Update on Junior, dx 6/16/2011

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kay&junior

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Hello all,
Still no luck with the blood glucose test on either ear, will keep trying, and he figured out how to rip through all the plastic to pee in the litter box, so no sample last night or this morning,
Spoke with the vet, she is learning that I am stubborn in what I want to try, and this suggestion seems ok, just wanted to check and see if anyone else had tried Crystals? She said you sprinkle them in the litterbox, and they change color after he uses the box? She said I would get a more accurate glucose level, than using the wet litter, mixed with water, and doubling the glucose number on the stick.
He is still on Lantus 2u BID, slowly going to wet food from dry, and he likes it! Watching his water intake and urine output...
This morning I caught him actually cleaning his back legs, which hasn't beeen seen in awhile! and he jumped up on the couch last night to watch Football with me! I was so excited. I think the cooler weather is also helping, he does not like heat or humidity.
so, anyways, any info about the crystals, or anything for the litter box to test til I can get blood would be a big help!
thanks so much for all the help!
Kay & Junior
 
Have placed an order for Glucotest Granules, will update next week on how we did.
and will try agin on the ears!
 
2u is not a super high dose, but keep in mind that once the diet change has been completed most cats will see a large drop in blood glucose levels and do not need much more than 1u. 2u can still cause a hypo incident on a wet diet. Also, Lantus should be increased in .25u or .5u increments, not in whole units. If you're not home testing yet, I would urge you to drop Junior's dose down to 1u. Urine testing cannot catch hypoglycemic episodes, and it's better that he be too high until you can get the testing down than too low for a second.
 
Here's the link to the Lantus dosing protocol: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1581

Until you're blood testing, I would recommend dropping down to 1u, and slowly raising the dose in .25u increments based off of the results of the urine testing. If 2u is too high a dose, the urine testing will still show high blood glucose. When a cat's blood sugar drops too low, the liver releases glucose into the bloodstream to combat the low blood sugar.
 
Just keep at it Kay! It took me awhile (~2 weeks) before I got the hang of it. Key is not to give up.
 
Question from Junior about supplements?

Hello to all Juniors new friends,
He was with my DH these past few days, mom needed me in Mass., so he bonded with his daddy and brother, he stayed on the same 1/2 & 1/2 mix of wet & dry food while I was gone, and stayed on 2u BID, my DH won't change doses without me....the granules are from Amazon.com, still waiting for them to come in.
My vet e-mailed me about liquid b-12 oral supplement called Lixotinic. she goes on to say she can order a Vetriscience DMG supplement that is reported to help reduce blood glucose levels, she does say she has no experience using it with diabetic cats. Has anyone heard of either???
I will keep on trying the blood test on his ear, gently working at it...and pray the granules work if not.

Kay & Junior

ps. I re-wrote the header because this really isn't an update, more of a question....
 
Hi Kay! I haven't heard of that supplement, so I can't comment.

Please make sure you reducing your dose down to 1u when the diet is changed over or until you are blood testing. Like I said, you can't detect hypoglycemia with urine testing and most cats on a wet diet do not need more than 1u. Too high a dose will be counter productive, because it will still keep your cat's blood sugar high.
 
Hi Julia & Bandit,
I knew I would hear from someone!
I Googled it, and not sure about it.
I am going to change him to 1u BID as soon as I finish switching him over to wet.
Trying the blood test again tonight before food & shot, got some chix treats to try the bribe for blood!
I have tested his urine for ketones and that is a big negative!
will let you know tomorrow how we did tonight.

thanks to all, just knowing you are there really does help!
 
kay&junior said:
Hi Julia & Bandit,
I knew I would hear from someone!
I Googled it, and not sure about it.
I am going to change him to 1u BID as soon as I finish switching him over to wet.
Trying the blood test again tonight before food & shot, got some chix treats to try the bribe for blood!
I have tested his urine for ketones and that is a big negative!
will let you know tomorrow how we did tonight.

thanks to all, just knowing you are there really does help!
Click to expand...

Bribing is the best method! Bandit went from biting and struggling to running to the basket I test him in when he hears the glucose meter come on, where he immediately jumps in and lies down for me! :-D
 
Well, he didn't actually run & jump for joy, but I did get him to sit and play/sniff the lancet device, and clicked it near and around him, I think he thought I was losing it! all his stuff for testing is in a little basket, and he knows it is his, try more tonight!
he is eating much better with the mix of wet & dry, within a week I would like to have him on all wet, I have emailed his vet about this, waiting for response on dosing. Urine Granular Crystals have still not arived yet, will look in today's mail.

to all a good day.
 
Re: b12 supplements that you were talking about a bit earlier.

Methylcobalamine seems to be quite helpful for neuropathy. I bought it at a health food store - it is made by Natural Factors. The pills are 1000 mcg and I give a quarter daily. They dissolve in water, so I put a quarter in Tony's dish, a bit of water, and then mix it into his canned food. Yummm.

Some people also find that giving B12 injections helps digestion, liver, and misc other things (I'm sure that others will have details if you want them) especially for older cats. I give an injection monthly.
 
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