Just got back from the Vet...

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by TLantMagnus, May 21, 2016.

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  1. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Under normal circumstances, it is NOT necessary to stay up and feed a cat every couple of hours. That was a special occasion last night... what we lovingly call a PJ party.:D

    Most of us feed several small meals throughout the day. Some do 4 times per day, some do 6 times per day. Much of that is what works for your schedule. I do 6 feedings per day with a meal at each shot time and then 2 small snacks in between during each 12 hour period.

    If you can get one non-food influenced reading and one that is food influenced during the day today, that should indicate if Barry is holding good low numbers or still needs insulin. I'm sure you want to be able to get a good night's sleep tonight so if I were you, if he does need to go back on some insulin (fingers crossed he doesn't), I'd start fresh tomorrow morning. It's clear if he does need more insulin, the dose needs to be reduced! And in his case, I'd probably reduce more than our normal reduction amounts. Let's see what the readings are today and then we can help you decide next steps.:)
     
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  2. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    An alive, alert and happy kitty is a thing of joy! I am so relieved to read this great news. :)


    Mogs
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  3. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    We were lounging in bed when Barry hopped up and was being adorably kitten-ish, playing with the blankets and "attacking" my husband's hand and arm. He started to mellow out so I went and got the new Freestyle Lite test kit that I got last night. Thanks to all the photo and video instructions I read this morning it went a bit smoother, I think I finally understand the "sweet spot". Unfortunately the meter gave a reading of 1.5 which seemed shockingly low considering his behaviour and energy level. We tried putting a Freestyle strip in the AlphaTrak meter but there wasn't enough blood left on his ear for a reading. He started to get quite squirmy at that point and we didn't want to restrain him, we're hoping to train him to enjoy testing and pinning him down for another sample seemed counterproductive. I gave him treats after, even though he'd moved to another room I'm hoping he will associate the treats with the testing. Its been about 3 hrs now since he ate so we gave him some food. We will try testing again in an hour or so to get a post food reading.
     
  4. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    If in any doubt give some honey/glucose - better too high for a short while.
     
  5. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    If keeping Barry in place for testing is an issue, once you get a blood bead to appear, catch it on a clean finger nail and test from there. Sometimes holding them down is the problem far more so than the testing itself.

    I agree with Mogs....better too high than too low but I can't imagine Barry being that low this long after his last shot about 27 hours ago?!
     
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  6. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

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    Yeah, his symptoms don't match at all with low blood sugar. I think it was a low reading that was a fluke. We fed him a little while ago so we will try another test in a bit after he's digested.

    Also, I work Mon-Fri, 8-4, and right now Stace is off work so we can do multiple feedings. When she goes back to work though, what should we do? 4 times a day could be hard depending on what her schedule is.
     
  7. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    If I'm doing the math correctly after not enough sleep it had actually been over 38 hours since his last dose of Lantus when we did that test. And that was also after he'd been given a mix of wet and dry food (about a tbsp of each) every 2 hours for about 12 hours. I'm obviously no expert but that seems very strange. What are we doing wrong?
    Edit: he also still seems kind of hungry, he follows us around the kitchen meowing. Should we give him larger meals?
     
  8. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Oh dear! I guess I need more coffee 'cause my fingers haven't woke up yet and apparently neither has my brain. Meant to type 37! :rolleyes::oops:

    It can take a couple of days to diminish the shed of insulin in the body but the amount that should be left now, certainly shouldn't be causing that low a number in and of itself. If he is running at normal numbers on his own, I suppose what's left of the shed could be taking him down a little more but cat's have a remarkable defence system that will click in if the body perceives BG going too low. In Barry's case, his defense system couldn't override the effects of the Lantus which is why he had the symptomatic hypo yesterday. It could be that his defense system effectively got used up yesterday and hasn't been replenished yet so feeding him some extra if he wants it is probably a good idea until this puzzle gets figured out.

    You are not doing anything wrong. Cats are cats and it would be sooo much easier if they could tell us how they are feeling. We unfortunately are left guessing and using the few tools we have to figure things out. You are doing great. Don't start doubting yourselves. :D

    When you are out all day, you can freeze some canned food and leave it out to thaw in a bowl for eating later in the day. Some folks have automated feeders that have a compartment for an icepack and leave food out that way.
     
  9. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Test as soon as you can to be on the safe side.

    BTW are you using anything to support Barry's ear when you're doing the poke? If not try the following:

    1. Warm the ear.

    2. Wrap a 1" strip of folded kitchen paper around your index finger then wrap the ear around the finger in a similar fashion.

    3. Hold the ear and paper support in place with light-firm pressure from your thumb and middle finger. (Helps reduce head movements, too.)

    4. Poke to draw blood sample.


    Mogs
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  10. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Best timed feeder on the market for 24-hour multi-meal feeding is the Petsafe 5.


    Mogs
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    Last edited: May 22, 2016
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  11. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

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    So we did the ear poke as you guys suggested. SO MUCH EASIER!!!

    Anyway, we got a test with the Freestyle Lite strips in the Cat Tester. Came back at 3.3. This was maybe 1 hour and 15 minutes post feeding. Should we give a bit of corn syrup, or wait? When we test again, when should we do it?
     
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  12. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    When in doubt (unusual test number), re-test.

    Also note that glucometers are not super precise testing instruments. In the US, they are allowed to read +/- 20% of what a lab would get. There is more detail on that in my signature link on meters and reference values.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2016
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  13. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    My work here is done.

    ;) :D
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  14. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    A tad on the low side if it were an Alphatrak strip (Linda will be able to better guide you on using the Freestyle strips).

    Is Barry still hungry?



    ETA - my vet gave me 3.9-8.3mmol/L as the normal blood glucose reference range for a non-diabetic cat as measured on an Alphatrak 2 meter (using Alphatrak test strips).
    .
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2016
  15. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    That reading taking the use of FS strips in the pet meter into consideration which stand a 25% chance of being completely accurate in the pet meter is still really low. Low alert on the pet meter is 3.6mmol. So with our 15% variance allowance and the FS strips he's right on the edge or still a bit low. Did you give him any honey back when you got the reading of 1.7 earlier this AM?

