Help with blood sugar levels needed

Our 13 year old cat (still newly diagnosed back in February) had signs of hypoglycemia this morning. We were able to stabilize him at home and were told by our vet to skip insulin and monitor. Rascal is incredibly hard to get a reading on but finally at 9pm we got a reading of 372. Our vet is closed and now I’m left questioning do I give him his usual 3u of lantus solostar pen or hold off again. We are really struggling here.

 

Hi Rachel!! Glad to see you posting here from the Facebook group!!

Without seeing a spreadsheet, it's really impossible for us to give you much in the way of helpful advice, but as I said on Facebook, 372 is definitely a shootable number. If you're not comfortable giving 3U, I'd go ahead and do 2 for now since we don't have any data.

Does Rascal have any history of ketones?

Are you using the special pen needles with your Solostar?

 

Thank you Chris! I appreciate it! The vet never mentioned high ketones so I’m hoping not. We do use the special needles for the solostar.

 

We don't recommend that because you're stuck giving whole unit doses only.....kitties are small and need tiny dose adjustments. We only increase by .25 to .5 at a time. Too much insulin can look like not enough! (Crazy but true!)

We recommend using regular insulin syringes and pulling the insulin out of the pen so you can adjust in small amounts. WalMart has 3/10ml, 31 gauge insulin syringes that have half unit markings for $12.58/100

Can we get you to start keeping track of your numbers with our spreadsheet? We're very data driven here and really depend on seeing the numbers.

Here are Instructions on getting the FDMB spreadsheet but if you need help, feel free to send me a private message by clicking on my name and choosing "Start Conversation"....it only takes me about 30 seconds to set it up once I have some information from you.

It will also help for you to fill out your "Signature"....if you click on your sign on name (top right of the page) you can choose "Signature".....a new box will open for you to enter information.

We like to have things like:

Your name/Cat's name, age, sex, date of diagnosis, type of insulin, type of meter, type of food, any other health issues or medications? and a general location (whatever you're comfortable with)

Then when you have your spreadsheet link, you put that in there too!

That way we don't have to keep asking the same questions over and over again.

 

Id do 2 units and start taking regular tests. One before every shot and try to get at least one mid cycle number

 

I will ask the vet about that and switch over ASAP! Do I need to get an Rx for that? I would love help starting a spreadsheet with you. Today’s number is 297 and I’m waiting to hear about insulin but it was due hours ago, and I haven’t heard back.

 

She just called back. Said decrease to 2u and test again before Monday and call in. I tried but he thrashed around a bit and I’m not sure how much he actually got in this time

 

the experienced caregivers keep telling me, better too little insulin than too much -- and to answer your question about syringes, depends on what state you're in, but you can get at least a pack of ten of them without a prescription -- the Walmart ReliOn brand is one of the least expensive -- 3/10 ml, 31 gauge, with half unit markings (that last is really important for you, to help get the exact dosage) -- in many states, full 100 box, no prescription, helpful if you tell them it's for a cat, I put catfood in my cart not thinking about questions, but got the syringes with none asked

 

Our spreadsheet is here... http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/