Food struggles, hospitalization, and insulin

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by JennC & Diago, Feb 21, 2018.

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  1. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Hi All -

    I'm newer to the group and posted a different post if you are interested in a little history about Diago. Recently diagnosed on 2/1/18, we attempted to switch to fancy feast classics, went well for almost 2 weeks. He then wouldn't eat anything for over a day. Had diarrhea from antibiotics and we woke up to a LOT of bloody vomit on Saturday, Feb 17th. Vet hospitalized him for fluid and antibiotic therapy. He isn't sure why he threw up the amount of blood he did on Saturday but thankfully hasn't gotten sick since. Prior and after the diagnosis, he eats Science Diet Hairball control very well. He does not eat wet food, we've tried Hills W/D and Fancy Feast classics. I know the carb content is high on his dry food but I want to make sure he eats.

    We started glucose testing and the vet basically said all I'm going to do is drive myself crazy by continuing. My question is what is everyone's advice about his situation on food. I know he should be on wet food but I also need him to eat so we can give his insulin and try and regulate. Should I keep him on dry for now, should I keep a little extra food down so he eats a little after his insulin in the AM/PM (he's used to grazing). After he is consistent with eating begin testing his glucose again just to see where we are with the insulin levels and glucose? Should I only allow him to eat what he will prior to injection and then withhold food again until the PM? I'm just trying to figure out what will work for him right now given his recent hospitalization. Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    We would disagree with this for sure.

    He needs to eat - that's top priority. The GI issues might well have been from the antibiotics and not the Fancy Feast. For now give him what he'll eat and keep down while you work on your BG testing skills. I'd do that now - practice makes perfect and you'll be able to track his Bg as he recovers as well as based on what/how much he's eating.

    Yes, do. Just remove all food for 2 hours before the pre shot BG tests. Vets often say feed only twice a day but that doesn't work well for most cats.

    All of the advice I can give is predicated on you being willing to carry out that basic home BG testing routine. It's the only way you can possibly know how he's reacting to food and insulin.
    1. test every day AM and PM before feeding and injecting (no food at least 2 hours before) to see if the planned dose is safe
    2. test at least once near mid cycle or at bedtime daily to see how low the BG goes
    3. do extra tests on days off to fill in the response picture
    4. if indicated by consistently high numbers on your SS, increase the dose by no more than 0.25 u at a time so you don't accidentally go right past a good dose
    5. post here for advice whenever you're confused or unsure of what to do.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
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  3. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Thank you so much! I'm a little frustrated with my vet's response as well. I also mentioned about changing him to wet food and he said he doesn't recommend wet food at all that it's just not good for any dog or cat. He also decided on Monday to give 3U of insulin at 7:15 AM without testing his BG first, he then checked the BG at 10:30 AM and it was 472. I did mention that he could be stressed being there and he agreed but was shocked to hear that number given he had an extra unit of insulin that morning. I asked why he decided to give an extra unit and he didn't have a good response.

    I will begin testing again to keep track. Trying to get the house to some sense of normalcy again.
     
  4. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    1. test at least once near mid cycle or at bedtime daily to see how low the BG goes
    2. do extra tests on days off to fill in the response picture
    On these two items, do I test with his food still down at bedtime, or pick up after his PM dose of insulin? Same question for #2, is this with his food down?
     
  5. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

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    The only time you dont want him to eat is for 2 hours before you test & dose. All the other tests during the day/night he can eat.
     
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  6. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aside from the 2 hours before the pre shot BG test you can leave food down, feed small meals or whatever the routine is. These extra tests are to capture his response to a dose as he follows his usual routines.
     
  7. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Thank you both!
     
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  8. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    If you like him as a vet for everything else look past that. He's not the only vet who's poorly versed in treating feline diabetes or in pet nutrition. We can help you with insulin dosing.
     
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  9. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Yeah, I do like him for almost everything else, I just want a healthy life for Diago and with the vet's advice I don't feel like we would get there.
     
  10. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the "Figuring It Out For Ourselves" group!
     
