Trouble is diabetic in Canada

[Asrael]

Hi everyone-
I live in BC, Canada and my cat Trouble was diagnosed with diabetes on Saturday from a urine test and then a blood glucose reading. We go into the vet today to get the rest of his full blood tests back, see if there is anything else going on and to start the insulin.

It's been a long road getting to this point. Trouble is a beautiful and mischievous 12 year old cat who has 3 legs, he lost one being attacked by a dog about 3 years ago. He has been having health issues since last summer- where he started with loose stools, and then didn't want to eat. He lost a lot of weight suddenly (3-4lbs) and we had him into the vet for that a few times. He did start eating again after a month or two and has been "fine" since, although he hasn't gained any weight. Over the period of time with the vet- they never wanted to blood test- as once he started eating ok, and drinking they thought he was ok as long as he didn't lose more weight- thinking the main problem was the loose stools. I did ask at every meeting, as well as on countless phone conversations if he should have one. He did have an ultrasound (why that and not a blood test I don't know).

Anyways- I called to check in and said I thought it was time as he just isn't gaining weight- they did a urine test and found the diabetes. We are working with a new vet at the same practice with this and she wants to put him on Lantis as well as change his diet (he has been eating wet food and acana dry food to this point). And of course drinking tons of water and peeing lots (which I had no idea was related to diabetes- and thought it was just because my other cat is huge). She has also tested for hypothyroidism and anything else that he may have going on for him. She does seem open to us testing at home- but wants to do the first glucose curve at the vet.. I am mixed about this- and will talk to her more about that today. She also wants me to get the cat glucometer (and I don't think that is necessary)

The Good News- Since Saturday when we got the diagnosis- he has been 100% on low carb wet food- and has been more active and cut his drinking down more than 1/2. The litter has big clumps, but not the sticky mess.. So I am hopeful that he will improve. I am also hoping there is nothing else in the blood tests that can or will cause complications. His blood glucose at the vet was 19 on Saturday (and he is stressed when he goes there).

I will post in the health forum too and look at the postings, this site has already been so helpful Some of the things I am wondering-

How often do we feed them- he wants to eat countless times a day and he is skinny- is that ok- or do we just hold him back to 2 meals a day?

What is the best glucometer to get in Canada? I don't know if we have the reliant here

Also is there a good ordering place to get high quality cat food online in Canada? We have a good store by us where I can get raw and canned but it is $$$

Thanks all so much for your sharings
Asrael

 

[Tucker&Me]

Hello Asrael & Trouble!
Welcome!! I just popped in and saw your post, since many of your questions seem to be Canadian specific.. I will tag a few of the Canucks I know of here for you.
I am new myself 6/15, but I will try to help in any way I can.
The one thing I will comment on, with confidence, is to let you know that an expensive pet glucometer is not necessary. The strips you will need on a regular basis, if you are home testing will be very expensive even if the glucometer is 'reasonable' or even given to you by the vet. One of your Canadian peers can refer you to the best local store to purchase one up there.
So, we are here for you & Trouble!
Let me go find those Canadians!

 

[Tucker&Me]

Asrael
@Cat Ma is from Ontario
Cat Ma, Asrael & Trouble are new and need some advice

 

[Tucker&Me]

Asrael
I forgot to mention what a huge deal that is that you have Trouble 100% on wet food! You are already seeing the benefits. Good on you!!
Now we need to get you accustomed to home testing before you get him on insulin. Home testing not only could save Trouble's life at some point, but also save you exorbitant vet fees and unnecessary visits! Wouldn't that be good?
We have excellent testing videos and lots of information about that, plus the Lantus.
Right now, in anticipation of the home testing you could be handling Trouble's ears to get him a bit acclimated.
Here is some info on home testing, firstly:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

[Asrael]

Hi @Tucker&Me
Thank you so much for your quick response- I appreciate it so much I will definitely go and get a glucometer today- maybe after the vet visit- I do think he will be starting the insulin today- but not 100% sure- I guess it is whatever else comes out in their blood test I will look at the videos and get comfortable with the glucometer- I definitely would like to keep him out of the vet as much as possible- as he hates going there

Thanks again so much

 

[Cat Ma]

Asrael
@Cat Ma is from Ontario
Cat Ma, Asrael & Trouble are new and need some advice

Hi, I am not a Canuck, sorry, and can't advise on what foods you can get in Canada. Perhaps @Brashworks can help. There are other wonderful Canadian members who will be able to help as well. Somewhere there is a Canadian low carb food list, I believe.

