"Lo" Blood sugar reading on Freestyle Neo meter?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by whiskeysmom, Oct 24, 2016.

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  1. whiskeysmom

    whiskeysmom Member

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    Sep 29, 2016
    OK I finally got the stupid meter to work, and it came up as "Lo"???

    Now, is that "low"/hypoglycemic in human terms? SHould I worry about this? My cat seems fine. And I'm taking him to the vet at 2 anyway, I just wanted to get a reading before he goes.

    He's happy, wagging his tail..doesn't seem nervous/anxious

    Maybe this is "lo" for human level but not for cats?
     
  2. whiskeysmom

    whiskeysmom Member

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    Sep 29, 2016
    Also wondering if I didn't feed him enough when I gave him insulin. I fed him less than normal because I always have to use food to lure him into his carrier, to go to the vet..
     
  3. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    Whisky's Mom, please retest ASAP, you'll need to raise blood glucose if still low...
    .
    Edited to correct: Actually better to give syrup/glucose first and then restest.
    (See posts further down page).
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2016
  4. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    My understanding is that 'Lo' usually means below 20 (1.1). That is hypoglycemic.
    You'll need to give some syrup/glucose (onto gums if possible) to raise the level straight away.
    .
     
  5. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    How many hours since you gave insulin?
    Which insulin?
    What dose?

    Ideally you want to get your kitty up to around 50, and not let him drop below that.
    .
     
  6. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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  7. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    @whiskeysmom , please update us as soon as you can....
    .
     
  8. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    From an earlier post it appears they are using Prozinc.


    ETA Last dose I can see on posts from a few days ago was 1 unit
     
  9. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    I do hope everything's OK, Mary Ann... Keeping fingers and paws crossed....
    .
     
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  10. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    I see they have been having trouble using the FS Neo meter and I am REALLY hoping this is a bad reading. Otherwise it would be a hypo situation
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2016
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  11. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    Me too...
    .
     
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  12. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately I don't see them showing in the "Members Online " listing.

    Another test right away is really needed :nailbiting:
     
  13. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Get another BG reading. I have received abnormally low reading and upon reset I received expected BG reading.
     
  14. whiskeysmom

    whiskeysmom Member

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    Sep 29, 2016
    Don't panic everybody..I'm taking him to the vet now. He already had an appointment. Yes I was having trouble with the stupid meter. He takes 1 unit of ProZinc in the morning and he got it around 9a. He's not showing any signs of hypoglycemia at all
     
  15. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    Not all kitties will show signs of a hypo. Whenever you get a reading like that it is important to redo it.


    ETA If we seem like we are having a panic it is because we are. We have seen what a real hypo can do.
     
  16. whiskeysmom

    whiskeysmom Member

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    I'm at the vet now and they tested him right away. 350. Not low at all.

    I knew he was fine.

    I told you guys, that meter is junk.
     
  17. Diana&Tom

    Diana&Tom Well-Known Member

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    Dec 29, 2009
    Sounds like it's time to get a new meter. You don't want to go through this again. Very glad kitty is ok.
     
  18. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    Sep 6, 2010
    'Possibly' but 'not necessarily'... .....Quite often cats with a very low blood glucose level will have their body 'respond' to a 'low blood glucose situation' by releasing stored glucose and raising the blood glucose level so as to try to prevent/avert the affects of hypoglycemia. ...This can, sometimes - if effective - raise the blood glucose very fast...

    @whiskeysmom (What is your name, BTW?) ..... This was a scary situation... And please don't 'discount' the info from this meter, as it may actually be valid. (We just 'don't know' with the limited amount of BG data). But, as Diana suggests above, maybe it's time for a new/more reliable/better functioning meter, so we can all get a more accurate picture of what's really going on with your kitty's blood glucose..?

    Based on today's evidence from the current meter it is clear that your kitty needs a reduction in insulin dosage. And it's always 'better to be safe, than sorry'...

    Huge hugs to you,

    Eliz
     
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  19. Callie & Patches

    Callie & Patches Well-Known Member

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    Jun 18, 2016
    My Callie doesn't show any symptoms when she has had hypo numbers. It's really scary because my vet warned me to watch for the symptoms and give her honey or syrup. I didn't know she could have those kind of numbers without any symptoms. I was lucky that my vet said to be prepared in advance with honey. Also we should be aware that those low numbers are usually followed be the BG shooting up to high numbers for several days of bouncing. New people just don't understand how dangerous these low numbers can be. I see members trying to explain it all to newbies and sometimes it doesn't sink in. We still have to keep trying.
     
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  20. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    I totally agree with you. This may have been a bad meter reading, but a serious hypo is not something to take a chance on. The consequences can be VERY serious.
     
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  21. Vyktors Mum

    Vyktors Mum Well-Known Member

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    FWIW I used the freestyle Neo and it never ever gave me a faulty reading like some meters do. If there wasn't enough blood or there was some other problem it would give an error message not a false read.

    At any rate, with a reading like that I would have given syrup first and then stopped to think about it.

    You can hear the panic in everyone's 'voices' and that is with good reason. By the time a kitty is showing symptoms of a hypo you are in pretty deep trouble. Those of us that have been around here long enough have seen kitties go from seeming fine one minute to seizing the next. The bouncing mechanism doesn't always work.

    For safety I would also reduce the dose. It's not worth risking your kitty's life over and while you have a meter that may not be operating effectively the risk is even greater.

    If you get on to the manufacturers they will send you some control test solution to check the meter.
     
  22. Elizabeth and Bertie

    Elizabeth and Bertie Well-Known Member

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    Vyktor's Mum is right.

    My first advice was to retest. But in fact in that kind of situation time is of the essence, and seconds can make a difference. Better to give the syrup/glucose first and then retest.

    Eliz
     
  23. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    This.


    Mogs
    .
     
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