Zucchini's glucose at 69

[greenbean]

Hi. I have been giving Zucchini his 1 unit of Vetsulin twice a day since May when he was diagnosed with diabetes with a glucose level of 469.

One night this week I didn't get home in time to give him his evening injection and noticed he had much more energy than usual. I began to wonder if perhaps he was getting too much insulin and it was making him tired.

When I gave him his evening injection the following night, he would lay around. He was still able to be engaged, so I wasn't concerned, but he definitely had a ton more energy without the injection.

I give him his AM injection right before I go to work, so I am not around to observe his energy levels in the AM.

Anyway, after he ate tonight, I decided to take his blood, which I have not been doing, and his reading with the Relion meter was at 69. He had his AM injection but not his PM. I won't give him his PM.

I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed from here.
Thank you.

Also, Zucchini is also no longer walking on his hocks. I can't be certain, but his walking appears to be close to, if not, 100%

And one more thing: I have not replaced Zucchini's bottle of Vetsulin even though it was supposed to have expired some time around the beginning of June. I started it in May- it is good for about 1 month or so. I am still using the same bottle, so there is a possibility the insulin has began losing its strength.

 

[BJM]

Good thing you didn't shoot; typically you want to be above 150 mg/dL when you shoot, and also have test data to show how low the glucose goes post -shot to evaluate the dose.
We have guidelines for using Vetsulin optimally here.

 

[greenbean]

I didn't have work today and tested him this morning after breakfast, his reading was 56. His last injection was yesterday morning.

So at this point do I continue testing to see if his sugar raises?

Is this typical, or is this an indication that he may be in remission?

How long would I need to continue testing until I stop?

Should I call my vet?

Thanks.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

That is a normal, non diabetic number. I would watch him, testing maybe twice daily. We generally say a cat is in remission if they range from 40-120 off insulin for 2 weeks.

He might go up past 120 and need a little insulin or he may stay in non diabetic numbers. One thing to remember - once a diabetic, always a diabetic - so he should always have wet low carb food.

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Thats a very nice number.
I've got number envy.

I would probably test 3 times a day or so, to see the spread. Am, pm, and somewhere halfway if possible.

 

[greenbean]

Thats a very nice number.
I've got number envy.

I would probably test 3 times a day or so, to see the spread. Am, pm, and somewhere halfway if possible.

I was considering testing once a day- if I see an increase in numbers, I can always test more.
I wasn't testing at all before yesterday. My kitty doesn't like it very much- he is easier to get along with if I test while he is chowing down on his food!

 

[scoobydoox]

You test before you give the injection and no food for two hours before you do the meter test. Vetsulin works fast. The nadir number is 2-4 hours after the injection.

 

[greenbean]

That is a normal, non diabetic number. I would watch him, testing maybe twice daily. We generally say a cat is in remission if they range from 40-120 off insulin for 2 weeks.

He might go up past 120 and need a little insulin or he may stay in non diabetic numbers. One thing to remember - once a diabetic, always a diabetic - so he should always have wet low carb food.

thanks so much. I will monitor him daily to every other day for two weeks. If he still has low numbers, then I will test less frequently, maybe weekly or every other week. When he was first diagnosed his diet was pretty bad- he was eating dry food and food with lots and lots of gravy. Often, he wouldn't even eat the food, he would just lick off all the gravy, lol

Also to note, he had been sick with a respiratory infection for a good 2-3 weeks before he was diagnosed. The respiratory infection caused an ulcer in the gum of one of his teeth and it was up in the air if it would need to be pulled. He went on a week of antibiotics for his respiratory infection, and then another week's of antibiotics for his teeth. He was very lethargic during this time. The vet never considered that he could be diabetic. About a week after he completed the antibiotic for his mouth, his respiratory symptoms cleared up, but he was still very tired (not as tired as he had been when he had been ill). It was at that time that he began walking on his hocks. And then I brought him in and his diabetes diagnosis began. Is it possible the high glucose could have been a result of his respiratory infection?

 

[greenbean]

You test before you give the injection and no food for two hours before you do the meter test. Vetsulin works fast. The nadir number is 2-4 hours after the injection.

He hasn't had the Vetsulin since yesterday morning. So I thought that if I test while or after he's eaten, his sugar should be raised- so if it is within a normal range at this time, it would tell me that he does or does not need the shot. Am I doing it wrong?

 

[scoobydoox]

He hasn't had the Vetsulin since yesterday morning. So I thought that if I test while or after he's eaten, his sugar should be raised- so if it is within a normal range at this time, it would tell me that he does or does not need the shot. Am I doing it wrong?

