? First Test, Current Status, Questions

I finally got enough blood to do a test for Smudge. He tested at 136 about 5 hours after insulin. Is there a chart in here anywhere that says what's normal for a cat when using a human meter?

How things are going. He's started fighting me a bit when I force feed him, so I see that as good. He's beginning to vocalize again, too. But he's SO unsteady. I've got blankets on the floor in his room because he insists on getting on the bed, but falls over when he gets down. His muscles are so atrophied from his not eating and everything going on with him. When my sister was over today (he's technically her cat), he wanted out of his room and tried to follow her around, but he's so unsteady, he'd walk a couple of feet then sit down. He's pooped in his box, but I just changed the pad for pee, so we'll see on that one. He has drank a little, but not like normal. His blanket/pillow were a tiny bit wet, but I'm not positive if it's pee... it was just a teensy bit and he's normally a BIG pee producer. I'm going to call the vet in the morning to ask about cyproheptadine to maybe get him to want to eat.

These are the instructions I've been given. He's only to be fed morning and evening and then get his insulin about 15-20 minutes after eating. I was told no treats, no free feeding.

I actually tried to get him to eat some of his prescription dry and Halo freeze dried chicken treats, but he wouldn't. He'll sniff at them, and his wet food, but that's it. He started to really show interest in the treats and acted like he was going to eat a little piece, but didn't. I tried putting some warm water on a piece, but no go. With him being on a script food, is baby food the only option to tempt him? What about sardines? So long as it's all meat, is anything like that ok?

Edited* Got a baby monitor to listen for him since he's confined to another room. Heard him in the litter box. He sat for a bit, but didn't produce anything. At least now I'll hear him when I awake and I can check to monitor his output.

 

Normal blood glucose is 50-120 on a human meter, so our goal is to keep them in those normal numbers as much as possible so the pancreas can hopefully heal and resume working.

Without getting Pre-shot tests in, it's impossible to say too much about what's going on but that's a pretty good number for so early!

Has anybody mentioned diabetic neuropathy to you? A lot of people here use Zobaline for cats to help with it.
You can see what it looks like in this YouTube Video...Tootsie's Neuropathy

This is actually "old school" thinking. With the older, harsher insulins, it was important that they only eat twice a day and that they eat a significant meal 20-30 minutes before insulin so when it hit hard and fast, there was food on board.

With the newer, gentler insulin like Lantus, it's not as important that they eat a certain amount before shooting as long as they're willing to eat. Lantus doesn't usually start to "kick in" for 2-3 hours after the shot, so you have time to let them graze and eat before the insulin starts to work.

Most of us feed multiple small meals ....it's easier on the pancreas to deal with small meals instead of 2 big ones.

We Test/Feed/Shoot....all within about 5-10 minutes. You Test to make sure they're high enough for insulin at all, Feed to make sure they're at least willing to eat and Shoot.

The prescription dry is really too high in carbs for a diabetic cat, but I know you're dealing with some vomiting issues. You might want to try to find a novel protein canned food that he'll tolerate that's lower in carbs

Sardines are fine!! If he likes them and tolerates them, there are a few flavors of low carb canned food with sardines you might try. As long as the only ingredient in the treats is a protein source, it's fine.

 

I'd never heard of neuropathy. I'll have to watch his gait more carefully. (Edit* He's walking on his paws normally, but his balance is shot and sometimes he doesn't put his foot down right... it's like his paw won't extend and he puts the back of his toes down first.*) But he seriously has next to no muscle left. He's under 5 pounds. He's lost 2 or so since Halloween when he had the ACTH test for Cushing's. His eating has dropped off since then and his water intake went up.

He does not eat on his own. I'm getting about 10 CC of watered down d/d in him before his insulin. His sodium is very low, which I know from dealing with my mama is from not eating enough. Getting meat baby food today. I'll check out the sardine ingredients and stuff, too. (Edit*Found a can in the cabinet. Sardines and water. *)

Is the formula I saw how to figure carbs how I do it? While his d/d is duck, I think I have rabbit or something in wet from Ziwipeak that belongs to another of my cats. %protein+%fat+%moisture+%ash=carb ??

I've attached one page from his blood panel from just over a week ago. Maybe there's something in there explaining why he won't eat? So many of his values are way high or low. Hoping the vet will give me the appetite stimulant I want when I call.

 

Just realized, looking at the numbers, I don't understand the formula I'd read. The rabbit adds up to 94.5% carbs. Huh? Really confused.

His d/d is 8% protein, 5.5% fat, 78% moisture and no ash listed. And the website has different numbers from what's on the can. I don't get that.

The rabbit/lamb Ziwipeak is 9.5% protein, 4% fat, 78% moisture, and 3% ash.

Edited* Found an online calculator for figuring this.

 

Edited to add the stuff in red above.

Just did his morning test, feeding, and insulin. Test was 148. Force fed 10cc of watered down d/d. Tried to give him some of the rabbit/lamb. He'd lick at it, but that was it. It was like when some actually got into his mouth, he'd wiggle his tongue around like it was weird. I've called the vet and they're going to check on giving him cyproheptadine.

Oh, and I updated his spreadsheet and put in his last lab tests... at least the entries I had something for.

 

@Marje and Gracie is our expert at reading lab reports. Hopefully she'll see the tag and drop by with her thoughts.

The d/d duck is 17% carbs....the Ziwipeak rabbit & lamb is 3% carbs (according to the Food Chart)

 

Thank you!