I can advise on glucometers, though. Walmart sells ReliOn Micro and Confirm meters and strips, which many of us here use. You can use any lancet/gauge; just make sure it is labeled for alternate site use (ReliOn sells it and so does Freestyle). With the glucometer kits, most come with 30 gauges/lancets. Starting out, we recommend using a 26 or 28 gauge till your cat's ears bleed more easily.

You don't need an expensive cat meter. Glucose values tend to be higher at a vet when a cat is stressed so home testing, as Tucker&Me pointed out, is very important. Plus, it will help determine the correct dose of insulin. Glad you have a vet that supports you testing at home. You can do the glucose curve at home as well and save yourself money.

What food are you feeding Trouble? Normally, we want to restrict meals but with an underweight cat, you want to get in more calories and I would assume more feedings would be best, but I am not sure. @Critter Mom, can you help advise?

As for drawing blood from the ears, the key is getting the ear warm enough. Some people fill a sock with warm rice or oatmeal. I use a damp, very warm wash cloth or terry cloth headband and put it in a ziplock bag, test it on my arm first to make sure it's not hot, and then apply it gently on CJ's ear. I also massage the ear to get the blood capillaries flowing. Next, I use a very tiny dab of ointment such as neosporin or polysporin and apply it to the "sweet spot" on the ear with a q-tip. The key is not to put too much ointment on; doing so will result in an error message on your meter. The ointment helps bead up the blood. A kleenex, cotton ball or cosmetic pad is useful for blotting up excess blood. Don't fret; poking the ears doesn't hurt the cat.

You're on the right path here. Welcome!

 

[Cat Ma]

Here's a handy glucometer guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oI_34_EgqeKdpyttFW0oLoG1mbw16IkATAWHhoQD2JU/pub

Be sure to stock up on "hypo" supplies such as honey, karo syrup or gravy from high carb foods (such as Fancy Feast gravy lovers) in case your cat goes hypo (glucose goes too low) while on insulin. Expert, knowledgeable members here will be able to guide you.

Canadians: how much do you pay for a Lantus pen? Is $31 a good value for a 3ml pen in Canada?

 

[Asrael]

Here's a handy glucometer guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oI_34_EgqeKdpyttFW0oLoG1mbw16IkATAWHhoQD2JU/pub

Be sure to stock up on "hypo" supplies such as honey, karo syrup or gravy from high carb foods (such as Fancy Feast gravy lovers) in case your cat goes hypo (glucose goes too low) while on insulin. Expert, knowledgeable members here will be able to guide you.

Canadians: how much do you pay for a Lantus pen? Is $31 a good value for a 3ml pen in Canada?

Thank you for this suggestion We always have honey on hand- and can get a fancy feast too-

 

[Cat Ma]

Hi @Tucker&Me
Thank you so much for your quick response- I appreciate it so much I will definitely go and get a glucometer today- maybe after the vet visit- I do think he will be starting the insulin today- but not 100% sure- I guess it is whatever else comes out in their blood test I will look at the videos and get comfortable with the glucometer- I definitely would like to keep him out of the vet as much as possible- as he hates going there

Thanks again so much

Insulin dose is best based on home testing, not vet values. If your vet bases the dose based on vet glucose levels, he or she may prescribe a dose too high since glucose values at a vet are often higher especially with a stressed cat. That's why home testing is so important. Home test with a glucometer first if you can before starting insulin. There is no need to get your cat's glucose levels checked at the vet if you are home testing.

 

[Asrael]

Hi, I am not a Canuck, sorry, and can't advise on what foods you can get in Canada. Perhaps @Brashworks can help. There are other wonderful Canadian members who will be able to help as well. Somewhere there is a Canadian low carb food list, I believe.

I can advise on glucometers, though. Walmart sells ReliOn Micro and Confirm meters and strips, which many of us here use. You can use any lancet/gauge; just make sure it is labeled for alternate site use (ReliOn sells it and so does Freestyle). With the glucometer kits, most come with 30 gauges/lancets. Starting out, we recommend using a 26 or 28 gauge till your cat's ears bleed more easily.

You don't need an expensive cat meter. Glucose values tend to be higher at a vet when a cat is stressed so home testing, as Tucker&Me pointed out, is very important. Plus, it will help determine the correct dose of insulin. Glad you have a vet that supports you testing at home. You can do the glucose curve at home as well and save yourself money.

What food are you feeding Trouble? Normally, we want to restrict meals but with an underweight cat, you want to get in more calories and I would assume more feedings would be best, but I am not sure. @Critter Mom, can you help advise?

