Help needed

I feel so bad, my Lionel has been walking on his hocks I immediately brought him into the vet, he has been on Lantus 2 units twice a day for a few months, he had gained back his weight and was having no signs of anything, I wasn’t doing home testing, as I am pretty much gone 10 hrs of the day, and figured this was working! My other cat is CKD hyperthyroid so I am overwhelmed with my cat duties, my vet recommended I do a glucose curve every 2 hrs document results and bring it in. I am going to take tomorrow off work to do so, but need advice and tips please, how quickly should he recover, I feel like a horrible pet owner

 

Hi! To start you off, have you ever done blood glucose testing before?

 

No I have not, but I have been giving him insulin since June!

 

Thanks for the reply, really hating this worry, and just want him better

 

Doing a curve if you've not yet gotten you and Lionel used to testing could prove a bit ambitious. It may work just fine but don't be too tough on yourself if testing is harder than you expect. It can take a couple of weeks for the capillary bed along the edge of the ear to develop to the point that it's easier to get blood.

You might want to buy Zobaline to help with the diabetic neuropathy. Zobaline is a form of vitamin B12 (it's methylcobalamin or methyl-B12). It will take a while for you to see any response but it can truly help. If Lionel's numbers are still high, getting I'm better regulated will also help with how he's walking.

 

Yeah I actually mentioned that to my vet, but his potassium levels are normal, she was saying maybe it’s neuro,I’m guessing she meant neurological but that seemed weird too, but I ll ask her when I return my paper, like I said she lent me the metre to do a test every 2 hours for 24 hours, so starting tomorrow am we r going for it, so I hope his ear works, it did when they demonstrated how to, but my husband is literally taking the day off to help me so let’s hope it works

 

Like Sienne said, it can be difficult getting a curve done if you have no prior experience, it's mainly because 1) the blood capillaries are not used to bleeding so it may take multiple pokes to get the blood flowing and 2) getting you and Lionel used to the whole process. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just don't feel discouraged if it doesn't work out tomorrow! It took me nearly a week to get a successful test in, but there's others here who seem to get the hang of it on the first try. Here is a list of the testing equipment you should already have:

• Vaseline: Use this to lightly coat your cat’s ear to help the blood to “bead up” during testing.
• Cotton Balls/Pads: Use these to hold behind your cat’s ear to prevent getting pricked. You can also use them after to wipe excess blood from the ear.
• Rice Sock: Any old sock will do, simply fill it with rice and heat it up about 10-15 seconds to gently rub on your cat’s ear to draw blood to the prick sight. It can also be used in lieu of a cotton ball/pad to hold against the back of the cat’s ear.
• Lancets: These are used to prick the ear to make small blood drops. Starting out use a larger gauge size (like 26) then go smaller after the ear “learns” to bleed.
• Lancing Device: This device is optional, as some caregivers prefer to prick the ear freehand. This device will make a small clicking noise when it fires and will poke the ear with the lancet.
• Antibiotic Ointment: Use this to lightly coat your cat’s ear after it has been pricked to promote healing. Neosporin or Polysporin will do.
• Glucometer: There are many glucometers brands; any will do. Specialty pet glucometers are the most accurate and the veterinarian standard; however human meters are significantly cheaper to use and still provide a fairly accurate reading.
• Testing Strips: Strips must match the glucometer. Consider the price of testing strips before purchasing a glucometer; many times the meter is cheap or free and the testing strips are expensive. This is especially true with pet meters.

I take it you've already watched the videos for home testing? In case you haven't, here is the page for BG testing. Skip down to "Tips For Success" for the walk-through.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-test.htm

Any other questions just let us know. Hope you have a successful curve tomorrow.

 

FIRST ONE IS DONE!! Luckily for me Lionel is the best patient ever!! And my husband is here and helping, and Lionel loves him, is there a chart or something so I know what the numbers mean? Thank you for the help and info!

 

Here is then basic bg numbers http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-convert.htm

What number did your first home test say?

We also have a Spreadsheet in triage colours with the prefered normal bgs in Green and Blue. The too highs in Yellow and Red. I will try to find the link to it.

Optimum is a bg in 95-100.

 

Here is the instructions to setting up a Bg Spreadsheet http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

We basically use to test to get a nice first day curve

AM in the morning before insulin shot

+ 2-3 hours after insulin shot

+ 5-6 hours after insulin shot

+ 8-9 hours after insulin shot

+12 hours PM in the evening before insulin shot


So you have something to go by

 

Great job!!

Are you using a pet or human meter? We reference everything by human meters here, but the numbers do run lower than what they actually are (there is no true correlation between the two though).

In terms of human meter, great numbers range roughly 70-120. If you're staying under 200 the entire cycle that's good!

 

I borrowed the vets Alphatrek2 meter, but they only gave me 3 strips, was pretty upset when I noticed, they said they ll get more this afternoon but let’s hope! Cause my husband took the day off to help me!