I got the glucometer to measure Penny’s blood sugar from the vet on Wednesday, and I’ve been getting some pretty peculiar readings. Wednesday, her blood sugar about 2 hours after dinner was 78 (in American measurement). That’s 2 points below the normal range for a cat (80 to 200; much wider than for a human). I didn’t think much about that because she had vomited the night before so, following the vet’s instructions, I didn’t give her insulin or food that morning.
Last night was very strange. Her blood sugar reading was LO two hours after dinner; according to the instruction booklet, that means 20 or below and is a medical emergency. I tested her twice and tested the meter’s calibration twice; same results each time. Instead of shaking, stumbling, or having convulsions, though, Penny was her purry self. As she didn’t seem to be having an emergency, I just watched her with the corn syrup and honey close at hand.
This morning before breakfast, the reading was 68. I fed her without giving her insulin and called the doctor. He said to take another reading a few hours later and not to give her any more insulin unless her level went to 180 or higher. Her second reading was 148. Tonight I’ll take another reading before dinner.
This sweet little cat has adjusted to so much. She accepted the shots as just a new part of the feeding routine. Now an ear-stick is going to be part of it, too. As long as I use the lancet pen and don’t squeeze her ear too hard to get out the blood drop, she cooperates with that, although she doesn’t like it.
The doctor did say that Pen might get over the diabetes and not need insulin for long. Maybe that’s going to happen.