    I'd be inclined to test again in about 30 minutes and see where he is at without giving anything else to eat now. That will tell us if he is rising or falling. Obviously should he show any symptoms of being off, between now and then give him some syrup/honey to boost him immediately.
     
  16. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

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    When we got the first reading we just gave him some Boreal canned, with diabetic dry.

    After this test we have him some Boreal canned, a bit of corn syrup and a high fiber cat food which is a gastro-intestinal response food. Two of our cats are on special foods so we have a variety of dry to feed.
     
  17. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    @MrWorfMen's Mom -

    With the continuing low numbers I am wondering whether it could be down to the pancreas kicking in on top of the only partially-drained (and previously overfilled) depot - and also possible increased insulin sensitivity after the hypo?

    I need to scoot off (really poorly at the mo) but it would be worth keeping an eye on Barry's postprandial numbers; if the pancreas is kicking in it may drop his BG levels again in the hours after a meal (especially if feeding low or very low carb).



    Mogs
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  18. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

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    Sorry, didn't get the msg to retest till after we fed him. :(
     
  19. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

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    How do we check for his pancreas function?
     
  20. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    @Critter Mom I'll keep checking in to keep an eye on what's happening here. You go get some rest and look after Saoirse. I am wondering the same thing. If his pancreas has started working along with the remaining depot which was obviously overfilled and his natural defence system was pooped out, we have one extended period of monitoring/steering needed to get this guy back to his "normal". Hopefully this is a good sign of remission or very close to.

    @TLantMagnus there is no way for you to check his pancreas other than his BG which is the indicator we are concerned with here.:)
     
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  21. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Normally, the glucose will rise some in the first 2 hours after feeding. If the pancreas is working, it will then start to drop the glucose without giving additional insulin.
     
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  22. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    No worries. When exactly did you last feed him? We need to keep track here so we know what the numbers are telling us. As BJM says, glucose levels rise in the first couple of hours after eating then begin to drop again. We need to get a reading when he is at his highest after eating and then a number when he has gone down from not having food to figure out if he needs insulin at all. Right now he obviously doesn't need insulin but we need to make sure he is not diving again to dangerous numbers so knowing when he last ate along with readings is key.
     
  23. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Following on from BJ's post above, things are currently a bit trickier in Barry's case because the depot will not yet have been depleted. He may not be getting injections at the moment but he will still be 'receiving insulin' from the depot.

    You got a number on the low side 75 minutes after eating earlier on. I'd therefore suggest you test earlier than 2 hours after feeding (and, needless to say, test immediately if anything seems 'off'). Other members may have better suggestions.

    @MrWorfMen's Mom - Good to know you're on the case, Linda. :)

    C'mon, Barry! :)


    Mogs
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  24. Jan Radar (GA)

    Jan Radar (GA) Well-Known Member

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    A silicone mini muffin pan is so easy to use to make little hockey pucks of frozen food because they pop out so easily after they are frozen. I always leave them out for Radar to eat "later" whenever I need to be away for a few hours and for overnight snacks.
     
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  25. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    @Critter Mom we got the one test 1 hour 15 minutes post eating of 3.3 which was low and I expected to be higher. I wanted to wait out the full two hours for another test but I think Barry got fed again. So I'm thinking if we test 30 minutes after food to see where he's gone this time and then depending on that reading maybe another test an hour later provided he's at a safe number. That should give a view of what food is doing for him right now. And I thought Menace was nuts the other day with low numbers for 22 hours straight! Barry's definitely knocked Menace out of running for the Guinness Book! :woot:
     
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  26. Alexi

    Alexi Member

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    Not easily if you are not a vet with a fancy lab! What people are talking about is whether the pancreas has regained normal or near normal functioning and the body is producing its own insulin. If the pancreas is recovering then any injected insulin still remaining will be acting as well as the body's own insulin to reduce the blood sugar level and it may well drop too low. Once the injected insulin has run out of steam the body will then rely on its own insulin and your blood sugar readings will help to determine how well it does this once he is off insulin, if they stay in the normal range - great you have enough pancreatic function to not need any extra insulin. If they run a bit higher than normal range then he may well still need some insulin but at a dose which is just big enough to help out the body's own insulin and not push the sugars too low. The body auto-regulates its own insulin production but add an injection into the mix and you can't turn off the injection as the body can with the pancreas.
     
  27. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Is Barry Ok? Have you taken any more readings yet? It is essential to keep a very close watch on him right now and I'd really appreciate an update. Sorry to nag but I am very concerned about you and Barry.
     
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  28. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    Sorry to leave you all hanging! I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I had to get out of the house for a while. The stress of all this and the lack of sleep was making my back problems get worse and altogether I was an emotional mess, I needed a break so I could think clearly so I went to the local pool I joined for rehab for my back. Barry's dad was still home to monitor and feed. Barry ate at 1:30 and again at 4:00, it's now 4:25 and we are going to try a BG test. Will post results soon.
     
  29. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    It looks like as a team we are getting better at the BG testing!
    So about 30 minutes ago Barry ate a mix of Boreal wet food & a tbsp of high fibre kibble with 3/4 of a tsp of corn syrup as "insurance". We just tested and got a big enough blood droplet to test with both the AlphaTrak meter and the Freestyle Lite meter. AlphaTrak gave us a reading of 6.1 & Freestyle gave us a reading of 4.6.
    If I understand correctly, we should test again at 2 hours post food to see what his numbers are doing. If anyone thinks we should test sooner than that don't hesitate to let us know.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2016
  30. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Ok thank goodness! Good to know Barry is doing OK and you too.