  11. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    HA! That's no joke. :) He also had feedback about reading online..."not everyone's educated". :banghead: I wanted to say well the advice I'm receiving online is much more than what I've received from someone who is educated.
     
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  12. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

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    My vet got to the point of telling me to go somewhere else to get Rufus regulated. He has underlying issues, but her issue was me asking questions and asking to do things different then what she was used to. I told her about things on this board and ideas for different directions to go. She replied "I have a degree, they don't." Um, ok. You probably know more then I do, and these people probably don't have medical degrees, but these people have LIVED with diabetic cats. Out of the 5 vets that I have been to only 1 has recommened and encouraged home testing. 2 of these vets have diabetic cats and don't home test. WTH? How do they know when and if the dosing needs to be changed?
     
  13. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I'm glad I'm not the only going through it. I completely agree with you about listening to others here who are living with their kitties condition and are finding what helps them to live a healthy life after their diagnosis. :)
     
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  14. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Something else you can try is the new lower carb dry foods .....now there are still lots of good reasons to continue to work towards feeding wet food only, but in the meantime, they might help.

    The only two dry foods that are appropriate for diabetics are Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein (available at Chewy.com) or Young Again Zero (available only at their website)

    Both companies will send samples if you call and ask for them
     
  15. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Perfect! I'll give them a shout. Thank you!!
     
  16. Veronica & Babu-chiri

    Veronica & Babu-chiri Well-Known Member

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    A lot of us have gone through this, most vets no matter how good they are in other aspects don't know much about feline diabetes, and are not very much willing to change, mine ( who is a great vet in every other aspect and great surgeon by the way )treated me like I was some kind of freak because I wanted to test, like if I liked doing it, which I don't but is necessary, eventually he gave in to letting me do it my way ( I think he decided to let the crazy lady do it if she wants to ) and just asked once in a while how's he doing? I would answer fine I'm monitoring his dose.

    Regarding the food honestly to avoid further discussions with him I blamed the food change on Babu (a cat being a cat ) and just said he didn't liked the dry food he recommended ( I of course didn't even gave it to him) and he would only eat the wet ( that I had selected from DrLisa's list but he did not knew this [​IMG];) )
     
  17. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Love it!
     
  18. Nancy & Cootie (GA)

    Nancy & Cootie (GA) Member

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    Just a reminder—it’s really important to check Diago’s blood sugar levels when you switch to lower carb food as he may need less insulin :cat:
     
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  19. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Yes, we stopped testing for a few days but I'm back at it. His levels are still high. He won't eat the wet food and after his hospitalization I'm just trying to make sure he eats, which he is eating his dry
     
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  20. Veronica & Babu-chiri

    Veronica & Babu-chiri Well-Known Member

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    Good for you the most important thing is that he eats.

    He may relate the food he was eating just before his hospitalization with feeling sick so it may take a while for him to like it back or you may have to change it for a new one altogeher
     
  21. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    We've tried Fancy Feast chicken classics which he nibbled at for almost two weeks, until he stopped eating altogether. I tried other flavors and he smells them but never takes a bite. He will of course eat his Science Diet hairball control without much issue, however, his numbers just aren't that great. This morning they were 441 and this evening 503. I know we're new to testing, insulin dose and food. He almost didn't eat tonight which I was afraid of since his BG was 503, but he finally ate his dry food. I did increase his insulin dose to 2.25u since he was 503 and plan to test at +2 hours after this PM dose. Any suggestions?
     
  22. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Have you ordered some samples of those low carb dry foods Chris recommended in her post above (#14)? If he's been unwell and appetite has been a problem you might have to put the food switch on the back burner for now. Get your BG testing and spreadsheet data logging up and running. We can help with insulin dosing and you might need a higher dose for now because of what he'll eat. It's important to get his BG down to better levels to avoid ketone development.

    If the dry hair ball control food is what he eats now it's probably high carb and contributing to high BG. Try increasing to 2.25 u tomorrow AM. You'll have to eyeball this on your syringes and it'll be harder if you don't have half unit marks. I suggest you make up a reference syringe using coloured water drawn up to your best estimate of 2.25 u and use it as a guide for drawing up that dose of insulin.
     
