Cat feels ill even though her blood sugar is in a good range

[Jonah]

Hey
So I'm new here. My cat got diagnosed with diabetes about 10 days ago. I've been treating her two times daily with ProZinc since then. I've been testing her blood sugar the last week daily, didn't have time for a curve until now. I tested her an hour ago, because she threw up. Her blood sugar was at 5.3 mmol/L which is 94 mg/dl. Aren't those supposed to be good blood sugar levels? She didn't eat a lot and I gave her some low carb treats, so she has at least something in her body. I don't know how to react, I planned to test her blood sugar in a few hours again. Do I need to be worried? I'm really scared she might get hyperglycaemia. Do you think I should be worried?

 

[squeem3]

@Suzanne & Darcy

94 is a good level. How many hours after the ProZinc did you get 94? Did you test her right before giving insulin?

Cats vomit Hairball, something bothering the tummy, who knows. Vomiting doesn't necessarily mean hypoglycemia. I would test again hourly if possible just to see if blood glucose levels are continuing to drop or not. Offer low carb canned food to try to stabalize the blood glucose levels. Make the food more appealing by crushing up treats to sprinkle on top. You don't need corn syrup/honey/etc unless you get closer to 60 (3mmol).

Hypo treatment:

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/

 

[Jonah]

Thank you for your quick response

I tested her 5 hours later. She always threw up a lot in her life, she is allergic to most foods. She's just lethargic, cuddles and sleeps. I will test her again and make sure her blood sugar doesn't drop.

Edit: And I didn't test her before insulin, but I will do it later

 

[Jonah]

Her blood sugar dropped a bit 85mg/dl

I gave her some treats and food, but she still didn't eat a lot

 

[squeem3]

Always test before giving insulin. That way you know what the blood glucose level is and if it's safe enough for insulin to be given or not. Newbies are generally advised to not give insulin if the level is under 150 (7 mmol).

85 and 95 aren't that much different from each other. Just keep testing when you can. Are you using a pet meter or a Human meter?

Have you called the vet for advice? If your cat continues to not eat, that is a concern the vet would have to look into. There are appetite stimulants that can be prescribed an anti nausea medicine if your cat is feel nauseous (lip smacking is one common sign).

Keep a log of your cat's blood glucose numbers and how many hours after insulin you got each number. Paper and pencil is fine for now. You'll want to set up a Google spreadsheet later so FDMB members can help you. https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/

Can you tell us more about your cat? What made you bring your cat to the vet 10 days ago and get a diagnosis of diabetes? Do you know if the vet did any blood work, particularly a fructosamine test? Any ketones? Did the vet give you any info on how to manage your diabetic cat at home? Any other health issues? What were you feeding your cat before the diabetes and what are you feeding now? Do you know what ingredients in food she is allergic to? Proteins and fillers are common allergens.

Maybe an hour before you give the evening insulin shot, post again here on FDMB and ask for advice.

 

[Jonah]

I have a pet meter. She eats her treats and a little of her canned food. It's monoprotein horse meat, which I feed her for years now. They don't have any other ingredients than eggshells. It's also low in calories. She didn't have problems with it before. She's allergic to most proteins, but horse meat is fine.

She seems a bit better now.

I don't really know what they specifically tested, but they tested her blood sugar levels. I saw that she started drinking a lot of water and lost some weight. She was never overweight since I have her (I have have her since she's 3or 4 years old). She's now 8 or 9. I always fed her 90% to only meat and never anything with grains or added sugar.

My vet told me to test her blood sugar and to test her a day for a curve, so more often. I should call him in two weeks and tell him her blood sugar numbers.

He told me I should keep feeding her food as before, because it's not high in calories and she can't eat most foods.

Oh and she has feline hyperesthesia, which I treated with pregabalin. I think it might was the reason for her diabetes, since it raises the blood sugar, which no vet told me. I stopped giving it her now.

 

[squeem3]

Steroids can cause diabetes. Sometimes it's temporary, other times not. My diabetic is a steroid-induced one He needs the steroid for his IBD and asthma. The one he's currently on is supposed to not affect blood glucose levels but it does for him. I just deal with the higher PM levels and adjust insulin as needed.

There might be something else your cat can take for hypesthesia. Ask the vet.

Is canned food a complete diet? Horse meat and egg shells doesn't seem like a nutritionally complete food to me. What country are you in?

Regular blood work included a blood glucose test but that only tells you what the level is at the time of blood draw, the same as you would get by testing your at at home. A fructosamine is like the Human diabetic AC1 test which gives the average blood glucose level over the past few weeks. This is a better indicator of diabetes. Increased drinking and weight loss are common diabetic symptoms.

Ask the vet for copies of your cat's records. You can look through them and see what has been tested and the results.

 

[Jonah]

I'm sorry for your cat's situation :/

I just stop giving her the medication because her symptoms got better and in the end the medication isn't vital to her. It made her really lethargic and tired so I considered she might be better of without it. Which was true. I don't know why her symptoms got better.

Yes it's a complete diet. Obviously it's with additives, but it's one of the best foods here. I'm in germany.

Okay, I will ask him tomorrow, it's too late now.

 

[CORKY]

I'm sorry for your cat's situation :/

I just stop giving her the medication because her symptoms got better and in the end the medication isn't vital to her. It made her really lethargic and tired so I considered she might be better of without it. Which was true. I don't know why her symptoms got better.

Yes it's a complete diet. Obviously it's with additives, but it's one of the best foods here. I'm in germany.

Okay, I will ask him tomorrow, it's too late now.

Welcome to FDF, 85-90 BG numbers are great numbers, but if you are not testing before each shot, that is very dangerous you could cause hypoglycemia, being a newbie, you need some coaching on shooting low numbers , and as Squeem3 said you should not shoot under 150 for now, we can assist coach you as you test feed test to raise the BG numbers without high carbs, I did not see which insulin you were prescribed, we would be more than happy to help you with any concern and dosing but we need to know more about your cat Squeem3 send you a link to create your spreadsheet, to input the daily BG numbers for each day, we are very numbers oriented, you can get the idea how the spreadsheet is created by clicking below on Corky's spreadsheet if you need help setting it up we can help, also you can help us help you by creating your signature, the link below
It is overwhelming at first but diabetes is manageable, we are here to help you in this journey, this is a world wide Forum with many knowledgeable members and monitors and have saved many kitties lives including my Corky's I trusts them blindly, and again Welcome

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

@Jonah
Here is the information we need for your signature
Just click on your name up top and then tap signature and add this information. It's at the end of everyone's post in gray letters

• Add info we need to help you:
  • Caregiver & kitty's name
  • DX: Date
  • Name of Insulin (do not include dose or frequency)
  • Name of your meter
  • Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
  • Dosing: TR or SLGS or Custom (if applicable)
  • DKA or other recent health issue (if applicable)
  • Bexacat or Senvelgo (if applicable) and dates
  • Acro, IAA, or Cushings (if applicable)
  • Spreadsheet link. Please put the signature link on the bottom line of your signature information, on its own, so it is easy to find.
  • Please do not put any information about your location in the signature for security reasons. If you wish to add your country location, please add it to your profile.

Be sure to click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom. If you need help urgently it is important we know these things at a glance. We don’t want to waste valuable time finding out information.



Can you set up your spreadsheet
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/

It will also explain how to use it


Also I would post on the Prozinc/PZI board since Suzanne is usually on that board and will get notified.
She is familiar with Prozinc.
Just copy and paste you thread /post there
Here is the link
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/prozinc-pzi.24/