    A readings of 6.1 (pet) and 4.6 (human) are good and safe but suggest that Barry still needs some watching especially if you gave him more corn syrup and not just food. I'd get another reading in a half hour which will be about 2 hours after he last ate to see if he is holding, rising or dropping. I'm a little concerned that the corn syrup may be giving a us a false sense of where his numbers really are right now.
     
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  31. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    At 5:30 Barry was looking relaxed and dozy and his ears were warm and I was too impatient to wait for the 2 hour mark. I also wanted to see if I was capable of testing solo. Everything went very well up until my attempt to get the blood on the test strip and he decided that would be the ideal moment to climb off of my lap and shake his head. :arghh: I tried to massage a bit more blood out and "scraped" a sample on to the strip. The reading came back as 25.9! This seemed really really unlikely and I was sure the polysporin on his ear may have had something to do with it. Following previous advice, when unsure, re-test! This time I got back up and we got a reading of 6.2 which seems much much more reasonable! This was at 1 hr and 45 minutes after eating.
    He's now gone from calm and dozy to full on crazy kitten mode, chasing one of our other cats, running up and down the stairs, and trying to climb on to the shelves on the wall. :cat:
    Now the questions I've got are:
    How soon do we test again? When should he eat again? How much food should he have? And last but not least - will we have to do overnight feedings again? Fingers crossed that I get to sleep through the night!
     
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  32. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    To be honest, with the numbers not coming up much yet given all the food and corn syrup, I think there is a possibility you may need to keep an eye on him through tonight. The good news is the longer this goes on, the more likely it is that his pancreas may be pumping out "normal" amounts of insulin. The bad news is that the depot can take several cycles to drain completely and right now I am concerned that he could again get to critical levels if you don't stay ahead of the insulin. For now he is holding at essentially the same level he was at 30 minutes post food so he had already reached his peak food spike at 30 minutes post meal or he could be starting to drop again.

    Now we need to know what his BG looks like without food influence. I'd get another reading in one hour and don't give him any food, syrup, treats between now and the next test. Depending on where he is in a hour will determine next moves.

    Again, should he start acting odd at all between now and the next test, take a reading immediately and if he is below 3.6 on the pet meter or 2.8 on the human meter, give him more syrup and food and post the numbers and what was given here. I'll keep checking periodically but I expect he'll be fine for the hour.
     
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  33. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    It's been just over an hour since we last tested and almost 3 hrs since he'd eaten. We got a reading of 4.7, which is dropping but still in a good range. We did have to entice him with a single treat to come to us to be tested and he had a few treats an hour ago when we last tested. He's still having bursts of energy but is fairly calm on the whole, following us around the kitchen a bit and checking to see what the other cats are up to, so basically acting like a normal cat which is lovely to see.
    Should we feed him now or wait until, say 3.5 or 4 hrs?
     
  34. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    No please do not feed him again now. I am really concerned that he is going to get filled up and not eat when he really needs to. Let's get another test in 30 minutes and see how much more he has dropped. Just to confirm, was that reading on the pet meter or the human meter because that does make a difference to how we judge what he is up to?
     
  35. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    It was the AlphaTrak with the Freestyle strips. We now plan to have that as our standard meter and will only use the Freestyle meter as a back up if needed for some reason.
    Since posting he had another burst of full-on crazy kitten mode, running all over the house. So cute to see him so happy!
    We will test again at 30 minutes. If he's holding steady do we wait a bit longer to feed him? I assume that if it's still dropping he'll need to eat.
     
  36. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Yes, if he is holding, then I would put off feeding again, get another test 30 minutes after the last test and so on. You are going to have to keep testing to ensure he doesn't drop too far. I'd like you to be able to keep him at a safe level without having to use syrup all the time because that provides a quick boost but doesn;t last long so let's take baby steps here till we figure this out.
     
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  37. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    We weren't intending to make a habit of adding the corn syrup, we did it for his 2 feedings this afternoon because I was going to be out of the house and we wouldn't be able to test his sugar. We thought it safest for him to get his numbers up on the higher side.
    We've just tested again and it was 4.6 so only a 0.1 drop from 35 minutes ago. It's now been 3.5 hours since he ate. We rewarded him with a single treat even though he wasn't on his best behaviour and I had to resort to the trick of putting the droplet on my fingernail before he got away. I was certainly grateful to have that trick in my arsenal though!!
     
  38. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    I agree with Linda. If Barry were mine, I would keep monitoring him closely.

    Would you be able to sleep in shifts?


    Mogs
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  39. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    I fully understand using the syrup in this situation when you were going out and that was a good idea but now that you are home, we need to see what he does on food alone. He's holding steady so let's wait another hour and test again. If he is holding then, without any more food I think it would be safe to say he is starting to head out of the woods but that doesn't mean he couldn't drop again so he'll still need monitoring although maybe not quite so intense as last night. Let's see what the next test says.
     
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  40. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    Barry is becoming a champ at testing and we just got a 4.3, a drop of only 0.3 since one hour ago. It's now been 4.5 hours since he ate, would it be safe to now give him dinner? The other 4 cats are also hoping it's almost dinner time. If we can feed him now, or soon, any recommendations as to how much and what type of food would be appreciated- i.e. blend of wet and dry and amounts. Thanks in advance for any advice!
     
  41. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Ok he is sitting at a most beautiful number right now and seems to be holding pretty steady. :D I'd give him canned food only this time (no kibble of any sort) and let's test again an hour after his meal to see how that works. We don't want to starve him and certainly don't want the rest of the crew starting a riot! :woot: Just please try to keep him out of any kibble if you give that to the other cats so we can see how Barry is doing without extra boosting of his BG.

    As to amounts, are you going to feed him Boreal or do you have any other canned food? What does Barry weigh? Is he at an ideal weight, too thin or too fat? We'd need to figure out how many calories he needs to be precise about this. If it's the small Boreal cans, I'd give him a half can and if he is still hungry then another tbsp. or so and see if that satisfies him for now. This is tricky because until we know he is continuing to hold steady on the canned food, I don't want to have him so full he won't eat later if needed.
     