As for drawing blood from the ears, the key is getting the ear warm enough. Some people fill a sock with warm rice or oatmeal. I use a damp, very warm wash cloth or terry cloth headband and put it in a ziplock bag, test in on my arm first to make sure it's not hot, and then rub it gently on CJ's ear. I also massage the ear to get the blood capillaries flowing. Next, I use a very tiny dab of ointment such as neosporin or polysporin and apply it to the "sweet spot" on the ear with a q-tip. The key is not to put too much ointment on; doing so will result in an error message on your meter. The ointment helps bead up the blood. A kleenex, cotton ball or cosmetic pad is useful for blotting up excess blood. Don't fret; poking the ears doesn't hurt the cat.

You're on the right path here. Welcome!

Thanks so much Cat Ma- I responded to you in the message too I appreciate the thoughts and advice. I dont' think we can get Relion Meters here so will trust a Canadian will pop in with their experience And I do feel lucky that my vet seems somewhat open to me doing things at home and she will write prescriptions as well if I want her too. She very clearly told me she wanted the first glucose curve done at the vet- and that I should get a cat meter- so we will see how she reacts to my questioning about this. I feel if I get a good glucometer and comfortable with it before the first test is due- then I will want to do it myself

I appreciate your advice about the warming the ears- and all of yourhelp! and as for feeding Trouble he has been getting high quality food (I thought)

Canned foods have been Go, Wellness, and sometimes some Nutro (not so good- but he likes it), and dry food Acana, also Alma Tuna, and Mackeral. But now switching to only wet and low carb we have given him EVO, Tiki Cat, Weruva, Wellness Core, and Primal Freeze Dry Raw (we did try frozen raw in the past but he didn't like it) And we are feeding him as much as he needs

Thank you so much!

 

[Asrael]

Insulin dose is best based on home testing, not vet values. If your vet bases the dose based on vet glucose levels, he or she may prescribe a dose too high since glucose values at a vet are often higher especially with a stressed cat. That's why home testing is so important. Home test with a glucometer first if you can before starting insulin. There is no need to get your cat's glucose levels checked at the vet if you are home testing.

Ok- I will talk to her about this- I know she was going to start him very low.. .5 or 1 to start... but hopefully if we get a glucose meter when we go out- then we can do it at home.. As I said she was open to home testing.. but we will see how open!! I know his glucose level on Saturday was 19- and that was stressed and still eating dry

 

[Cat Ma]

Thanks so much Cat Ma- I responded to you in the message too I appreciate the thoughts and advice. I dont' think we can get Relion Meters here so will trust a Canadian will pop in with their experience And I do feel lucky that my vet seems somewhat open to me doing things at home and she will write prescriptions as well if I want her too. She very clearly told me she wanted the first glucose curve done at the vet- and that I should get a cat meter- so we will see how she reacts to my questioning about this. I feel if I get a good glucometer and comfortable with it before the first test is due- then I will want to do it myself

I appreciate your advice about the warming the ears- and all of yourhelp! and as for feeding Trouble he has been getting high quality food (I thought)

Canned foods have been Go, Wellness, and sometimes some Nutro (not so good- but he likes it), and dry food Acana, also Alma Tuna, and Mackeral. But now switching to only wet and low carb we have given him EVO, Tiki Cat, Weruva, Wellness Core, and Primal Freeze Dry Raw (we did try frozen raw in the past but he didn't like it) And we are feeding him as much as he needs

Thank you so much!

You have picked excellent low carb food choices. Be sure the carbs are under 10%. I'd suggest more feedings to get Trouble's weight up. I was assuming there was a Walmart near you in BC, Canada. But you can also purchase from any store/pharmacy that sells human glucometers. ReliOn is good because you save on the costs of glucometer strips. But other Canadians can help advise.

Still no reason for the vet to do a glucose curve at the vet. As long as you can home test, you can do the curve and save yourself vet expense.

 

[Asrael]

You have picked excellent low carb food choices. Be sure the carbs are under 10%. I'd suggest more feedings to get Trouble's weight up. I was assuming there was a Walmart near you in BC, Canada. But you can also purchase from any store/pharmacy that sells human glucometers. ReliOn is good because you save on the costs of glucometer strips. But other Canadians can help advise.

Still no reason for the vet to do a glucose curve at the vet. As long as you can home test, you can do the curve and save yourself vet expense.

Yes- there are walmarts here- but unless someone lets me know otherwise- they don't stock them anywhere in Canada- the government doesn't let them in!! So weird And yes- I will plan on home testing if we can- We take him in today for the blood test results and directions how to do things- and I will discuss this all with her then! I did ask lots of questions Saturday too- but it is all so overwhelming- and I do know she wanted to wait to start the insulin today as well as was open to me testing at home- but at the same time- thought we should get him started do the first curve then do that (I don't know why- so will see what she says) .