  23. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Your spreadsheet is showing a dose of 2 u. Keep the 2.25 u dose AM and PM tomorrow and aim for those essential pre shot tests as well as one in the +4 to +6 range if you're home. If not, get a bedtime test tonight and tomorrow night. Plan on doing more tests on the weekend.
     
  24. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I updated the spreadsheet, I meant to list 2.25 instead of 2. :facepalm: I'm planning to call those companies tomorrow to request a sample. Tomorrow I work from home so I'll be able to get a BG tonight at +2 the PM dose and then do the +4 and +6, range tomorrow after the AM dose and again at bedtime. Another user mentioned: The Science Diet Hairball Control dry food appears to be 30% carbs, so I'd like to switch him asap if he would only be cooperative lol.
     
  25. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Yes, it would be best to get him off the hair ball food but he's still in post-illness tenuous appetite territory. That can be a recipe for ketones, which is why you want to carefully raise his dose too. He needs to eat and eat consistently. I hope the Young Again or Dr. Elsey's dry appeal to him.
     
  26. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    BTW - Diago is a very handsome kitty! :)
     
  27. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Me too! Here's hoping.:cat:
     
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  28. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Awe, thank you!! I actually call him my handsome big guy, although he's not so big anymore.
     
  29. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    I read your last thread. Are you testing for ketones, since it looks like your vet did not?
     
  30. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    No, not yet. I've read how others typically test and there's no way he'd ever let me that close while he's doing his business. The vet did give me some plastic litter last year when we were trying to pinpoint which kitty was peeing outside of the litter box. I'm planning to go to the store tomorrow to pick up a can or two of FF chicken, the keytone testing items, and probably some more glucose strips.
     
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  31. PussCatPrince - GA

    PussCatPrince - GA Well-Known Member

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    He is very handsome and just the right colour. :cat:

    Any food is better than no food and you'll figure it out . Then the minute you have , he'll change round and eat everything he wouldn't before.
     
  32. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Awe, thank you. He has a similar face to your baby. I'd probably throw a party when he starts eating wet food consistently. :)
     
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  33. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    BG at +2 hours after PM shot = 325
     
  34. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    BG this AM is 466 :( 2.25 u given
     
  35. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Don't worry - you'll get there. Can you get a test somewhere between +4 and +6? If not, how about right after you come in the door from work if it's an hour plus before PMPS? Before bed is important too. I like the way you're recording his eating on your SS.

    If you can keep up a structured testing routine and keep him eating you don't have to let him linger at doses that are too low. The goal right now is to get a routine where you can test, he will eat and you log data on your SS. You'll likely go to 2.5 u on the weekend.

    Are you testing his urine for ketones - or have I asked you that already?
     
  36. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Yes, I'm working at home today so I'm definitely planning to check at +4 and +6. I'll be glad to have a better picture of how his dose is working. I was so excited today he actually ate wet food which was great. Yeah with the food tracking, I'm hoping to eventually track how much he's actually eating if we can get him over to canned. We aren't testing yet for ketones but I'm planning to pick up testing supplies later today to start. I'm really wondering wheter it's smart to try and switch him to wet food at this point, part of me says yes because I know it will help lower his numbers but I know we'll have to continue testing at +2, +4, and +6 since 2.25 or 2.5 might be too much insulin if he actually will eat wet only. I guess we shall see how it goes. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to conquer the diagnosis in a day. :)
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2018
  37. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I think the priority item at this point is to get him eating reliably, whatever he'll eat. If that doesn't happen everything else is harder. Once he's feeling better and eating consistently and you have your BG testing mojo fully operational you can tinker with food switching. It'll require extra monitoring but it'll be easier by then.

    Re ketone testing: I might have posted this on your thread before but here goes anyway:
    • put the end of the test strip right in his urine stream as he's peeing
    • slip a shallow, long handled spoon under his backside to catch a little pee - you don't need much
    • put a double layer of plastic wrap over his favourite part of the litter box and poke some depressions in it too catch pee.
    Most test strips have to be dipped and allowed to develop for 15 seconds before viewing the colour change in very good light.