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  42. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    He weighs 11.6 pounds and to my eye I think he's a little bit thin but I might not be the best judge as our other cats are a bit chubby. He has never ever turned down food so I very much doubt that he would get too full to eat later, especially because he keeps going in to crazy kitten mode and running around. Currently all we have is the large cans of Boreal but we will be happy to switch to any recommended food, it might take a couple days though because stores will probably be closed tomorrow for the holiday.
    So we'll feed everyone now, comparing an empty small size can of the diabetic food to the size of the large can of Boreal my math came out to 1/5 of the large can for Barry's dinner. He's happily munching now, we'll test at about 10:00 and keep you all posted!
     
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  43. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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  44. Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey

    Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey Well-Known Member

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    Your math is very good (either that, or my math is bad, too, because that's how I figure it. :p)!
     
  45. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    I've seen that chart before, we think he's just under being a 5.

    We did his one hour post food test (Am I supposed to refer to this as his +1 reading?) and he's at 4.6, which is a great sign, right? I imagine we should check again in an hour or maybe an hour and a half.
    What should be our plan for over night? How long of a gap between feedings? Or does that depend on the next reading to see how his numbers hold?
     
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  46. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    That's an excellent number but I'm a little surprised he hasn't gone up at least a little bit. The Boreal is only about 1% carbs so that may explain it. If he were mine, I'd get another test in an hour to be absolutely sure he is holding. If he is holding, then I'd leave some food out and set the alarm to test again in 3 or 4 hours. If he keeps holding at that number or a bit higher, he is safe but if you get a lower number then more intense monitoring may be needed. Definitely keep the syrup and kibble out of the picture unless he drops below 3.6 on the pet meter. This is the only way you are going to know for sure he is holding good numbers all by himself.
     
  47. tempstace

    tempstace Member

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    His +2 reading is 5.2 so it's gone up a little bit! Yay! He also seems happy to come to us at testing time, we've switched from actual treats to giving him a couple kibbles of dry Boreal because it's probably lower carb than the treats but he seems just as happy with those as his "reward".
    Unfortunately leaving food out for him isn't a viable plan because the other 4 cats would likely help him eat it ;) Matt was planning to stay up for a while anyway so he's going to give him a half sized meal (Boreal wet only) at around 1:00 and then we'll set an alarm for a couple hours after that to get up and test his BG. If his numbers are good then should he go without food until morning? Or should we do another half sized meal during the night? I'm happy to get up to check on him but not having to feed him every 2 hours is a nice improvement :)
    Also, he has continued to be incredibly playful through the evening, entertaining us with his antics.
     
  48. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Wonderful news and great number! :DIt's wonderful to see them feeling so much better!

    So if Matt is planning to stay up till 1am, if he can test by himself, get him to test Barry and then give Barry another meal just before going to bed. If Barry is still in the same range of numbers at that time, I'd set an alarm for 4 hours later and if he is still holding then, you can give him a little food and I think you can safely call this excitement history. I think at this point you know what to do should you happen to get an unsafe reading, but I think that is a long shot.

    If Barry he continues to hold through the night with no further low or high readings, tomorrow will be day 2 of his OTJ trial. You can officially declare him in remission if he can maintain normal numbers for a period of 14 consecutive days. During those days, you will need to continue to test him periodically but no more PJ parties. I'll have to find the sticky for the OTJ trial instructions and post them for you later. I'm about to hit the sack now and don't have it handy.

    I just checked the Boreal website again and it appears they have now added taurine to the canned food so it is fine for a steady diet if that is what Barry likes. . When I checked it out a year or so ago, it was missing that ingredient. My bad...I should have checked again before assuming! Other good options are Fancy Feast Classics and Friskies and some PC brands. Below is link to a spreadsheet one of our Canadian members put together of some foods that are appropriate for our sugar babies.
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...0KlRA2ZVTk_tYNVRaoG_3Dfy64/edit#gid=964479244

    Can we get you to update both your signatures with a bit more information tomorrow like the date of Barry's diagnosis, any other health concerns/medications, his age, diet (you can just put the Boreal in now and change it later if you decide on something else), indicate you are in Canada so folks can give you applicable info when needed, and if you'd like to give us your names, we like to know what to call the kitty's parents! :). If Barry does start rising again and insulin needs to be restarted, this information will make it easier for everyone to assist you and you won't keep getting asked the same questions repeatedly.

    The other bit of homework you should tackle tomorrow is the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet you set up is for use with a human meter. You should be using the one for pet meters if that is the meter you are going to stick with going forward. If you can do that tomorrow, it will give you a way to track his OTJ trial readings. And should insulin need to be resumed, it will give us data to review so we can advice you in the best way possible.

    With that, I will wish all of you sweet dreams! Hope everyone gets a good rest tonight! :) Good job taking care of Barry! :D
     
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  49. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Guess who just tested at 6.1?? And, I'm proud to say, I did the test solo and it went quite well, obviously due to a lot of help from Barry himself :cat:
    Thank you @MrWorfMen's Mom for the overnight plan! Matt is going to feed Barry shortly and I'm setting an alarm for 5:00 so we can test and feed him again. We will try to get to at least some of your "homework" tomorrow, it will be easier after a better nights sleep!
     
  50. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    :D Very happy to see that number although I hope he doesn't continue to go up too much higher! I'm really hoping he is in remission.

    Congrats on testing on your own. That is a big step forward and if insulin is needed again, it will make keeping Barry safe so much easier. Now I better go grab my little girl's before bed reading and hit the sack like I planned to do 45 minutes ago. Got a little side tracked!:woot: I'm sure everyone at your house will be sleeping much better tonight! ;)
     
  51. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Got up around 5:15 to test and feed - he had a reading of 3.2 so we gave wet Boreal with a 1/2 tsp of corn syrup. He had a burst of energy and ran around for a while. I tested again at 6:00 and he was still at 3.2, should I give him more food or corn syrup? I know it's early so I might not get a response. I'm watching him and plan to test again at about 6:45, if it's still low then I'll give him a bit of food with syrup.
     
