Need Advice (Newby...Not Newby)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jeannie & Cairo

Jeannie & Cairo

Member Since 2014
Hi All you WONDERFUL experts!

I need advice! I'll try to keep my story brief although, as an educator, I tend to get a bit wordy :-) I was a regular on this site a few years ago when my cat was originally diagnosed but I was able to lower her BG numbers quite a bit through a change in diet (all Fancy Feast and Friskies Pate) and she was briefly (3 weeks ish) on Lantus before she went into remission.

My cat is a 15 year old, female, in remission since September 2014. I have diligently home tested her each week for the past 2 years. She has had beautiful numbers, anywhere between 47 and 125, on a ReliOn Wal Mart meter. However, about a week ago her numbers spiked into the 200's (ranging from 186-248). I'm worried that she has come out of remission. She had a full dental about 2 years ago but only has 1 k-9 tooth and most of her small teeth and I can't afford another dental or blood work for at least a few more months. In addition, I have to go out of town for about a week.

I guess my question is ...any advice, suggestions or what I should do or where I should go from here?
 
If your cats is now continuously above 150 and into the 200's or above many times that would to me indicate the need to restart insulin treatment. That will likely require a vet appointment to get a prescription if you want to use a good insulin. A poor insulin, N/NPH can be purchased without a prescription though
 
If she's still on a low carb, canned diet, then it's possible something going on (like dental issues or illness) that is throwing her out of remission. How is her behavior? Is she acting/eating normally? I would get her to the vet, and they'll likely need to do a blood panel, if you can afford that? If you can figure out the problem and treat it, she may not need insulin. If it's not something easily solved, then insulin may be needed.
 
Do go to the vet.
To prepare for the visit, check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools and evaluate thirst and hunger, urination and defecation, dehydration, and maybe do some urine ketone/glucose tests. Most of these are questions they ask when you come in for an appointment.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
If your cats is now continuously above 150 and into the 200's or above many times that would to me indicate the need to restart insulin treatment. That will likely require a vet appointment to get a prescription if you want to use a good insulin. A poor insulin, N/NPH can be purchased without a prescription though
Click to expand...
Thank you Larry and Kitties! That's what I'm afraid of. I would go with Lantus if I have to put her back on insulin but I don't want to do it before I leave town. The only problem is that would put off her starting insulin for at least 3 more weeks. I'm not sure if it's ok to do wait that long, although I'm not sure I have a choice.
 
Julia & Bandit said:
If she's still on a low carb, canned diet, then it's possible something going on (like dental issues or illness) that is throwing her out of remission. How is her behavior? Is she acting/eating normally? I would get her to the vet, and they'll likely need to do a blood panel, if you can afford that? If you can figure out the problem and treat it, she may not need insulin. If it's not something easily solved, then insulin may be needed.
Click to expand...
Thank you Julia and Bandit! No change in diet but I had to go out of town and I'm sure that stressed her out. In addition, she probably does need a dental (which I can not afford :-(. I'll make a vet appointment.
 
BJM said:
Do go to the vet.
To prepare for the visit, check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools and evaluate thirst and hunger, urination and defecation, dehydration, and maybe do some urine ketone/glucose tests. Most of these are questions they ask when you come in for an appointment.
Click to expand...
Thank you BJM! I'll make an appointment and check out your signature link. I haven't noticed anything weird or unusual with thirst, hunger or plumbing.
 
If there are urine ketones or glucose, I wouldn't wait, as the presence of urine glucose means the level has exceeded the renal threshold and the presence of urine ketones mean that fat is being broken down for energy, risking diabetic ketoacidosis and/or hepatic lipidosis.

@Jeannie & Cairo
ETA:
You can test this with over the counter urine test strips, such as KetoDiaStix. Ask at the pharmacy counter, as they may be held in back.

(I can post a new post only every 7 minutes so I edited this post)
 
Last edited:
BJM said:
If there are urine ketones or glucose, I wouldn't wait, as the presence of urine glucose means the level has exceeded the renal threshold and the presence of urine ketones mean that fat is being broken down for energy, risking diabetic ketoacidosis and/or hepatic lipidosis.
Click to expand...
Is that something that I can check at home or something the vet does?
 
BJM said:
If there are urine ketones or glucose, I wouldn't wait, as the presence of urine glucose means the level has exceeded the renal threshold and the presence of urine ketones mean that fat is being broken down for energy, risking diabetic ketoacidosis and/or hepatic lipidosis.

@Jeannie & Cairo
ETA:
You can test this with over the counter urine test strips, such as KetoDiaStix. Ask at the pharmacy counter, as they may be held in back.

(I can post a new post only every 7 minutes so I edited this post)
Click to expand...
Ok... I'll get those today and find out what I can. Thanks again for your advice and support!
 
BJM said:
Do go to the vet.
To prepare for the visit, check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools and evaluate thirst and hunger, urination and defecation, dehydration, and maybe do some urine ketone/glucose tests. Most of these are questions they ask when you come in for an appointment.
Click to expand...
The "secondary monitoring" tool was VERY helpful! I'll get started on those suggestions today!
 
