First Glucose curve on Mandarin

[Mandarin'sMom]

After two weeks on Insulin (and sporadic testing), I did the first glucose curve on my shy little Mandarin. Despite my best socialization efforts, I didn’t think I could catch him (or, rather, entice him to come to me) every two hours at this point. So, unfortunately, I had to put him in a crate for the day, which definitely spooked him. I usually give Insulin at 8am, but he absolutely refused to eat after I put him in the crate and did the first test. So I held off on the Insulin until after he finally ate some canned food (around 9am). Despite the stress of being crated, his numbers are lower than what I thought (his pre-test values are always above 300, but the low numbers are normally in the 240s). However, he only ate about half of what he usually eats.

I will talk to my vet tomorrow too, but what are everyone’s suggestions? Do you think it’s time to increase the dosage (if so, by how much)? And what do people make of these numbers – it doesn’t seem like this is much of a “curve” (the last test is not until 9pm).

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc ... sp=sharing
(I hope the link is working)

 

[BJM]

Yes, he would appear due for an increase. At least 0.2 to 0.25 units more should help.

Have you read our protocol on ProZinc? Take a look then ask questions.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Interesting curve. He seems to be continuing to fall. I would be sure he is rising, not falling for his pm shot. I think I would get some more data before increasing. I'd want to see if he is bouncing up to that am preshot after going lower overnight. If his numbers fall through +12, it's possible that he needs less rather than more insulin. Or the reduced food intake could be influencing his numbers.

Can you get some data for the next few cycles - definitely preshots, maybe a number in that 5-7 hour and late in the cycle. It'd be nice to see a pattern.

Are you sure offering a snack each time you poke?

 

[Mandarin'sMom]

I just added a few numbers from earlier in the week. For some reason, his numbers are always higher in the morning and lower at night (even though I feed two meals 12 hours apart). He is generally a good eater and I monitor him and Capone (my other, non-diabetic cat) long enough to make sure that they are both eating. If they don't finish their canned food, I offer a snack about 2-3 hours later (since Mandarin won't touch the food once it's been sitting out for a while). He does get some treats during the day - but they are all low carb.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Those numbers help. It looks like he is generally in the 200s. I do wonder what happened on 11/27 when he had the low pmps?

Sometimes am numbers are higher. This might be that the cat eats less (or more) or they have more activity in the am versus pm or they may go lower at night and then bounce. (getting a number midcyle some night may help you figure that out.)

 

[Mandarin'sMom]

No idea what happened to his numbers on Thanksgiving - it was pretty quiet and uneventful around here.

I have noticed that he is a lot more active and playful now that I have started him on Insulin. He has lost some weight (almost 2 pounds pre-diagnosis and a few more ounces since I changed his diet). He seems generally happier and has crazy bursts of energy. He likes food rewards, but he also comes running when I get out his favorite toys. So all of that is really great and I am hoping that we will reach a point where I can test him without having to freak him out and confine him to a cage.

 

[Kimmied]

I read here that some add warm water to the wet food in kitty's dish to make a gravy( a watery gravy at best).

I do that for both of mine: Hank and his civie- cousin, Oscar. They both will lap up the liquid first before eating the food. Plus, by doing this, the wet food tends not to dry out before the next feeding.

Good job on the curve! :thumbup

Kimmie

 

[Mandarin'sMom]

Interesting curve. He seems to be continuing to fall. I would be sure he is rising, not falling for his pm shot. I think I would get some more data before increasing. I'd want to see if he is bouncing up to that am preshot after going lower overnight. If his numbers fall through +12, it's possible that he needs less rather than more insulin. Or the reduced food intake could be influencing his numbers.

Can you get some data for the next few cycles - definitely preshots, maybe a number in that 5-7 hour and late in the cycle. It'd be nice to see a pattern.

Are you sure offering a snack each time you poke?

I just checked one last time for his curve and the glucose did indeed continue to fall at the +12 point - it's 186 now. As soon as he realized that he was free to leave the cage, he ate his entire dinner in less than five minutes... so I think the small breakfast that he ate had something to do with the low numbers. Very glad it's done and I really hope I can figure out a less stressful way to do this the next time.