  52. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Phew, number has finally started to climb again, just got a reading of 4.9 so I won't feed him now. I'm going to try to get a bit of sleep and I'll test again in an hour or so.
     
  53. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    I'm assuming that you're still using the pet meter with the Freestyle Lite strips. Great that you caught the dip; you're doing a wonderful job with the testing. That rise to 4.9 may be from the corn syrup and the carb hit could wear off fairly quickly so it's good that you're monitoring closely.

    I am speculating here but I do wonder whether the bursts of activity you keep mentioning may be related to Barry's body releasing adrenalin and other counter-regulatory hormones to help keep his blood glucose levels up.

    It would help people popping in to the thread if you could post an update of how many hours it has been since Barry last received a Lantus injection so that they'll have some idea how long the depot has had a chance to start draining.

    Unfortunately I need to duck away now but I'm tagging @Elizabeth and Bertie (also in the UK) to see whether she might be able to keep an eye on you all or else find other experienced members who can do so.


    Mogs
    .
     
  54. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Is this bad? Also, in answer to other questions you had:
    - We are still using the pet meter with Freestyle strips.
    - As of this posting it has been 60 hours since his last shot of Lantus

    I tested him not long ago, he was at 4.4 and that was 3.25 hours after he ate the wet food with a 1/2 tsp of corn syrup. I plan to test again in about 20 minutes which will be 4 hrs post food. That will be time for breakfast for the other cats so I will likely feed him then, I plan to do only the Boreal wet but a full sized meal.

    Edit - forgot to mention/ask: I've given him a few Boreal kibbles each time I've tested as a reward, would that affect his numbers significantly?
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2016
  55. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Good morning everyone. Well isn't Barry being a pickle! It's almost 60 hours since his last shot of insulin and he's still got you on your toes!

    While the bursts of energy could be counter regulatory hormones, that would be a normal biological reaction for cat not used to being in these normal numbers and not necessarily an indication of impending danger although it could be. At this point, I am not sure that 3.2 was anything to worry about given that our furkids have a habit of going lower at night but then Barry's reserves of glucagon may not have fully replenished yet after his lengthy symptomatic low numbers the other day. For a cat not on insulin, that number is normal. The FS strips could also be giving us a slightly lower number than a batch tested AT strip in the AT meter on the correct code so right now I'm wondering what his reading would have been on the human meter as the low alert number there would be 2.8.

    All of this is just pure speculation, but the depot of insulin should be pretty much drained by now. I would suggest that for the rest of the day, if his reading goes down to 3.6 or below, that you give him food only....no syrup or kibble. If a half hour after food, he has dropped further, then I would try giving him a tiny bit of kibble rather than syrup. At some point, we have to stop the syrup boosters to really see if Barry is going to hold "normal" numbers on his own and this is the only way to know when the depot of insulin is completely out of the picture and his own defences are replenished to regulate his BG normally.
     
  56. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I was hesitant to add syrup this morning but it was 5:00 a.m. and I may not have been in the best decision making state of mind. :confused:
    I've tested again, at 4 hrs post food, and he's dropped to 3.0 :( I've given him a full sized meal of wet food only and plan to test him at 30 minutes. If he's dropped I will give him some kibble, would his diabetic kibble be the best option? Because we also have Boreal and a fibre response kibble.
    He had 2 Boreal kibbles as a treat for testing but that's it. When the pet store is open tomorrow I can go get some new treats for him, would the little freeze-dried liver or chicken or fish treats be a good option? Or am I ok giving him a couple kibbles?
     
  57. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    A couple of pieces of kibble shouldn't have a major effect but if you can get some freeze dried treats to see if he likes them, they would definitely be preferable. I buy the PureSnacks at Walmart in the dog food aisle and just break up the bigger pieces. The cat PureBites are super expensive in comparison and both PureBites and PureSnacks are made by the same company so the added expense of PureBites is just a money grab! I would stick with liver or chicken treats rather than fish. Fish on a regular basis is not recommended because of mercury concerns. Fine a few times a week but not a steady diet. I'd probably stick with the diabetic kibble as treats for now.

    I completely understand why you gave the syrup this AM and I wasn't being critical. I'm really sorry if it sounded that way.:( You did exactly what I told you to do. I just want you to get over this hump so you know whether he is normalizing his BG himself and you can't do that if his BGs are being manipulated with high carb/sugar boosts. Cats have a natural defence system against hypoglycemia but after what he went through with the symptomatic hypos, his supply of excess glucagon could be lower than normal and make it difficult for his system to regulate itself which might explain why he is not spiking more after those sugar boosts. We need to make sure those natural defences have been replenished sufficiently to declare he is safe without excess intervention on your part.

    When you do your next test, can you grab the blood on your finger nail and test with both meters? I'm wondering if what you are seeing is still in a normal range based on human meter readings. Also, what code is the AT meter set on?
     
  58. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I didn't see your reply before I tested him so I didn't do a comparison test, bummer. On the AT he was down to 2.6 so I gave him about a tbsp of the diabetic kibble. It's coded to 08 for cat, is that still the right way to do it with the Frestyle strips?
    I'm going to test again in 30 so I'll try doing the comparison test with both meters then. I've had to do the blood on my thumbnail most times because once I poke his ear he's pretty quick to decide he doesn't want any more cuddles.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2016
  59. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I should also say Linda that I didn't think you were being critical so no offence taken! I mentioned it more out of guilt, I knew we were supposed to avoid the syrup to get a clearer idea of what's happening with him but I wasn't sure what else to do. I'm not so great on sleep deprivation and today is actually worse than yesterday but it's worth it to get this little guy feeling better.
     
  60. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    I know you guys are going through the wringer and believe me I so understand the sleep deprivation too so no worries!

    The code on the meter is fine. I was just concerned that you might have changed it to the code on the FS strips which is for old human meters only. Just making sure we are covering all bases to explain Barry's readings.

