Could this be a case of transient or serious problem?

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cleothecat

Member Since 2013
Hello everyone, I posted a question a few days ago about checking glucose. I so wish that I found this forum, and read thoroughly sooner. I finally learned to create signature, and tried to post her chart. Hope you can see it. If not, let me know how it should be done correctly please.

I am panicking about my cat’s low glucose. Cleo started on Lantus (1 unit, twice a day), and was getting insulin even when it was low, in the 80s since the vet told me to give her shot unless it is below 70 because stopping insulin will make it harder to regulate Cleo’s glucose. So I did until I posted my first question here and some of you told me it was too low to give her dose. I called the vet, and he lowered the dose down to 1/2. The next day, I read more about it and had to stop giving her insulin. So this is her second day without insulin. I checked her again at 5pm, and it is 73. (2&1/2 hr after eating) When I talked to the vet today, he is concerned and advised me to give her 1/4 Unit if it is between 100-180, and 1/2 Unit if it is above 180. He did not think that I needed to check her again tonight, but wait until tomorrow morning. What do you think? Should I check her blood again tonight and give her dose if it is higher than 100, 180, 200? Is this good that she has low numbers? What I don’t understand is why she still has clinical signs of diabetes when her glucose is low. She still is lethargic. She doesn't drink much and she only urinates twice a day now, but still in greater volume than when she was normal. She eats well though. (BTW, she always was on dry food until her diagnosis, and now she is completely on wet food.) Her urinalysis from last Friday clearly showed glucose in her urine (2+). Do these signs improve over time, but not concurrently with low numbers? The vet said this might be a case of transient, but I am just so worried. I am scared that I messed up something really bad by giving her insulin when she was low even though I did not see any signs of hypoglycemia. Should I consider other health issues for a case like this? Also, I think she is very stressed/depressed ever since we are back from the visit to the vet’s office last Friday (new vet). She has been grooming excessively, scratching her left eye where is now loosing hair, and squinting more. I don’t see any discharge or other signs of infection, but I might be missing something here. Any other signs I should consider? I would appreciate your suggestions. Since my vacation is over and I am back to work, I am so concerned about not being able to be home to check up on her. Hope to have a peace of mind soon. Thank you all.
 
No, I can't read your SS (spreadsheet) in your signature. There is one more step you need to do.

Go back into google and open the SS. In the upper right hand corner of the screen should be the word "Share". Click on this and cange the share options from the drop down list to "whoever has the link". That will give us read only access to the SS.
 
Yes, SS is accessible now. Thank you so much.

With those nice low green numbers, under 100, I would not be giving any insulin. This may very well be a case of transient diabetes.

You want to continue to test at what would be your normal shot times in the AM and PM but not give any insulin. If she keeps this up for another 12 days, we consider her OTJ or in remission. Still a diabetic, but a diet controlled diabetic. Then we will have a party to celebrate.

In my opinion, Cleo does not need insulin right now. That could change if her numbers go up again in the next 12 days.

What do you think? Should I check her blood again tonight and give her dose if it is higher than 100, 180, 200? Is this good that she has low numbers?
Yes, test her again tonight and each AM and PM. Don't shoot at all unless she is over 150 and you can be home to monitor. Then post here for help. Yes, this is good she has such low numbers. 40-130 are normal non-diabetic range.

Do these signs improve over time, but not concurrently with low numbers?
Could be something else. Was she checked for hyperthyroidism?

Not sure what the excessive grooming and scratching are about. My hyperT kitty did some of that.
 
OTJ means off-the-juice, insulin being the "juice". Wink is a diet controlled diabetic cat. In remission, not needing insulin right now and hopefully we can get your kitty there too.
 
I'm wondering about her kidney function. Did the vet do bloodwork inclucing a creatinine and BUN? If the kidneys are impaired, they may excrete things they shouldn't, not excrete things they should, and use excessive water to do so. The latter results in lots of urine and excessive thirst. Renal disease may result in a buidup of toxins which make one itch, too.

Its flea season - those little buggers can ride inside on a human or dog. Use a very fine toothed comb and comb around the head, tail, and inner thighs where fleas like to hide. Signs of reddish brown dirt are a tip off, even if you don't see a flea.

Other things may cause itching - does she go outside? Check for mites, ring worm, ticks. A skin scraping may help the diagnosis.

Food allergies may cause itching. Look at any food changes. Make a list of ingredients in the before food and the after food. Items which are the same are less likely to be an allergen, whereas new ingredients may provoke allergy.
 
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