey and tested her shortly afterwards to make sure she was in safe numbers. I subsequently posted here for help, but not before sticking the contents of an entire can of Purina DM in front of her. She absolutely mullered it. Didn't sleep that night. Nor the next night. Nor most of the night after...

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Critter Mom said:
Saoirse only had two hypos, one biochemical and one symptomatic (while still in the normal range - 4.4 Alphatrak - after a drop that would give the Angel Falls a run for their money), and one biochemical.

The symptomatic hypo occurred after the very last time I took any dosing recommendations from our vets. I gave her a liberal amount of honey and tested her shortly afterwards to make sure she was in safe numbers. I subsequently posted here for help, but not before sticking the contents of an entire can of Purina DM in front of her. She absolutely mullered it. Didn't sleep that night. Nor the next night. Nor most of the night after...

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Oh no, that's terrible. I wouldn't have slept either.
I hope I'm prepared for that with honey and high carb food. That would be scary.
 
Max never got more than hc and a drop if honey to raise his BG. At 12 to 3 a.m. It’s even more scary. That’s why I stuck with 6:00 shots. I found myself up several hours updating my ss and talking to myself as nobody was online.
 
Patty and Blue said:
Oh no, that's terrible. I wouldn't have slept either.
I hope I'm prepared for that with honey and high carb food. That would be scary.
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In addition to being terrifying it was also a real eye-opener about the gaps in the FD knowledge of some vets. For example, many vets advocate against home testing. When challenged by a more 'hands-on' caregiver about (correctly) wanting to test to protect their cats from hypoglycaemia, some vets tell their clients that there's never really any need to worry about hypos because the cat will automatically seek out food as soon as their numbers get low. This is completely untrue. There is no guarantee a cat will help itself.

When Saoirse was on Caninsulin it made her feel really unwell for most of each cycle. She would get lethargic and withdraw behind a floor-length curtain not long after her dose was administered. I went to call her for her before-bed sugar check. Her eyes were open but she was otherwise unresponsive. When I went to pick her up she was quite floppy in my arms. I didn't wait to use any fancy ear-warming techniques. I was so panicked I her ear a few rubs between my fingers and went straight for the MEV with the lancet to make sure I got a blood sample on the first go. (Sorry, Saoirse... :( ) :oops:


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Poor kitties but you guys learned so much from the experience and your cats survived your learning curve. I hope I don't have an emergency situation but I know it could happen. Sometimes I get up to check Blue to make sure he's breathing. I know, crazy.
How long ago did you each lose your babies?
I remember Elise said Max lived to 19? Is that right? I'm happy you both are here to help the newly diagnosed to help their human through the learning curve. :bighug:
 
@tiffmaxee -

Elise, are you OK here? I need to do a hypo watch with new arrival Olive and her mom (underweight kitty with yoyo-ing BGs). Thread.

Also, she has NOTHING carby apart from raw ultra-low-carb. Can she dip it in honey till I can see if she has someone who can do a dash to the shops for some carby cat food? Also can you remember where the recipe is to make emergency 'gravy'. Also, I can't remember whether or not it's safe to give a cat plain ice cream, in case her mom might have any of that. (I am SO rusty! :oops: :rolleyes:)

Sorry for the brief threadjack, Patty. :oops:

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Critter Mom said:
@tiffmaxee -

Elise, are you OK here? I need to do a hypo watch with new arrival Olive and her mom (underweight kitty with yoyo-ing BGs). Thread.

Also, she has NOTHING carby apart from raw ultra-low-carb. Can she dip it in honey till I can see if she has someone who can do a dash to the shops for some carby cat food? Also can you remember where the recipe is to make emergency 'gravy'. Also, I can't remember whether or not it's safe to give a cat plain ice cream, in case her mom might have any of that. (I am SO rusty! :oops: :rolleyes:)

Sorry for the brief threadjack, Patty. :oops:

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Sorry. I was off on some phone calls. All looks good here.
 
Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good to have these on hand, it's really only the Gravy you would need to feed him, or just a teaspoon of the food.
Always good to have honey in hand
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy. 15% Med Carbs


Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good to have these on hand, it's really only the Gravy you would need to feed him, or just a teaspoon of the food.
Always good to have honey in hand
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Thanks. I will copy and keep in my notes.
 
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