OTJ cat in the blues

[Acadaca]

Hi,

Field Commander Cohen has been OTJ since the end of summer 2021. I have seen some very concerning numbers pop up and am worried he is no longer in remission.

He was 97 first thing this morning, but he is in the blues now.

My plan is to test several times a day for the next week and hopefully he keeps putting up with it.

I also think I need to take him to the vet for a checkup and get them to look at his mouth while I'm there.

I do free feed him and and my civvie, but can take the food away for a few hours if that is how I should be testing him. It is all low carb pate.

Is there anything else I can do? My spreadsheet is updated. I'm panicking a little and realize I need to be proactive.

Thank you.

 

[CORKY]

Hi,

Field Commander Cohen has been OTJ since the end of summer 2021. I have seen some very concerning numbers pop up and am worried he is no longer in remission.

He was 97 first thing this morning, but he is in the blues now.

My plan is to test several times a day for the next week and hopefully he keeps putting up with it.

I also think I need to take him to the vet for a checkup and get them to look at his mouth while I'm there.

I do free feed him and and my civvie, but can take the food away for a few hours if that is how I should be testing him. It is all low carb pate.

Is there anything else I can do? My spreadsheet is updated. I'm panicking a little and realize I need to be proactive.

Thank you.

Well I panic too when I see Corky having more than 2 blues in one cycle, so you are not alone, a no-diabetic cats' glucose level is between 50-120, so he might be having some dental issues, or have you seen any changes in his litter box, not peeing enough, taking too long to do so, roaming around it more than usual? that can be a sign of UTI, is he constipated? touch the tip of his ears, are they unusually hot? if so, that's a sign of fever, it could be any of these factors, or none of them, is better to intervene sooner than later, if he is grazing are these BG numbers 2 hours before feeding? or you don't know if he has fed? this can be another reason for the high BG, food even though is low carb will hike up the BG

 

[Acadaca]

Thank you for your reply.

His litter habits and ears seem to be normal. I'm hoping you're right and it's something else causing these numbers.

I removed all their food so I know the next test later this afternoon won't be influenced by that, but I can't imagine it's okay to spike to 137 even if he just ate.

I will update his chart then. I don't really trust the vet to know what's best in terms of whether he needs insulin and how much. The only reason FCC is okay is because of this forum.

I really appreciate you getting back to me.

 

[squeem3]

Normal levels are roughly 60 to 150. Levels do fluctuate daily because of food, stress, etc. As long as your cat is within the normal range, I would not worry. If levels creep closer or over 200 then I would talk to the vet about restarting insulin. Cats come out remission for some reason or another and a short course of insulin is all they need to go back into remission.

 

[CORKY]

Thank you for your reply.

His litter habits and ears seem to be normal. I'm hoping you're right and it's something else causing these numbers.

I removed all their food so I know the next test later this afternoon won't be influenced by that, but I can't imagine it's okay to spike to 137 even if he just ate.

I will update his chart then. I don't really trust the vet to know what's best in terms of whether he needs insulin and how much. The only reason FCC is okay is because of this forum.

I really appreciate you getting back to me.

then perhaps is time to look for a Feline diabetes knowledgeable vet, you need to be comfortable the answers, so ask away, you pay him, he needs to have the right answers you have learned here so far

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I would keep an eye on your cat's numbers but from what you have on his spreadsheet, it's not worrisome. He's in normal range-- maybe a bit on the high end of the range but still in OK numbers. One thought -- has your vet checked your cat's teeth? The one thing that throws many cats out of remission is the need for a dental cleaning.

 

[Acadaca]

Normal levels are roughly 60 to 150. Levels do fluctuate daily because of food, stress, etc. As long as your cat is within the normal range, I would not worry. If levels creep closer or over 200 then I would talk to the vet about restarting insulin. Cats come out remission for some reason or another and a short course of insulin is all they need to go back into remission.

Thank you. This is a helpful guideline. I will get him checked out for other things and keep monitoring his numbers. Do you have any advice on how often I should be testing? I figure daily is necessary unless he creeps back into green. He's been below 120 on all 3 of his checks today, but only the early morning one was below 100. I don't feel quite as despondent as I did this morning.

 

[CORKY]

Good, maybe it was stress!

 

[Acadaca]

I would keep an eye on your cat's numbers but from what you have on his spreadsheet, it's not worrisome. He's in normal range-- maybe a bit on the high end of the range but still in OK numbers. One thought -- has your vet checked your cat's teeth? The one thing that throws many cats out of remission is the need for a dental cleaning.

Thank you for replying. I am taking him to the vet on Monday and am going to ask that they inspect his mouth. I asked above, but wonder how often you would recommend I test him right now.

 

[squeem3]

A few checks spread throughout a cycle is plenty if you can do that.

 

[CORKY]

Thank you for replying. I am taking him to the vet on Monday and am going to ask that they inspect his mouth. I asked above, but wonder how often you would recommend I test him right now.

Please note that the biggest stressor for cats is a vet visit, don’t let your guard down on OTJ stuff! Just in case the vet decides on insulin off the wall! Be on the defensive, his numbers are not bad, it ca very well be something is stressing him something different around the house? New people, repairs outside noise perhaps?