Dora Week One: Ear Testing Challenges

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Dora the Explorer

Dora the Explorer

Member Since 2020
Happy Saturday everyone - hope all are well.

I posted last week about Dora (still no signature, we are still not really settled in) but she is on one unit of Lantus 2x/day. This is really all I can say about her - we have not been testing her. The vet said her blood glucose was 450 last Thursday and she had high sugar in her urine. She's been good about the shots and she's been acting fine. We were supposed to do a urine test this past Thursday or Friday and report back.

I tried to get the urine but I wasn't too successful as she ended up peeing around the fake litter and onto the regular - I dropped the strip in really fast and it appeared she still had some sugar. My tester kit is hung up at the post office in Newark for five days now and I'm told it could be as late as Wednesday but I don't think anyone really knows.

So we went out and bought a OneTouch Ultra2 (my first time in public since March 11!) and went through about eight lancets before we finally got a successful prick. The level? 71! She had her insulin at 7am and this was at 12:15pm, so pretty much at the peak effectiveness if I understand correctly. I just called the vet and left a message, she is in surgery, they said.

Question: is that level accurate? We had a good strong red drop of blood and it filled the strip immediately and the reading came right up. Given that it's a human meter, would that be a verifiable result? The meter I have on the way is the AlphaTrack.

Assuming it is accurate, does this mean the insulin is working and we should test again before giving her more insulin? Is it normal for their insulin to go that low? I think the vet said she liked to keep it a little higher to make sure she didn't go too low. I am still in disbelief that she has this and am hoping she will be able to go off the insulin and be controlled by diet. She thanks those of you who recommended FancyFeast pate, she enjoys it very much. She is only five years old and generally healthy other than this and a heart murmur.

Thank you for any insights while I wait to hear from the vet. This was our first time testing her, and she's been on the insulin for just about a week. I do watch her very closely and her general demeanor has improved.

Jane
 
First CONGRATULATIONS on getting that first test! When ever I was in doubt of a reading I did another one.(havent had a diabetic in years) That 70 is on its way to the danger zone. I would try giving some food then in a hour test again.
WAIT FOR MORE RESPONSE
If you look at the "Suggestions Tech Support & Testing" forum you will find a thread that helps you create a spreadsheet. Please do this so everyone can help you more efficiently.
again I am not an expert so you should wait for more responses. GOOD LUCK!
 
Thank you! Dora is a spirited and feisty girl so we want to balance what she will let us do without too much resistance with what she needs done. I'm wondering if just testing her around 6:30 before she's due to eat dinner would be a good idea to see if she needs a dose tonight. I will also see what her vet says. Thanks for the congrats! It was a big win! I could never do this several times a day, though. It was a two person, many treat job. :-)
 
I don't know how we would have done this without quarantine. When life goes back to normal, it will be tough.

The vet had her tech call me back and say skip the dose tonight, and then give her a half dose in the morning. She said that they were unsure if the human glucometer was reliable (?) but obviously that's concerningly low. She didn't recommend retesting until after tomorrow's dose: feed her, insulin, then test an hour later. I think we may try to just test her before she even eats. Or should we test after she eats and before insulin? We are also down to four lancets because we wasted so many learning what to do, there were only ten in the starter pack.
 
Unless your kitty is fractious, theres no such thing as too much testing (in my mind). All tests, give you a better insight into how your kitty is functioning. Our Trouble never came around to even tolerating his tests . It took two of us. :p
I dont understand Vets when they say not to test. Even if your cat is fractious, its still less stress than taking them in for a test.

Please try and set up a spread sheet. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

It really is the best way for the experts to see exactly whats going on. I know we sound like a broken record. If you are having problems doing this @Chris&China will help you with it.
 
Thank you - I have been looking at the spreadsheet and finally understand it. Fractious? I prefer "spirited and feisty" but yes - there is a concern with window of opportunity with Dora.

At the vet, she had to be sedated for her blood work. So that's the problem - I watch these videos and have to laugh at the cats who just sit there and look around while the owners explain what they're about to do. I'm thankful she lets us do the shots and she's tolerating the testing.

And ok, here is a spreadsheet although not much to say. I have the AlphaTrack on its way and was waiting for that.

Oh, one thing: what is "dosing method" in the spreadsheet?

Thanks again :)
 
Dora the Explorer said:
So we went out and bought a OneTouch Ultra2
Click to expand...
I use that meter for Snuffles and the OneTouch Mini for Wiggles. Both use the same strips. I use these strips, a lot less than the genuine OneTouch strips
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B081VRLR5M/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
I started with oneTouch meets in the early 2000s but stopped using them since the strips became too expensive. I started again when I fount the strips in the link above.

The only disadvantage with these OneTouch meters is that the strisp require 1 uL of blood. That really does not bother me. In the past I have used a meter/strios combo that required 3 uL
 
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