needing help with Dragon's numbers

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popcorn

Member Since 2012
I was wondering if someone can give me insight on Dragon's numbers here.
I am lost for words. I just started testing his blood and I have no idea what they mean. I know what they mean for a human, but for a cat I don't.
His numbers are anywhere from 4.6 to 12.3
What is a good range for a cat?
Please I would like some information and that would be highly appreciated!!
Thank you for your time and answers!!! Also I haven't started giving him any insulin yet, because I'm not to sure what is a good reading and what is a bad reading.
Also would I test Dragon's blood after a feeding or before? I would normally feed and then a little while later I would check his BG levels. If I do that how long should I wait to check?
Thank you very much!

Paula and Dragon
 
Hi and welcome to the board.

We normally consider normal BG numbers to be between 40-120 in a non-diabetic cat. To you, that would be 2.2 - 6.7 if I did the math right.
Your kitty's numbers really aren't too terrible, even the 12.3 only equates to 221.
Dragon may or may not need insulin, it's too soon to tell. But a large part of that is what his diet consists of. What is he currently eating? And when does he eat his meals? Twice a day, or more often?

If you were giving him insulin, you would want to test him just before it was time for a shot (every 12 hours) with an empty stomach. If you make sure he doesn't have food for two hours before shot time, then the number you get won't reflect food in his system. You would also test him in between shots, but the timing and the frequency of the tests would depend on which insulin you were using.

For now though, you can test him before feeding, and test him an hour later. You would most likely get a higher number because the glucose from eating would be in his bloodstream. If you test him an hour later, if his pancreas is at least partially working, you might see a decrease in the reading. That would mean he is producing at least some insulin, trying to regulate his blood glucose levels.

Carl
 
Hi and thank you Carl for getting back to me so fast.

I am wanting to follow the relaxed regulation for Lantus and most of his numbers are below 11.1 so I haven't started him on insulin yet as I am afraid of him going too low.
Do I post his BG #'s numbers here for people to look over or should I post his BG #'s to another place in the forum?
I am new to all this so please excuse my cluelessness (if that is even a word - lol!) but I am a bit overwhelmed with the forum and knowing where I should post.

Thank you
Paula and Dragon
 
There is one question I have asked and I was still wondering, can I feed Dragon and then test his BG? That is how I have been doing it since I found out about his problem.

I don't know if I have been this wrong, or is it okay?

Thanks
Paula and Dragon
 
Welcome Dragon and Paula. As far as shots, I usually test, shoot, and then feed. And when testing in between shots, I usually test first and then either feed or give a treat. That way there is a reward after every test. Even, if the test is a failure (you got an error, or couldn't get a blood sample), give some kind of treat, that way your cat associates the food with the staying still for the testing.
 
popcorn said:
There is one question I have asked and I was still wondering, can I feed Dragon and then test his BG? That is how I have been doing it since I found out about his problem.

I don't know if I have been this wrong, or is it okay?

Thanks
Paula and Dragon
Click to expand...

Paula, you can do it in that order, as long as your test is just a few minutes after feeding. It seems to take perhaps 30 minutes at most for the food to start to "show up" in the BG readings. But if you are testing right after feeding, that should be okay too.

Carl
 
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