Numbers high after 1 year no insulin

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lucy

Member Since 2012
Hi,
After being diagnosed last fall my cat was on insulin for just a couple of months before going into remission last December. I kind of got out of the habit of checking her regularly. I see tonight that her level is pretty high. She does have a feline glucometer. I don't think she ate recently but she did snack on some nutritional yeast which does have calories and carbs so that could explain a higher level temporarily, no? She is on the Zero-Carb cat food which has been fantastic. She has been slowly gaining weight since she went into remission but she has always loved water so it is hard to tell if her appetite for it has increased. I don't think it has. She is 14, slim, and not very active due to a neurological disorder that affects her back legs (not diabetes related).

I guess I should check her blood when I know she hasn't had ANY snack at all? Also, she saw me coming a bit so perhaps that spiked it?

10/2/2013 208 8 PM
10/8/2013 189 8 PM
12/11/2013 304 8 PM

Thanks for your feedback.
 
I think it is time for a vet checkup. Bob was off the juice for two and a half years, and I didn't test often, but no matter when I tested him in relation to food, he never tested above the normal range. I used a Relion meter, but never saw a number above 85 or so.
Other things besides a relapse can cause higher BGs, so a blood panel might reveal if there's an underlying cause. If so, taking care of that issue could return the numbers to normal.
 
I agree with Carl: a vet visit does sound like it's needed. With her numbers consistently higher over several months, this points to either a relapse or possibly something else going on causing the higher numbers. Maybe some dental issues or another type of infection?
 
Hi & welcome back!

I support a vet visit, but I wouldn't necessarily wait with insulin injections until you can get a vet visit- assuming you have insulin available immediately. I recommend keeping insulin + necessary supplies on hand for all OTJ kitties (of course, a lot depends on our financial resources). In my experience, the window for a 2nd remission is very tight, if any. Additionally, I'd add or ask the vet about adding methyl B-12 vitamin. I have read that Lucy has a neurological issue rather than a diabetes-related issue with her back legs, but one can't know for certain if it has not worsened due to returning diabetes. My understanding is the methyl B-12 is just peed out harmlessly, if not needed. Would she enjoy chasing a laser pointer, even from a sitting position!?
My OTJ Pudge, 14 yo male, is on his 2nd remission. I'm convinced it's the speed of my restarting insulin that led to his 2nd remission within a few days of the insulin.

Best wishes,
Sophie
 
Thanks for the feedback. I gave her the B12 when she was diagnosed just for kicks but it made no difference. She has had this neurological thing for years. She can barely walk as she falls over so much. Her insulin expired and at $150 a bottle I didn't refill it. If my vet would let me I would try the insulin again (she was down to a fat zero for the last month of shots( but I might say no to the blood test as it is so traumatic for her and I am afraid that I am going to have to put her to sleep sooner than later so why torture her.

I just checked her blood. She hasn't eaten for hours and it was 258. Shoot.
 
Hi again!
Sorry about the BG number! Perhaps, flexpens of insulin would be less expensive, particularly if you could get just one. Some pharmacies will sell just one. Some Costco pharmacies do so, you don't need a membership to go to the pharmacy. I have never used Lantus, but ProZinc (vial) & Levemir flexpens. Levemir comes in a box of 5 flexpens. I still have some unopened pens from my original purchase with an expiration date of Sept. 2014. Insulin from a vet usually expires early because they don't purchase it frequently enough to have anything decent on hand. At times, the DCIN closet has insulin for sale - possibly individual pens?? No need for a vet permission, I believe.

Methyl B-12 helps with nerve tissue though it might take a year or so of use before results appear. My Pudge hates vet visits &, just like you, I need a great reason to take him. I don't usually want to, so I understand you perfectly on this point.

My very best wishes to you & Lucy,
Sophie
 
Wow, I now wish I wouldhave stuck with the b12! I also stopprd because theneedlf washuge and difficult to puncture her skin with. I will ask the vet for another bottle. Thanks for the top on the pens. How d you regulate he amou t with the pens?
 
Hi,
were you, then, giving her injections of methyl B-12 with a big needle? I gave my cat a pill of Zobaline (no sugar) with his meal (ground into a powder with a pill crusher purchased at a pharmacy). That big needle sounds rather horrid.
Best wishes,
Sophie
 
A second remission with a cat is less likely and so its important you are more aggressive in dosing, feeding etc if you want a chance of it happening again.

The first question is WHY did she fall out? Thats why you want a vet check up. Could be an infection going on thats spiking the blood sugar.. dental, ear, UTI. It will make her blood sugar hard to control and remission unlikely if an infection is going on.. Or did you change her food, or give her any high carb food?

The second thing is that her remission was never that strong from what I can see. You really want the cat to be spending most time between 40-130 and most of that in greens before you stop the insulin entirely.

So i would recommend a vet visit asap.

Wendy
 
You aren't going to believe this but I just spoke to my vet and she said she doesn't feel her numbers show remission. She also said that she doesn't have her clients spot check bgc! She told me to just watch for symptoms. Of course I will continue to check her blood.
Since I have a pet glucometer should those numbers be 50 points higher.

I stopped giving her the nutritional yeast (which has carbs). I am hoping that will help. I just checked her blood, at 247 no food.
 
I believe your vet - remission in a pet glucometer is 80-160 for 2 weeks - she is above that.

As I said above, I don't think her remission was ever that strong and now she has fallen out of remission.

Wendy
 
Oops, I meant to say that my vet thinks her numbers do not show she has fallen OUT of remission, that they would over 400. Geez.
 
Get some glucose urine test strips at your local pharmacy/druggist. Use these urine catching tips. If there is glucose spilling into the urine, your cats BG (blood glucose) is over the renal threshold and that definitely puts your cat out of remission status.

It would also mean, that with excess glucose in the system, enough to spill into the urinary tract system, there is slow but steady organ and nerve damage ongoing.

Don't know where your vet came up with that "BG number needs to be over 400 for a cat to be no longer considered to be in remission", but that is way too high. Your vet may want to read the latest articles from March 2013 in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice special edition all about Feline Diabetes. It considers any BG over 117 on a human glucometer as a cause for concern. At least pre-diabetic at that range and needing at least a diet change and weight loss if needed.
 
BJM made up this terrific chart of glucose reference ranges, for US, international and Pet meters like the Alphatrak. Thought this would be useful to you since you asked how much higher the Alphatrak read than a human glucometer.

Reference ranges for decision making

[Glucose reference ranges are unsubstantiated and have been removed by Moderator]
 
I agree with Deb. I don't know where that 400 came from. Normal cats are 80-160. Anything over that is not normal. Many vets like to keep the cats in a less low range of say up to 250 but anything over that will be damaging over time. Time for a new vet I think

Wendy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top