    No, you can't conquer this diagnosis in a day. You'll read this on FDMB often: It's a marathon, not a sprint. It requires a ton of patience on your part and there'll be a lot of 2 steps forward, one step back. You'll get there. :)
     
  38. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    BG at +4 is 39. He's eating canned food right now and a little dry.
     
  39. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    It’s wise to get a second test right away when you get an uncharacteristic number like this. This is really unexpected. You did the right thing giving him food. Test again 30 minutes after that + 4. If he’s still below 50, give another very small snack of whatever he’ll eat, wait 20-30 minutes and retest. The goal is to get him above 50 using little snacks if needed. Eventually you want him to stay above 50 without snacks. Keep the snacks small so he doesn’t get too full - a teaspoon or so at a time.

    I’m around to check in.
     
  40. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Just checked at the 30 minutes after +4 and it's 43.
     
  41. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    OK. Do you have any Temptations treats on hand? You can try putting 4 or 5 on a tsp or so of wet food and retest in 30 minutes. You can also add a little honey or karo to a little wet food snack and retest after 30 minutes. How are you holding up? Breathing? It’ll be fine. :)
     
  42. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    No, no treats. He always throws them up unfortunately but I did put a little karo syrup in his mouth and he's eating a little of his dry food now. I'm a nervous wreck, in addition to these low numbers I hit the vein in his ear and it wouldn't stop bleeding for several minutes. Thank you so much for sticking with me on this thread. :)
     
  43. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    The dry will help although it can take a bit longer to get into the bloodstream. Test in 30 minutes. I know what you mean about the bleeding when you hit the little vein. I always wrap a double layer of tissue over both sides of Teasel’s ear after a test and hold it with firm pressure for 15-20 seconds. That usually does the trick even when I hit the vein.

    Deep breaths - you can do this. I’ll be following along. BTW - you can enter more than one number in a cell on your SS. You’ll have to manually colour the cell using the little paint can icon from the tool bar. It’s helpful for us to see those extra test numbers.
     
  44. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Hurray for 62! That can be the dry food and/or karo syrup. No food or syrup this time, wait 30 minutes and retest. If he holds above 50 by next test, wait another 30 minutes without food and retest. If that shows he’s above 50 wait an hour.

    Congrats on getting experience dealing with low numbers! :)
     
  45. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I was just getting ready to post. So excited to see that 62! I'll pick up all food and recheck in 30 minutes. Thank you, thank you! I can breathe again, for now...
     
  46. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I'll keep an eye on things. :)
     
  47. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    BG at 70!! :)
     
  48. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    :D!!
     
  49. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Talk about getting an insulin picture day 1 of doing +4 and +6, geesh
     
  50. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    No food. Wait 30 minutes. Retest. If he's still holding or increasing let him have an hour's break until the next test. How is he handling all the pokes? Poor baby ...
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
  51. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    That's why we go on about middle of the cycle tests. So important in establishing a safe dose.
     
  52. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    After the ear vein issue, the last two pokes he's handled a lot better. While his BG was 39 and 43 he was vocal/mad. But for BG 62 and 70 he didn't make a peep.
     
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  53. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Your technique will improve quickly in this situation. :)
     
  54. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    That's no kidding, the last three draws I've gotten in one stick. We're at 86!!! :D
     
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  55. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    You can leave him alone for a longer interval. Try for a +8 to fill in the BG profile for today. He’ll need a dose reduction tonight. Who knows? He might have been doing this on other days when you weren’t able to get data.

    How about 2 u tonight? Get a +2 and +4 tonight. Doing a full curve on the 2 u dose one day this weekend should give useful data. It’s the usual AM/PM pre shot tests (no food 2 hours before) and then every 2 hours between them, feed normally. The 2 u might be too high but data is needed to know.
     
