First glucose curve a bust

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Tuxedo Mom

Tuxedo Mom

Member Since 2014
Today Tuxie had his first glucose curve done at the vet. His levels were high throughout the 6 hour period until they called it quite. He had his food about 1/2 hour before I took him to the vet. We did the first glucose 22 CDN about 400 US. When I called 6 hours later I was told it never went below the initial level. But Tuxie gets stressed very easily and never ate, drank or used the litter box while at the vet. He is on 1 unit Lantis right now and I agree that it needs to go up a bit. The vet suggested 2 units but I argued for 1 1/2 units until I start doing glucose testing at home...now that I have been shown how to do it properly. I was concerned that his readings were largely stress related and his stress may have just gone up through the day. This is the first time he has been away from home and me without being sedated or under anaesthetic.

Now that he is back home he is eating, drinking (too much) and peeing (too much). Did I do the right thing in refusing to go up a whole unit since I don't trust the glucose readings while under stress. Also tonite he really need to do a poop..he has tried 5 times but no luck so far. I gave him a teaspoon of homemade pumpkin puree to see if that will help. I don't know if this is because he didn't eat or drink for almost 9 hours..the stress or a combination of everything.

Also one more question. Tuxie has weakness in his back legs..he is no longer able to jump on the bed or couch. I asked about B12 supplementation. The vet said that the oral form..supplements..does not work and he would need the B12 injections. Does anyone have any links to studies that can tell me if the pill form crushed would work...I would only use the methyl form.

Thanks
 
Sorry that curve was a bust and it left Tuxie so upset :sad: Curves a the vet usually aren't very useful.

Have you tried hometesting? I recommend getting a regular human glucometer and start doing your own testing at home. No need to even try a curve at the vet's office.

For B12, we never tried the oral supplements, we had shots done on one of our old ladies and we called it her get-up-and-go juice 'cause it sure put the spring back in her step. They were going to prepare it for us to do at home, but it always turned out we were bringing her in for something every couple of weeks so they just kept doing the shots there. Hopefully you will get B12 in one form or another into Tuxie soon and it helps him!

As far as the dose increase, 1.5U sounds like a good increase. If Tuxie remains high like that, you may also want to get some ketosis test strips and be testing for ketones in the urine too.
 
I gave my elderly (non-diabetic) cat B12 for the last year of her life. Since she was in chronic kidney failure, I simply added the B12 to her bag of fluids, but you can easily do injections at home. My vet sold me an entire 50ml bottle for a few dollars. The B12 made a huge difference for Jazz, but it also works as a mild appetite stimulant (good in her case, but potentially problematic for a diabetic cat). Good luck!
 
I had a human glucometer but after 2 "easy" reads I was stressing him out so much his reading was not reliable. I bought an Alpha Trak and was shown the right way to use it today so I will definitely be trying to do my own home testing. Tuxie gets stressed out very easily and has since he first came home 14 yrs ago.

I will be starting the 1.5 units tomorrow morning and trying the home blood glucose testing. The B12 injections I can get and do at home. It will cost about $40/month to buy the injectable from my vet.

I am already up to over $1000 Cdn in the last 2 weeks for vet visits, glucometer, insulin, needles and ketodiastix. Unfortunately I am on a fixed income which really does not allow for this much extra expense in such a short period of time. I have cancelled my eye exam/new glasses and my tooth extraction until I can get this under control. If I can see results with Tuxie then I have no problem scrambling to make ends meet.

I think I am just at a worn out point right now..thanks for letting me vent.
 
Hi. I'm in Canada too and it's very likely that the B12 injections they are talking about is cyanocobalamin not methylcobalamin. My vet said it had to be injections too which I tried for 6 weeks. No change. I ordered methylcobalamin tablets from Vitacost (recommended here) and he's been taking them daily for a month. He's already walking better altho we have a long way to go yet.

They're not too expensive. I hear you re cost as I am in the same boat. Try eBay for testing strips - I got a whole bunch there. Most of your expense you've already done now. If you can home test you're vet visits should be a lot less.
 
If cost is an issue, the Alpha Trak meter may not be your best option. Consider getting the Relion Micro or Confirm- the test strips are $35.00 for 100. And home testing is definitely most cost effective than a curve done at the vet- my own vet told me this from the very start, due to vet stress!
 
