UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3 334

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KarenAmelia

Member Since 2012
Terra's BGs look like they're moving in the right direction, compared with previous days. However, it's a puzzle that she acted well and much more energetic and like her old self with yesterday's higher numbers. Today, she is lethargic, won't get out of bed, will eat and drink but only if I put food and water in front of her in bed. It's like she's having a hypo kind of episode even with normal numbers. Please, some advice. I will post new BG numbers as I get them and would like guidance. THese numbers are lower than she's been in a while. (Breaking news: Just minutes after I posted this, she did get out of bed and made her way to litter box. Still , a bit unsteady on her feet.)

One thing new today: she was meowing very insistently to be fed at about 6am. Her shot time is 6:30, so I waited for 15 minutes to drag myself out of bed, and by the time I got her blood glucose test and set food in front of her, she wasn't eating. I tried a quarter tablet of Pepcid for the first time, at about 7am. She has eaten a few times since then but is still sluggish. Clearly not feeling well.

Updated numbers include Terra having eaten a tablespoon or so of canned food within 30 minutes before PM +3 test.
 
Re: 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

For some reason, some kitties who are used to higher numbers don't seem to feel as well when they first start having lower numbers. I hope that's the case with Terra this morning. You might want to edit your subject line to include something like "questions" to draw more eyes. Good luck.
 
Re: 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Is Terra usually a hoover when it comes to food or is she a picky eater? I'm also curious as to how much she ate this morning given where her +5 is.

Linda is correct in that some cats have adjusted to being in higher numbers and feel better there. It takes a while for them to get used to lower ranges. It's also possible that Terra knew her numbers were coming down today. That drop of over 200 points probably doesn't feel all that good. However, many cats want food when their numbers are dropping.

Keep us posted on how she's feeling. Also, have you been able to test for ketones? With Terra having been spending so much time in higher numbers, ketone testing is prudent. You can pick up Ketostix at any pharmacy.
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Karen:

I'm glad to see Terra coming down but I agree with Linda and Sienne that sometimes they are more lethargic as they start to get into normal numbers. ECID....but Gracie never quit eating or not acting interested in her food when she
was getting used to lower numbers.

So I think Sienne's last suggestion is a priority.....we'd love to see a urine ketone test on her and make sure it is negative.

Please keep us posted. Have a great day and I hope Terra becomes more chipper and eats!
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Sending feel better and eating
smiley-eatdrink022.gif
vines to Terra.
I agree with Sienne and Marge. Please get a ketone test, so we know that is not an issue. How much has she eaten today?
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Tarragon definitely went through the same thing when he got back down into the lower numbers. His body really didn't know what to do and he was very lethargic and not wanting to eat much. Hope that's all it is and Terra perks up soon for you!
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

mmm karen, that does sound disconcerting. the +5 is awesome - but the symptoms don't sound good. i have noticed punkin being lethargic whenever he's in lower numbers and have heard others comment on the same thing. their bodies have forgotten what "normal" feels like. i think of it like how i feel with my daily caffeine, which isn't normal but that's what i'm used to - then if i don't have it i feel kinda crappy.

does terra have a history of pancreatitis, diabetic ketoacidosis or any other major illness? does her breath just smell like ordinary kitty food breath, or does it have any strange smell to it?
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Karen, saw your question about R on punkin's condo. R means regular insulin - the brand names are Humulin R, Novolin R, etc. It is a short-acting, harsher insulin than Lantus that can be used (with experienced guidance!) to help bring the numbers down, usually in kitties with diagnosed acromegaly or IAA (insulin resistance) like Punkin and Weezer.

I hope Terra starts feeling better soon, that +5 sure looks nice but it may not feel nice to her if she is used to being higher.
 
Re: NEED ADVICE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128

Melissa is correct -- "R" is Regular insulin or Humulin R.

It's what's technically considered a bolus insulin. It's rarely, if ever given for routine diabetes management. It's used to enhance the effect of another longer acting, basal insulin, such as Lantus or any of the other types of insulin. In addition to being used with a high dose cat, it's frequently used in DKA situations. Usually, the cat is on multiple IVs to manage the DKA. One of the ways in which DKA is managed is to increase the insulin to offset the effect of the ketones. A long acting insulin may take longer than what's desireable. Thus, R is used to pull numbers down but a glucose drip is used to prevent numbers from tanking. With some of the cats here that were experiencing problems with ketones, because they may not want to eat, but still need the insulin, we'd suggest feeding HC food in order to keep the insulin dose high enough to ward off the ketones. R is very powerful and if not used properly, can be very dangerous.
 
Re: UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3

I didn't realize that there were replies waiting! Was expecting to see emails indicating replies. Oops!

Terra ate well today even though she had to be given room service during the day: she stayed in bed and ate when I put the plate in front of her. She ate no dry food (hooray). There is no normal with Terra: one day she'll only want dry food, the next she only wants canned; one day she'll eat one type of canned food and the next, turn her nose up at it. So it seems impossible to have any kind of routine for feeding vs. testing. At least for the pre-shots I've got a routine of not feeding until after those. And I'm reducing her food on the upswing side of the cycle, but not withholding if she's hungry. Just now I worried something was wrong because, while she acted hungry, she wouldn't eat the food that she'd eaten earlier. So I fed that to the dog and tried another brand, and she ate heartily. Go figure.

I did get ketone sticks yesterday and tested once in the evening: she showed negative for ketones. I will try and get a test when able. I've been checking for the fruity smell on breath when her numbers have been high and all I've noticed is no breath odor at all.

Going to hold at 2.5 units, and praying no bounce tomorrow. It's exciting that she seems to be responding to the insulin!
 
Re: UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3

Forgot to answer the question about other health conditions for Terra. The only thing she's been diagnosed with is FIV, a couple of years ago. Nothing has come of that, so far as I am aware. She's had no other major health conditions. But I'm low key on testing so I can only say that there haven't been symptoms suspicious enough for me to take her to the vet...until this FD. The vet did not test for anything else.
 
Re: UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3

Karen:

Thank you for the info. Glad to hear she has eaten today and that her ketones are negative. It's a good idea to test once a day when she is high.....if you can get the samples.

We know you are busy and learning alot of info, but wonder if we can ask you to do a profie for Terra. That way we have the info on her, such as her FIV, that will allow us to help you a little better. Since we are looking at a lot of kitties, it helps to be able to click on the kitty's profile and get a reminder of important issues, meds, etc.

Here is the link that explains how to do a profile: Creating a Profile,

If you have any questions, or need any help, please be sure and let me know. Thank you!
 
Re: UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3

Karen --

Did you change the color on your AM+11 on your SS? If so, would you mind changing it back to yellow? Most of us who look at SSs all the time look more for the color than the numbers in order to see patterns.
 
Re: UPDATE : 1/23 Terra AMPS342, +3 224, +5 128 PMPS297, +3

great to hear she ate today! some kitties are finicky, aren't they?

that is a mighty nice curve she had today - looks like she's responding very nicely to the lantus. it takes a while to see these improvements. that 128, yuppers, i'm still looking at that and thinking what a nice number for you to see!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top