Confused about Gem's urine glucose tests

[jkbank]

Hi All

I continue to test Gem's urine when I can….it's hard to do on a regular schedule but I do it when I catch a puddle on the floor!

So up until the beginning of this week, the glucose # was always high, totally dark brown. Then Monday and early Tuesday it started creeping lighter til finally Tuesday afternoon I got a nice mint green negative! Spoke to the vet and she said to wait and see if she tested negative 2 days in a row and then we'd discuss lowering her insulin dose (Lantus 3u twice a day). That night it went back to dark brown, and then the past days it's been in the middle somewhere (1/4 - 1/2%). This evening I got another negative.

I'm kinda confused about what this means and how it affects her dose. I'm kind of thinking I'm getting a negative at around the time of her nadir (never really tested enough to know exactly when that is for her). And then the dark browns are a bit of a bounce? Does that sound feasible? My regular vet said if I continue to get negatives to call one of the specialists to discuss dose change, which I will do tomorrow, but I wanted to see what you guys have to say. I know most don't rely on urine testing, but as many of you know I can't do BG testing right now.

Thanks!

 

[Dyana]

I would think she is bouncing.
I think it would be good if you could kind of replicate the colors on your spreadsheet, but I guess you don't get that many colors to choose from on the spreadsheet.
Remember the urine test results are from hours past, so if you get a negative glucose test at +6, then she could have had no extra glucose? (I'm not sure if those are the right words) in her system at +2.
I would be careful, like I've said before, and feed her whenever she asks for food, and watch for symptoms of hypo.
My cat J.D. starts drinking water when he's low (just like when he's high), like he wants to fill up his belly, so drinking water doesn't always mean high numbers.

I'm glad you're getting some negative test results, but I don't know how to manage a diabetic kitty that way.
I am hoping more people will come along with experience, and suggestions.

How are her sores doing? I am continuing to send her healing vines and hugs to you.

 

[jkbank]

Thanks Dyana

I haven't been doing a great job writing down all these tests (as the results were always high!) but I'm going to try to be more vigilant now and see if I can somehow put it on the spreadsheet in a way that makes sense. Of course the problem is not only does the test only reflect what's happened since her last void, I also don't always know when the urine sample is from! Sometimes I see her going, but other times I have no idea how long it's been there - I just test whenever I see some!

I do feed her whenever she asks for food, which is quite often! I don't think that's much of a sign for her as sometimes she cries for food even when there's some in her bowl!

PS Just tested a relatively fresh batch and it was on the high side, this is about 2 hours past dinner, one hour post shot. I don't even know what that means! One would expect BG to go up after a meal, and then down with insulin. I know, this is no way to manage her diabetes!

As for the wounds, they seem to be improving slowly - scabbing over, no new tears!! And she has more energy, actually jumped up on the couch today, haven't seen that in a while! Yay Gem!!

 

[MommaOfMuse]

I know with Autumn since the urine sticks I have for her test both ketones and glucose, if I get a negative on the glucose it seems to mean that she is under the renal threshhold so as long as her numbers stay below 240ish I get a negative when I test...don't know if that helps you are all but might give you an idea of where a negative test comes in at.

Gald to hear that Gem seems to be healing and is getting some energy back...Go Gem!

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[jkbank]

Thanks Mel
I think I am playing a fools game trying to make sense of these test results and trying to translate them in some meaningful way to BG levels. I just don't have enough prior info as to how her body responds to the insulin to really know what these urine tests.

I'm happy to see the numbers coming down, just don't know how to adjust the insulin (or whether to adjust). I guess I will put a call into Dr Peterson and see what his thoughts are.