Still having high BG readings even on canned food and Lantus

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

corteza

Member Since 2014
Hi,

It has been a while since I chatted with you all. It has been a very trying while. Got to the point last week where Nelson had hypoglycemia as he was not eating and vet had him on a higher dose of insulin. Got insulin back down and found a canned cat food that he really likes and is eating. The problem is, his numbers are still high and the canned food does have higher carbs in it. It is the only thing that he is eating and will eat. I have already gone through Fancy Feast, which is now rejected by him...thinking of donating cans I bought to an animal shelter and this stuff by Friskies, Indoor Select, I have to grind up. I am so scared and worried to take him off this as he will not eat and then everything goes haywire. I recently read about baby food for diabetic cats....can that really be given? Anyway, vet wants me to check for ketones and then maybe dose of insulin will be increased. I have been told that my cat is one of the more difficult cats to regulate and it is really day to day with him. This has been very hard and I am running out of ways to keep him fed the right way. Thanks for your thoughts and continued support.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

I think if this is the only thing he will eat it is better he eats that rather than nothing and if you have to increase the insulin to compensate then that is okay too.

Is this food a wet food? How much carbs are in it? Could it be you mix in a little lower car wet food very slowly increasing the amount over the next few weeks? To dilute it as such. Do you think he is nauseous ? Any lip licking or meat loafing ?

Have you ever set up your spreadsheet? That would be really helpful for people to see and may be able to give more detailed advice.

Try to check for ketones if at all possible.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

I think you may find better glucose control with Levemir or Lantus, which you can get over the counter in Canada. Both of those have gentle sustained action which keeps the glucose more stable. Glyburide doesn't help the pancreas heal so that the possibility of getting to a diet controlled state is less likely.

Large drugstore chains may have the least expensive syringes and needles locally and there are a number which will ship Lantus or Levemir to you.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Would you please clarify for us what insulin your cat is getting? Your signature says glyburide oral meds, which really isn't insulin. But, when I'm reading what you wrote, you say you are giving him insulin.

Glyburide causes your pancreas to release more insulin into the bloodstream.
Click to expand...

Cats are unique as far as we know, in that some of them can heal the pancreas and not need insulin injections. My Wink was one of those kitties.

Unfortunately, with the way the oral medications such as glyburide work, they are making the pancreas work harder and can lead to more beta cell destruction. By using injectable insulin, you are giving your cat's pancreas a break and giving it time to heal.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Hi,

Changed signature to reflect giving Lantus insulin. I will try adding some low carb food in with the other one. He is not nausea or vomiting, though prefers to drink the water in the food so I have to blend it down to almost mush. The vet wants me to take blood 3 times today to see what is happening with BG. It will be tricky to not feed him inbetween. Thanks again for the input.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Baby food is not a nutritionally complete food for a cat. It can be mixed with cat food to help spark an appetite or can be fed alone for a couple of days if the cat is very ill and not eating at all.

Sometimes you have to try different brands. I went to a pet food store and bought one can each of several different varieties. The biggest factor is get wet food and make sure it is low in carbs.

I have also sprinkled grated parmesan cheese on top and have used FortiFlora as a flavor enhancer. Many cats like the taste of both of these.

It might also help to ask your vet about trying an appetite stimulant like Mirtazapine for a week to help stimulate his appetite.

Anita and Squeaker
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

though prefers to drink the water in the food so I have to blend it down to almost mush.
Click to expand...

This is perfectly fine and many of us do this. As long as the cat isn't too skinny and it hinders them from getting enough calories by feeling full from all the water, go ahead and make him mush to eat :-D

The vet wants me to take blood 3 times today to see what is happening with BG. It will be tricky to not feed him inbetween.
Click to expand...

Did the the vet say you couldn't feed him in between the tests? Most of us find that small frequent meals (4+ in day) help keep the BGs lower. Sometimes feeding within 2 hours of a test can affect the numbers. But you could plan more than 3 meals a day, just don't put any 2 hrs before any test time. I am very happy that a vet encourage multiple tests a day!!

Glad to see you have gotten onto an insulin shot. Lantus usually flattens out after a bit once you get the dose and food stuff figured out.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

The vet did mention that he would prefer no food to be given inbetween or at least a couple of hours before. For today, I think he just wants to see what kind of numbers we are going to be getting within 2 hours of each other. I have weighed him on my scale and he seems to have put weight on since I am feeding him this high carb wet food right now; however, he still looks like he is so thin (15 pounds as of a couple of days ago). I guess it could be how he is carrying himself for a 14-year-old. Anyway, I am glad that I am not the only one mushing up the food so that it will be eaten. I really have to encourage him to do so, but at least he is eating! Hugs!
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

If you start switching slowly to low carb canned food that should help his blood glucose levels. You have to be a little careful whilst you are doing it as it can decrease the need for insulin so as you do it make sure you keep monitoring his blood glucose.

I personally wouldn't keep there food to only two meals a day. As your vet says withhold food for the two hours before you give the insulin so you know the numbers aren't affected by it. But then after that I feed my cat remi small meals straight after every two hour test. So I would do the +2 hour test then feed again, then again after the +4 retest and again after your. +6 . That way I would help ease the strain on the pancreas and help get enough food into him.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Yes that is what I am doing right now as he seems to be quite hungry every 2 hours. I took the BG and then gave him some food. He does not like getting his ears pricked more than once though. Poor guy!
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

As you narrow in on the right insulin dose, the appetite may calm down some.

Meanwhile, add a tablespoon of water to the food to increase the volume.

Consider the Pet Safe 5, a timed feeder with 5 compartments. You can divy up the food and set it to open a chamber every 2 hours. Folks have found it through the SHOP button above, using the Amazon search link.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

what a great idea! I will look into it. I did find that a routine of every 2 hours was actually calming in that I wasn't running up and down everytime I saw him getting up. Thanks! :YMHUG:
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Thank you so much for clarifying that you are using insulin. Lantus is an excellent insulin for cats and many caregivers are able to get their cat into remission with a low carb diet and a short course of insulin. Here's hoping that can happen for you and your kitty.
 
Re: Still having high BG readings even on canned food and La

Let's get you started using our grid to record your glucose tests. It will help us give you better feedback.

Instructions are here.

Understanding the spreadsheet/grid:

The colored headings at the top are the ranges of glucose values. They are color-coded to clue you in as to meaning.

Each day is 1 row. Each column stores different data for the day.

From left to right, you enter
the Date in the first column
the AMPS (morning pre-shot test) in the 2nd column
the Units given (turquoise column)

Then, there are 11 columns labeled +1 through +11
If you test at +5 (5 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +5 column
If you test at +7 (7 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +7 column
and so on.

Halfway across the page is the column for PMPS (evening pre-shot)
To the right is another turquoise column for Units given at the evening shot.

There is second set of columns labeled +1 through +11
If you snag a before bed test at +3, you enter the test number in the +3 column.

We separate day and night numbers like that because many cats go lower at night.

It is merely a grid for storing the info; no math required.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top