And I will keep feeding him lots- that is good to know we can and that it doesn't have to be twice a day

Thank you- I am getting outside for a walk- need to breathe- so much to think about.. Poor Little Guy!

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Hello and welcome from a fellow Canadian!

In Canada, unfortunately we don't have any meter options that are as cost effective as those available in the US. but while we get nicked on the testing supplies, many of our US friends order their insulin from Canada us because it is so expensive there.

As a pet meter user myself, I will echo the info you have been given already. The strips for the pet meter cost twice as much as the most expensive human strips so using a human meter is the most economical way to go. The strips are also not readily available except through your vet or a pet pharmacy.

When choosing a meter, you need to ensure it only requires a small drop of blood (0.3 to 0.6 uL). The best option cost wise to my knowledge is the Bravo meter (cheapest strips) which is available online through the site link below. Whether the strips for this meter are available through any local retailers or only online, I am not sure. Here is a link to the website.

It sounds like your vet is using a pet meter (many use human meters due to the cost considerations these days), so I would take your meter to the vet and do a comparison of the readings just to get a baseline of the difference as the human meter will read lower than the pet meter. If you are planning to provide your vet with home readings to get dosing advice, it's important that your vet knows the readings you will be providing will be from a human meter so there is no confusion.

When buying lancets, make sure you get 26-28 gauge as this makes it much easier to get an adequate bead of blood with which to test. Many of the meters come with lancing devices but their lancets are much smaller (30-31 gauge) and that can make it difficult to test successfully.

We do not have a specific Canadian food list but many of the canned foods available in the US are available here at least for now. There are changes being implemented to the Canadian pet food import regulations and that may render some of our current selection unavailable going forward. This is something I am investigating currently although getting information is proving to be quite challenging. I believe foods like Friskies and Fancy Feast pates are unlikely to be a problem going forward.

It sounds like you have eliminated kibble from the Trouble's diet which is great because we do not have any kibble available here that is low enough in carbs to be optimal. The lowest options are GO Fit and Free (approx 14%), and Orijen (about 18%). The Acana you were feeding Trouble is about 25-30% carbs. I am the mother of a kibble addicted cat and am finding this most frustrating since my girl won't eat either of these options and the US kibble I had her on is no longer available here!

Trouble's sugar level was not extremely high (19mmol) given he was at the vet and this was on a pet meter. You may want to consider keeping him on the canned diet for a short period of time before starting insulin unless he has any signs of ketones. Some cats can be regulated with diet alone and others have a significant reduction in their sugar levels thus requiring far less insulin. It's easier to make the diet change first to see what that does to his readings as that will have an influence on how much insulin Trouble needs.

You will find a wealth of information here and very supportive knowledgable folks who are willing and able to help through each step of this journey. I for one am so grateful I found this board. I'd be lost without these folks! Ask any questions you have and you'll get good advice!

 

[Cat Ma]

An excellent Canadian member to the rescue: MrWorf'sMen's Mom! I wasn't aware the Walmart meters aren't sold in Canada. It looks like the Bravo strips are comparable to what we pay in the states.

I agree with MrWorfsMen's Mom to wait a bit before starting insulin since you've only had Trouble on a low carb diet since Saturday unless ketones are involved. Speaking of ketones, you can test for that at home as well. There is info on testing for ketones on the home page.

 

[Asrael]

Wow! Thanks so much @MrWorfMen's Mom - both for the link and for the all the wonderful information and again thank you for your thoughts too @Cat Ma It helps so much- and it may make the vet happier if she can test it along her own to know the readings

I do have a concern/question about the insulin or putting it off, trying the food first. Is there danger to using it (the insulin) if I am watching the BG levels to start with? I guess my reasoning behind it is he has been skinny and not "right" for so long now (since November at least- possibly the summer- that is when we noticed more water getting drunk and a fuller litter box- I feel horrible for him being possibly diabetic for so long). I just want him to heal and if the insulin can help him gain weight, and hopefully go into remission, level thins out for him- would damage things more in the long term, than just doing diet? He really has been with this for some time, its not a"new" thing.

I will talk to the vet about this too and see what she thinks about waiting for a bit- but I feel she will want to start the insulin. I guess it will also depend on what the full blood test says. Also what IS a normal range for cats Glucose level? I don't know if he was ketogenic- I will ask.. they did do a urine test- and the glucose was high, but they didn't mention ketones.

It will be good for me to find my voice with this as well.. I have asked my husband to look at the forum too- and will ask him to read this thread before we go- so I don't feel like I am standing alone with all of my questions (he will always support me- but it would be nice to have him stand up with me too- if she has concerns)

Thanks again! I so appreciate it, and I will update you when I get back from the vets- we go later this afternoon PST time

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Hoping this gets to you before your appt.......