    The big problem with Barry right now is that if he had never been diagnosed diabetic, those numbers would not be the least bit concerning but we have no way of knowing exactly when he has totally depleted the insulin depot or when his natural defences will be replenished back to a full store of glucagon. Let me know what his next test is but don't give him anything else until I look at the number. That Boreal is very low carb and that may be why you are seeing such low numbers and the kibble takes a bit longer than canned to get into the system so hopefully he will be holding at the next test or starting to come up a bit. Do you have any of the canned diabetic food? If so I think it may be a little higher in carbs and would be a good next step to bring his numbers up a bit.
     
  61. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    If you don't have anything with a higher carb content than the Boreal, I'm wondering if you have a Shoppers Drug mart open today nearby. If so, you might be able to find some canned food (Fancy Feast Classics, Friskies) with a higher carb % to use for boosting Barry until we are sure he is regulating himself appropriately.
     
  62. Jan Radar (GA)

    Jan Radar (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2015
    I've been following your family as you have learned so quickly to test and monitor your handsome little guy this weekend. This morning I thought that you could use a moment of laughter....

    Last summer when my cutie was racing down the dosing scale I practically dipped him in maple syrup or honey... and I did this several times. In fact during that week, Radar thought that after testing there was an automatic giving of honey by the human servant and he'd leave our testing site and go to the honey bear we keep on the counter ... looking at us with expectant eyes. We have since had to put the honey bear in the cupboard for obvious reasons.

    I hope your little one continues feeling well and that you get some well deserved rest. :)
     
  63. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    The Friskies Chef's Dinner in Canada is about 14% carbs. It is a pate but still higher in carbs. Actually I was looking at the whole line of Friskies pates and in Canada at least it looks like they have changed the formula. All the ones I have have rice in them and when I calculate the carbs they come between 12-16%.
     
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  64. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I did a comparison test: AT read 2.9, Freestyle Lite (FS) read 1.8 and that was around 30 minutes post kibble, the number is creeping up thankfully.

    I checked the cupboard and the only canned food we have is another large Boreal, 2 cans of Urinary s/o and a can of Friskies "chefs dinner pate" which says its crude fibre content is max 1.0%, we have several options for dry food as we have multiple cats and a couple have special dietary needs.

    Since his number is creeping up I'm going to try to shut my eyes for a bit, I'll test him again at +1.5 after the kibble.
     
  65. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    @Tuxedo Mom Thank you for that heads up Mary Ann. I had no idea our Friskies was so different! I guess FF Classics is the only thing appropriate they might be able to get at Shopper's or a Hasty Mart etc. open today. Right now even that 14% would be better than 29% kibble though!
     
  66. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014

    About 8 months ago the Friskies pates were fine, when I checked the carb content out. At that time only the Chef's Dinner pate was higher than 10%

    I am actually keeping the pates as a medium carb starter if needed. I wanted to have a few low carb for when my Maxie girl gets fussy about eating...I NEVER have that problem with Tuxie. :)
     
  67. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Ok so he is holding at this point in time. Number looks a bit low on the human meter so if possible I would test again in 20 minutes rather than an hour and give him another tbsp. of Boreal now to see if that doesn't boost him up just a tad more. I understand how tired you are but if he goes lower, then we need to catch it before he gets to a critical level.
     
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  68. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I'm not sure what would be open today but I think even the local convenience store might carry a small selection of cat food. I don't understand (yet) how to calculate carbs in cat food but if there's a couple common brands that you recommend I can see if they have it. It sounds like that can of Friskies I found at the back of the cat food cupboard is a good option, so that's some good news!

    @Jan Radar, thank you for sharing that cute story, people say cats can't be trained but that's obviously not the case :D Barry is already getting excited when he hears the zipper on the AlphaTrak pouch because he knows he'll get cuddles and a treat or two!
     
  69. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I obviously haven't shut my eyes so I'll test him again and give him a bit of Boreal kibble. The last kibble I gave him was the diabetic food. I'll post when I have his reading.
     
  70. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Please don't give him kibble. Pop open the Friskies you have. It will get into his system much faster.
     
  71. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    [​IMG]


    The high carb choices specifically say "Gravy Lovers" on the label like this flavor
    [​IMG]


    Chris & China just posted this on another thread. It is a good indicator of the types of carbs in Fancy Feast
     
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  72. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I completely misunderstood the above post about giving him Boreal since we have it both in wet and dry and I just gave him a tbsp of the dry Boreal. Ugh, sorry!
    I could only get enough blood for a reading on the AT and it came back as 3.0, still low but at least it's creeping in the right direction. I think he needs a break from the testing, he's getting less inclined to sit still. Is it safe for me to wait an hour until I test him again? We're finally getting good at it and I don't want to ruin it.
    Also, now that I understand, I will give him some of the Friskies the next time I feed him. I'll go out this afternoon to see what's open and what cat food I can get. If I find somewhere that carries more than one of those Fancy Feast options should I get the medium carb?
     
  73. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    The slightly higher number is good and would seem to indicate that he's not heading south. I also understand the antsy pants stuff when too much testing is being done so yes, test again in one hour. If he shows any change in behaviour between now and then, give him a tsp of Friskies and get another reading to be sure he's ok. I'm running out to the Hasty mart myself so will check back in periodically between now and an hour from now to make sure things are OK.
     
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  74. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Big enough droplet for another comparison sample - AT read 3.2, FS read 2.2
    I've made a bed of sorts on the kitchen floor so I can keep an eye on him and he came and curled up with me for about 45 minutes and we had a light snooze together. It's as if he could tell I was exhausted and a bit frustrated and he wanted to remind me why I'm doing all this.
    It's now been 3 hours since he's had a full meal with a tbsp each of 2 different kibbles at each hour mark. He seems content enough right now, should I hold off on all food to see what his numbers do?
     
