Can't lower blood count - post for Nancy

[Wendy&Neko]

My Son's cat is 17 Lbs. has been on Lantus since 15th of March. She is getting 3 units 2 times a day but it is still in the 400 and above. It started at the 529 and has been down to 393 for the low. It keeps jumping up and down with most being in the mid 400. Are we doing something wrong or why can't we get it to go down?

@Nancy Toenges

 

[Nancy A T]

This AM her reading was 523 I don't understand what is going on I am so confused and frustrated. Anyone able to help??

 

[Wendy&Neko]

We can help, but we'll need a bit more information to do so.

It sounds like you are home testing his blood sugars? If so, what type of meter? Would it be possible to put those blood sugar values you've been getting into our version of a spreadsheet?

What type of insulin is she getting? Being at 3 units so soon after starting insulin is a higher dose than we'd start with. One possibility is the dose is too high and the cats body is reacting by dumping sugars into it's system.

Also, what food are you feeding him? A lot carb wet or raw food diet is best. Cats on a higher carb dry food diet will need more insulin.

I have lots of questions, as will others have before we can suggest why the high numbers. Which is not uncommon for a newly diagnosed cat. If you could put the answers to my questions in your signature, that'll be a great start. More in information on what we are looking for in this post.
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Nancy --

What is your son feeding his cat? If he isn't feeding his cat a low carbohydrate diet, the food is overriding the effect of the insulin especially since unregulated diabetics are always starving. We consider low carb as less than 10% carbohydrate and a canned food or raw food diet is far more preferable than dry food. This is a chart that contains nutritional information for most of the canned foods available in the US. We have other lists if you're outside of the US.

Lantus also takes a while to build up in a cat's system. It can take a week before you see much action. It's also common to see the numbers drop and then bounce back into a higher range. (We actually call this a "bounce.") I'd also note that 3 units is a large dose for a cat that's been diagnosed for just a week. We tend to be a bit more conservative but that also depends on whether your son's cat had anything else going on at the time she was diagnosed. There is information on how Lantus (glargine) works in the sticky notes at the top of

We have a huge amount of resources and expertise to help your son and his kitty. Is he interested in posting along with you?

 

[Nancy A T]

We can help, but we'll need a bit more information to do so.

It sounds like you are home testing his blood sugars? If so, what type of meter? Would it be possible to put those blood sugar values you've been getting into our version of a spreadsheet?

What type of insulin is she getting? Being at 3 units so soon after starting insulin is a higher dose than we'd start with. One possibility is the dose is too high and the cats body is reacting by dumping sugars into it's system.

Also, what food are you feeding him? A lot carb wet or raw food diet is best. Cats on a higher carb dry food diet will need more insulin.

I have lots of questions, as will others have before we can suggest why the high numbers. Which is not uncommon for a newly diagnosed cat. If you could put the answers to my questions in your signature, that'll be a great start. More in information on what we are looking for in this post.
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

The cats name is Paint and she is on Lantus, the tester is a Accu-Chek Aviva. For food the Vet had recommended Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Gluco Support Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management Savory Selects Wet Cat Food, But after reading some of the diet info on here we have switched her off of the Pro Plan and are giving her Sheba and we are in the process of whining her off of the Hills dry. I will make a spread sheet of her testing numbers hopefully tomorrow. I hope I have done this right. (P.S. My vet has never treated a diabetic cat before only has had diabetic dogs)

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Not uncommon for vets to have less experience with treating cat than dogs. There are some major differences though. You are in the right place.

Lantus is a great insulin for cats, the Aviva is a good monitor, and looks like a good plan to lower the carbs in Paint's diet. Changing diet could meant she needs a lot less insulin, so you will have to test regularly.