BJM said:
Do go to the vet.
To prepare for the visit, check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools and evaluate thirst and hunger, urination and defecation, dehydration, and maybe do some urine ketone/glucose tests. Most of these are questions they ask when you come in for an appointment.
Click to expand...
Alright... some hopeful news. I did the urine ketone/glucose test, and I know it's not super duper accurate but she did test between "negative" and "small trace" but closer to the negative color on the box. I'll do a second test, since I have 50 of those darn strips, just to see if I get the same or similar results. I have an appointment for Thursday morning at the vet. She HATES, I repeat..HATES, the cat carrier and car rides so this should be interesting.
 
Hi there anyone still following my thread!

I just got back from the vet with Cairo and the vet "thinks" she needs insulin again :arghh:. She did say that since I've been doing such a good job of monitoring her BG that I may have caught it early enough to possibly get her back into remission again. She did a fructosamine level test and I guess that is supposed to confirm (or deny, I guess?) her need for insulin again. I'll know tomorrow.

She gave me a prescription for Lantus but I need help from the experts here on dosage. I will update her spreadsheet and check back to see if anyone can help with that information. My vet said not more than 1 unit per day (to which I laughed :nailbiting: ...since it's WAYYY too much!) Low and slow if I remember correctly!

Also, I have to leave town next Wednesday for about 6 days so I won't start her on any insulin until Tuesday, June 28th.
 
If you're not starting until next Tuesday, you may want to consider ordering your insulin from Canada! It's way cheaper than in the US. A five pack of pens (that you draw insulin out just like you would a vial) is about $170 after shipping, and it usually takes about a week to arrive. Here's the link: https://rxcanada4less.com/

@Jeannie & Cairo , how much does she weigh, and is that her ideal weight (is she overweight/underweight at all?). The starting dose for Lantus is usually .25u per kg of ideal weight.
 
Julia & Bandit said:
If you're not starting until next Tuesday, you may want to consider ordering your insulin from Canada! It's way cheaper than in the US. A five pack of pens (that you draw insulin out just like you would a vial) is about $170 after shipping, and it usually takes about a week to arrive. Here's the link: https://rxcanada4less.com/

@Jeannie & Cairo , how much does she weigh, and is that her ideal weight (is she overweight/underweight at all?). The starting dose for Lantus is usually .25u per kg of ideal weight.
Click to expand...
Yes! I'm planning on ordering from Canada. Do you know if I can buy 1 pen at a time or do I have to buy all 5 at once? Also, I want to time it so it arrives when I get home so I'm here to receive it since it's going to be 120 degrees here in AZ this weekend! Do you know how long the turn around time is from the time I order? My diabetic is 14 lbs. which is a little (ok, maybe a bit more than a little :-) overweight. She hasn't gained or lost in over 2 years, which the vet said was good. I think I started her on .25 units the last time. I'll have to look back at the spreadsheet.
 
Jeannie & Cairo said:
Yes! I'm planning on ordering from Canada. Do you know if I can buy 1 pen at a time or do I have to buy all 5 at once? Also, I want to time it so it arrives when I get home so I'm here to receive it since it's going to be 120 degrees here in AZ this weekend! Do you know how long the turn around time is from the time I order? My diabetic is 14 lbs. which is a little (ok, maybe a bit more than a little :) overweight. She hasn't gained or lost in over 2 years, which the vet said was good. I think I started her on .25 units the last time. I'll have to look back at the spreadsheet.
Click to expand...

Usually it takes about a week to arrive, but it can on occasion take a little longer if it gets stuck in customs.

How much is she supposed to weigh? Starting dose is .25u per kg of ideal weight, so if she's supposed to weigh 9-10 lbs, then your starting dose would be 1u (this is a pretty average starting dose). It would also help her diabetes quite a bit if you can get some of the extra weight off her. How much FF do you feed her a day?
 
Julia & Bandit said:
Usually it takes about a week to arrive, but it can on occasion take a little longer if it gets stuck in customs.

How much is she supposed to weigh? Starting dose is .25u per kg of ideal weight, so if she's supposed to weigh 9-10 lbs, then your starting dose would be 1u (this is a pretty average starting dose). It would also help her diabetes quite a bit if you can get some of the extra weight off her. How much FF do you feed her a day?
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks! That's good to know for ordering and coordinating the delivery of insulin. The vet didn't say what she "should" weigh but I feel like she's overweight and I'm going to try and help her take at least a pound or two off. The vet suggested starting her at 1u per day. Currently, she gets 1/2 can of FF in the morning and 1/2 can in the evening mixed with water. Then every 3 hours (ish) throughout the day she gets Friskies Pate (I mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with water, blend it up and freeze into cubes). Each cube is about 2 tablespoons but 2 cats share it. I have to use a timed feeder since I work all day. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I don't know EXACTLY how much she eats but whatever I put down is split between 2 cats. I definitely think she needs more exercise and activity.
 
Last edited:
Back to your urine testing - KetoDiaStix test for both ketones and glucose, and it sounded like you were using those, hence my question on a trace of which one.
 
BJM said:
Back to your urine testing - KetoDiaStix test for both ketones and glucose, and it sounded like you were using those, hence my question on a trace of which one.
Click to expand...
Thank you BJM...yes, any advice, hints, tips, and suggestions are definitely welcome. I love this cat so much and want to help her the best that I can.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top