Chloe diagnosed 11-13

[Cara Sandler]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

One reason to hold out hope though - if they are not accepting new patients, it means they are probably getting closer to having the eye drops be available to the public. Hopefully they'll be on the market and available to you before long. I would definitely keep searching the internet to see when the drops get approved.

[Chloe8929]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Aw, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry! Is there another site anywhere near your house? I know there are 2 sites within about 30 minutes of each other here in Florida.

I didn't see any on the website and VetVision did not know of one close by.

[Cara Sandler]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Try contacting the company that is running the trial directly:

Therapeutic Vision Inc.
1406 Veterans Drive
Elkhorn, NE 68022
402-408-8382
FAX: 1-888-571-0141
info@therapeuticvision.com

[CraigM]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

I currently have a generic glucometer from Walgreens, do you think it would be worth my while to invest in an Alhpahtrak meter?

Of course the problem with the AlphaTrak-2 is the expense: both purchase price and for the expensive "true" AlphaTrak-2 test strips. Although the MSRP for the meter is around $150, there are sometimes specials (sometimes UNADVERTISED specials) for a new meter. I think most buy their AlphaTrak meter and strips from ADW http://search.adwdiabetes.com/search...0starter%20kit

Looks like they have a $70 special going on! An excellent price if you want the AlphaTrak-2.

There are several things to do with this meter:
Just use the meter with TRUE AlphaTrak-2 test strips. If you can afford the $1+ per test strip this would be the easiest.

Use the AlphaTrak-2 from time-to-time ALONG with your Walgreen's meter. Figure out an average percentage difference between the meters and use the less expensive Walgreen meter for most daily testing.

Use the AlphaTrak-2 meter, but use FreeStyle Lite test strips in it. The FreeStyle Lite strips are also made by Abbott and look exactly like AlphaTrak-2 strips. Several of us do this and have found that if we set the code on the AlphaTrak-2 meter to "5" the reading is within a few points of what a true AlphaTrak-2 test strip would give (Every couple of months I run a side-by-side test using a true AlphaTrak test strip, at the indicated code on the strip container, against a FreeStyle Lite strip set to "5" (ignoring the number printed on the freeStyle Lite container). FreeStyle Lite test strips are expensive in local stores, but fairly reasonably priced online, especially if you buy several boxes at a time.

Craig

[k9diabetes]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Welcome to you and Chloe! It's great to see that you've dived right into testing.

We have a video of Chris being tested on the inside of the lip on the home testing page (www.k9diabetes.com/bgtestvideos.html) and we make it look really really easy....

But...

That was done after I had been testing him daily for years. The first few weeks...?? We were a hilarious home blood sugar testing version of three stooges rolled up into one human and one canine! It gets easier with practice and someday you will look back and laugh at how difficult it seemed.

Diabetes definitely is NOT a death sentence. With decent management (not even perfect management, which is all but impossible to achieve for most), diabetes doesn't affect your dog's life span at all. How long they live with it is primarily a function of how old they were when diagnosed.

Sounds like you two are well on your way.

Natalie

Chloe is currently eating Purina DCO Dual Fiber Control. Has anyone else tried this? I currently have a generic glucometer from Walgreens, do you think it would be worth my while to invest in an Alhpahtrak meter? I still have not heard from my vet today, she told me she would call. I was hoping she would be taking more of an interest in Chloe. We were supposed to discuss when to bring her in for her blood glucose curve. Now that I am learning so much from all of you I feel like I could do the testing myself but it would have to be Saturday. Should I look for a vet that specializes in endocrinology? It sounds like either way it is up to me to monitor her closely and really provide the care she needs. Thank you all so much! I was so upset thinking this was a death sentence for Chloe but I am finding she can still have a happy healthy few more years with us!

[Chloe8929]

Very disheartened. I came home and tested Chloe before her meal and insulin and BG was 250. I just tested her 3 hrs after meal and insulin and BG was 488! Chloe seems to be feeling pretty good....so confusing. She was barking outside like her old self, normally I would try to quieten her down but tonight I just thanked God she was feeling good. I know I will never take that for granted again. I also invested in an alpha track thanks to everyone's comments!