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  75. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Yes, I would hold off on the food for a bit and unless he shows any signs of excessive anxiety ridden hunger or other odd behaviour, hold off and test again in about 2 hours. It looks like he's just a low number guy and perhaps a food with a little higher carb would bring him up just that tiny bit to stop all the worry and get his numbers above those alert numbers. Some cats don't need a 1% carb diet and do fine on anything under 5%. And stick with canned from now, no syrup if there is a drop of any significance. I'll check back in a couple of hours to see what he's up to. Gotta go tackle some weeds! YUCK!
     
  76. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Eww! If there's one advantage to having a herniated disc it's that I don't have to pull weeds! Good luck!
     
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  77. Jill & Alex (GA)

    Jill & Alex (GA) Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    That was said approximately 4 hours ago. So, we're now at about 64 hours since the last insulin dose was given.

    Yes, Barry may very well be
    "a low number guy". Members who have been around for a long time have seen enough cats coming off insulin to realize that 30 and 40s (human meter) are just fine unless kitty has a very, very rare disease that will cause extremely low blood sugar. Even the presence of what may possibly remain from the depot of an insulin such as Lantus would not drop kitty into such low numbers after a shot given 64 hours ago (over 5 cycles ago).

    Just throwing this out there for everyone's consideration...
     
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  78. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Latest read was 2.8, that's 5 hours after a full meal and his last tbsp of dry was 3 hours ago. He's been fairly lazy this afternoon, but so have all the cats, typical cat behaviour. No crazy kitten mode bursts in the last few hours but he's been alert and bright eyed when he's not napping.
    I gave him half of the can of Friskies and I'll test in 30 minutes, then again about an hour or so after that if that sounds reasonable. While I'm still pretty uneducated on the subject, in my opinion he seems to be normalizing and he likely is a "low numbers cat" as others have said.
    Moving forward, how and where would I find information or help to plan his feeding schedule?
     
  79. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I would like to say that the help and support on this site has been absolutely invaluable. The kindness, patience and incredible wealth of knowledge that you have all brought to this discussion has made an incredibly stressful situation so much easier. I obviously have A LOT of homework to do but I'm finally starting to feel like I'm up to this task.
    We're lucky to have Barry and Barry is lucky that we found you! Thank you all so so much!
     
  80. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Barry is beyond blessed to have the two of you! :) You've both done absolute wonders in a very fraught situation.

    :bighug:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  81. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    The 30 minute test result was 3.2, he looks like he's ready for a nap so I'll test in an hour or so if he seems awake. I think he's pretty worn out now that he's levelling out, he hasn't been sleeping much. It's nice to see him looking cozy and content!
     
  82. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    I don't think you need to "abuse" his ears again in an hour. He's holding quite nicely and has shown no signs of any problems. Getting him mostly on a canned low carb diet is likely why his numbers are so good and low now. Jill has years of experience and agrees he's probably a low number guy. Just keep an eye on him and get another test only if he shows any weird signs that alarm you.

    I think now we need to think about the counting the days to Barry's remission proclamation! This will be day 2 unless he pulls some crazy numbers out of a hat later. How about you test him again before his usual dinner/shot time tonight and leave him to relax till then. If he is hungry, feed him but withhold food for 2 hours prior to tonight's test. Can we start working on that spreadsheet and signatures soon so we can track his progress for the next 12 days when he will be officially OTJ? (notice my positivity! :D;))

    As for feeding schedules, figure out what is going to work for you under normal conditions. It's good to feed several small meals per day but the timing can be whatever you like if there is no insulin in play.

    I'm trying to find the OTJ trial instructions and not having much luck. I'll keep looking but for now, you need to test Barry every morning and every evening to see if his numbers are staying in normal ranges. After 14 days, of good numbers, he becomes officially OTJ and we hold a party! :D

    Just out of curiosity, when was Barry diagnosed and what dose of insulin did he start on?
     
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  83. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Ok, I didn't like that spreadsheet, and as we aren't giving insulin it didn't apply lol. So I created our own logbook. I will keep it updated regularily. Let me know if you guys can see it or not.
     
  84. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    And it's not showing date information. Sigh.
     
  85. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Ok, that works. I'll just have to update it manually.
     
  86. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Yes Matt, I can see the document and it gives us a good history of the last couple of days so if you can get the dates to appear, it will serve the purpose although we are all used to viewing the spreadsheet which automatically colour codes the readings so it's quick to provide lots of good info. Really all you'd need to do is enter the morning and night readings into the AMPS and PMPS columns at this point in time and if you did take any readings in the middle of each cycle for any reason, they would just get logged under the + column showing the number of hours since the AMPS or PMPS test. It looks complicated but is really easy and automated once you start using it. If you do end up needing to reintroduce insulin into the mix (which I am seriously doubting you will at this point!) then the spreadsheet is definitely the only way folks here will be able to give you good feedback and advice.:)

    In the meantime, can you add the link to your document to your wife's sign in too so it is available if either of you have questions or concerns. ;)
     
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  87. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Ok I see the dates now!:D
     
  88. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    He was dozing with one of the other cats and his ears were warm so I couldn't resist a quick test, came back as 3.1 so that's pretty steady!

    I'll probably feed him in about an hour, assuming we feed him 4 times/day, how do I know how much to give him per meal? Also, Matt went out and got a bunch of the little Fancy Feast cans (the 85g ones) in a mix of of the Pâté and Grilled types. And should I play it safe and feed him once during the night tonight?

    I promise to work on my signature and adding the pdf to my profile as well. I'm also going to have a look at the spreadsheet tomorrow to see if it will make more sense after some sleep.
     
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  89. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Ok now you are an official member of the vampire club! :woot: But be careful....testing is not supposed to become your new hobby! :woot:

    That said, I understand why you tested after what you've been through the last couple of days. That is terrific number and he is holding steady. He obviously likes those low numbers and that is just wonderful. :D:D:D

    You can calculate how many calories Barry needs per day and divide that amount between the number of times a day you will be feeding him. The calculation for needed calories is 13.6 X ideal weight in lbs. +70. The info for calories per can of food should be available on the websites of any varieties you choose to use. There are so many flavours of FF that each has a different calorie count. The low carb food is the pates. The grilled are a medium carb food and if on insulin, would be used to bring numbers up when needed. With Barry at such low numbers right now, it should be fine.

