Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine tes

[hurricanegirl]

Good morning

Summary - Hurricane 13 YO overweight male diagnosed and started on 3 units twice dailyVetsulin on 6/1/13

Based on Diastix reading of Dark Brown color (2 or more) vet increased insulin to 4 units twice daily on 6/10

I did a test yesterday afternoon and got a reading more toward the middle of the color chart (1/4 to 1/2), and I was thrilled to see that

This morning urine test is again showing the dark brown

Both tests were done twice by me, to make sure

Does anyone have any knowledge of why? Would the morning sample be different from the afternoon samples

I cannot yet comitt to BG test

 

[BJM]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

Concentration of urine and renal function may affect results. The results only cover the period since the last void.

If the cat were less active overnight, the urine may be more concentrated, so both glucose and ketone levels could be higher.

Or he could still be on an inadequate insulin regime and in danger of ketoacidosis, a potentially fatal, expensive to treat complication of diabetes.

From another member:

Dark brown is from glucose, not ketones, and person did say Diastix. Ketostix alone show in the purple family and darkest color is dark purple.

So, the glucose was high enough to spill into the urine since the previous void, and likely high enough to cause internal damage. You just don't know how high, precisely, unless you blood glucose test

And you need either Ketostix to test for ketones, or KetoDiastix to test for both ketones and glucose concurrently.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

Be careful with the Vetsulin insulin you are using and the increases. Because the Vetsulin drops the BG's hard and Fast, that dose increase might take your cat into hypo territory. If you see any behaviour that is not usual, call your vet. Some of the hypo symptoms to look for are.

SYMPTOMS
Some cats may have NO symptoms whatsoever, but here are the most common ones:

MILD HYPOGLYCEMIA
Sudden ravenous hunger
Shivering
Weak or lethargic

MODERATE HYPOGLYCEMIA
Disorientation
Trouble with vision... bumps into furniture
Poor coordination, such as staggering, walking in circles or acting drunk
Changes in head or neck movements
Restlessness
Urgent meowing
Behavioral changes, such as aggressiveness

SEVERE HYPOGLYCEMIA
Convulsions or seizures
Unconsciousness

Always make sure your cat has eaten at least 2 ounces of food at least 30-45 minutes before you give this insulin.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

I strongly advise you to home test because there are a few bad thing that can happen, and I have seen happen to other cats whose owners didnt test.. And testing urine isn't enough to prevent these.

1. The cat drops too low and has a hypo and seizures.. Sometimes fatally. I see hypos fairly frequently on here... Especially as the cat approaches remission.
2. The cat stays too high and develops diabetic ketoacidosis. Owner spends $$$ for the cat to spend days at the vet. If the cat survives that long, and sometimes it dies anyway.

Sorry to scare you.

But maybe you can explain what your reluctance is with home blood testing? Cost? Fear of hurting your cat? Fear of blood? Vet recommended against it? Something else? I know your DH is diabetic so he should understand the risks and be able to help?

Let me know
Wendy

 

[hurricanegirl]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

I dont know what I am afraid of, Wendy, but I think I am afraid of too much information and a lack of understanding. I wish I could better explain, but I cant.

DH is like no help,,,,yes, he is diabetic, but he is on medications not insulin and as a result he feels as if he is ok,,,,he almost never tests but his doctor does get an A1C which gives "historic results" for like 2 or 3 months and she is happy so he is blissfully ignorant and happy as well

I am so out of my league here, you all kow so much, but I am also fearful of going against my Vet (who I do trust) and I am fearful of the disease, and I am fearful of doing the wrong thing, and I am fearful that Hurricane has already had one too many changes to his contented lttle routines - this is just all happening too quick.

Yes, I am "one of those" I need lots of time to process and act/aclimate

 

[Deb & Wink]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

We don't want you to fear going against your vet. We never know all the circumstances with a cat caregiver like yourself. We only know some little bits of information that you have shared with us. We would like you to continue to work with your vet. And ask us questions.

Our goal is to get our cats into remission, not simply regulated. The best chance of that happening are in the first 6 months of treatment. Cats unlike humans or dogs, can actually regenerate and heal the damaged cells in their pancreas. With the proper support of diet and insulin, remission is an achievable goal.

We always see room for improvement. That is why we are making some of the suggestions we are making.

We are seeing some things that concern us. Like adjusting the insulin dose based only on a urine test.

We recommend and follow the AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats as a good resource for more current best practices in treating diabetes. This is an article published in a vet journal in June 2010. Here is the article: http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/AAHADiabetesGuidelines.pdf I suggest you print out 2 copies, keep one for you and politely share one with your vet.

We also see that your vet has prescribed an insulin that usually does not last long enough for a cat. It is usually gone from the cat's body in 6-8 hours. Merck Veterinary manual http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/endocrine_system/the_pancreas/diabetes_mellitus.html#v3271697, which your vet should have access to, recommends insulin Glargine (Lantus) as the first choice for cats.

In cats, high-protein diets along with insulin therapy are initiated and the pet re-evaluated in 5–7 days. In newly diagnosed cats, glargine insulin is the insulin of choice. Glargine is a long-acting basal insulin. Used in conjunction with high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, it is associated with remission of diabetes and discontinuation of insulin therapy in 80–90% of cases within the first 3–4 mo of treatment. NPH, lente, or PZI insulins may also be used in cats, with starting doses ranging from 1–3 units, bid. However, these insulins are not associated with high rates of diabetic remission.

The A1C test that your husband gets has a feline equivalent, the fructosamine test. Results are for the preceding 2-3 weeks only. It's only an average over a short period of time.

 

[hurricanegirl]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

thanks again

I will discuss Vet about BG testing when I talk to him on Monday. I did a diastix urine test this morning and the results were good. green/blue color and I believe 1/4 was the number
, it was kind of between two colors, but I did it twice on the same urine

Because of DH I already own a Freedom/Freestyle monitor/lancets/papers, but I believe someone said this is not reliable for a cat??? Why???

 

[BJM]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

Meters with Free in the name may be OK for humans, they have not worked out well for cats. They seem not to read high values as high in cats, leading one to believe you are getting control when you are not.

One inexpensive meter which has worked well for members, takes a small blood droplet, and has inexpensive strips is the Arkray Glucocard 01 or Glucocard Micro available at our shopping partner ADW (link at top of page). This available at WalMart as the ReliOn Confirm or Confirm Micro.

 

[KPassa]

Re: Does anyone have knowledge/experience with diastix urine

thanks again

I will discuss Vet about BG testing when I talk to him on Monday. I did a diastix urine test this morning and the results were good. green/blue color and I believe 1/4 was the number
, it was kind of between two colors, but I did it twice on the same urine

Because of DH I already own a Freedom/Freestyle monitor/lancets/papers, but I believe someone said this is not reliable for a cat??? Why???

How are things going? Did you have a chance to talk with your vet?