?Don't understand Rocky's BGs - advice needed

Status
Not open for further replies.
Marlena

Marlena

Very Active Member
Rocky seemed to be regulated for sometime but last few days don't make sense to me.
I'm trying sliding scales but I'm confused.
The first questions would be about my insulin: I have noticed a few white specks on the neck of the bottle, maybe insulin is off now? I started this bottle in January.
A couple days ago I, unfortunately left the bottle on the table for about 3 hours. Would that affect the quality of insulin? The specks were there before.
Today Rocky's BG is the same since am so no reaction to the shot.
Could you please look as his SS and tell me if I'm doing something wrong.
What about the insulin please? @Elizabeth and Bertie
Many thanks
Marlena
 
Marlena said:
I have noticed a few white specks on the neck of the bottle, maybe insulin is off now? I started this bottle in January.
Click to expand...
I've had that too, Marlena, but haven't noticed any 'provable' effect on the viability of the insulin. I have, on a couple of occasions, bought a new vial of insulin because I felt sure that the current vial must have 'given up the ghost', only to find that Bert's numbers were exactly the same with the new insulin.... This isn't to say that your insulin hasn't sparked out; just that it might not have... I've had vials that I've used for 8 months or more and they've still been fine. I hope yours is too..

Marlena said:
A couple days ago I, unfortunately left the bottle on the table for about 3 hours. Would that affect the quality of insulin?
Click to expand...
I left mine out overnight, and it was a pretty mild night too. :oops:
But, so far there's been nothing to indicate that my insulin has lost potency.... I'm thinking that this may reduce the over-all life of the insulin, but might not affect it's potency immediately...

Marlena said:
Could you please look as his SS and tell me if I'm doing something wrong.
What about the insulin please?
Click to expand...
The fact that his BG didn't rise in the hours immediately following the shot suggests to me that it did have some effect, although not perhaps what you would want (it held the numbers but didn't drop them).

Rocky's numbers look amazing to me, Marlena (especially given that these are Alphatrak numbers); and I think you'd be the envy of many people here. ;) But I do understand that you know Rocky's rhythms really well, and you do perceive a problem. Maybe there's something amiss here and I just can't see it... I'm going to tag Sue @Sue and Oliver (GA) to see if she's able to take a look.

Hugs,

Eliz
 
Dear Eliz,
thank you so much for your information.
I really needed that assurance because I was getting anxious thinking that I was doing something wrong.
It looks to me that if I don't shoot on low number Rocky's BG gets high pm so I need to dose him, it looks like he still needs insulin - is my thinking correct?
Am I right to say that with Hypurin PS and nadirs are equally important? If his nadir is too low (3.7 or lower) does it mean that I need to reduce the dose?
And another thing: I have just discovered that the vet assured me that Rocky's blood test are Ok but there are not. He has very low level of folate and high level of B12 which might be due to supplementing him with B12. I have to find his previous test results to be sure but I think some months ago his folate level was too high. From what I know the high level of folate is due to wrong bacteria overgrowth( SIBO) and low levels is probably due to intestinal disease. So he probably has some sort of inflammation in his digestive system going on. Might be EPI too. Need to read up on it and think what other tests or investigation I might need to do.
If you know anything about that I would be grateful for the info.
I will do my research tomorrow as it bothers me.
So grateful for your kind reply.
Have a very good night darling.
Please let me know how you are and how is Bertie doing.
Lots of love
Marlena
 
Hi Marlena,

There is very little information about Feline EPI on the web. Here are the best links I have found to date:

About half-way down the page on the first link there is a subsection with some good information and research links for feline EPI.

Early last year they set up a website for cats with EPI and a forum. I've not reviewed the EPI in Cats site or forum, so can't comment as to the quality of info there.


EPI in Cats Info - Articles and Research Links

EPI in Cats - new website

EPI in Cats - Forum


Mogs
.
 
Dear Mogs,
many thanks for info.
Do you agree that folate level are important?
Another example of vets ignoring test results. So why bother testing if you don't even acknowledge that something is not right, I will never know!
I've requested that the vet run these tests (it is a fight every time) so I think I have to make sure that I check the outcome I suppose. It is a bit annoying that you pay an "expert" but you have to do the job yourself!
In the meantime Rocky is doing well but there is something bothering him, I know.
I think I know why he eats grass like a cow as grass is a very good source of folate.
Today I'm going to buy him a folate supplement (a proper one, not folic acid - big difference) and I'm going to add some greens to his food.
Once again thank you for help.
Love to you and kitties and I hope you have a lot of sunshine (wherever you are).
Marlena:):):)
 
Hi Marlena,

Can't comment on the folate side of things because I've not had an issue with Saoirse in that respect and therefore haven't looked into it at all.

Marlena said:
It is a bit annoying that you pay an "expert" but you have to do the job yourself!
Click to expand...
Best way of getting the job done right, Marlena! Although I do agree that it's frustrating that those with qualifications frequently don't demonstrate the level of knowledge and expertise we would once, in our blissfully ignorant days, have considered reasonable to expect.


Mogs
.
 
I think his numbers look nice, Marlena. Not sure why he was flat. It might be that he needs a tiny bit less - it does look like he got a little better numbers on 0.25 (sometimes). But in general, I would just keep doing what you are doing. Some kitties seem to take forever, sitting in blues and greens, before they decide they can do without the insulin.....
 
@Elizabeth and Bertie , @Sue and Oliver (GA)
Dear girls,
Rocky's PMPS is 4.7 after at +9 8.9 and he was drinking a lot of water all day.
Does it mean that his onset is very late or the dose is too high and he was bouncing?
I'm thinking no shot or very reduced dose like s0.25.
Do I think correctly?
 
Marlena said:
Why did he dropped from 8.9 at +9 to 4.7 at+12?!!!
Click to expand...
Might be worth redoing that test, Marlena, just to make sure it wasn't a wonky result. But...if it's still close to 4.7 then yes, it's possible that it's a late nadir or.... it just may be that Rocky's pancreas is doing a bit more work...? :nailbiting:
In the circumstances, if it were my cat, I would want to see that the numbers are definitely rising before giving any insulin...
.
 
Oh dear!
it's good I decided to wait and test again and guess what?
Rocky's BG almost an hour after 4.7 is 3.5!
So food and no insulin od course and a watchful eye for the evening! Ha!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top