Hypoglycemia in a cat OTJ for 3 weeks?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sandman
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sandman

My cat's recovery had been going well with stable weights, no PU/PD, the past 3 weeks or so OTJ. I've been monitoring BG twice daily with a Bayer Breeze 2 meter and his numbers have been benign in the 50-120 range. I did have one number at 47. Tonight I got a 43. When he was on insulin, that is the level at which I think I started noticing some symptoms ("drunk" ambulation). He's had no insulin in weeks. Is this common? Is it cause for concern? I weighed him right after thinking maybe he hadn't been eating, though I've seen him at the bowl. 12# 10 oz. Absolutely stable. Any ideas?
 
Given the +/-20% meter variability allowed by the FDA, I wouldn't be too concerned with a number in the 40's if he's asymptomatic. Bob has tested in the 40's on occasion since going OTJ also.

Carl
 
If no insulin has been given, then a cat cannot become hypoglycemic(except in vary rare occasions). So you are perfectly fine. Some cats will test a little lower than normal on a human meter once they are otj.
 
Looks like Mr Sluggo is doing really well. Congrats! :smile:

My own cat (who is still on insulin (and not likely to get off!)) once showed hypo symptoms at a reading of 46. Although on a later occasion when he dropped to that number he seemed fine. I'm wondering if they get used to higher numbers and maybe it takes a little while to get used to what is 'normal' again. There is absolutely nothing scientific in my thinking here - it's just me musing on the subject...
confused_cat
 
56 just now. He is running on the low side now. I guess that's a good thing?! I recall when a cat has a hypo they subsequently become more sensitive to insulin, so numbers like these may actually be inoculating him to some degree against a relapse if there should be some future dietary indiscretion (either pet or owner induced). I keep my cat food locked away in a closet including some old high carb kibble he used to eat, to try & keep him from chewing/clawing the containers open. When I open the door, he races in there & immediately starts clawing at his old candy kibble bags. He's a sugar addicted kitty even still.

He's seemed ok. I just recall that when I was shooting numbers in the 400's (sometimes high 400's) on a sliding scale PZI and the next one I was checking was in the 40's, he seemed just fine at high 40's, whereas, low 40s, he started looking slightly symptomatic. In neither case did I hit the panic button; I just fed him. Maybe the rate of change has something to do with it also (a slight variant on what you're saying). In other words, if he lives in the 50's and 60's (seems to be the case now), he tolerates a 40, but if he's been 490, when he's 40 in 6 hours that's a bigger problem. Again, that's just my ignorant musing on the subect...

Thanks everyone.
 
I have a civie that never budges out of the 40s, my guy that is OTJ now for two years runs anywhere between low 50s to 70s depending on how close to him eating I test...but anything between 40 & 120 on a human meter is normal for a cat.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top