Lynn and Kitten/ trace ketones

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Katlyn

Member Since 2012
Hi all. Kitten had DKA in early December. Her urine tests usually show negative and a few times negative to trace. But, the most recent at 2 pm says full on trace. It also said trace at 4:45 am. At 8:45 am it said negative to trace. Interestingly, her BG levels usually run at the highest end but now I am getting 2nd and 3rd largest BG. She did miss some insulin yesterday morning due to a furshot( I think some went in her skin). Should I get a new bottle of Lantus( opened 12/8) but why would her BG readings on the strips be lower. She has been eating less dry DM food as I increased her wet food. She is eating very well and she is not drinking quite as much water because of the decrease in dry. I add water to her wet plus she drinks water more because of her inhalers. Her inhaler use has decreased because the coughing is better. I have never seen the trace come up so clearly before. She has an appt this Saturday for a Fructosamine and bloodwork. Any ideas?? I would appreciate any advice. She is acting normally.. Pretty good actually.
 
Have you gotten a recent glucose test?

Remember that urine collects over several hours and that the kidneys are designed to reclaim some water if the body needs to keep it. This can make the urine more concentrated.

Check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools if you are having difficulty with glucose testing - water and food consumption will give you important clues.
 
Thankyou. I did another test around 6pm and it looked about trace. It is hard to tell sometimes on the color chart. Doctor said to wait until tomorrow evening and check ketones again. She said she may increase insulin which scares me. I really need to get a few numbers on Kitten. It is very difficult with her extreme level of agitation. Plus, not a good bleeder. This whole disease is very overwhelming and I cannot believe how so many beans can handle this. I am feeling overwhelmed and a bit useless. :o
 
i am sure your insulin is fine- do you have a vial or the pens? does the insulin look clear? or whitish, or things floating in it (floaties)? as long as it is clear then it is probably fine.

are you warming the ear, prior to testing? are you free handing or using the lancet device?

where on the ear are you poking? have you seen the picture of the sweet spot - the ideal area to test? are you testing the front of the ear or the back? maybe try the opposite. I always tested front to back - inside of the ear.

raising insulin may be the right thing to do in order to get rid of the ketones - of course you need to add more water in order to flush them out. maybe if you visit lantus forum they can help you figure out the right dose. I am not a dose expert and have not had to deal with ketones, so it may be good to visit lantus and get help.
 
I posted on Lantus to see if someone can come over and advise

Can I ask a few questions and comments

Can you update your spreadsheet? its hard to know whats going on given it stops on Dec 12.. she could be dropping for a number of reasons.. some of them good!!

Do you store your lantus outside of the fridge? Do you roll or shake it? Does it appear flaky or cloudy? If the answer to any of these is yes then the Lantus may well need replaced. But if you treat it well (keep in fridge, no shaking or roll, and there is no flakes or cloudy) then it should last for up to 6 months so it would be fine. I believe in a prior post you said you treat it well so it should be fine!

Wendy
 
...why would her BG readings on the strips be lower
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Urine glucose readings are inaccurate. The do not give accurate readings at either the high or low ends. Your cat could be in a hypoglycemic crisis and you would never know it from the reading you'd get on the strips. Likewise, your cat's BG could read in the 600s on a meter and you'd not know it was that high based on a urine glucose test. The International Diabetes Federation's position statement on glucose testing does not wholly endorse urine glucose testing because of these issues.

For a cat with a history of ketones, you are best advised to be testing blood glucose. In fact, you may be best advised to be testing for blood ketones. If Kitten's ketones go above trace, you need to get her to an ER.
 
Hi.. Yes. If Kitten goes to small, she will go down to the ER right down the street from me. Her IM specIalist is at the hospital and I love it. Many of the ER vets know Kitten now. It is so easy to get scripts at any hour. There Zofran is very reasonable. Her IM doctor told me tonight to test tomorrow evening for ketones and call hospital if it is positive. They may increase the insulin. This scares the crud out of me. And I do realize that the strips do not give an accurate BG reading. Kitten is a newbie Diabetic and she is still getting regulated. She has the Fructosmine on Sat along with bloodwork and urinalysis. Kitten will be so PO'd. But the alternative is worse.
 
Hillary & Maui said:
i am sure your insulin is fine- do you have a vial or the pens? does the insulin look clear? or whitish, or things floating in it (floaties)? as long as it is clear then it is probably fine.

are you warming the ear, prior to testing? are you free handing or using the lancet device?

where on the ear are you poking? have you seen the picture of the sweet spot - the ideal area to test? are you testing the front of the ear or the back? maybe try the opposite. I always tested front to back - inside of the ear.

raising insulin may be the right thing to do in order to get rid of the ketones - of course you need to add more water in order to flush them out. maybe if you visit lantus forum they can help you figure out the right dose. I am not a dose expert and have not had to deal with ketones, so it may be good to visit lantus and get help.
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Hi. I have the vial. It is clear with no floaties. I have not tried warming the ear. I have an empty pill bottle to try putting warm water in. I use the lancet pen. No way can I do it freehand. I tried on my other cat and it went right through his ear. We poke the sweet spot but not enuff comes out esp battling with the head jerking. I do outside and inside and yes I have seen all the pics and videos and literature. Her ears have felt very warm, do I still have to warm them? thanks for all the replies. I tested Kitten at 6 pm and she was negative ketones. I am curious to see her Fructosamine range compared to last month. Oh lawdy lawdy.. Diabete aint no joke.. I looked twice at my dessert last nite. I do not want this disease!
 
ok good that your insulin is clear - which means it is probably still good. so I wouldn;t worry there.

even though the ear feels warm, I would still warm it using the sock method - it can't hurt and may help. also one ear may bleed easier than the other, so play with both ears to find which may work better

take one sock - any sock without holes
add about 1/4-1/2 cup of regular rice OR dried beans OR oatmeal (my preference)
knot the top of sock, so stuff doesn't come out
place in microwave 15-30 seconds until warm to touch
hold behind cat's ear for about 1-2 minutes

with a lancet device, you may need to adjust the setting and put it on the deepest - I don't use it, and always free hand - in order not to pierce - I hold it an upward 45 degree angle and poke that way - I also keep the sock behind the ear, so if I do poke, I don't get my fingers.
 
Hi.. I will try the oatmeal in the sock. I have the lancet pen set on the deepest setting. Ive done both her ears. I really do want some numbers on her. Also, incase of an emergency, I need to know how to get her blood flowing. I may have to learn to freehand the ear prick. It just gives me the willies.
I do not roll or shake my insulin.. Someone asked in the thread. Thanks for your tips. I will try it and post an update.
 
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