? 71 from 503...

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by MunchieMA, Dec 29, 2017.

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  1. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    my cat was 503 this morning just checked at +8 and he's 71 please help me I don't know what I'm doing

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...WWuDzUy96DxoR6j8ipIbgz1NfI/edit#gid=361360320

    (From earlier post...) Hi everyone, I posted this in the prozinc forum but I'm going to throw it out here as well. My 10-year-old cat, Munchie, was diagnosed in November. He began on 1 unit of prozinc and his numbers eventually steadied in the 200 range for the first few weeks before a recheck, then the vet upped him to 2 units. His numbers spiked to the 600's and I was advised that I shouldn't jump a full unit at once, so I moved to 1.5. we seemed pretty steady for a little bit then we started spiking again. He has been peeing all over the floor in front of his liter box, and doesn't always seem to want to eat. He eats an entire can of fancy feast classic twice a day at 6:30 am and again at 6:30 pm when he gets his insulin, and I give him about 3 1/2 can servings throughout the day/night as he requests it... but he usually eats only 1/2 of those servings. He has been drinking water regularly, not as much as before but still a good amount... and he has been going to the bathroom regularly (urine on floor is the only thing unusual)...

    I'm looking for help in figuring out what's wrong with him and what I can do better to help him. He's not eating dry food, but I keep catching him eating our dog's kibble (meant for large, adult breeds). Right now he's off of dry food except for the stolen kibble from our dog. I just made a spreadsheet today and I'm not positive I did it right, and I know I was fairly bad about recording readings but sometimes they disappear by the time I wrote them down and I couldn't remember exact numbers (between my family, pets and work... life is busy!) My vet never asked me to do home readings and certainly never suggesting recording but I learned some things through this site, now that I am trying my hand at the spreadsheet I will be more proactive about always writing down readings.

    Any help, advice or even words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated. I feel like I'm losing the battle :(
     
  2. Nan & Amber (GA)

    Nan & Amber (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Mar 19, 2016
    What kind of glucose meter are you using (human or pet, ie AlphaTrak)?

    71 is still safe on either, but closer to the edge on an AT. At this point in the cycle, I would wait to take action but test again in 15 minutes to see if he's moving up.

    Hang in there! :bighug:
     
  3. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    human, relion
     
  4. Nan & Amber (GA)

    Nan & Amber (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Mar 19, 2016
    Good! The "take action" number on a human meter is 50-- above that, you can chill out, but if he goes below you'll want to intervene.

    While you are waiting for the next test time, make sure you have supplies ready to deal with a "hypo" situation. I don't think it's likely eight hours in, but never say never. Make sure you have:

    1) plenty of test strips and lancets
    2) honey or karo syrup for a very quick carb boost
    3) (if possible) some kind of high carb food (gravy from a "gravy lovers" variety of Fancy Feast or other commercial cat food is a favorite)
    4) the phone number and location of a vet you could take him to in an emergency (again, I don't think this is on the agenda today, but never say never)
     
  5. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    he's going to the vet in 10 minutes, just an appointment I had scheduled because I *think* he might have a UTI ... thank you... he's never been this low and I'm worried because it's such a big drop from this morning's reading and yesterday morning he was over 600
     
  6. Nan & Amber (GA)

    Nan & Amber (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Mar 19, 2016
    Also, just fyi, it's possible that he has been regularly going low and then zooming back up by the next shot time. It's hard to tell without a lot of mid-cycle tests (I found your spreadsheet on the ProZinc forum). If that's the case, he may need a bit less insulin and/or some strategic testing/feeding schedules to get him more flattened out in good numbers for longer and feeling better. :cat:

    It's also possible that this 71 was just a bad test strip-- we'll know at the next test!
     
  7. Callie & Patches

    Callie & Patches Well-Known Member

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    Jun 18, 2016
    I would try to arrange things so your cat can't get to the dog's food. Dog kibble can send his BG numbers skyrocketing. We had the same problem with our Callie. Now we feed the dogs and pick up the bowels when they are done. Our Callie will eat anything. It's quite a job keeping all food from a determined cat.
     
    Vader723 and Nan & Amber (GA) like this.
  8. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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  9. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    Should I try more testing during the day to find out?
     
  10. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    It would help us if you set up your signature. That's the light grey text you see under our posts. Go to the upper right corner of this page where you see your name, click on it, then on "signature". A test box will open. Include info like:
    • your cat's name and age
    • what insulin you use
    • what glucose meter you use
    • other meds and/or health issues he has
    • where you're located (very generally - no need to be specific)
    You can also copy the URL from your SS page and paste it into the same test box so we can click on it any time we want to refer to it.
     
    Critter Mom likes this.
  11. Nan & Amber (GA)

    Nan & Amber (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Mar 19, 2016
    Yes, please test again. We want to see where he is now.
     
  12. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    Thank you, I set t up!
     
  13. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    I can’t right now- I’m in the waiting room at the vet’s office. At least I’m in a good place in case things plummet .... :/
     
  14. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    If you haven't done so already, I recommend letting the vet's receptionist know that Munchie was running quite low (very near the bottom of the normal range) when you tested before travelling in to their office - just in case you might need to jump the queue and get some glucose into him to keep him in safe numbers.

    Maybe one of the vet techs could do a BG check while you're waiting to see the vet (just to be on the safe side)?

    Keep a close eye on his clinical signs and behaviours in the meantime and if you're at all worried ask the staff for help straight away.


    Mogs
    .
     
  15. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    He’s up to 465 now thank you everyone for your help, they’re doing a urine sample now.
     
    Critter Mom likes this.
  16. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    just took his numbers before his pm feeding- back to 600+. Is it ok that he's going so high then dropping so low? He tested negative for a UTI, Vet said his bladder was so full he was worried about a uretha obstruction but then minutes later Munchie peed himself in his crate which was awful for him. They found some amorphous crystals in his urine but everything else (except his sugar level) came back normal. Keeping sample in an incubator for a few days to make sure no bacteria grows but other than his BG levels spiking and the urine flooding from his box, things are looking good- which is a relief. Spoke about maybe switching insulin... to be continued.
     
  17. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    Might be an idea to put a puppy pad under him next time you need to bring him to the vets (and keep a spare in your bag in case you need to replace the one in the crate!).


    Mogs
    .
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2017
  18. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 18, 2016
    What a long day you've had. When you get a minute, can you take down the 911? It gives us all heart palpitations when we see one.
     
  19. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    not a bad plan! I have a hard carrier case so thankfully it didn't leak anywhere but his special hello kitty blanket I leave on the bottom of the crate so it's cozy for him. The poor guy threw up right after then turned and faced the back corner the entire time- he seemed so ashamed. Definitely not like him to do this but he had to go so bad- vet said his bladder was the size of an orange
     
  20. MunchieMA

    MunchieMA Member

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    Nov 19, 2017
    sorry I didn't know how- I had looked around before but couldn't figure it out. I got it now
     
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