Not seeing any changes yet.....and what will we do?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sarah & Jackie

Sarah & Jackie

Member Since 2015
Jack was diagnosed on 4/6/2015. He has been receiving 1 unit of Lantus 2 times a day. I'm not really seeing much success. His #'s remain in the 300's. Anyone else gone through this? I was also wondering how often a day(and at what times) are those of you who are home testing doing the tests. I understand a curve. His only one I have done this far, all of his tests where in the 300's. Would appreciate any and all help. Jack is also an IBD boy and on prednisilone long term, which I am sure is responsible for the diabetes. We are now on a low carb diet and will be trying to transition to a raw diet soon. I am hopeful that this will "kill 2 birds with 1 stone" and help both conditions. Anyway, anybody else with this dual diagnosis? Any and all help would be much appreciated Thanks all!
 
Last edited:
May I ask if you are testing any in between the preshots? Or are you just seeing 300's at those times?

The next step is to try to get a midcycle test each cycle ....

Have you read the sticky's posted here. there are several of them that have lots of info.

There is a lot to learn in the beginning.
Have you changed his diet to low carb and wet foods?

It's hard for any of us to tell you what's going on without some more data.
We all set up spreadsheets so that we can keep records for ourselves and everyone here to be able to see the numbers.
Several of us can see patterns from the data and tell you what is going on.
how to create a spreadsheet
Ask for help if you need it, several here will set one up for you...

After you answer, we can help you determine if it's time for a dose increase.

Be advised that we will recommend increases in 0.25 u increments. And we can show you what that looks like on your syringes.
going up by whole units can be too much at a time.....


Welcome to fdmb.....
You can get as much help as you want with any aspect , we all like paying it forward.....
 
rhiannon and shadow said:
May I ask if you are testing any in between the preshots? Or are you just seeing 300's at those times?

The next step is to try to get a midcycle test each cycle ....

Have you read the sticky's posted here. there are several of them that have lots of info.

There is a lot to learn in the beginning.
Have you changed his diet to low carb and wet foods?

It's hard for any of us to tell you what's going on without some more data.
We all set up spreadsheets so that we can keep records for ourselves and everyone here to be able to see the numbers.
Several of us can see patterns from the data and tell you what is going on.
how to create a spreadsheet
Ask for help if you need it, several here will set one up for you...

After you answer, we can help you determine if it's time for a dose increase.

Be advised that we will recommend increases in 0.25 u increments. And we can show you what that looks like on your syringes.
going up by whole units can be too much at a time.....


Welcome to fdmb.....
You can get as much help as you want with any aspect , we all like paying it forward.....
Click to expand...
While you were posting, I went back in to edit my post giving a few more details;) Is anyone using the paw pad for test site? If so, how does your cat feel about it?
 
Last edited:
Sarah & Jack said:
Is anyone using the paw pad for test site? If so, how does your cat feel about it?
Click to expand...
Yep, I use paw pad or ear depending on which is most convenient at the time, or which I've tested less on the days Rosa was getting a lot of tests. She tolerated it really well most of the time as long as I was the only one who tested her. And as long as it was quiet while I tested - any sort of sudden or loud noise that made her jump made it really difficult as then she'd get nervous that I had hold of her paw and she might need to run. As long as you can keep test times calm and peaceful, that shouldn't be a problem. :)
 
Sarah & Jack said:
Jack is also an IBD boy and on prednisilone long term
Click to expand...

Skooter is also an IBD cat. I have an AMAZING vet (which has been reinforced so many times when hearing stories on here of other people's vets), after Skooter's diagnosis, the first thing she did before ANYTHING else was to taper Skooter off of the prednisone that he was on and change him to budesonide. It has actually worked better for Skooter's IBD than the pred did.

I was slow to change to wet food and started to do a transition to frozen raw, but that fell by the wayside when Nature's Variety changed up their raw food stuff. He is doing great on the wet variety, though. You said he is on a low carb diet, is it dry or wet food? I was very hesitant to change from dry to wet, but eventually I was converted and we did a slow transition to wet and he has been on all wet since mid-July 2014 and doing great!
 
MollynSkooter said:
Skooter is also an IBD cat. I have an AMAZING vet (which has been reinforced so many times when hearing stories on here of other people's vets), after Skooter's diagnosis, the first thing she did before ANYTHING else was to taper Skooter off of the prednisone that he was on and change him to budesonide. It has actually worked better for Skooter's IBD than the pred did.

I was slow to change to wet food and started to do a transition to frozen raw, but that fell by the wayside when Nature's Variety changed up their raw food stuff. He is doing great on the wet variety, though. You said he is on a low carb diet, is it dry or wet food? I was very hesitant to change from dry to wet, but eventually I was converted and we did a slow transition to wet and he has been on all wet since mid-July 2014 and doing great!
Click to expand...
He has always been on dry in the past, but we are now on canned. I just ordered the raw this week from Darwins. It will ship Wednesday and will have to see how that goes.

My vet is very much into alternative medicine and leans more towards this approach every day. Will have to ask her about the budesonide.
 
