Katie and Fuzzy
Member Since 2010
Hi. I haven't had to post here for a long time since Fuzzy was in remission. Sadly, as of about 2 and a half weeks ago, Fuzzy is once again back on the juice. 
He actually had become insulin dependant again in February, but I was able to manage it easier, and his blood sugar always stayed the same numbers, (around 120 to 140 on a tiny amount of insulin). Finally he went back into remission, but unlike his remission periods before, this one lasted only a few weeks. Before they would last for a year or more. This is the 4th time he's come out of remission, I was really hoping he would stay there this time. Anyway, the reason he came out of remission this time was because of a incident that made him ill. He had been a little backed up, so I gave him some Lactulose which I had done many times before when he had constipation problems. It's always been a little hard on his stomach, and sometimes he throws up because of it. However, this time I was trying to give him a new kind of food, and apparently it didn't react well with the Lactulose. Another thing was the Lactulose was old, over a year, but I had called the vet who said it was ok to give to him since Lactulose doesn't really expire. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it, but as soon as he ate the new kind of food, he started to violently throw up. He vomited so hard that he fell over. I was able to catch him, but he couldn't stand up and flopped onto his side. His eyes glazed over and it was like he couldn't move. I rushed him to the vet who told me that he had choked on some of the vomit which had made him fall and have that glazed look in his eyes. Luckily he made a quick recovery and seemed fine by then. He didn't eat for a while that evening, but after a good rest, his appetite returned and it seemed that everything was normal again. Except that his blood glucose was creeping into abnormal numbers. The next time I tested him he was 205 which was a week later, (after he went into remission I was testing him every week). I got him on Lantus again, just giving him a small amount. I thought that the higher number was from stress of being so sick, and that he just needed a nudge to get back into remission. I was wrong. Since then he's been having very strange numbers and I just don't know how to dose him properly. I tried giving him half a unit, but it led to him getting below 70, which I know isn't that low, but it's too low for him. He's always been a higher blood sugar kitty with glucose levels usually between 80 and 145 when he was in remission. Anything below that makes him nauseated and either lethargic, or overly restless. What was weird was that some days his BG would drop to 60 at +2, then be at 180 at +9. I thought it was rebound at first so I started giving him a smaller dose. Unfortunately that didn't help and he was at 180 this morning again. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to keep switching his doses like this, but it seems no amount works for him. He either gets too low on a dose of half a unit (or even a little less). Or he gets too high on anything smaller than that.
I was thinking of getting a blood panel done, but I need to save up for it first. I know his teeth are not in the greatest shape, but the vet has told me they weren't bad enough to have a dental done and take such a risk. Fuzzy is 20 years old, has diabetes and a hyperactive thyroid with a heart murmur. The only way the vet would consider using anesthetic on him now is if it was something life threatening, like removing a tumor or something where there's no choice left. Other than his BG being abnormal, he's in good shape. He still runs upstairs to sit by the patio, he can still jump pretty high, he's affectionate and eats well. He sleeps a lot, which is expected from an older cat, but he sleeps even more when he's getting insulin. He doesn't get constipated a lot, just once in a blue moon which is also expected of an older cat. I really don't think he has any other health issues that could cause these weird higher numbers, the vet couldn't even believe what great shape he's in for such an old cat. He seems physically and mentally well, so why are his BG numbers so out of control? There's nothing that's stressing him, nothing has changed about him. How should I dose him to prevent these higher numbers? I gave him half a unit this morning and plan to test him around +3. I can't do a curve on him until Tuesday because I will be in and out of the house all the time until then. When I have more time I'll try to update my spreadsheet.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to make sure everything was explained about what's been happening. I'm at the end of my rope with these abnormal numbers he's been getting and could really use some help and advice. Thanks.
He actually had become insulin dependant again in February, but I was able to manage it easier, and his blood sugar always stayed the same numbers, (around 120 to 140 on a tiny amount of insulin). Finally he went back into remission, but unlike his remission periods before, this one lasted only a few weeks. Before they would last for a year or more. This is the 4th time he's come out of remission, I was really hoping he would stay there this time. Anyway, the reason he came out of remission this time was because of a incident that made him ill. He had been a little backed up, so I gave him some Lactulose which I had done many times before when he had constipation problems. It's always been a little hard on his stomach, and sometimes he throws up because of it. However, this time I was trying to give him a new kind of food, and apparently it didn't react well with the Lactulose. Another thing was the Lactulose was old, over a year, but I had called the vet who said it was ok to give to him since Lactulose doesn't really expire. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it, but as soon as he ate the new kind of food, he started to violently throw up. He vomited so hard that he fell over. I was able to catch him, but he couldn't stand up and flopped onto his side. His eyes glazed over and it was like he couldn't move. I rushed him to the vet who told me that he had choked on some of the vomit which had made him fall and have that glazed look in his eyes. Luckily he made a quick recovery and seemed fine by then. He didn't eat for a while that evening, but after a good rest, his appetite returned and it seemed that everything was normal again. Except that his blood glucose was creeping into abnormal numbers. The next time I tested him he was 205 which was a week later, (after he went into remission I was testing him every week). I got him on Lantus again, just giving him a small amount. I thought that the higher number was from stress of being so sick, and that he just needed a nudge to get back into remission. I was wrong. Since then he's been having very strange numbers and I just don't know how to dose him properly. I tried giving him half a unit, but it led to him getting below 70, which I know isn't that low, but it's too low for him. He's always been a higher blood sugar kitty with glucose levels usually between 80 and 145 when he was in remission. Anything below that makes him nauseated and either lethargic, or overly restless. What was weird was that some days his BG would drop to 60 at +2, then be at 180 at +9. I thought it was rebound at first so I started giving him a smaller dose. Unfortunately that didn't help and he was at 180 this morning again. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to keep switching his doses like this, but it seems no amount works for him. He either gets too low on a dose of half a unit (or even a little less). Or he gets too high on anything smaller than that. I was thinking of getting a blood panel done, but I need to save up for it first. I know his teeth are not in the greatest shape, but the vet has told me they weren't bad enough to have a dental done and take such a risk. Fuzzy is 20 years old, has diabetes and a hyperactive thyroid with a heart murmur. The only way the vet would consider using anesthetic on him now is if it was something life threatening, like removing a tumor or something where there's no choice left. Other than his BG being abnormal, he's in good shape. He still runs upstairs to sit by the patio, he can still jump pretty high, he's affectionate and eats well. He sleeps a lot, which is expected from an older cat, but he sleeps even more when he's getting insulin. He doesn't get constipated a lot, just once in a blue moon which is also expected of an older cat. I really don't think he has any other health issues that could cause these weird higher numbers, the vet couldn't even believe what great shape he's in for such an old cat. He seems physically and mentally well, so why are his BG numbers so out of control? There's nothing that's stressing him, nothing has changed about him. How should I dose him to prevent these higher numbers? I gave him half a unit this morning and plan to test him around +3. I can't do a curve on him until Tuesday because I will be in and out of the house all the time until then. When I have more time I'll try to update my spreadsheet.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to make sure everything was explained about what's been happening. I'm at the end of my rope with these abnormal numbers he's been getting and could really use some help and advice. Thanks.
