Glucose on urine test strip (new member)

[Muir2000]

Hello everyone, I have just joined the forum. I’m at my wits end. My baby Ichabod (well she’s 13) was diagnosed with diabetes in October after we noticed excessive thirst. She’s a very aggressive and highly strung cat so the vet said to try senvelgo rather than injections because lord knows, if I somehow managed to get ONE injection in her, I know she’d never let me near her again for a repeat, certainly not twice daily. She’s been taking senvelgo on her chicken in broth every morning for just over a month now but she’s more ravenously hungry than ever and her thirst doesn’t seem much improved either. I know I should just take her to vets but they have to give her a general anaesthetic to do anything with her and I am very hesitant to do that as are they. I used a test strip in her urine just now and the glucose looks so high very happy there’s no ketones (seemingly) at least! Are these strips trustworthy does anyone know? I suppose I should report this to the vet in the morning and see what they say? I’m just so scared because if they say injections are needed I know it won’t be possible

 

[Albert & Xander]

I wouldn't consider them to be scientifically accurate since they aren't calibrated for cats, but I would trust that this likely means she has a fair amount of glucose in her urine. When my cat first started experiencing symptoms, I used these tests just to see before going to the vet and found similar results which matched with the lab results showing high glucose.

If you don't mind me asking, what are your reservations regarding injections? It was definitely very intimidating to me at diagnosis and I was not sure if my cat would be able to tolerate the injections and testing, but he surprisingly adapted extremely well

 

[CORKY]

@Sienne and Gabby (GA)

 

[Glassgoblin]

Hello everyone, I have just joined the forum. I’m at my wits end. My baby Ichabod (well she’s 13) was diagnosed with diabetes in October after we noticed excessive thirst. She’s a very aggressive and highly strung cat so the vet said to try senvelgo rather than injections because lord knows, if I somehow managed to get ONE injection in her, I know she’d never let me near her again for a repeat, certainly not twice daily. She’s been taking senvelgo on her chicken in broth every morning for just over a month now but she’s more ravenously hungry than ever and her thirst doesn’t seem much improved either. I know I should just take her to vets but they have to give her a general anaesthetic to do anything with her and I am very hesitant to do that as are they. I used a test strip in her urine just now and the glucose looks so high very happy there’s no ketones (seemingly) at least! Are these strips trustworthy does anyone know? I suppose I should report this to the vet in the morning and see what they say? I’m just so scared because if they say injections are needed I know it won’t be possible

We have just started Senvelgo, and I remembered reading about glucose in the urine; they say "SGLT2 Inhibitor: Senvelgo is a Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, causing it to be excreted in the urine" in my instructions. It is confusing to me because they say increased hunger and thirst can be side effects, but then can be signs of other things too. I'd talk to your vet, but maybe not stress too much about the urine strip test? We get to see our Vet tomorrow for our first check up after beginning the drug.

 

[CORKY]

We have just started Senvelgo, and I remembered reading about glucose in the urine; they say "SGLT2 Inhibitor: Senvelgo is a Sodium Glucose Co-Transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, causing it to be excreted in the urine" in my instructions. It is confusing to me because they say increased hunger and thirst can be side effects, but then can be signs of other things too. I'd talk to your vet, but maybe not stress too much about the urine strip test? We get to see our Vet tomorrow for our first check up after beginning the drug.

@Diane Tyler's Mom GA
@Suzanne & Darcy

 

[Robo & B]

Hi don't worry too much about the glucose urine test strip senvelgo works by the excess glucose going out through the urine so that test strip is expected to show lots of glucose in the urine. But is that top test leukocytes? Positive?

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Have you considered having a Libre sensor applied? They’re not perfect, but you really need to get an idea of her blood glucose levels (or interstitial fluid glucose numbers in the case of a Libre continuous glucose monitor.)

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Those urine test strips are just going to tell you that she’s spilling a lot of glucose into her urine. That’s not surprising for an uncontrolled diabetic cat. That’s not the kind of information you need regarding your cat’s blood glucose. You need more specifics.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Regarding her behavior at the vet, consider Gabapentin. It should be given the evening before a visit to the vet and in the morning two hours prior to the time of the appointment. It sounds like she may need a larger dose.

 

[Muir2000]

I am sorry, I didn’t get any reply notifications!

