Question 3: First Curve? Should it be done by a vet?

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kallima_butterfly

kallima_butterfly

Member Since 2015
So yesterday I had to purchase a new bottle of insulin from the vets. The vet assistant mentioned we should get Oyster in for a curve. I was planning to do a curve on my own this Saturday. I'm wondering if I should let the vet do his first curve or if my curve will be good enough. I know curves done at the vets can be misleading so is it worth taking him? But as a newbie perhaps I should let the vet do the first curve. Thoughts?
 
The numbers at the vet can be from 100-180 mg/dL higher than at home. Dose recommendations based on a vet curve may be increased too much.
If you're up for it, I'd suggest doing it at home.
See my signature link Glucometer Notes for reference ranges using human and pet meters, in mg/dL or mmol/L.
 
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Check out Henry's spreadsheet in my signature. You will notice the only reds and purples (glucose level over 300) are when he was at the vet's office: when he was first diagnosed, when we went back in to learn how to administer the insulin, and when they did his first glucose curve at the office. Just as BJ said above, my vet raised Henry's dosage way too much after the first curve at their office based on his stress-elevated levels, and he dropped too low the next day back at home. When she saw the difference in his numbers there vs. here (especially when we started using the exact same meter she uses), she agreed that we should do subsequent curves at home.
 
We've never done a curve at the vet. Even our old vet, who was against home testing for the most part, was ok with me providing curve numbers from home. Our new vet isn't all that keen on curves in general - she feels the fructosamine test is a lot more useful so wants me to just do AMPS, +6, and PMPS every so often at this point.

If you can take care of the testing at home, I think it's better for all of you.
 
Are your home testing skills up to getting a blood test every 2 hours for a 12 hour period, starting at pre-shot? Then you'll be able to do the curve at home yourself.

If you are not so sure of your home testing skills, then you may want to consider having the curve done at the vet.

Since most kitties do get really, really stressed out at the vet, we strongly encourage doing those curves at home if you are up to it. Doing your own curve also means you save the expense of having the vet do the curve. My vet charged over $100 for 6 tests. Using my Relion Confirm meter, I could do those same 6 tests for about $2.16. I'd rather save the money and use it to buy some more cat toys or some good food for my kitties.:joyful::D:joyful:

p.s. Wink could have cared less that he was at the vet. He's one laid back dude. I'm the one that was stressed, because they kept him overnight, and I wasn't sure they would even give him the food I brought for him. He was practically OTJ at that time and I did not want the vet to jeopardize his great progress by giving him a high carb food.
 
I've never done a curve, let alone one at the vet's :) I've always tested enough that there was no need to do a curve, the numbers showed more than anything doing a curve for the purpose of doing a curve would do. If you feel your home testing is up to gathering enough information to be able to tell how the insulin is working, either through a curve or through the daily testing you do, no need for a vet run curve, its likely to not show anything real accurate anyway because of the stress and disruption to his normal activities and schedule.
 
kallima_butterfly said:
So yesterday I had to purchase a new bottle of insulin from the vets. The vet assistant mentioned we should get Oyster in for a curve. I was planning to do a curve on my own this Saturday. I'm wondering if I should let the vet do his first curve or if my curve will be good enough. I know curves done at the vets can be misleading so is it worth taking him? But as a newbie perhaps I should let the vet do the first curve. Thoughts?
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Have you watched your vet to a blood test ? If not get him to go through it with you. If a couple of dimwits like myself & my OH can manage it, I'm sure you'll do fine !
 
LynRich said:
Have you watched your vet to a blood test ? If not get him to go through it with you. If a couple of dimwits like myself & my OH can manage it, I'm sure you'll do fine !
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My vet did one kitty poke in the ear but he did it in the middle of the ear not near the end like I've been reading to do so it took a lot of squeezing to get the blood out, something Oyster did not like. Im pretty sure Im up for it. (Gulp...lol)
 
Can a curve start at his pm shot? The only time I can test and be home (due to my busy schedule) for a full 24 hours is if I do pm shot to pm shot on Saturday
 
Yep. A curve is testing every two hours on a cycle, either AM or PM. In fact, most of my testing of Mikey usually takes place during the PM cycle because I'm at work all day. I do use weekends and days I work from home to get a few daytime tests in when I can, though.
 
Hi Marcy,

I found it much easier - and Saoirse found it much more comfortable - to draw samples from the 'sweet spot' on the side of the ear nearer the tip. The vet techs at the practice where she was first diagnosed tested her further down the ear and it made her miserable.

Bon chance with the curve at the weekend. Remember you can always post here for help if you need it. :)
 
kallima_butterfly said:
Can a curve start at his pm shot? The only time I can test and be home (due to my busy schedule) for a full 24 hours is if I do pm shot to pm shot on Saturday
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A cycle is only 12 hours. There are 2 cycles in a day, the AM cycle and the PM cycle. You only need to test for 12 hours. If that 12 hours is easier for you to do in the evening or on a weekend, then plan to run your curve during that time. Whatever works best for you.

So your first curve test would be the pre-shot test before you give Oyster his PM shot, next test is at +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, +12. The +12 hour test will also be the same as your AM pre-shot test.

Just wanted to clarify that you do not need to test every 2 hours for 24 hours. You'll only need to test for a 12 hour period. You may certainly do more tests if you want to. In the early days, it helps to test a bit to determine when the nadirs are for YOUR cat. ECID and some cats nadir early, some nadir in the typical 5-8 hour time frame, some nadir later.

Each cat reacts differently to the insulin, so you're testing is helping you determine items such as when your particular insulin starts to onset, when the lowest point or nadir occurs, and the duration of the insulin you are giving. From this information, you can then see if you need to change the dose and even perhaps change the type of insulin you are using.
 
Deb & Wink said:
A cycle is only 12 hours. There are 2 cycles in a day, the AM cycle and the PM cycle. You only need to test for 12 hours. If that 12 hours is easier for you to do in the evening or on a weekend, then plan to run your curve during that time. Whatever works best for you.

So your first curve test would be the pre-shot test before you give Oyster his PM shot, next test is at +2, +4, +6, +8, +10, +12. The +12 hour test will also be the same as your AM pre-shot test.

Just wanted to clarify that you do not need to test every 2 hours for 24 hours. You'll only need to test for a 12 hour period. You may certainly do more tests if you want to. In the early days, it helps to test a bit to determine when the nadirs are for YOUR cat. ECID and some cats nadir early, some nadir in the typical 5-8 hour time frame, some nadir later
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Oh I was surfing thru some links on the home page of feline diabetes.com and came across the website http://www.sugarpet.net/bgcurve.html. I assumed that meant a curve was a 24h thing
 
Started first 12 hour curve today. Wish me luck! Wanted to do a 24h but my mom feed cat last night forgetting I have to test first and I work tomorrow so I'll go do a 24h next weekend I guess
 
KPassa said:
You can do two 12-hour curves on different days and/or cycles. In fact, it will give you a better overall reading of what his "real" numbers might be in case he's bouncing on one of the days you pick.
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Good point Kpassa! Less stressful on both the sugarkitty and mommabean if 2 12 hour curves are run on different days/ cycles.

How is the testing going?
 
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