[amydunn19]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Testing at home and just observing Chloe will give you a great deal of confidence and you will connect with her on a level that you probably haven't ever experienced. I had dogs I loved and took care of my entire life but diabetes is just different. I talk to people whose dogs have diabetes often(I have a pet boutique so I meet many different dogs/people) and if they home test or they are really involved with the dog's care, I can tell after just a few minutes. They speak with authority and know their dogs and what works and what doesn't.

I have an Internal Medicine Specialist but a friend managed his clinic and said he was really good with diabetes so I went to him. We started with me always checking in with him if Maggie's sugar was doing something crazy. Finally, he said that I didn't have to call every time I thought something needed to change. He always says that I know much more about her because I am more involved day to day. He knows I won't do anything rash and that I will bring her in if necessary. I don't think you have to choose a specialist necessarily. There is an older regular vet at the clinic and he has forgotten more about diabetes than most vets ever learn so I don't hesitate to see him if my regular vet is out. You need someone who discusses things with you and listens to you. You don't need a vet who is not willing to work with you and who dictates orders to you like a platoon leader. Diabetes needs structure but too many of the factors are beyond human control so having a vet who thinks outside the box when things don't go by the book is essential. Craig always says our dogs don't read those books so sometimes their blood sugar doesn't do exactly what is expected. I would want a vet with diabetes experience and if necessary ask them about that exoerience.

[amydunn19]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Try not to be too disheartened - the beginning is kind of a roller coaster and it takes some time to get them to regulation. One of the hardest parts is not reacting to the numbers individually because blood sugar by its nature is unstable at times. Think of this as a learning phase - once you learn her patterns, you can plan how to act. Chloe feeling better is progress.

[CraigM]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Very disheartened. I came home and tested Chloe before her meal and insulin and BG was 250. I just tested her 3 hrs after meal and insulin and BG was 488! Chloe seems to be feeling pretty good....so confusing. She was barking outside like her old self, normally I would try to quieten her down but tonight I just thanked God she was feeling good. I know I will never take that for granted again. I also invested in an alpha track thanks to everyone's comments!

This isn't all that unusual. When they eat / digest food most dogs (and people) BGs will rise as the food is converted to glucose. The speed, and amount, of the rise depends on many factors such as the type of food, quantity of food, digestive system, etc.. My Annie's BG can easily rise 100 - 150 points within two hours of eating, would stay high for another 2 - 3 hours, then finally start to come down about 6 hours after the meal & injection. Every dog / situation is different: Annie would have higher BG than desired for a few hours because the insulin (Novolin-N in her case) took longer to "work" than her digestive system took in converting food into glucose. Around 6 hours after eating / injecting the insulin caught-up with the food and her BG would drop. Some dogs seem to have a very small, or no rise, after eating & injection. Sometimes we can change the meal slightly to prevent a big post-meal BG rise. Are you injecting right at the meal time, or waiting awhile? If you are delaying the insulin, that could allow the food to get a head start and produce some of the BG rise.

You probably need to do several curves to be sure Chloe always responds in the same general manner.

I've taken care of Annie's post-meal BG rise by adding a small amount of Novolin-R (Novolin-R is a short acting insulin) that generally starts working within 15 - 30 minutes which matches Annie's food digestion pretty well. So, in my case the "R" insulin prevents the big BG rise and is out of her system in 5 - 6 hours. The Novolin-N then starts to work around the 5th hour and takes over when the "R" is out of her system. This is something you might think about in the future if Chloe ALWAYS has the big increase after her meals, but you would want to have several curves done to confirm she always has a post-meal rise that lasts more than 4 - 5 hours.

Hopefully you won't have to mess with this! If her pre-meal test was 150 instead of 250, possibly the later test would only have been in the low 300s, or high 200s! We need to see the results of several full curves to see when her lowest BG is occurring.