    I really think Barry is out of the woods now so it's up to you whether you feed him during the night or not. If you are both working, with other cats to deal with who might pilfer food left out, maybe feeding him a small meal before bed to tide him over till morning would work.
     
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  90. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Anti-jinx!!! ;)

    Rooting for Barry over here! :nailbiting:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  91. TLantMagnus

    TLantMagnus Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    Stacey just did a test now, about 2.5 hours of him eating a can of Fancy Feast, and his BG was 3.4!
     
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  92. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    AWESOME! Go Barry! hapydafhf.gif
     
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  93. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Maybe this explanation will help you understand our spreadsheet/grid:

    The colored headings at the top are the ranges of glucose values. They are color-coded to clue you in as to meaning.

    Each day is 1 row. Each column stores different data for the day.

    From left to right, you enter
    the Date in the first column
    the AMPS (morning, pre-shot, test) in the 2nd column
    the Units given (turquoise column)

    Then, there are 11 columns labeled +1 through +11
    If you test at +5 (5 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +5 column
    If you test at +7 (7 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +7 column
    and so on.

    Halfway across the page is the column for PMPS (evening, pre-shot, test)
    To the right is another turquoise column for Units given at the evening shot.

    There is second set of columns labeled +1 through +11
    If you snag a before bed test at +3, you enter the test number in the +3 column.

    We separate day and night numbers like that because many cats go lower at night.

    The nadir is the lowest glucose between shots. There is a general period when it will happen which is specific to the insulin being used and testing then helps make sure your cat doesn't go too low.

    It is merely a grid for storing the info; no math required.

    Can we get you started using our grid to record your glucose tests? It will help us give you better feedback. Instructions are here.
     
  94. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I woke up at 5:15 and of course couldn't get back to sleep because I was wondering how Barry fared through the night. He was alert and meowing for attention and food, his BG test came up as 2.7 which I'm good with, especially because that was after almost 7 hours without food! I fed him and now I'm going to do my best not to test him until this evening. :nailbiting:
    I will look at the spreadsheet today, in theory it makes sense to me but since we're not giving him insulin I'm not sure what test to enter as AMPS or PMPS. I guess I could do his pre-food tests in those columns...
    Looks like Matt might get a pre-alarm wake up because now Barry is running around a bit and meowing a lot, I think he's trying to get the other cats to play.
     
  95. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Tests pre-food work just fine. Add any comments on the right about your observations..
     
  96. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I had a pretty full day yesterday and my back was sore, sitting at the computer tends to make it much worse, so I didn't get to the spreadsheet. I'm feeling pretty good today though so I'm going to try to tackle it!

    Barry woke us up this morning meowing at 5:15, he seemed quite hungry and I knew he wouldn't sit still for a test so I fed him a can of the Fancy Feast Pâté. I tested him as soon as he finished eating and his BG was only 2.1, which seems low, even for him. It had been 7.5 hours since he'd had a can of the medium carb FF, the Grilled kind. Is it possible that he needs something higher carb to get him through the night? Or maybe add some kibble to get his sugar to stay up longer? I still don't entirely understand how this works.

    Also, he was meowing again at 9:45, almost yowling, and his BG came back as 2.0 (yes, I'm becoming part vampire and can't help but test him if he's acting at all strange) so I fed him the medium carb again in hopes of getting his number to go up a bit more.

    I'll be picking up our new AlphaTrak meter tomorrow and I'm planning to do some comparison tests with the Freestyle strips and AlphaTrak strips to see if the numbers we've been getting are significantly off.
     
  97. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Good plan to test with some Alphatrak strips.

    Are those readings on the Alphatrak with Freestyle strips? Can't offer any insight as I've no experience of seeing numbers in that range in a cat not on insulin. Hopefully others will chime in soon.


    Mogs
    .
     
  98. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014

    The best way to test the accuracy of AT2 meter with FS Lite strips either for diabetic or non-diabetic is to use the AT2 control test solution that came with the kit and do a reading. If the results fall within the accepted range marked on the AT2 strip container (on mine for cats it the test solution should give a reading between 5.5-10.3) then the strips are reading correctly. The meter is what does the adjustments rather than the strips.
     
  99. tempstace

    tempstace Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2016
    I've done a spreadsheet, it's a bit wonky if you look at it in the "US mg/dl" version because I entered it as the "World mmol/L" version and I think a couple changes I made screwed it up, oops! It was a bit confusing since we aren't currently giving him insulin and I didn't know if it was ok to have the same date take up multiple rows. I hope it's not a complete mess lol
    Does anyone have some advice as to whether I should get him some higher carb wet food or try adding some kibble to his diet? I'm concerned that his numbers have been getting steadily lower.
    @Critter Mom, yes, we've been using the AlphaTrak meter with Freestyle strips for the majority of his tests, we ran out of the AT strips.
     
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  100. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    The readings with the Freestyle strips in the AT meter have a 25% chance (based on the number of known cat codes on the AT meter) of being as accurate as the AT strips. The other 75% chance is that they are reading somewhat lower (generally about 5% or so according to other members cross checking) than the AT meter with AT strips. Some cats do normally run in the 30's as their normal so I don't think these readings are a problem especially after 7.5 hours with no food. It is however possible that Barry needs a bit more food (every cat is different in their caloric needs depending on activity level etc.) but I would not advice giving him any high carb kibble anymore. If he really is diabetic and reverted that suddenly to such low numbers, you don't want to risk sending his BG numbers up and having to resume insulin. High carb kibble could send him in that direction. A little higher carb wet food would be Ok but I really think he is fine.

    The Spreadsheet is looking good! Good work Stacey!
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2016
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