Stress
- Thread starter JandB
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Jana+BK+Chester(GA)+Wilbur
Active Member
Stress can absolutely raise a cat's BG levels. For instance, B.K.'s BG level can raise +300 at the vet's office. Even my mellow lump o' love Chester will jump +100.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
We need more info. In the last post I can find from you, you were giving 4 units of PZI and not hometesting yet. What's happening now?
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
Jan,
Have you tried hometesting? Nine units is a huge amount of insulin, unless your cat has a specific condition like acromegaly or cushings: viewforum.php?f=12 If you got to that dosage only with fructosamine tests, it is a very inaccurate way to dose insulin. The fructosamine will give you an average bg level over the past 2 weeks, not a number that you can really use to set a dosage. Even bg levels taken at the vet can be much higher than at home and lead to too much insulin prescribed. If you knew his bg levels at home and they were high enough to warrant 9 units, then you would know to ask for further testing. But right now, it seems like you are in the dark.
Can we help you hometest? Would you be willing to post your city/state/country? Maybe we have someone who could come help. Even if not, we have taught hundreds of people how over the internet.
Have you tried hometesting? Nine units is a huge amount of insulin, unless your cat has a specific condition like acromegaly or cushings: viewforum.php?f=12 If you got to that dosage only with fructosamine tests, it is a very inaccurate way to dose insulin. The fructosamine will give you an average bg level over the past 2 weeks, not a number that you can really use to set a dosage. Even bg levels taken at the vet can be much higher than at home and lead to too much insulin prescribed. If you knew his bg levels at home and they were high enough to warrant 9 units, then you would know to ask for further testing. But right now, it seems like you are in the dark.
Can we help you hometest? Would you be willing to post your city/state/country? Maybe we have someone who could come help. Even if not, we have taught hundreds of people how over the internet.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
I think the 29 size lancets are the best for beginning because they make a larger hole. Brand doesn't matter. I did have the best luck when I took the clear cap off. It made it much easier to see.
Other important things:
Make sure you are aiming for the little capillaries that come off the main vein that runs down the ear. You can use a flashlight to find them. Then put a dab of vaseline there so you know where to poke, plus it will help the blood bead up.
Warm the ear. At first, most cats need it. Take a thinnish sock and fill it with raw rice, warm in microwave until very warm but not hot.
Poke at an angle. At first, you may need to repoke in the same spot, without taking the lancet out. You can milk the ear, pushing toward the hole you made.
We have lots of people in England. We might have someone who lives near you?
Rebound is a possibility with a high dose. It's hard to get your head around, but it happens when the kitty is getting too much insulin and his body reacts to it by producing more glucose, giving him higher bg levels. http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Somogyi_rebound
Other important things:
Make sure you are aiming for the little capillaries that come off the main vein that runs down the ear. You can use a flashlight to find them. Then put a dab of vaseline there so you know where to poke, plus it will help the blood bead up.
Warm the ear. At first, most cats need it. Take a thinnish sock and fill it with raw rice, warm in microwave until very warm but not hot.
Poke at an angle. At first, you may need to repoke in the same spot, without taking the lancet out. You can milk the ear, pushing toward the hole you made.
We have lots of people in England. We might have someone who lives near you?
Rebound is a possibility with a high dose. It's hard to get your head around, but it happens when the kitty is getting too much insulin and his body reacts to it by producing more glucose, giving him higher bg levels. http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Somogyi_rebound
Jana+BK+Chester(GA)+Wilbur
Active Member
If you really find it impossible to test using the ears, you can use the paw pads. Given the HUGE amount of insulin your cat is getting, I think it is more important that you home test and less important whether you use the ear or the paw pads.JandB said:
Jen & Squeak
Very Active Member
You have gone to 9 units a day or 9 units twice a day? And from 4 units? What is the logic? Do you know that you can overdose your cat?
Please, people have offered to help, take them up on that offer.
Please, people have offered to help, take them up on that offer.
Jen & Squeak said:
Yes, I do know that it's possible to overdose a cat. Please don't jump to conclusions, I would NEVER do that. I haven't posted in a long time and the dose has risen very gradually since March. I only came on to ask about stress and the possibility of doing other tests on Puss because of his high dose.
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