  56. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I'll only do 2u tonight. Given his AMPS and PMPS just yesterday, the only difference today is food. He's only had wet other than a few bites of dry during the hypo episode. I'm not sure if I should keep doing wet or give him dry tonight. I won't be able to do +4 after the PM dose, but definitely +2. Tomorrow, I'll definitely only do 2u and do a full curve. Also, should I let him eat now or wait until after +8, and then take it away 2 hours before the PMPS? Sorry for all the questions this time just wanting to make sure we get good readings.
     
  57. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Let him eat and take food away 2 hours before PMPS. You did great today! :smuggrin::smuggrin:
     
  58. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Thank you so very much! It would have been very hard to handle today alone and I'm grateful you were online and so responsive. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! What do you think about wet versus dry for the rest of today?
     
  59. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Is he eating with gusto or are you still worried about a waxing/waning appetite? If the latter, give him what you know he’ll eat willingly. If the former, maybe a little more of the wet.

    Pleased to have been able to help! :)
     
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  60. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    He's been sleeping for a few hours. Just took the +8 and it's 206.
     
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  61. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    BG keeps dropping after the 2u dose again. :(
     
  62. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    How are you this AM? I suggest you drop the dose back to 1 u this AM. It can be slowly increased if necessary. He’s obviously responding strongly to the insulin now. That can be from increased sensitivity after the lows during the day or the change in diet.

    What do you think?
     
  63. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    My three are fed and watered so I can respond at length.

    I'm sorry you had another harrowing cycle to get through. I hope you were able to get his BG up without too much difficulty. There are several things that made this harder and could have caused last night's surprise:
    • the BG testing/data logging is recent so you don't know whether this happened before you started. They don't always show symptoms when they drop low.
    • the health issues that put him in hospital have improved and any BG raising effect they might have had could be resolving
    • you've introduced more low carb food into his diet
    • the lows from the daytime caused increased glucose sensitivity and that resulted in another drop last night
    • the 2 u dose has been too high all along and he's been bouncing, leading to inflated pre shot BG numbers.
    Here's what I suggest:
    • immediate drop to a 1 u dose. That is the typical starting dose for most insulins.
    • get +3 to +5 tests because it seems his nadir (low BG point) is fairly early with Novolin
    • post here often for now to get other eyes on your SS.
    This has been really hard for you. It will get easier - I promise. You now know how to "steer" his BG with numbers and have two low episodes under your belt. That's valuable experience. Imagine if you had followed your vet's advice to not test! :eek:
     
  64. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    I see your red AMPS. That's a bounce inflated number from those lows. I suggested a drop in dose to 1 u. How do you feel about that?
     
  65. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I'm a wreck. His BG is back up to 452 but I did leave a few bites of his dry down last night to bring up his BG. Gave 1u with his wet food this morning. He is pretty grumpy today. I'm going to check him at +2 and +5 today to see how he's reacting to 1u. I do think it's more diet related since he was so high on his dry food and when I switched him to wet with the same dose, so low.
     
  66. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Good plan. Poor you! :bighug: At least you've learned something about his carb sensitivity and how food affects his BG. o_O
     
  67. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    I completely agree with you on what you said about following my vet's advice. Quite honestly I'm glad he didn't eat wet food for them while they had him hospitalized since they blindly gave 3u on his last day there instead of his normal 2u. That could have killed him. As much as I hated seeing those low numbers again in the evening I felt worse for him. I'm sure these large swings in BG have to be hard on him. I agree with all of your bullets above. :)
     
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  68. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Look at how fast you're moving along the learning curve! Stressful times like this teach you a lot and teach you fast. :smuggrin:
     
  69. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    That's no joke! Talk about a stressful start to the weekend.
     
  70. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    I have to go out for a few hours. Will check in later.
     
  71. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    +2 looks really good, I wish I was gonna be home at +3 to see how 1u does. I'll be sure to get that reading after his pm dose
     
  72. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    He's coming down fast. Can you get an "out the door" test?
     
  73. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Unfortunately that was my out the door test. I'm gonna test as soon as I get home but that will be +4
     
  74. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    Good, as soon as you get home. I've been following along. Did you leave any food out for him?
     
