Please Help! BG is 39!

[buddhasmom]

How often should I feed karo syrup & how much in order to raise from a Hypogylcemic state? Took him to vet today & she gave him oral dextrose. Vet said 1ml of karo at home, twice a day, but you can't really give him too much. His glucose was 39 at the vet. He hasn't had insulin since Wednesday morning. His liver & kidney values are good. He's disoriented, confused, & wobbly, not eating much, but walking around & meowing & played w/ a ball some. He's 15 & also has severe IBD & apparently not absorbing any of his food because his albumin is low. I'm so worried.

 

[Midnight's Mom]

Have you tested since the vet visit? I'm new to this too, but do you have honey or karo? If he's acting that off, rub a little on his gums or let him lick it and then retest every 15 minutes or so until he starts stabilizing.

 

[Squeakycats]

Do you think he'll eat? If so, do you have any food with gravy? I'm relatively new to this as well, but I think it's considered good to get them to eat a moderate carb or high carb food if possible.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Hi Buddha's Mum,
Just need to clarify first, the reading at the Vet was 39, how long ago? Has he been given insulin? How long ago and how much? Your post says no insulin since Wednesday.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

I've never used Prozinc, but my understanding is that it is an in-and-out insulin. Since your cat has not had any insulin since Wednesday, there should be little, if any, insulin in its system.

From the prozinc stickies:

• Prozinc is an “in and out” insulin. This means that the insulin does not build up in the system and stay there. “Onset” is when the insulin starts working, usually between 2 to 3 hours after the shot is given (depending on your cat’s own unique metabolism). ProZinc generally lasts 12 hours (“duration”) resulting in a “curve” of BG numbers, downward around mid-cycle, then back upward toward the end of each 12-hour cycle. For this reason, it’s dosed twice a day.

Take a BG reading before overloading the carbs.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Do you have a spreadsheet? I don't see one.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

If no insulin is true, don't feed Karo to raise the BG. Some kitties naturally run on the lower end. His natural body won't put him into Hypoglycemic state.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

I can't stick around (glad others are here), but I agree that this shouldn't be effects of insulin if the last dose was two days ago. If he's currently wobbly, there might be some other cause, and I'd be inclined to take him back to the vet to get checked out, especially if this is new behavior.

 

[Squeakycats]

I missed the part about no insulin--did the vet have any theory about what is causing the hypoglycemia (if that's what it is)?

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

Talk to your vet, the nearest ER, or an endocrinologist about insulinomas ASAP.
He may need treatment beyond what you can handle at home.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

If no insulin is true, don't feed Karo to raise the BG. Some kitties naturally run on the lower end. His natural body won't put him into Hypoglycemic state.

I'm not so sure this is good advice since we don't know the cause of the problem. There are also symptoms. I would offer karo as the vet suggested, test often, and pursue a diagnosis today.

Just my thoughts...

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Sorry, was trying to confirm if that was the only thing since she said other values tested OK and had just (sounded like) she was at the Vet with him. May have hyper-focused a little just on insulin/diabetes related. I do hope she went back to the Vet to figure out the cause. Just trying to rule out hypo from insulin if none really was given. Thanks for calling me out

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

@Yong
No biggie. This is the beauty of having a peer reviewed message board.

It's just with no Prozinc (an in and out insulin) given since Wednesday morning... there's got to be more to this than just diabetes... which is why it may be important to follow the vet's advice to give karo to get his numbers up.

An insulinoma is what immediately came to my mind. They're rare, but we've seen several cases over the years. However, this could be any numbers of things. I sure hope buddhasmom is back at the vet's or is at an ER. Kitty needs a proper diagnosis.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Also a little surprised the Vet let them leave with that reading taken there. I will read more about other causes for this, just for my personal information

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

Also a little surprised the Vet let them leave with that reading taken there.

I was thinking the same.

 

[Squeakycats]

How is Buddha doing?

 

[Shoeskitty-GA]

Just in case she doesn't see this to update all, she just posted on FB that she did call the vet back and Buddha is now staying overnight for fluids and some glucose support.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Just in case she doesn't see this to update all, she just posted on FB that she did call the vet back and Buddha is now staying overnight for fluids and some glucose support.

Thanks for the update, Sandi!

 

[buddhasmom]

Hey guys. Thanks so much Shoeskitty/Sandi for filling them in. It's been a tiresome day as I'm sure you all can imagine. I'll just copy & paste what I wrote on Facebook.

"She (the vet) mentioned the pancreas tumor & I do think it's a strong possibility. Unfortunately, he's too old & frail to operate. We went back to vet & he is staying overnight on IV fluids w/ a little sugar mixed in. We'll see how he is tmrw. It may just be his time. We're heartbroken & scared, but we've had a scare before & he pulled through & I extended his life by 3 years. You just never know. Thanks so much to everyone who responded. "

Thanks so much to all of you here on the board too. The people on FDMB have been a wealth of knowledge & support & have really helped me care for my sweet angel in the best possible way ever since he became a diabetic last year.

 

[Midnight's Mom]

Hey guys. Thanks so much Shoeskitty/Sandi for filling them in. It's been a tiresome day as I'm sure you all can imagine. I'll just copy & paste what I wrote on Facebook.

"She (the vet) mentioned the pancreas tumor & I do think it's a strong possibility. Unfortunately, he's too old & frail to operate. We went back to vet & he is staying overnight on IV fluids w/ a little sugar mixed in. We'll see how he is tmrw. It may just be his time. We're heartbroken & scared, but we've had a scare before & he pulled through & I extended his life by 3 years. You just never know. Thanks so much to everyone who responded. "

Thanks so much to all of you here on the board too. The people on FDMB have been a wealth of knowledge & support & have really helped me care for my sweet angel in the best possible way ever since he became a diabetic last year.

I'll be thinking of you and Buddha - if you can let us know how he's doing tomorrow. Glad you went back to the vet and got him some pain relief via fluids etc.