My cat has Diabetis and I take his urine as much as possible. He is 20 years old. In the last month his results were negative/negative . No matter what time I test it's the same. I was told by my Vet to raise or lower his insulin by the results of this test. I cant go any lower. I tested the strip on myself tonight and it was N/N. I tested on my husband who has been diagnosed with Diabetis but in remission and it was N/N. Could there be somrthing wrong with these strips?? I know my cat has to see the Vet this coming week but $ is so tight amd I'm really scared. He is acting alright, but not himself tottaly. Please, could someone tell me if it is possible for strips to read N/N for amyone who urinates on them, and also is'nt negative Glucose bad??? HELP Thank you, Mary Ann
Dip Stick reading's !!!!
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julie & punkin (ga)
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a diabetic cat usually has some glucose in their urine, but it depends on how high the blood glucose is.
kinda sounds to me like your strips might have a problem. if your husband is diabetic and his numbers are high and the strips don't read positive on him, that's a pretty strong sign there might be something wrong with the strips.
you must be doing something very right to have kept your cat going at age 20!
what insulin are you using?
kinda sounds to me like your strips might have a problem. if your husband is diabetic and his numbers are high and the strips don't read positive on him, that's a pretty strong sign there might be something wrong with the strips.
you must be doing something very right to have kept your cat going at age 20!
what insulin are you using?
Hillary & Maui (GA)
Very Active Member
Are you able to test his blood glucose instead of relying on a urine test?
Does your husband a glucose meter and test strips? If he does, we can help teach you how to test the cat. It's done by taking a blood sample from the edge of the ear.
If you don't have a meter and strips, we can help you get one for free.
What is the insulin dose you are using? and what type of insulin are you using?
Where are you located? There may be someone close by who can help teach you how to test the cat in person.
What kind of food are you giving the cat? and how often do you feed him?
Does your husband a glucose meter and test strips? If he does, we can help teach you how to test the cat. It's done by taking a blood sample from the edge of the ear.
If you don't have a meter and strips, we can help you get one for free.
What is the insulin dose you are using? and what type of insulin are you using?
Where are you located? There may be someone close by who can help teach you how to test the cat in person.
What kind of food are you giving the cat? and how often do you feed him?
Julia & Bandit (GA)
Very Active Member
I think that your strips are probably working fine. Glucose only spills into the urine if blood sugar is above the renal threshold, which for cats is somewhere between 200-240. This means that the readings you are getting could be accurate if your cat's blood sugar is staying in a normal range for most the time. That would also be why no glucose was detected for your husband, who is in remission and is able to maintain blood sugar in a normal range. There is no way to tell how low your cat might be going with the urine strips, because you cannot detect any blood sugar lower than 200-240.
I would urge you to get a home glucose meter and home test. If you give a low carb treat after every test, they not only tolerate it, they learn to like it. I'm concerned because you have no idea how low your cat's blood sugar is dropping without testing with a blood glucose monitor. A human would never administer insulin to him/herself without testing first because it's dangerous--and it's the same for cats.
I would urge you to get a home glucose meter and home test. If you give a low carb treat after every test, they not only tolerate it, they learn to like it. I'm concerned because you have no idea how low your cat's blood sugar is dropping without testing with a blood glucose monitor. A human would never administer insulin to him/herself without testing first because it's dangerous--and it's the same for cats.
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