Help Meter reads HI Tipper
- Thread starter tipper11
- Start date
- Status
Nicole & Baby
Member Since 2009
Hi, I'm sorry to see Tipper HI, please get a +1 & see if the reading is lower. How is Tipper acting? Are you testing for ketones?
Nicole & Baby
Member Since 2009
Hi, Patty - you are doing nothing wrong - Tipper is Diabetic & unfortunately having high #s. What you are doing is right, testing & giving insulin. I can't see you spreadsheet because I'm on my mobile device, your shooting twice a day & testing for ketones? Is Tipper on low carb wet or raw food? Sometimes we do everything right it just takes the kitty's body time to see lower #s. Now that Tipper is down, you will want to remove the 911.
Beth & Atlas
Member Since 2010
Good morning Tipper,
Welcome to FDMB and Lantus Land!
First in looking at your spreadsheet you are new to lantus and working with lantus is a marathon. So take a deep breath and breathe...we'll help you get this worked out. It is fantastic that you are hometesting! Good for you and good for your kittie.
Second, it looks like there is an infection going on. You are using an antibiotic and when there is an infection it will cause your cat's BG to run higher than normal.
HI on your meter looks over 600. I hate when that happens as you don't know if it is one point (601 or 650 or 1000). But looking at your SS it shows very high 500 numbers. So I suspect you were slightly above 600 and his numbers came down quickly so whew... Keep in mind as well as reading on the same meter can vary up to 20%. So a HI reading could vary as much at 120 points. That is why I often retest immediately to verify a 'wonky' reading. Sometimes though...HI is HI.
With HI readings like these it is imperative you test the urine for ketones. If you have not already done so pick up to diastix at the pharmacy, no prescription needed. Simply place in the cats urine stream to check for ketones. If there are ketones...call your vet immediately or if unavailable a trip to an ER is needed.
I notice that you and your vet are increasing in half unit increments, which based on our protocal is allowable when numbers are as high as yours. We're used to increasing cats around here though a bit slower at 0.25u. But looking at the numbers you may be just fine for now with 0.5u increases.
How much does you cat weigh and what should be his ideal weight? There is a calculation we can use to figure out what your starting dose should have been...I suspect you are just now approaching it.
With you cat having an infection we do want to use caution with increases because as soon as the infection starts to clear...his/her BG numbers should start to fall.
When you get a chance you can remove the 911 from your subject line...Thanks!
Welcome to FDMB and Lantus Land!
First in looking at your spreadsheet you are new to lantus and working with lantus is a marathon. So take a deep breath and breathe...we'll help you get this worked out. It is fantastic that you are hometesting! Good for you and good for your kittie.
Second, it looks like there is an infection going on. You are using an antibiotic and when there is an infection it will cause your cat's BG to run higher than normal.
HI on your meter looks over 600. I hate when that happens as you don't know if it is one point (601 or 650 or 1000). But looking at your SS it shows very high 500 numbers. So I suspect you were slightly above 600 and his numbers came down quickly so whew... Keep in mind as well as reading on the same meter can vary up to 20%. So a HI reading could vary as much at 120 points. That is why I often retest immediately to verify a 'wonky' reading. Sometimes though...HI is HI.
With HI readings like these it is imperative you test the urine for ketones. If you have not already done so pick up to diastix at the pharmacy, no prescription needed. Simply place in the cats urine stream to check for ketones. If there are ketones...call your vet immediately or if unavailable a trip to an ER is needed.
I notice that you and your vet are increasing in half unit increments, which based on our protocal is allowable when numbers are as high as yours. We're used to increasing cats around here though a bit slower at 0.25u. But looking at the numbers you may be just fine for now with 0.5u increases.
How much does you cat weigh and what should be his ideal weight? There is a calculation we can use to figure out what your starting dose should have been...I suspect you are just now approaching it.
With you cat having an infection we do want to use caution with increases because as soon as the infection starts to clear...his/her BG numbers should start to fall.
When you get a chance you can remove the 911 from your subject line...Thanks!
Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)
Member Since 2010
Hi Patty & Tipper,
This is just to second everything that the others have said. You are doing nothing wrong. Just hang in there, keep testing Tipper's blood glucose so that you will have a better idea of how she is trending. And keep testing for ketones with Ketodiastix strips (available at any pharmacy without a prescription). This is important when numbers are so high. When Tipper's infection clears up, you will have to re-evaluate everything. Are you feeding low-carb wet food (see Janet & Binky's list in the Stickies)? Are you giving your insulin shots every 12 hours? (Lantus likes consistency and you will have the best results if you shoot every 12 hours). Are you keeping your Lantus in the 'fridge and treating it gently? (don't shake or roll the vial or cartridge; Lantus doesn't like to be shook up!)
Don't panic. It will be OK!
Welcome to LL!
Ella & Rusty
This is just to second everything that the others have said. You are doing nothing wrong. Just hang in there, keep testing Tipper's blood glucose so that you will have a better idea of how she is trending. And keep testing for ketones with Ketodiastix strips (available at any pharmacy without a prescription). This is important when numbers are so high. When Tipper's infection clears up, you will have to re-evaluate everything. Are you feeding low-carb wet food (see Janet & Binky's list in the Stickies)? Are you giving your insulin shots every 12 hours? (Lantus likes consistency and you will have the best results if you shoot every 12 hours). Are you keeping your Lantus in the 'fridge and treating it gently? (don't shake or roll the vial or cartridge; Lantus doesn't like to be shook up!)