Well you normally want the reading before its raised to see where his blood glucose level is. dosing is based on the numbers before eating and giving the preshot.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

If you are not giving insulin, test when it is convenient to do so. Most folks who were testing pre-shot daily continue testing at those times likely out of habit as much as anything. As long as you get a test or two in every day for two weeks, and the numbers stay in normal range, you can consider Zucchini officially OTJ.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

so glad you didnt shoot!!
good luck

 

[greenbean]

If you are not giving insulin, test when it is convenient to do so. Most folks who were testing pre-shot daily continue testing at those times likely out of habit as much as anything. As long as you get a test or two in every day for two weeks, and the numbers stay in normal range, you can consider Zucchini officially OTJ.

I have been trying to test Zucchini all evening!! I have poked his ears probably a dozen times. I am getting blood and the strip is sucking it up, but each time I am receiving an error message - E13. I thought perhaps my strips were faulty, so I went out to purchase a fresh supply. But I am still getting the error. I can't possibly poke him again. I must've went through a dozen or more strips.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

hmmmm have you used the test solution ?
how is he acting?

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

batteries ok?

 

[greenbean]

batteries ok?

how would I know if they weren't? everything appears to be normal.

 

[greenbean]

hmmmm have you used the test solution ?
how is he acting?

I don't have any test solution for the Relion meter.

Well, he is sleeping a bit. This is why I wanted to test him, to see if he is sleepy because his glucose increased or if it is just him being sleepy.
He isn't displaying any remarkable characteristics. And he is still engaging fully when prompted.

 

[greenbean]

I don't have any test solution for the Relion meter.

Well, he is sleeping a bit. This is why I wanted to test him, to see if he is sleepy because his glucose increased or if it is just him being sleepy.
He isn't displaying any remarkable characteristics. And he is still engaging fully when prompted.

I pricked myself to see if the meter would work. I used about 5 test strips and was able to get a reading on each. But the readings from the same pool of blood on my finger kept changing. The numbers were 88, 112, 121,139, 179.

 

[Sharon14]

If it's a Relion Prime, E 13 is not enough blood.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

how would I know if they weren't? everything appears to be normal.

They all have different alerts--some beep some show an error etc.... @Sharon14 has a a answer-- I use AT ... sorry I am not more help.

 

[jayla-n-Drevon]

I pricked myself to see if the meter would work. I used about 5 test strips and was able to get a reading on each. But the readings from the same pool of blood on my finger kept changing. The numbers were 88, 112, 121,139, 179.

there is a variance of usually 20%
if the highest one was the last one you may have been a little stressed -- the others fall into the 20% range for error-

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

I'd check the manual for the meter if it's not the Prime. Most strips are made to suck up the blood. If there is an insufficient size sample, some meters will not read and just produce an error message. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you get a large bead of blood, and dip the strip too far in, the channel in the strip gets "flooded" and the strip won't read. So too little or too much blood can be a problem. The trick is to just touch the strip to the blood bead and wait for it to take up enough blood. I agree with Jayla that the readings you took on yourself are meter variance + stress induced differences.

The next time you try to test, try to catch the bead of blood from Zucchini's ear on a clean fingernail and test from there because if Zucchini is moving his head it's really easy to end up soaking the strip or to have trouble getting a sufficient sample into the strip.

Generally if the battery is failing, there will be an indication on the display. Again you'd have to check the meter manual for details as each meter is different.

 

[greenbean]

If it's a Relion Prime, E 13 is not enough blood.

thanks. I tested him again this evening while he was eating. I pricked him twice. The first time I got the error message. The second time I made sure to squeeze out a nice blood droplet before applying the strip. He tested at 64.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Nice number! Go Zucchini!

If you aren't getting enough blood, try not to squeeze the ear but rather massage it from the head up toward the prick point. You don't want to bruise Zucchini's ear or collapse his little capillaries.

 

[greenbean]

Nice number! Go Zucchini!

If you aren't getting enough blood, try not to squeeze the ear but rather massage it from the head up toward the prick point. You don't want to bruise Zucchini's ear or collapse his little capillaries.

eeek! thanks for telling me this - I was squeezing my poor kitty's ear

 

[greenbean]

Zucchini's numbers have been in the 50s and 60s since June 30th!! He is officially in remission after 2 months on insulin.

It is an unfortunate reality that without your influence Zucchini would have had the trauma of at least one unnecessary hospitalization and the stresses of many, many more vet visits.

I want to extend a huge Thank You to this community all for your guidance and support. All your help allowed decisions to be made on behalf of Zucchini's care that directly benefited the course of his treatment and outcome.

We are forever indebted and grateful.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Congratulations! Way to go!

I'm so happy for you and Zucchini!

It's recommended that you test Zucchini once a week for the next month and then once a month or so thereafter just to make sure he is staying in good numbers. Wishing you and Zucchini a long, happy and healthy remission!