From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2003-01-10 18:23:07 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Home Glucose test result - 28!
To: snobound@aol.com
cc: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.44+UNC.0301101254200.43194-100000@login4.isis.unc.edu>
On Fri, 10 Jan 2003 snobound@aol.com wrote:
> I tested her this morning after a 4 hour sleep and she was 25, then I
> tested her again about 15 minutes after eating (about 5 -6 teaspoons of
> my mixture) and she was only at 27! I am really stressing about the
> numbers.
Just a note - while I have had good luck with home testing (using the
Freestyle), the FHL has had a note from someone who found it to very
likely be giving false-low values, although none of theirs were
approaching anything this low.
I generally find that the most value of home testing is that you get to
see a range of values over time and get some baseline numbers - so if a
ferret is acting well and has values in the 80's or 90's's and then seems
lethargic and the values have dropped into the 50's or 60's, I know that
the blood sugar is probably decreasing and it's time to call/visit the
vet, adjust meds, etc. SO my concern here is that you don't have earlier
values to go on, no trend to see.
I would really suggest taking her in for a reading at the vet's office to
see what blood sugar you get. Then you'll know a bit more about where
your glucometer might be too. I know you don't want to stress her....
There was also the worry that the earlier chemistry panel wasn't valid, so
you could combine the tests into one blood draw.
I've seen "real" readings in the 20's a couple of times with profoundly
hypoglycemic ferrets - it can happen - their numbers didn't get better
after feeding. One was many years ago with a long-term insulinomic guy
named Bullet - he could walk a few steps with numbers that low, but was
VERY wobbly and tired. My Sonic had such readings the day before I had
her put to sleep; she could drag herself around but that was about it (she
had mostly lost use of her hind end by that poing). The day I actually
let her go, all I could get was "LOW" which means below 20. This was after
totally maxxing out pred and diazoxide and after surgery years before -
her pancreas was atrophied and she was a long-term insulinoma/diabetes
ferret.
In any case, continued good wishes,
-Pam S.