Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4395252)

I am happy to report that I am getting MUCH better at the glucose testing. I just completed a 10 hour series of tests, and although the numbers aren't where we want them, they are slowly moving in the right direction. Today's range was from low of 272 to high of 364. That is better than the original 563, and I'm waiting for word from Dr C to know if we will increase the insulin.

The best part is that "I CAN DO THIS TESTING". You can't imagine how happy I am because my Meika's life depends on this. After all the frustration of the first test, pricking her little ears and hurting her repeatedly, me in tears..... well, I did lots of research.

I watched many YouTube videos of people testing other sites, and decided to try on the back, just forward from the base of her tail. Other hints I utilized were to shave the area and coat with vaseline to help make the blood form a bead, and to warm the area with a little bag of rice (warmed in microwave). I added the trick to have a treat waiting just out of reach, and my little foodie girl could hardly think of anything else, and didn't even flinch. I had to free lance the poke cause the lancing device doesn't work, but happy to say that I only poked myself 2 times which is an improvement. Oh my, all that just to get that little perfect little blood sample.

What a relief!!!!!! Ok, repeating myself here, sorry. I'm celebrating and had a wonderful mango margarita, and since I'm not much of a drinker I'm probably rambling. But, I just had to share my "good news" with my YT family, cause you "get it". This is important, and the rest of my friends don't really get it. Now I know that I can do this and dial in the proper insulin dose, and help Meika live to be a little old lady, haha. Cheers All:cheers:

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4399968)

You must have gotten our vibes. Tomorrow I have to do the 12 hour glucose curve testing again. The last 2 days she has had excessive urination and thirst again, which is what happened when I first took her to the vet and found out about her diabetes. She hasn't had those symptoms since starting insulin in January. Makes me worry because now she is on double the insulin that we started with, 6 units 2x/day. I threw out the remainder of the other bottle of insulin and opened a new one, in case the other was ineffective (does that ever happen?).

So, wish us luck tomorrow. I sure hope her levels are getting closer to normal. And I really hope that the testing goes easier.

Other than that, all is well. Thanks for asking.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4399968)

You must have gotten our vibes. Tomorrow I have to do the 12 hour glucose curve testing again. The last 2 days she has had excessive urination and thirst again, which is what happened when I first took her to the vet and found out about her diabetes. She hasn't had those symptoms since starting insulin in January. Makes me worry because now she is on double the insulin that we started with, 6 units 2x/day. I threw out the remainder of the other bottle of insulin and opened a new one, in case the other was ineffective (does that ever happen?).

So, wish us luck tomorrow. I sure hope her levels are getting closer to normal. And I really hope that the testing goes easier.

Other than that, all is well. Thanks for asking.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4399968)

You must have gotten our vibes. Tomorrow I have to do the 12 hour glucose curve testing again. The last 2 days she has had excessive urination and thirst again, which is what happened when I first took her to the vet and found out about her diabetes. She hasn't had those symptoms since starting insulin in January. Makes me worry because now she is on double the insulin that we started with, 6 units 2x/day. I threw out the remainder of the other bottle of insulin and opened a new one, in case the other was ineffective (does that ever happen?).

So, wish us luck tomorrow. I sure hope her levels are getting closer to normal. And I really hope that the testing goes easier.

Other than that, all is well. Thanks for asking.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4400518)

Well, I'm disappointed, the numbers have increased all day after giving insulin, which is the opposite of what should happen. At 4pm it was up to 439, and I have one more test to do at 7pm, then she gets dinner and insulin. Hopefully the vet will have some idea why numbers would go up instead of down.

Kathy, you are so right, this is taking longer to regulate than I hoped, so I have to be patient. Just a little sad that after increasing her dose for 10 days that the numbers are worse. I do remember the vet saying that even though she improved a little in the first month, that it usually takes several months to get control. There is still part of me wondering if she may also have Cushings which would make her insulin resistant. Time will tell.

Thanks again everybody for your support.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4400549)

Her final test of the day was 390. Not so good. I'll email the vet and he likely will up the dose again and test again in 10 days. I will probably take her to the vet anyway on Wednesday just to check her weight.

I'm just so glad that she tolerates the testing so much better now cause it is obvious we are going to be doing this for the rest of her life.

The vet just wants to focus on the diabetes, and won't look into Cushings unless we are unable to regulate the glucose with insulin. He doesn't want to waste a $200 test unless he feels stronger it is needed.

I just have to be patient and hope for better numbers in 10 days.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4400721)

Yes, it's frustrating. Knowing that high glucose can damage organs and almost immediately starts growing cataracts that lead to blindness, I am really wanting to get this under control ASAP.

She started insulin Jan. 25th, 3 units 2x/day, and increased to 4, 5 and 6 u, since then, and her glucose is still around 400 all day. She is on Humulin N, which I hear is a slower/long lasting insulin, and there are others that are faster (they don't recommend due to hypoglycemia risk). Some dogs do better with different brands, so that is a possible variable. I've been strict with her food, to keep that in check.

I'm waiting for the vet office to open to review. I think Dr C is off today, so I hope to talk to Dr N and get her take on it all. I need to see some progress, then I can accept it being slow.

Thanks again everybody for all your well wishes.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4400837)

Just spoke to Dr N and she feels the results are just what is expected at this point and that she is still on a very low dose so they are not concerned with possibility of Cushings at this point.

She has increased the dose to 7 units 2x/day, and to re-test in 10-14 days. They still want to go slow and let Meika's body and pancreas adjust.

One thing that made sense and will help me be patient, high glucose causes problems but it is slowly over a long period of time. Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, is more of a concern because it can cause damage or death very quickly if not caught. So the whole purpose of increasing insulin slowly makes sense, to avoid that.

I will be patient, and restore my confidence that we will get this under control. Still happy that it was caught early, as many dogs are not diagnosed until they go blind.

Originally Posted by MauiGirl (Post 4400837)

Just spoke to Dr N and she feels the results are just what is expected at this point and that she is still on a very low dose so they are not concerned with possibility of Cushings at this point.

She has increased the dose to 7 units 2x/day, and to re-test in 10-14 days. They still want to go slow and let Meika's body and pancreas adjust.

One thing that made sense and will help me be patient, high glucose causes problems but it is slowly over a long period of time. Low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, is more of a concern because it can cause damage or death very quickly if not caught. So the whole purpose of increasing insulin slowly makes sense, to avoid that.

I will be patient, and restore my confidence that we will get this under control. Still happy that it was caught early, as many dogs are not diagnosed until they go blind.