Newly diagnosed Gremlin

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Yay! We finally got a BSL reading! I still won't be able to test him by myself but we can now start testing a bit more often. I'm so happy! :D His BSL before tea was 18.2
 
Tested Grem's BSL at +4 this morning and it was 22.6, should I be worried? We're only a week into insulin treatment.
I've also been told that at 6kg he's a healthy weight, he just needs to build up his muscle mass in his hind legs again.
 
Well done getting some BSLs!
Gremlin could possibly be bouncing from a lower number over night. But without more numbers we can't really tell.
So just keep trying to get as many preshot numbers as you can and a couple of numbers somewhere between +4 and +7 when you can. I know it is still hard for you and you need someone else to help. But you have made great progress!!

You mentioned Gremlin's back legs.......is he weak in his back legs or has he just lost weight?
Many diabetic cats get peripheral neuropathy in the back legs...the back legs are weak and they sometimes walk on their hocks. It will get better when the BSL numbers get under control. If that is what he has he might benefit from methyl B12 tablets....zobaline. Here is the link.
http://www.ilifelink.com/zobaline-for_diabetic_cats-3_mg_x_60_tablets.html
 
Thanks. I'll continue to keep testing his BSL when I can and record it on his spreadsheet. My son isn't up early enough in the morning to help in the AM, once school is back and daylight savings has started it will be easier. I'll try to test his BSL at +7 today too.

Gremlin lost some muscle mass (and plenty of fat) in the back legs. It's only minor though, he shows no signs of weakness.
 
He will probably regain the muscle mass when his diabetes is more under control. Sheba lost weight and muscle mass when she went out of remission but she has since regained it all and the vet only commented recently how good her muscle mass was now. It took many months though to get it back to where it was.
 
Even better... We got a 10.7 PMPS! Stoked!

Question please: Can the heat affect our sugar cats for the worse? We've got a couple of really hot days coming and I'll be at work most of the day. Wondering if I should keep Grem inside or let him out to find a shady spot. My house can get very hot...
 
Cats tend to be less active in high heat (lower glucose use) and wouldn't be burning any calories to stay warm. I suspect glucose might go up a smidge.

Keeping shades or blinds down to reflect light on the side of the house getting the most sun may help.

Setting up a swamp cooler may help (Google it - there are instructions out there on the web)

There are cooling mats for hospital beds although they might be pricey.

Have you a pet door he can use? Maybe to an enclosed patio?

Leave out lots of water, with a block of ice in it (cubes will melt faster due to increased surface area to absorb heat).
 
Just had a look at your SS and see you are managing to get BSLs before shots! :)

And you have started the process of changing the food.......you are certainly making progress! Hope Gremlin is stiill happy as you noted in your notes.
I know you have trouble trying to get BSLs sometimes because of a second person, but if you are able to get any inbetween tests at all it would be really helpful to see how the insulin is working, especially now you are changing the food over.
Would you like to transfer over to the Lantus and Levemir forum .....you would be very welcome:)
 
Yes, I'm managing by myself most days though Gremlin still hates having his ears held. It's easier with two people still.
We have a vet appointment soon and they will most likely test him again and I will test him again later too.
The diet change is happening slowly as I think his colon infection may be back but I'll chat to the vet about that today.
Grem is still happy though certainly not back to normal yet. It's not so bad as it means he's not wanting to go outside all the time!
I will have a look at the Lantus forum after the vet visit. It would be nice to start learning how to adjust his insulin and such now we're a week and a half along and things have settled down a bit.
Thanks!
 
The vet didn't do a reading due to my current book keeping skills, haha, so I just did one at +5 and it was 17.1. The vet has recommended I bump Grem's dose to 2.5 units twice daily.
 
Great you got a BSL in the middle.....well done! Am glad the vet was impressed!!
Laura I don't give dosing advise, but if you post over in the L and L forum there are some very experienced people who do. One thing I can say is we usually go up by 0.25 units at a time. I know vets usually go up by larger amounts. To do the 0.25 units you have to eyeball it because we can't get half unit marked syringes here in Aus.
 
Bron and Sheba said:
One thing I can say is we usually go up by 0.25 units at a time. I know vets usually go up by larger amounts. To do the 0.25 units you have to eyeball it because we can't get half unit marked syringes here in Aus.
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Yes, I've noticed that. Makes it a lot more difficult. I was looking at the syringes (I've been using the pen) today and wondered how accurately I'll be able to change by 0.5 let alone 0.25!
I've read the stickys in the L&L forum but I'm unsure where or how to start. Should I just put a post up saying I'm new and want to learn how to adjust doses?
 
Yes ....all you need to do to post in L and L forum is start a new post in the L and L forum...introduce yourself and say you have been posting in the intro page. If you can link this page do so, otherwise I will do it for you after you have posted......then they can read what has happened so far. In the subject line put a Question mark and say something like 'advise on dose please'. This will alert them. Don't forget to tell them you are in the process of changing over the food.
Re the syringes......I have a magnifying glass which I use to check the dose with....makes it much easier. going up by 0.25 units ensures you will not miss the correct dose.
While you are changing over the food from higher carbs to lower carbs....it really would be wiser to stay with the same dose because the BSLs might drop as you increase the lower carbs and get rid of the higher carbs....and if you have also increased the dose.....you might double the effect....does that make sense? I would not increase the dose until you have got advise if I were you.

Most of the ladies who give dosing advice live in US or Canada so you need to post by about 5 pm our time otherwise you will have to wait until the early ours of the morning our time.
Good luck....see you on L and L Land!!:)
 
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