Can't make sense of the BG levels

[seashellharbour]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone can take a look at Peter's spreadsheet and give me some ideas about what is happening with him. I think some level of "bouncing" is playing in here, as the vet has moved the dose up pretty high, and we have made a few food changes. Now that he has been consistently on one food for over a week, and on the high dose, I'm seeing huge variations in the numbers. I chose to drop the level this morning from 2.5 units, to 1.5 units, to see if that would help him not bounce again, but when we just checked it now, its already up over 400 again. The vet had us come in and bring in our meter last week and our readings matched up with hers, so I think I'm getting accurate numbers. They just aren't consistent at all! I'm nervous about this as we will be travelling over Christmas and my sister will be watching the cat, and I'd like to get things a little more stable before leaving him with someone else.

Here's the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... sp=sharing

 

[BJM]

With an antibiotic on board, the infection it is treating may be part of the reason for the high numbers.

Is your sister willing to home test while you are away? That would be best because when the infection clears, the numbers may drop substantially.

Barring that, you need to hire a pet sitter who can test and shoot (ex a vet tech or someone willing to be trained) or you need to board him or you need to take him with you. I believe he is too unstable not to monitor for safety. If you keep the dose the same, he could drop to a hypo once the infection clears. If he doesn't drop, he may end up with high numbers triggering diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal, very expensive to treat (hospitalization) complication of diabetes.

sorry - I know you didn't want to hear that.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

I also see some bouncing. The blues probably triggered the blacks and reds. Since you have a little time to monitor, how about trying for the middle and give 2 units, getting midcycle and preshots? Getting some numbers at night will also tell you if he is going low then and bouncing. Lots of people set the alarm and get up around 5-7 hours after the shot to test.

 

[seashellharbour]

Thanks BJM....don't worry, my sister is willing to do the testing. She's graduating this year from zoo-keeper school so she's pretty good with animals, and willing to learn the routine. The vet put him on an antibiotic because of his lethargic behavior 2 weeks ago, but the testing we got at the time later didn't show anything else in terms of bacteria, so its possible he has something or not, but he's been on the antibiotic for over a week, and finished both of the vials, so whatever he may have had should be completely clear by now.

Thanks Sue and Oliver. Sounds like a plan! I also e-mailed the vet, so I'll see what she says, but I think compromising for 2 units tonight and testing would be good.

-Chelsea

 

[BJM]

Thanks BJM....don't worry, my sister is willing to do the testing. She's graduating this year from zoo-keeper school so she's pretty good with animals, and willing to learn the routine. The vet put him on an antibiotic because of his lethargic behavior 2 weeks ago, but the testing we got at the time later didn't show anything else in terms of bacteria, so its possible he has something or not, but he's been on the antibiotic for over a week, and finished both of the vials, so whatever he may have had should be completely clear by now....

Oh that's great that she can test! So much safer for him. And since there was no obvious bacterial infection, it is more likely there is just bouncing, then. The bouncing may level out in a couple of days.

 

[BJM]

In some cats, ProZinc wears off by +10. If you can, check +10 and +11, along with the pre-test. It may help us figure out what needs to happen.