@Carriecae so I think the conclusion is if you can't test. Get the urine strips that test for ketones. Ketones in urine is a medical emergency. Ketones will show up in urine if blood sugars have been high and not regulated with insulin or enough insulin.
And know the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar and high blood sugar.
If you have any concerns try this forum, if no one is on here or able to respond, then I'd call a 24hr vetinarian hospital and explain your situation and they should be able to give you some advice.
This is just me sharing my experience, its not to terrify you, but its just the reality of diabetes and not being able to test glucose while giving insulin.
Mazi went to the vetinarian hospital and was diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, his blood sugar was in the 600's. They got his sugars down to the 300s and in less than 24 hrs from being admitted they sent me home with insulin, told me to monitor blood sugar at home. I told them I didn't have a home testing kit yet and I ordered a meter but it would be a day or two before it was delivered. They told me he would be fine and to give him 1 unit of insulin 2 times a day. Mind you he wasn't back to eating normally.
I brought him home and gave him his evening dose without testing and then his morning dose. It was just 12 hours after discharge and he was showing signs of hypoglycemia. I rushed him to back to the hospital. His blood sugar was 23 and almost passed away twice. Once from the DKA and the 2nd time from the hypoglycemia. He was 23 points or less from being brain dead bc his brain was being deprived of sugar.
Again, im not trying to terrify you, im just giving the reality. I am mortified that the hospital sent him home with me knowing I couldn't home monitor and that he still wasn't back to wanting to eat on his own. He ended up almost dying, in the ICU for 4 days, and I was stuck with a $6,000 bill.
If I can help anyone and any kitty from going thru what I went thru, I will. I just want to help educate and help caregivers know the reality of the complications of diabetes.
Again, I know you're doing all you can to keep Mr. Jellybean safe, and trying your best fighting jellybean to get those blood glucose numbers. I can imagine your hands and arms are full of wounds. Mine were too.
Just keep trying, and don't give up.Thats all you can do, but Wendy brought a up a great suggestion of checking his urine for ketones daily while you're getting the hang of testing.
Plus I know you are doing so much reading your brain is prolly going in circles. I've been there too. Diabetes is a complex disorder to understand. I am still learning and have so much to learn. I just want to tell you you're trying your best, and the love you have for jellybean shows. You and Jellybean are going to get the hang of things soon, I know it!
Keep asking questions, even if they're hypothetical questions to prepare yourself for situations you know you might face one day. My thoughts are, just try to get ahead of things.
I would say just keep practicing, get some urine ketone strips, and know the symptoms of high blood sugar, low blood sugar, and diabetic ketoacidosis like the back of your hand.
Good luck! I'll be praying for you and jellybean!