If I remember correctly, my vet said it wasn't as super common to use for IBD, but when they are diabetic, it can be a better match for them. I get mine shipped from Wedgewood Pharmacy, usually takes 3-5 days once the vet orders it. Skooter is on 0.5 mL, which from what I understand is a pretty small dose. It lasts us anywhere from 6-8 weeks and runs about $65 each time. WELL WORTH IT, at least for Skooter....
 
manxcat419 said:
Yep, I use paw pad or ear depending on which is most convenient at the time, or which I've tested less on the days Rosa was getting a lot of tests. She tolerated it really well most of the time as long as I was the only one who tested her. And as long as it was quiet while I tested - any sort of sudden or loud noise that made her jump made it really difficult as then she'd get nervous that I had hold of her paw and she might need to run. As long as you can keep test times calm and peaceful, that shouldn't be a problem. :)
Click to expand...
Jack really doesn't like me testing on his ear. and he has always been an easy cat to manage.
 
Are you using Neosporin ointment with pain relief prior to testing? You put a small dab on a minute or two before testing, then wipe off to test. It helps reduce the annoyance of testing, plus the blood beads up more easily.
 
It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well
 
If he doesn't like ear testing, then I'd definitely try the paw pad. You never know, he might tolerate it better - and if he doesn't then it really comes down to "he doesn't like either and you have to do one" so you can pick what's easiest for you. The funniest thing I've noticed with Rosa now is that if I rub her ear, she licks her lips...she's obviously got used to expecting a poke and a treat! She's about the same if I turn her upside down like I would for a paw pad test - they really do get used to the routine in the end!!
 
On the video, it says to test the paw pad on the side they don't walk on.......???? how do I know what side that is and where on the paw pad? I'm sure we'll get used to this in time. Had to with sub q fluids, cerenia, multiple pills.
 
BJM said:
Are you using Neosporin ointment with pain relief prior to testing? You put a small dab on a minute or two before testing, then wipe off to test. It helps reduce the annoyance of testing, plus the blood beads up more easily.
Click to expand...
No, haven't used neosporine. It doesn't effect results?
 
Uhm - I'm not sure I understand that. I poked wherever I could get blood...black paw pads don't make it easy to tell where that might be. Though I did find that slightly off-center worked best. Maybe that's what the video means - not to poke right in the middle as that's more likely to have harder skin from taking the most pressure when they walk.
 
Usually just before a shot so we know it's safe to shoot. Though depending on the cat's numbers, we might start after shot testing at +1 hour from the shot time. If you test immediately after a shot before the insulin starts to work, I can't imagine it would give you a much different reading from just before but without a pre-shot test you might end up shooting a lower number than you're comfortable with.
 
manxcat419 said:
Uhm - I'm not sure I understand that. I poked wherever I could get blood...black paw pads don't make it easy to tell where that might be. Though I did find that slightly off-center worked best. Maybe that's what the video means - not to poke right in the middle as that's more likely to have harder skin from taking the most pressure when they walk.
Click to expand...
:)Our little black babies DON'T make things easy, do they?;)
 
Sarah & Jack said:
Our little black babies DON'T make things easy, do they?;)
Click to expand...
No they don't! But we love them anyway! :D They don't even make ear testing easy - I had to use a really powerful light to begin with to be able to see the capillaries at all until I got used to exactly where was the best place to test! ;) It does get easier - you get to know exactly where you'll get blood from the easiest, and cats do get used to it. It might sound crazy while you're finding it difficult, but it does get to be routine enough that you'll be able to test half asleep!
 
Shadow was just recently diagnosed with IBD ( or possible lymphoma)
2 ultrasounds show thickened pylorus and upper intestine and two lymph nodes enlarged by the spleen. I don't want to put her thru an endoscopy or surgery. She's had enough of it.

I bought kangaroo and squash which she ate for a while ( but she never likes anything too long) because it was the only novel protein left for her.
( altho I just heard about goat but can't find any)

I currently give her raw primal rabbit and have to chop up raw shrimp to get her to eat it but she is most days.

She is on cyclosporin (newer use for ibd)
Cerenia 5mg every other day ( pills, not shots)
prednisolone... for two more weeks and then we will taper off and may go back to budesonide
bupenorphine for pain from her hip
and currently back on insulin because of her booosted numbers.

at the beginning of the month, she had severe diarrhea...
I think it was partially a response to gravy foods....

had to use several things to help stop that up...
slippery elm bark seems to have been the most helpful.

I tried the darwin's food.... they had that great intro offer.
Be advised that their food is very high phosphorus.
They didn't ask any questions when I said I had a diabetic cat who couldn't have food that high in phosphorus.
I'm using it up ( mostly with another kitten in the house) but I cancelled the subscription.
That's when I bought the primal rabbit. ( but rabbit can be high phosphorus too - just not as high as darwin's )
 
This is the "sweet spot" you want to aim for, but anywhere along the edges is fine. (either side...I find the inside has less hair to fool with) As you poke more and more, new capillaries will grow in and it'll become easier and easier to get blood.

sweet spot diagram.jpg
 
So then, just to clarify, I am aiming for the edge outside the main vein that runs along outside of the ear? Or for the vein? Sorry, this is one of my concerns.
 
Ideally, prick outside the vein. If you absolutely must.get.blood, you may aim for the vein. It may bleed profusely, so be prepared to get the drop, and blot firmly to reduce scabbing and bruising.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top