Forgot to give shot -- what to do?

[Sonomas Mom]

Hello, I am new here, have been reading for the past week and posting at Cushing Forum (under name BeachGirlK) -- my dog has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and Cushings (Cushings arrived first but was diagnosed, after many months of testing, a week after the diabetes.

Sonoma's diabetes is not yet under control, her testing is in the 400's at the vets, but the endocirniologist/specialist said that I really MUST treat the Cushings immediately because of how sick Sonoma is.

When first diagnosed with dibetes, two weeks ago, I bought a BG meter at CVS, thinking that they were all the same. I guess they're not!

I finally for a BG reading at home off Sonoma yesterday afternoon (7 hours after her shot) of 210 and I was very happy for that.

Today I took her into the vet for a BG reading off their ALphatrack and their reading was 422 and my meter reading from the same sample was 236! A huge difference!

I need to new meter obviously, as her readings need to be taken here at home while she undergoes her Cushings therapy.

I'd love any advice on how to get the best meter NOW (as in, I can't order one off the internet).

Does anyone know of stores that sell good ones so I can get it right away?

(PS, My CVS meter does have a glucose calibrating solution and it calibrates okay, but it is in the low range (30~80) -- maybe it needs a calibrating solution in a higher range??)

Thanks for all advice. Everyone here is invaluable. I also have trouble getting blood from her, but I have seen all the videos, etc., I guess it takes time and courage! I know she's tired of getting pricked!)

Karin

[eileen]

Welcome Karin,

A human meter WILL read differently than an animal validated meter, some more than others. It has nothing to do with the control solution.
If you are looking to buy a meter ASAP with no time for a good deal (as there are lots out there) two meters that have shown to be good with our dogs are the Freestyle Lite as well as The One Touch Ultra2.
I do believe it has been found that the Freestyle for smaller dogs and the One Touch for larger dogs.

I think Walmart sells the Freestyle Lite for about 18.00, not sure about the One Touch.

If you are in a big hurry you will pay an enormous amount for the test strips in a pharmacy compared to what they cost on line...but, to get started it may be worth it, then find online sources.

Most of our dogs get use to be tested. My Mildred has been pricked thousands upon thousands of times, most always on the same side of her lip. She accepts it as part of her daily routine.

For years I used a human meter to watch Mildred's trends. I have since gone to using the Alpha Trak which I am very happy with.

Looking forward to following your story.

[Sonomas Mom]

Thanks, Eileen, I really appreciate your advice. I would love to get an AlphaTrac if Sonoma can get better from this illness, but the vet is worried that Sonoma will have a drastic drop in insulin needs due to her Cushings treatment this week, and a working dependable meter at home will surely cost less than vet readings!

Thank you again. Give your Mildred a high five for Sonoma and I!
Karin

[k9diabetes]

Here is Sonoma's thread at the Cushing's forum:
http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2211

She's a big dog so I would go with the OneTouch Ultra.

Successful Cushing's treatment is likely to reduce her need for insulin but she's currently on a pretty small dose for her size and still has fairly high blood sugar so that makes it a little easier than if she had worked up to a big dose of insulin.

Testing would certainly be good though - you will have a much better handle on everything if you can test her blood sugar.

Sounds like you started lysodren yesterday. Hope all goes smoothly and she will be on her way to better blood sugar soon.

Natalie

[CarolW]

Hi Karin;

If cost is no object, you could go with the Alphatrak. But if it's a consideration, then I'd suggest the OneTouch Ultra2. This latter meter won't read as accurately as the AlphaTrak (in principle, anyway), but it's reliable and consistent, and probably not very far off.

Wanted to welcome you to the forum I'll be watching and cheering you on.

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:29:07 (PDT)

[Sonomas Mom]

Hello, I got some bad news about my mom this evening, and got involved on a phone call about it and forgot to give my Sonoma her insulin shot this evening -- I don't know if I should give it late or just start fresh in the morning. Another problem is she is supposed to get a BG reading at the vets Wed morning (this morning now) and Wed afternoon to see if the Cushings Treatment has lowered her insulin needs. (She started her maintenance lysodrene today -- that is why the vet wanted her to get BG readings tomorrow.)

Should I wait another 7 or so hours and give her the shot? Will she be okay overnight without a shot? This is the first shot she's missed since I started her on May 24... *She is still not regulated...

Any advice is helpful!
Karin

[Noodle]

Since you mentioned waiting 7 hours, I assume the shot should have been 5 hours ago? If so, then you need to wait until morning to give her the next dose. One hour is about as far as you can stretch it. If you inject her now, you will be running into a never ending cycle of overlap.

She will run higher, and it may take a few days for her to get back to her normal. I would recommend calling the vet in the morning and postponing the BG check, since it won't be an accurate reading.

Don't beat yourself up - life happens to everyone. I hope your mom is OK.

[Sonomas Mom]

Thank you -- no I should have injected her 3 hours ago (she gets shots 10 am 10 pm Eastern USA time) -- but I thought I could start her earlier tomorrow since I missed her shot tonight. She doesn't like to eat in the morning until 9:30 or 10 am... so I always get started late.

Yes, I guess I should cancel... what a mess. The doc wanted it the day after her lysodrene --- I have neglected everything else to concentrate on her for the past 2 weeks, and tonight got distracted by the other serious things going on.

Thank you for replying!

[BestBuddy]

Not sure what I would have done but I think I would still have given maybe half the insulin and then again 12 hours later and over the next few days gradually brought the time back maybe half an hour until you were at your usual times.

Missing the dose will probably be ok but you will have messed up BG for the next few days so I don't think the vet testing would be worth it.

Jenny

[Noodle]

Since she missed tonight's shot, you could definitely start her earlier tomorrow and then work your way back to her normal 10am/pm 15-30 minutes at a time.