Help!--Need Advice

I updated Noah's spreadsheet...I think I changed him too fast. I think because he was such a mess and had so many lows when he came home from the hospital on 5 units then 4.5 that I have panicked. I don't want to mess Noah up. He has had another flare up and on metronidazole again and he is doing much better today. He is now eating his purina dm and I can't believe it because he hated it. I am not sure what dose he needs or how long to hold him on the 2.25. He is super bouncy and has always been. I checked for ketones and it was negative so I am just hoping I can get him regulated. I know the 400's I seen were today were because I gave him the werurva with potato starch because he loves it and he wasn't eating well at all. I know he is super sensitive and he can't handle that. I can hold it for a couple more days to see if he regulates. He did go down to 272 on the first day I changed his dose. He goes to the vet for bloodwork tomorrow. They wanted a curve but he isn't ready for a full curve but I have
several numbers form today. Any advice on dosing is appreciated. I will keep up with the spreadsheet more...they are written down but I hadn't had a change to update on the computer.
 
There isn't a dose listed for the PM cycles the last two evenings....? Assuming you gave 2.25 for those cycles as well, I would say go ahead and move to 2.5u, but you may need to stay at that dose a little longer - time and data will tell.

Have I put in my 2 cents about using a human meter? I really much prefer them, especially when people are dealing with a bouncy cat and lots of stress. Human meters read lower, and they condense the range, so you will automatically feel better about the numbers you're seeing. It still gives the information we need to adjust dosing and keep a cat safe, but the protocols here are written for human meters, and they just seem to be so much easier on our mama-hearts as we deal with the stress of managing this disease. Plus, they are way way cheaper. Just something to consider.
 
I completely agree about the positive emotional effect of using a human meter. Teasel is a very bouncy cat too and using a human meter has helped me to stay calmer while still being able to adjust dosing as needed. Also - I started with an AT meter but at $2 a strip here in Canada couldn't afford to keep it up.
 
I am very interested in using a human meter.. if you can give me the exact info I would love to switch. I just don’t know what to use. He is super bouncy and I have probably panicked when I shouldn’t have.
 
I am very interested in using a human meter.. if you can give me the exact info I would love to switch. I just don’t know what to use. He is super bouncy and I have probably panicked when I shouldn’t have.
If you're in the US you could post on the main forum for advice. Djamila is in the US and she can probably help. Walmart had some models of their house brand, ReliOn, but those apparently aren't available any longer. I'm in Canada so I don't have access to some of the brands you do. I use a Freestyle Lite human meter but my understanding is that the strips for it are pricier in the US. All those supplies are pricey here.

The main thing is to get a meter that gives a reliable reading (few error messages) with only a very tiny blood drop like the AT. The strips should be affordable and readily available 24/7.
 
I use this one from ADW Diabetes: https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/8177/agamatrix-presto-blood-glucose-meter-kit-and-strips

I like that I can order online, but I can also get the strips at any Kroger grocery store (Ralphs, Dillons, Smith's, King Soopers, City Market, Fry's, QFC, and Harris Teeter). At the grocery they are sold under the store brand name, and of course that only works for the stores that include a pharmacy.

If you don't have any of those near you, WalMart store brand is called Relion, and any of those are fine as well. They have a few different options, and any of them work. I believe the Micro uses the smallest blood sample, and the Prime is the cheapest (if I'm remembering correctly). These are the meters that are the most popular around here. As Kris said, one of them was recently discontinued, but I'm not sure which one (maybe the Confirm?). If you post out in Main, I'm sure some folks can chime in and let you know what everyone is using now.

I believe the AT2 requires a 0.2 or 0.3 microliter sample size. My meter takes a 0.5 microliter sample size. At first that seems like a big difference, but I've never had trouble getting enough blood, and unless Sam is dehydrated or very cold, I easily get more blood than I need.

I also used the CVS meter for awhile (from Target), but I moved and wasn't near a Target anymore so I switched to our current meter.

So really whatever human meter you get, you'll be fine. What you want to consider is if the test strips are a price point that works for you, and as Kris said, if they are easily available so you can get them in a crunch.
 
  1. Thanks for the info. I will definitely look into it the human meters. My uncle is diabetic and he got some strips free that he didn't need so I will see if that will work. We also have some meters here we got free as my son is a couponer and he got them for free. I took Noah to the vet this morning for a follow up for bloodwork that was ordered after his hospital stay and all his labs were perfect. Liver, Kidneys, electrolytes and white count all perfect. My vet had me up him to 2.5 units and I will keep him here for at least the 4 cycles or more to regulate. She thinks he may need 3 units but we will see how he does. Numbers are looking better. He is bouncy as I said so I am going to just not stress and test him much but pre shot or if he is acting funny. Sometimes if I am not going to be home and he will be alone I test him. My parents also live with us so they are most of the time here if we arn't and they are really good to help out and watch him or feed him. I told my vet that I was told on this site not to test so often and that is rare for you to tell me. She got a laugh out of it because that is what she told me before too. It is so nice to be able to talk to experienced people on here and makes me feel so much less stress. I will hopefully be able to help others out eventually too. I also bought some bone broth for him but then realized it has squash and carrots cooked in it so I will have to make my own. I definitely want to put some of that on his food to help him enjoy it more and it will help with is ibd. If anyone has experience with that please let me know. I have made some for my son and bought store bought although he isn't real fond of it. I put it in soups to get him to eat it. I think Noah would love it. I am going to order from a local farmer and they sell bones to make broth out of so if I can't buy it for him I will make some. I am hoping for less flare ups for him.
 
I think the level you are testing now is good - all the pre-shots, and a couple of mid-cycles, Plus it looks like you're sleeping more now which is so important. The mid-cycles let you know if the dose is sufficient, so they are important, but a couple is usually enough - getting a test every hour or two is only necessary when things are going sideways for some reason. It does look like Noah is going to need more insulin, but moving up slowly like this will hopefully keep his numbers from getting too bouncy. My hunch is he's going to be a kitty that throws surprise numbers from time to time, but hopefully the slow steady changes will help.

Each meter brand uses their own test strips - they aren't interchangeable (for the most part), so you'll want to look at which meters you have and see how much their proprietary strips cost. Hopefully you'll be able to easily find a match.

It's great to hear that Noah's labs are all looking so good! And to hear that you have help at home! That bone broth should be fine as long as it doesn't have onions or garlic. Squash and carrots are both okay for cats. Although homemade is always good too!
 
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