Don't panic. It will be OK!
Welcome to LL!
Ella & Rusty
Beth: Patty tested for ketones yesterday with a negative reading. Tipper is on Clav due to a history of stress-related infections given he was semi-feral and not the healthiest kitty (i.e., herpes, ringworm, etc.) when Patty brought him inside.
Patty --
I do agree with Beth (Blue) that getting a ketone test daily until Tipper's numbers start to improve is a good precaution.
Thanks for getting some spot checks last night. I suspect that the readings are due to two things. First, even though Tipper's starting points are often high. if last night was any indication, those numbers are dropping during the cycle and are dropping relatively fast. When this happens, it can set off a "bounce." If a cat drops into low numbers, a kitty can bounce. In addition, if a cat's BG numbers drop quickly, that can also set off a bounce. On 2/3, Tipper dropped about 200 points in 2 hours. That's a fast drop. Because Tipper is used to hanging out in higher numbers, his liver interprets dropping into even the pinks as being "low" and the liver can panic and dump a stored form of glucose into the blood stream thereby causing numbers to jump back up.
The other factor may be that Tipper needs more insulin. Please get spot checks today. I would suggest raising Tipper's dose to 3.0u tonight. Please keep up your good work of getting spot checks. Without that information, it's not safe to raise Tipper's dose.
Are you still feeding dry D/M? Just so you are aware, it's 13% carb. Low carb food is considered less than 10% carb. Most of us feed less than 6 - 7% carb. Also, you mentioned feeding Fancy Feast. I am assuming these are also the low carb varieties. If you are unsure, Janet & Binky's food charts will give you info on carbs. I'd really encourage you to get rid of the D/M. The food is fighting the insulin and keeping Tipper's numbers up.
Many of the kitties here have started out in high numbers. It's very upsetting for the caregiver. As long as Tipper seems to be feeling good and there are no ketones, all is OK and we'll work with you to get those numbers down.
Patty --
I do agree with Beth (Blue) that getting a ketone test daily until Tipper's numbers start to improve is a good precaution.
Thanks for getting some spot checks last night. I suspect that the readings are due to two things. First, even though Tipper's starting points are often high. if last night was any indication, those numbers are dropping during the cycle and are dropping relatively fast. When this happens, it can set off a "bounce." If a cat drops into low numbers, a kitty can bounce. In addition, if a cat's BG numbers drop quickly, that can also set off a bounce. On 2/3, Tipper dropped about 200 points in 2 hours. That's a fast drop. Because Tipper is used to hanging out in higher numbers, his liver interprets dropping into even the pinks as being "low" and the liver can panic and dump a stored form of glucose into the blood stream thereby causing numbers to jump back up.
The other factor may be that Tipper needs more insulin. Please get spot checks today. I would suggest raising Tipper's dose to 3.0u tonight. Please keep up your good work of getting spot checks. Without that information, it's not safe to raise Tipper's dose.
Are you still feeding dry D/M? Just so you are aware, it's 13% carb. Low carb food is considered less than 10% carb. Most of us feed less than 6 - 7% carb. Also, you mentioned feeding Fancy Feast. I am assuming these are also the low carb varieties. If you are unsure, Janet & Binky's food charts will give you info on carbs. I'd really encourage you to get rid of the D/M. The food is fighting the insulin and keeping Tipper's numbers up.
Many of the kitties here have started out in high numbers. It's very upsetting for the caregiver. As long as Tipper seems to be feeling good and there are no ketones, all is OK and we'll work with you to get those numbers down.
mybuddybinks
Member Since 2010
hi, guys..
the wise ones have got you...just wanted to let you know i've been there on the panic at seeing the high numbers, and hoping Tipper comes down for you quickly.
celi & binks
the wise ones have got you...just wanted to let you know i've been there on the panic at seeing the high numbers, and hoping Tipper comes down for you quickly.
celi & binks
Libby and Lucy
Member Since 2009
I don't think I have said Welcome to Lantus Land yet!
I agree with an increase to 3.0 units tonight, unless you see some major surprises in the numbers today. Then keep gathering as much data as you can so we can be sure the dose is safe. With a lot of cats, they do have to crawl upward to a higher dose to get to a breakthrough, but once they hit that breakthrough dose then changes (lower numbers) can happen in a hurry. You take a series of steps up until you get to a breakthrough, then a series of steps down in dose until the cat settles on a dose that works well. It can be very frustrating on the way up, but you WILL see a breakthrough at some dose.
I agree with an increase to 3.0 units tonight, unless you see some major surprises in the numbers today. Then keep gathering as much data as you can so we can be sure the dose is safe. With a lot of cats, they do have to crawl upward to a higher dose to get to a breakthrough, but once they hit that breakthrough dose then changes (lower numbers) can happen in a hurry. You take a series of steps up until you get to a breakthrough, then a series of steps down in dose until the cat settles on a dose that works well. It can be very frustrating on the way up, but you WILL see a breakthrough at some dose.
- Status