I have already bought the Alpha Trak kit with meter 25 test strips and 30 lancets. I did a reading just a while ago and was able to do it with no problem so at least this one works for me. His reading was still quite high ....25 Cdn (450 US) after 4.5 hours since insulin. I did 1.25 units tonite and will do 1.5 tomorrow when I can watch him during the day. He is still VERY stressed. I thought he might be constipated but it seems he is having small "deposits" of runny poops and seems to be experiencing some distress. I don't think I will be sleeping tonite..I don't know if this is from the stress of the glucose curve at the vet today or if there is more going on. I am so discouraged!!

On top of everything else...I checked on Tuxie and he has thrown up and is hiding on the bottom shelf of my cupboard upstairs. Could this all be from the stress of the vet glucose curve...he is a VERY anxious cat and gets stressed really easily.
 
Sorry to hear that :YMHUG: :YMHUG: Did he eat anything tonight? Not to gross you out but was the vomit food based or clear foam? Have you noticed him straining at the litter box? Constipation can cause vomiting but so can other things. I know this is tough, hang in there! :YMHUG:
 
This will be a long night I think. I don't get grossed out about anything so I am able to check all sorts of "outputs"with Tuxie if it will give me a clue to what is happening.

He had 1/4 cup food before he went (he is on 1/4 cup 4x a day) He did not eat, drink or use the litter box at all at the vets...he was there 8 hours. When Tuxie got home he drank a bunch of water and ate about 1/8 cup food. Then when it was time for his insulin he ate another about 1/4 cup food and had his shot...1.25units Lantus. After awhile he was constantly going to the litter box to poop but nothing was happening so I assumed he was constipated. I gave him a little bit of pumpkin puree. Since then he had about 3 small "spots" of runny poop and I have found 3 more formed but still softer "deposits" all over the house. After that he threw up..looks like mostly the food he had eaten earlier. He seems a bit less uncomfortable since he threw up.

I don't know if this is from the stress of the all day glucose curve..which didn't work out or if there is more going on. As I said before he is very anxious and skitty cat and does get stressed out very easy. Today would have been a major stress inducer for him. I don't think I can go to bed until I see that he is comfortable and not in distress in any way.
 
Well that's good that you don't get grossed out, we tend to talk a lot about pee, poop; purring, preening and playing, known as the 5 P's in the Whole Cat Report. If you later join one of the Insulin Support groups, the 5P's are a vital part of the picture of your cat.

Another member just sent me this link the other day, I had not seen it before- it will tell you nearly everything there is to know about poop! http://www.felineconstipation.org/introduction.html

I would watch Tuxedo closely- watch to see if he is eating, and drinking normally too. But if this constipation continues, he needs to be seen by the vet! Hopefully, he will settle down and feel better soon! How is his BG?
 
Thanks to eevryone who responded to my post. I was so worried last nite/early morning

Tuxie acted constipated going to the box many times without pooping. But after he had 3 "drops" of mushy poo and finally 3 formed poos... a little on the soft side but not overly stinky and did not appear to have any blood. After that he threw up. I did a reading 22 Cdn or about 400 US and this was 4.5 hours after his shot. A little later he seemed to be feeling better and ate and drank some. So I finally went to bed.

This morning he seems just fine..eating, drinking, peeing and his normal energy levels. I did a reading this morning and it was high.. 28 Cdn just over 500 US. So I started his new insulin dose at 1.5 units and will see how that goes.

I just wonder if his "sick" period last nite/early morning was because of all the stress of going to the vet and being there for 8 hours for the curve. He does NOT handle stress and change at all, In any case I am home all day...thank goodness...so I will continue monitoring him.
 
Tuxie has been a bit off today..probably from throwing up last night. But he is back to eating and drinking (too much) but his energy levels seem very low.

I tested him this morning and his BG was 28.9 Cdn 500+ US. I started the 1.5 unit lantus today..up .5 unit from the starting dose 2 weeks ago. I tested again at +5 and it was still high 24.7 (450+). I didn't test before his next dose as I am letting me free eat today since his appetite was down this morning. At +3 his evening reading was 23.1 (414).

I don't understand..when Tuxie first started 2 weeks ago ...his very first shot of 1 unit he showed results. Reading before starting was 22 (400)...+3 after first shot it was 7.8 (140). After that I wasn't testing because I was having trouble getting enough blood and I was really stressing him out. I got the AlphTrak and we are both happy with the testing. But the first 8-10 days he seemed to be improving visually anyway...less water and urine, more energy...then he started sliding back down. I wish I had gotten the AplhTrak earlier.

Now he is on 1.5 units although the vet said I could go to 2..but with him being sick last night I didn't want to go up too much until I was sure he was feeling better. I will check him again in the morning and see what his BG is doing. I might decide to go to the 2 unit dose as long as he seems to be feeling ok.
 
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