What are good blood sugars?

[Linda5]

Hi,
Question: I've read that a diabetic cat's blood sugars can be as high as 300 and be considered ok. What blood sugars does everyone strive for with their diabetic cat? Thank you.

 

[Sylvie]

i've noticed my cat does best in all areas (eating, pooping normal, drinking/urinating less and more active) when his numbers are in low 200's and slightly below and less active when he goes into the low 100's or above mid 200's, so am striving for mostly mid blue numbers (around 150) right now. i did read that the renal threshold is under 250 for most cats so that is at least what i want my cat's numbers to regularly be under even if 300 may be considered okay for 'some' cats.

 

[Cheryl17]

Sylvie,

Do you know if that renal threshold number was the actual blood glucose vs the number on a human meter?

Cheryl

 

[Amanda and a Loudogg]

Sylvie,
Do you know if that renal threshold number was the actual blood glucose vs the number on a human meter?
Cheryl

When I've read articles about the renal threshold, they never specify how that number is being tested. I assume they're thinking it's the blood glucose from an analyzer (tested at the vet's). The unfortunate thing about renal threshold is it can be different for each cat. One article I read the range was 260-280, and another it was 200-280. For me personally, I like how 280 sounds so I just go with that, haha.

Hi,
Question: I've read that a diabetic cat's blood sugars can be as high as 300 and be considered ok. What blood sugars does everyone strive for with their diabetic cat? Thank you.

For this I find articles also have a big range. According to the Vetsulin website: "The aim of treatment is to alleviate clinical signs of diabetes. To achieve this goal, keep blood glucose concentrations below the renal threshold and avoid hypoglycemia. Thus, the goal is to maintain blood glucose concentrations roughly between 120 to 300 mg/dL in cats for the majority of the day." I use a human glucometer, so I personally like him to be under 200 for as much as possible, with a nadir (peak BG) within the normal BG range of 50-120 (when he's on insulin, the range is usually about 80-120 to give me some wiggle room and to avoid hypoglycemia). I've been at this FD marathon for a while, so I prefer to try to keep him much more tightly regulated. When I first started, I was happy any time he was under 200.

 

[Sylvie]

Sylvie,

Do you know if that renal threshold number was the actual blood glucose vs the number on a human meter?

Cheryl

i don't recall for sure how they got that number but, i got the impression it was based on lab work research/results. the documents were very pet specific, so i do believe they were talking about using vet/pet meters to do blood glucose monitoring. they also mentioned using the d strips as well as doing glucose monitoring regularly to check for ketones & sugar in urine to help narrow a specific cat's threshold number. if i find where i read this at again, i will post link (assuming we are allowed to post links?)

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi @Linda5 ,

When cats are newly diagnosed numbers in the 300 - 400 range are not at all uncommon. ..Normal levels for non-diabetic cats are approximately 50 - 130 (as measured on a 'human' blood glucose meter).
Once on insulin it usually becomes possible to bring cats into a much better blood glucose range, even if only for part of the time. (The extent to which this is possible depends on multiple factors including; insulin type (short acting or long acting); food; the ability of the caregiver to test blood glucose at home; concurrent illnesses; recovery of the cat's pancreas function...... And a number of other factors, some of which are entirely out of our control....)

Even if cats have high blood glucose at diagnosis they can still, quite often, get into a decent blood glucose range once they're on insulin. And quite a number of cats will go into remission (be able to have their diabetes controlled by diet alone) after a short time on insulin.

You may find the chart in this link helpful, but please DO post if you have further questions.
http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Blood_sugar_guidelines

Eliz

 

[rawia]

Sylvie,

Do you know if that renal threshold number was the actual blood glucose vs the number on a human meter?

Cheryl

225 for renal is on pet meter