  75. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Ugh, no I completely forgot. I didn't want him to eat dry and the other two would have gobbled down the wet. Now I'm worried
     
  76. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    You'll be home in another hour?
    Sending safe surfing vines to Diago.
     
  77. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Yeah, we should be. Thank you so much!
     
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  78. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Wow! This boy is astounding me! This might be premature to say but he might become a diet controlled diabetic.
     
  79. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    I'm glad Dyana was here to look in on you.
     
  80. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    I'm glad you're back @Kris & Teasel. Will you be around for a while? I need to hit the grocery store.
     
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  81. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Yes, I'm back home for the rest of the day.
     
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  82. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Thank you both!! This site has truly been a Godsend with his diagnosis.

    I completely agree! I will say he must have been a little low because we came home and he knocked over our trash can which he's never done to get some food. I separated him and gave him his leftover wet food, while I took his BG. He also did something earlier that I haven't seen him do in quite awhile which was so nice to see. He wrapped himself around one of my table legs and started kicking it with his back legs. I'll say today he's almost a whole different cat. I think we're headed in the right direction. :)
     
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  83. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    :D:D:D
     
  84. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    That 72 is lovely! Another couple of pokes in the middle of the cycle would be nice.
     
  85. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Should I do at +4.5 or wait until +5.5? I was going to test at +5.
     
  86. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Thank you so much for following this thread. I know it had to be quite a novel to read. :)
     
  87. Dyana

    Dyana Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    You're welcome. I was following yesterday too, so was already on top of the story ;).
    Him getting in the trash tells me that he knew he needed food. He could feel his BGs coming down fast and knew what to do. Please remember this today, and leave food out next time you see him diving like that.
    Okay, I'm off..
     
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  88. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    A test at +5 is fine.
     
  89. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Thanks a million, Dyana! :)
     
  90. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    One area I'm struggling with is what I should do on Monday when I have to leave him through the day. I already separate him at night because prediagnosis he was peeing outside of the litterbox. Now, I still separate him just to keep an eye on how much he's urinating, so I hate to separate him during the day also but it's obvious he must eat between +3 and +5 and as I mentioned above the other two cats will gobble down his wet food if I leave it out and it's obvious the dry is NOT good for him. Thoughts?
     
  91. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    The only thing that comes to mind right now is one of those $$$ electronic feeders where he wears a collar with a chip so the feeder opens only for him.

    The other possibility down the line is that you'll have him on a dose where you get data showing that he stays safe in the middle section of the cycle. For Novolin you'd want nadir BGs in the 90-110 range on your meter. Maybe tonight and tomorrow at 1 u will give useful information.
     
  92. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    +5 = 110 :D

    Maybe I'll separate during the day for a few days so he can eat, do another curve on Wednesday this week at 1u to see how he's doing without food during the +3 - +4 times. The good thing is I usually work from home 2 days a week and then home on the weekends, so it's only 3 days that he would be separate during the day & night.
     
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  93. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Love the 110! Was that after regular food only, no syrup?
     
  94. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Yeah only his wet food. :)
     
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  95. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    Just took his PM BG and it's 226. I'm not sure if I should give his insulin. He's starting to eat right now, should I test again in 30 minutes.
     
  96. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Based on today's numbers that didn't require heroic interventions, I'd stick to 1 u tonight.
    You've been through a lot. I suggest you drop him to either 0.75 u or 0.5 u. You can decide. I wouldn't skip insulin.
     
  97. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    I'll do 0.5 and check him at +3 tonight to see how he's going on that dose. Thank you!! :)
     
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  98. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Well, would you look at that 103 on only 0.5 u?! :) You could try 0.5 u again this AM if his pre shot BG is similar to last night’s pre shot number.
     
  99. JennC & Diago

    JennC & Diago Member

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    Feb 16, 2018
    And he had 121 this morning!!! :) Now, with it being so low should I still give the 0.5?
     
  100. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Will look at his SS. Be right back.
     
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