Hello, My name is Christy. I have a 14 year old Maine Coon male cat, Ozzy, who is diabetic. He was diagnosed last year, but went into remission. It is back now and with a vengeance!! He has been in and out of the vet for the past week. We are having a hard time regulating his blood-glucose. He is on DM can food and Prozinc insulin. I'm worried I am losing my baby boy. All he does is sleep, lay around; he does however eat like there's no tomorrow. He has been having pee accidents lately. He goes back to the vet tomorrow for another glucose check. I want to get him a meter. The pet meters are soooo expensive but I am worried a human meter wouldn't be accurate. I could use some help and advice please.
New member that could use some help
- Thread starter Ozzy'sMom
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BJM
Member Since 2010
Welcome to FDMB.
Think of it as the difference between reading temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Both are correct.
Here are some glucose reference ranges used for decision making using a human glucometer:
< 40 mg/dL
- Treat as if HYPO if on insulin
- At nadir (lowest point between shots) in a long term diabetic (more than a year), may earn a reduction.
< 50 mg/dL
- If before nadir, steer with food, ie, give modest amounts of medium carb food to keep from going below 50.
- At nadir, often indicates dose reduction is earned.
50 - 130 mg/dL
- On insulin - great control when following a tight regulation protocol.
- Off insulin - normal numbers. (May even go as low as the upper 30s; if not on insulin, this can be safe.
> 150 mg/dL
- At nadir, indicates a dose increase may be needed when following a tight regulation protocol.
200 mg/dL
- no shot level for beginners; may slowly reduce to 150 mg/dL for long-acting insulins (Lantus, Levemir, and ProZinc) as data collection shows it is safe
180 - 280 mg/dL
- Any time - The renal threshold (depending on data source and cat's renal function) where glucose spills into the urine.
- Test for ketones, glucose is too high.
>= 280 mg/dL, if for most of the cycle between shots
- Uncontrolled diabetes and thus at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis and hepatic lipidosis
- Follow your insulin protocol for dose adjustments
- Test for ketones; if more than a trace level of ketones, go to vet ASAP.
Think of it as the difference between reading temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Both are correct.
Here are some glucose reference ranges used for decision making using a human glucometer:
< 40 mg/dL
- Treat as if HYPO if on insulin
- At nadir (lowest point between shots) in a long term diabetic (more than a year), may earn a reduction.
< 50 mg/dL
- If before nadir, steer with food, ie, give modest amounts of medium carb food to keep from going below 50.
- At nadir, often indicates dose reduction is earned.
50 - 130 mg/dL
- On insulin - great control when following a tight regulation protocol.
- Off insulin - normal numbers. (May even go as low as the upper 30s; if not on insulin, this can be safe.
> 150 mg/dL
- At nadir, indicates a dose increase may be needed when following a tight regulation protocol.
200 mg/dL
- no shot level for beginners; may slowly reduce to 150 mg/dL for long-acting insulins (Lantus, Levemir, and ProZinc) as data collection shows it is safe
180 - 280 mg/dL
- Any time - The renal threshold (depending on data source and cat's renal function) where glucose spills into the urine.
- Test for ketones, glucose is too high.
>= 280 mg/dL, if for most of the cycle between shots
- Uncontrolled diabetes and thus at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis and hepatic lipidosis
- Follow your insulin protocol for dose adjustments
- Test for ketones; if more than a trace level of ketones, go to vet ASAP.
BJM
Member Since 2010
The Arkray Glucocard 01 or 01 mini use a small blood droplet and may be obtained from our shopping partner ADW (link at top of page). It is exactly the same as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm or Confirm Micro (also a shopping partner if you want to order online.) Many of us use these, as they and the test strips are inexpensive.
Get 27-28 gauge lancets to prick the ear.
Get 27-28 gauge lancets to prick the ear.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Christy and sugardude Ozzy and welcome to the FDMB! Lots of experience here to help you out.
What have the BG readings been with Ozzy? Is he having other health issues?
I used the Relion Confirm meter from Wal-Mart to test Wink. The pet meter, Alphatrak 2, had very expensive test strips. I could do 3 tests with the Confirm for the price of 1 Alphatrak test strip. The numbers are accurate enough for our purposes.
Did you use the Prozinc last time to get Ozzy into remission? Have you considered Lantus for it's longer duration and higher remission rate?
Please, let us know what questions you have.
What have the BG readings been with Ozzy? Is he having other health issues?
I used the Relion Confirm meter from Wal-Mart to test Wink. The pet meter, Alphatrak 2, had very expensive test strips. I could do 3 tests with the Confirm for the price of 1 Alphatrak test strip. The numbers are accurate enough for our purposes.
Did you use the Prozinc last time to get Ozzy into remission? Have you considered Lantus for it's longer duration and higher remission rate?
Please, let us know what questions you have.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
I usually recommend the Relion Confirm or Micro as they dont need a lot of blood and are cheaper for strips. You get them at walmart - see links above or instore.
Wendy
Wendy
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