My foster-cat Neville gave me some good news last night, though not initially. At six o’clock, I tested his blood-glucose and found it at 20.0. For a cat who lived with it between four and eight for the final third of 2019, that is very high. But I injected him with one unit of glargine, the same insulin that Tucker receives, and by 10.30, his number was a more satisfactory 13.0. That is hardly what I want, but compared to the higher number, it is what I will take. And in fact, I suspect his nadir (the lowest the ‘curve’ of his blood-sugar will reach before it begins climbing again) is actually lower, but I had to get to bed at some point. Tucker’s nadir is usually four and a half hours after his injection, but most cats’ are later. Come the weekend, I will test Neville more toward midnight.
Also on the weekend, I will test his blood in the morning. If it is, as I suspect, high then too, I will consider a unit of insulin twice a day. And once the testing is over, he will have nothing more to dread from poking and prodding except the daily injections, which, considering where they are given and the thinness of the needles, are hardly to be felt. I will of course perform ‘curves’ on him, as I do with Tucker, but that is an ordeal only monthly.
I appreciate the good thoughts and hopes given Neville by the readers of this blog, and word of their experiences, too. Roberta’s message that her Jeremy went for four years without insulin before requiring it again, while undoubtedly disheartening for her and Jeremy, did show me that this phenomenon can occur, and that it is not isolated to my boy.
So Nev begins again. With the right dosage of insulin at the right times, he may yet free himself of the need for medicine. If not, he will have relief from the effects of diabetes for as long as he needs it.
Purrs to sweet Neville. He seems pretty content with you helping him out though.
ReplyDeleteAh! Bless the little fella..! Bless!x
ReplyDeleteHe's lovely..Love him to bits!x
AND..Well done you John..Your a diamond..!
Lots of purrs from Derry too. I'm glad to read of better results this time, and I know that Neville's in the best of hands.
ReplyDeleteNevsky, we are all hoping your numbers stay low, dear boy!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear things are on the improve for the gray beauty.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, that rug Neville's on (the darker one) looks exactly like ones I bought at Costco last week for my crew!
dood...thiz iz grate nooze; well, ewe noe....continmewed blessings frum st francis two ewe !! :) ♥♥☺☺
ReplyDeletePoor kitty must not be easy to give the shots. Thank you so much for your kind words for Arthur's passing away. Fortunately he was never sick even at the end, he was just tired, slept a lot and then I saw that he had enough he certainly feels better now where he is, at least I hope so. We miss him so much !
ReplyDeleteI am glad Neville's numbers are headed in the right direction. You are very diligent and I am sure you will get them where they need to be.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear Neville's blood sugars are looking better. Hopefully the glargine insulin will do the trick and he will continue to improve. Please keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to head his numbers diminished. What a not ending job to help them when things are so changeable. They are fortunate beyond telling in having you as a Dad.
ReplyDeleteWe are glad that the insulin is working and hope that things stabilize for this handsome gray fellow
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