I wouldn't consider them to be scientifically accurate since they aren't calibrated for cats, but I would trust that this likely means she has a fair amount of glucose in her urine. When my cat first started experiencing symptoms, I used these tests just to see before going to the vet and found similar results which matched with the lab results showing high glucose.

If you don't mind me asking, what are your reservations regarding injections? It was definitely very intimidating to me at diagnosis and I was not sure if my cat would be able to tolerate the injections and testing, but he surprisingly adapted extremely well

I am sorry, I didn’t get notifications for replies!
The reservation with injections is because of how aggressive she is. Doesn’t like to be stroked so I can’t imagine her response to being scruffed and injected twice daily. When it comes to vet day and boxing her she tends to hide under the bed and it really stresses her out trying to catch her There’s no way I can do that twice a day (let alone at the same time each day.)

 

[Muir2000]

Hi don't worry too much about the glucose urine test strip senvelgo works by the excess glucose going out through the urine so that test strip is expected to show lots of glucose in the urine. But is that top test leukocytes? Positive?

Yes that does seem to be!

 

[Glassgoblin]

I am sorry, I didn’t get any reply notifications!

I am sorry, I didn’t get notifications for replies!
The reservation with injections is because of how aggressive she is. Doesn’t like to be stroked so I can’t imagine her response to being scruffed and injected twice daily. When it comes to vet day and boxing her she tends to hide under the bed and it really stresses her out trying to catch her There’s no way I can do that twice a day (let alone at the same time each day.)

Has your vet ever offered gabapentin to help with the stress of vet visits? If you can get it in a capsule it is easily mixed into a wet treat like churu and not too expensive. My FHS gets half a capsule twice a day and I mix it into churu on a plate for her, and a month's worth of capsules is only 11.83 currently (I know that may differ greatly at other Vet offices but it seems to be the cheaper form of the drug).

 

[CORKY]

@Sienne and Gabby (GA)

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I don't know if you saw Suzanne's suggestions above. The Libre is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that has been used in humans for some time now and many vets have been recommending it for cats that have difficulty with being tested manually. The Libre is a sensor that attaches directly to your cat's skin and you can read the blood glucose results on a phone app. Since you're reading blood glucose levels, you don't have to be concerned over urine glucose levels which are likely inflated by the way that Senvelgo works.

As others noted, either gabapentin or a version of gabapentin -- pregabalin -- will help with vet stress.

 

[Muir2000]

Has your vet ever offered gabapentin to help with the stress of vet visits? If you can get it in a capsule it is easily mixed into a wet treat like churu and not too expensive. My FHS gets half a capsule twice a day and I mix it into churu on a plate for her, and a month's worth of capsules is only 11.83 currently (I know that may differ greatly at other Vet offices but it seems to be the cheaper form of the drug).

Yes we tried it just the once a fair few years ago now but it was very upsetting. Her legs weren’t working fully as she was trying to walk but she still seemed absolutely mentally wired and so confused and angry as to why she couldn’t So we never touched it again after that. We’ve been lucky only needing vet visits once a year where they give her a general anaesthetic and trim her fur for her. She doesn’t let me brush her so she gets matted if we don’t trim in spring time! The vets said they weren’t going to check on her til we next take her for trim because of how she is but that seems a long time on senvelgo with no check up to me (6 months). I think I have to bite the bullet and call them tomorrow and say there’s absolutely no improvement to her symptoms of hunger and thirst even though she’s seemingly taking the senvelgo every day.

 

[Muir2000]

I don't know if you saw Suzanne's suggestions above. The Libre is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that has been used in humans for some time now and many vets have been recommending it for cats that have difficulty with being tested manually. The Libre is a sensor that attaches directly to your cat's skin and you can read the blood glucose results on a phone app. Since you're reading blood glucose levels, you don't have to be concerned over urine glucose levels which are likely inflated by the way that Senvelgo works.

As others noted, either gabapentin or a version of gabapentin -- pregabalin -- will help with vet stress.

Is it an alternative to having blood taken you mean? I can ask the vet about that but I don’t suppose it removes the need for the general anaesthetic if she has to be shaved there and then have it applied?

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

You're likely correct unless your vet is good with trying gabapentin or pregabalin for cat's anxiety. Once the spot is shaved, you can reapply a new sensor at home. They last 2 weeks