OTJ, but now BG is going up

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supervix56

Member Since 2012
Hi,

LeeLee has been OTJ for 24 days. Today I took her BG and it was 211, which is the highest it's been in a month. This result came about 30 minutes after she had about 10-15 kibbles that she found (I know she shouldn't have any dry). I tested 2 hours later (she hadn't had any food in the meantime) and her BG is 221.

What's going on? Could this be from just those 10-15 kibble? It was Hills DM. I'm not sure why I'm panicking so much as 221 isn't any sort of immediate emergency. I guess I just don't want this to be the beginning of her needing to be back on insulin.

Thanks,
Erin & LeeLee
 
Yes, it could be from just one snack of kibble, and the BG boost can stick around for a few hours. There's a reason we call dry food "kitty crack":-)
I'd keep an eye on her #'s, and get rid of any dry food in the house. I will always think of Bob as being one bowl of dry food away from insulin.
Carl
 
Hello, I think it is perfectly possible that those high numbers are from your cat eating the kibble. (I occasionally use kibble snacks to bring my (insulin-dependent) cat out of numbers that are too low or drops that are too steep. Just a few pieces can be enough to do it).

Although it is quite a high jump for just 10 -15 pieces of kibble.

My understanding is that, once a cat is diabetic it is always essentially diabetic. So 'remissions' are quite fragile things and need to be guarded with care. The high carb food might have been quite a challenge for your cat's delicate pancreas, perhaps.

I don't think you should panic, though. You don't have enough information and not enough time has passed to know what is going on.

Maybe the BG will settle out tomorrow. I've heard of ' OTJ' cats jumping much higher than this after a 'naughty snack/meal' and then going on to be fine.

I'm sure others with more knowledge will be along soon.
 
Wow - that's really interesting that one naughty snack could do this. I, unfortunately, can't get rid of all the dry food in the house as I have a geriatric cat that is a bag of bones - she eats both canned and dry and she's still just barely maintaining her weight. But I can and will make sure LeeLee doesn't ever eat dry again.

I tested because LeeLee looked...unwell. But she's looking better now - she's curled up in a tight ball and is happily snoring/purring away.
 
Just be aware that OTJ is not non-diabetic. Illness and infection can them to relapse. I believe Celi's Binks (currently back to OTJ status) relapsed due to contraband. My own Missy was OTJ within a month of her dx and remained there for 4 months when she relapsed. It is now 13 mos later and she is still unregulated and we have run tons of tests, etc and have yet to find the reason for her needing to go back on insulin. My own opinion is that you are playing with fire to give a diabetic cat kibble, even if they are OTJ.
LeeLee is so pretty....I can understand her getting in to kibble by accident, but please don't knowingly give it to her. I would hate to see her go down the path we have with Missy.
 
LeeLee is feeling much better now and her BG is down to 81. I will definitely be careful with the dry food - yesterday really brought it home to me how bad the dry food is for her. This morning I stood guard as my scrawny cat had her dry food. LeeLee stood guard too, but I took it away before LeeLee could stick her face in the bowl.

Thanks,
Erin & LeeLee
 
Hi Erin, - Phew! I'm SO glad that LeeLee's BG has dropped back down... Thank goodness!

Just wondering, why does your geriatric cat need the dry food? I have 5 geriatrics and they all eat wet food. Does yours have a specific medical condition? Why is s/he a "bag of bones"? Is it thyroid problems?
 
Hi Elizabeth,

My oldest cat (Mylie) has IBD that I haven't been able to control. She has constant diarrhea and is very picky about food. She's always been a small cat and somewhat recently her IBD seems to have gotten worse and she lost weight. She has managed to maintain her weight the past three months though. Anyway, I haven't found anything to help her. Prednisolone didn't help. Famotidine isn't helping. I've tried a limited ingredient diet, but she's so picky that I had to abondon it. She doesn't eat very much canned, so I also offer her some dry (not a lot), which she'll sometimes eat. Basically I'm willing to feed her anything that she's willing to eat.

If anyone has some suggestions for IBD (keeping in mind that she's picky), that would be great. I feel really bad for Mylie and the vet seems out of suggestions.

Thanks,
Erin and LeeLee (and Mylie)
 
Oh, Goodness, Erin,

Poor you - and poor Mylie! It sounds like you've both really been 'through the hoops' with this... :-( So lots of (((Hugs))coming your way through cyberspace from the UK!

There are a lot of experienced people on this forum and I really do hope someone can offer some suggestions on this one. They are a talented bunch.

Hang in there, girl. Maybe someone can help.

Either way, I'm sending big, BIG hugs to you (and love and light; AKA 'prayers' !) from our little grey island in the North Atlantic...

All good wishes to you,

Elizabeth x
 
Erin,
I am SO glad LeeLee's BG is back down in normal ranges. I hope I didn't come off as harsh before, but I thought we had Missy's FD licked by the diet alone. 4 months of feeling sure all was well. Now 13 months of WTF! It as been a long road with all kinds of tests (acro, IAA, pancreatitis, toxmoplasmosis, urinary infection, tests for intestinal parasites, ultrasound for IBD, pancreatitis, cancer and a tick panel) The only positive result was from the tick panel and she was positive for Lyme disease. While she was treated for it, it has not gotten her closer to regulation. This from a 'model' cat going OTJ within a month of dx.
I would just hate to see LeeLee relapse. I totally understand a picky cat. Missy is SO picky, she wouldn't eat anything but kibble...not even people food. I was in despair when I tried to find a wet food she would eat.....I even bought her Jack in the Box grilled chicken because, for a time that was the only thing besides kibble, she would eat) We had a geriatric cat with cardiomyopathy and he was so hard to keep weight on. Have you thought/tried Science Diet A/D? I think that was what we fed him to get some weight on him. I think it is A/D for 'anorexic diet'. It did help him.
Anyway, I am so happy to hear LeeLee is doing better! I didn't want to sound mean, but I thought Missy was 'cured' for those 4 months and, boy, was I wrong! I would hate for someone else to go down the road we have if they can avoid it. :cry:
Prayers that both your kitties do well!
 
Maresydotes - no worries at all! You weren't being mean, you were just making sure I knew how bad dry food is for LeeLee. And thank you for it :-)

Good luck with Missy - I hope you find an answer soon.
 
So glad you took it in the spirit it was intended! I truly believed we 'cured' Missy for those 4 months. I was all smug that i knew the answer....... Hah! I just don't want to see another kitty relapse, if it can be avoided. I would do anything to get Missy even just regulated. We have been to 3 vets (including an internist) and am in the process of trying to get her regulated on Levimir, as Lantus wasn't getting her anywhere. It has been an emotional roller coaster for me and a physical one for her and I HATE it. I would do anything to make sure someone doesn't end up where we have been. Many hugs to you and yours! :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
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