Possible good news re: Gem's urine glucose?!

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jkbank

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Hi All

So for the past few weeks or so, Gem's dip sticks have always been negative for ketones but off the charts dark brown for glucose. However, over the past couple of days, it's starting to lighten up. This morning it was in the middle - around 1/4 to 1/2 %. I know this isn't as reliable a measure as the blood testing, but this has to be a positive sign, right??
 
So I just tested her urine and got a negative for glucose! WOOT!

I called the vet and she advises waiting one more day to see if we get another negative, and then discuss a dosage change. Since you guys are the pros, I figured I'd ask here. Last thing we need is a hypo but I know the urine test is not the most accurate gauge.

Thoughts??
 
I used to have the test strips that tested for both glucose and ketones, and found the glucose test came back as negative when my cat had been in the low 200s all day, so I guess that was his renal threshhold.
But, since you can't really know if Gem is 200 or below, then I would watch her really well, and be ready to feed her if and when she asks for food.

I'm taking this as a sign of improvement, too :-D Just watch her carefully. Has she been eating as much as normal for her? Sometimes, they do eat less anyway, once their numbers get more into the normal range.

I think if her urine test strips are green (I think that's negative, if I remember right), for awhile, then you could consider reducing her dose a bit. Let's see what others say, too.
 
Hi JK,

It sounds like Gem is feeling a little better thanks to you and your families loving care. I'm sorry i have not used the urine glucose strips, so I am not much help there. I keep you and Gem in my thoughts. Please let me know if there is anything I can help with.
 
That's good news. The problem is that while you know she spent several hours below the renal threshold, you don't know how far below it she went. Because you need to be very cautious, I agree with Dyana that you may need to consider lowering the dose.
 
Dyana said:
I used to have the test strips that tested for both glucose and ketones, and found the glucose test came back as negative when my cat had been in the low 200s all day, so I guess that was his renal threshhold.
But, since you can't really know if Gem is 200 or below, then I would watch her really well, and be ready to feed her if and when she asks for food.

I'm taking this as a sign of improvement, too :-D Just watch her carefully. Has she been eating as much as normal for her? Sometimes, they do eat less anyway, once their numbers get more into the normal range.

I think if her urine test strips are green (I think that's negative, if I remember right), for awhile, then you could consider reducing her dose a bit. Let's see what others say, too.
Click to expand...

Hi Dyana

Yes, I am using the strips that test for both. Obviously I don't have a ton of data/history on this so I'm flying by the seat of my pants!

Her eating is normal for her, which is to say she has a good appetite. She seems to prefer to eat little bits at a time quite often. But that has been her pattern for a while now.

The vet said to wait a day to see if it stays negative, but I need to shoot her soon….I'm worried about giving her the full 3 units….wonder if I should drop it slightly, or just leave it be for a day or so and see how it goes
 
Linda and Bear Man said:
That's good news. The problem is that while you know she spent several hours below the renal threshold, you don't know how far below it she went. Because you need to be very cautious, I agree with Dyana that you may need to consider lowering the dose.
Click to expand...

Now, or after waiting a day or so? I understand no one can say for sure without all the facts, I'm just scared to send her into hypo. I wonder if I can get a BG reading on her….of course I'd have no way of knowing if she's on the way up or down, and she's already eaten.

Oy, this is all so confusing!
 
jkbank said:
Now, or after waiting a day or so? I understand no one can say for sure without all the facts, I'm just scared to send her into hypo. I wonder if I can get a BG reading on her….of course I'd have no way of knowing if she's on the way up or down, and she's already eaten.

Oy, this is all so confusing!
Click to expand...

If you are uncomfortable with the full dose, and if you want to be cautious, you could reduce the dose tonight. I am not an expert on dosing, but I tend to lean towards the very cautious side, and that's what I would do.
 
I would not give a full dose. For safety, you always want to have just a little glucose in the urine when only doing urine testing and giving insulin. Other wise, you do not know how low she is going.
 
Ugh, I am so confused. Just tested her urine again (though I was getting the sample off a wee wee pad!) and the glucose was back high, dark brown again. I honestly don't know what to do with this information. Because I know so little about how her body handles the insulin, I don't know what to think. I understand that all the urine glucose tells us is what has happened since the last void. So sometime between about 4:30 and 7:30 she exceeded her threshold. She had her medications in the pill pockets, and had dinner. So would that possibly explain it? Or is this rebound/shed at play??

Am I the only one who feels like the more I know, the less I know?!?!
 
I was going to say, but forgot to mention; if you see the glucose go high again, it could be that your Gem is bouncing from some lower bg numbers that she is not used to. Bounces are normal. But, again, we don't know how low she went. I would continue to watch her, feed her whenever she asks for food, and maybe reduce the dose a little, like Larry said.
 
Well, for better or worse, I gave her her normal dose. We will keep an eye on her for any signs of hypo. Assuming that that doesn't happen, what might I expect if the low and then high are in fact a bounce, and I gave her a normal dose? Wouldn't her body adjust to a new "normal" and not go high again at this dose?
 
I'm just checking in on you as I haven't been able to get back here for a few days. So glad to see a post on you and your kitty. Looks like you are doing great with the urine testing. I know it can be so confusing. Please hang in there. With the urine you can't go from test to test to determine exactly what is going on. And it's always difficult in the beginning as you don't have a lot of data to base things off of. But i remember when I first started with my Merlin - I was told that everything I did would give me more info - help me along - no matter what. So you are doing WONDERFUL!!! Keep lots of notes and you are a wise lady - watching your kitty!

We are here for you -

Sending you and Gem the very best of thoughts always
xxx
patti
 
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