Craig

[Chloe8929]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Thank you for the info! Once I have my Alphatrak I am going to do a curve this weekend. This morning her BG was in the 500s!Chloe then wouldn't eat for me so I was afraid to give her insulin. I finally got her to eat a little and gave the injection right before leaving for work only to find out my husband had given Chloe some food when he was up about an hour before me (which explains the high BG and her not being hungry). I told him not more feeding just to leave everything to me (which I know is not practical I will eventually need his help). Needless to say I will be putting a chart on the refrigerator tonight so he can write down when and amount of food he gives her....What a mess! Its just killing me to think of what the high BG is doing to all of her organs...UGH

[Chloe8929]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

This isn't all that unusual. When they eat / digest food most dogs (and people) BGs will rise as the food is converted to glucose. The speed, and amount, of the rise depends on many factors such as the type of food, quantity of food, digestive system, etc.. My Annie's BG can easily rise 100 - 150 points within two hours of eating, would stay high for another 2 - 3 hours, then finally start to come down about 6 hours after the meal & injection. Every dog / situation is different: Annie would have higher BG than desired for a few hours because the insulin (Novolin-N in her case) took longer to "work" than her digestive system took in converting food into glucose. Around 6 hours after eating / injecting the insulin caught-up with the food and her BG would drop. Some dogs seem to have a very small, or no rise, after eating & injection. Sometimes we can change the meal slightly to prevent a big post-meal BG rise. Are you injecting right at the meal time, or waiting awhile? If you are delaying the insulin, that could allow the food to get a head start and produce some of the BG rise.

You probably need to do several curves to be sure Chloe always responds in the same general manner.

I've taken care of Annie's post-meal BG rise by adding a small amount of Novolin-R (Novolin-R is a short acting insulin) that generally starts working within 15 - 30 minutes which matches Annie's food digestion pretty well. So, in my case the "R" insulin prevents the big BG rise and is out of her system in 5 - 6 hours. The Novolin-N then starts to work around the 5th hour and takes over when the "R" is out of her system. This is something you might think about in the future if Chloe ALWAYS has the big increase after her meals, but you would want to have several curves done to confirm she always has a post-meal rise that lasts more than 4 - 5 hours.

Hopefully you won't have to mess with this! If her pre-meal test was 150 instead of 250, possibly the later test would only have been in the low 300s, or high 200s! We need to see the results of several full curves to see when her lowest BG is occurring.

Craig

Thank you.
Chloe is 10 lbs and on 1 unit of vetsulin every 12 hrs.
I am considering increasing her dose tonight to 1.5 units? What do you think? I have seen a lot of dogs using 10+ units and I have been testing Chloe several times a day for 5 days now and never has she been under 250 and I feel like its actually higher since I am not using the correct meter.

[Riliey and Mo]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Hi

i,d wait for the curve with the alphatrack before making changes

[CraigM]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Thank you.
Chloe is 10 lbs and on 1 unit of vetsulin every 12 hrs.
I am considering increasing her dose tonight to 1.5 units? What do you think? I have seen a lot of dogs using 10+ units and I have been testing Chloe several times a day for 5 days now and never has she been under 250 and I feel like its actually higher since I am not using the correct meter.

I'm on my phone, so it's a little hard to write too much :-)

If she is 10 pounds, that 1 unit is on the low side. Many would have started around 2 units (.2 units per pound). If the lowest number during the day is in the high 200s, going to 1.5 units (even though that would be a 50% increase) would probably be OK. Just do it on a day where you can test a few times to be sure she doesn't go too low.

Craig

[amydunn19]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

Try to get hubby on board with keeping that schedule. I know it is hard to get everyone on the same page with it all but it makes a huge difference.

Every day is a new day. Some days, Maggie just has a bad day or I have a bad day and I just decide to start over fresh the next day.

[Charlie's mom]

Re: Chloe diagnosed 11-13

It took the Cookie Man in our house a while to adapt too