I can certainly understand your concern re: waiting on the insulin given you think he may have been diabetic for awhile. Once he is regulated he should begin to regain some lost weight so I wouldn't put off the insulin for too long. I would suggest even a week from Saturday would give you a reasonably good indication of how diet is working for Trouble and also give you a chance to get used to testing.

The problem is that if you start insulin and change diet at the same time, you can't tell what is working and what is not. As Trouble adjusts to the low carb diet, his blood sugar may drop further so whatever insulin dose the vet recommends today, may be too much by next weekend. If he was running very high, I wouldn't suggest waiting but since he wasn't that high at the vet, I think it's worth a few days delay. Better to have your cat running a little high than too low.

If the vet is adamant about starting insulin right away, negotiate to start at no more than 0.5 u twice a day. Many vets start at a full unit and again with the diet change, that could potentially push Trouble's numbers too low. Once you are testing you'll be able to catch any potential lows and steer him up with food but until you have testing down pat, I'd opt for the safety of a very small dose if you don't want to wait for a few more days.

The vet may recommend twice a day feeding but I think many if not most folks here, feed multiple small meals as opposed to two big ones. And right now, you don't need to be concerned about feeding extra. Diabetics are essentially starving because their bodies can't use the food they take in adequately so keep Trouble's tummy happy!

Also, I'm sure the vet would have checked for ketones when she tested for sugar so if she didn't say anything he should be fine.

 

[Cat Ma]

I switched CJ to a low carb diet only a few days before she went on insulin and she soon went hypo. So if you can wait, as MrWorfMen's Mom suggests, till at least Saturday, you'll know if the low carb diet is working. It will help to home test as that will guide your vet and members here in giving the correct dose.

Once your cat is regulated, you'll see less water drinking and less urine output in the litter box. CJ used to gulp down water like mad. She no longer leaves boulders in the litter box.

You ask "what IS a normal range for cats Glucose level?" Again, see this glucometer guide for what is the normal range: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oI_34_EgqeKdpyttFW0oLoG1mbw16IkATAWHhoQD2JU/pub

 

[Asrael]

Yes! Got this- and will take this info with me to the vet I don't see why we can't wait til Saturday- I should have my glucometer by then.. I can also ask her to test his BG there. If she resists I will see about low dose (.5 instead of 1), but will try to get things to be put off, unless she has a good reason for it (ketosis). Now he just got a full panel done- and I think the fructosamine is checked in that as well. If that is higher than the 19 reading she got on Saturday (blood was taken Saturday) would that have an impact?

I do think she is fine with feeding lots- she didn't seem to be concerned with it- she said not to worry about changing the diet too much immedieatly until we got the full test results in.. but I told her I was going to... Again Thank You

Thanks for the chart @Cat Ma and for the advice @MrWorfMen's Mom

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

I am a major skeptic of the fructosamine being of any value other than to possibly be able to tell you if a cat on insulin is generally maintaining regulation. I don't see the point if you are home testing but the vet will tell you it is comparable to the A1C used for human diabetics these days. In all fairness, my skepticism is because despite ongoing diabetic symptoms and high home readings, my cat's last fructosamine indicated she was well regulated when she obviously was anything but. It is not a tool to determine dosing. And the fructosamine is measuring another related component in the blood....not sugar, so the two numbers together may tell a story but they aren't comparable.

 

[Asrael]

Great @MrWorfMen's Mom, Thanks for letting me know. The vet had mentioned the fructosamine- but didn't think it was a stand alone things- so that is good to know Its frustrating because you want to trust the tests and the vet.. but I don't really, especially with all this happening to Trouble and me asking many times about a blood test and it not being thought necessary- and now here we are. I think us being in charge and being able to keep track is so important. I will update everyone when we get home

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

I don't think most vets treat that many diabetic pets. Sad but a lot of people will just give up on their pets when it becomes a "burden" to look after them either from a time or financial perspective.

I think the most important thing is to have a vet who is willing to work with you in the best interest of your pet with due consideration given to your feelings about what is and is not within your comfort zone.

That and a vet's ability to admit they don't know it all are for me the most important components of my vet relationship. This should become a learning experience not only for you but also for your vet because like human, no two felines are exactly the same.

 

[Critter Mom]

Greetings, Asreal, and welcome to yourself and Trouble.

Trouble is a beautiful and mischievous 12 year old cat who has 3 legs, he lost one being attacked by a dog about 3 years ago.

Poor love!!! And what a little trooper. I'm glad he has such loving and dedicated caregivers.

We go into the vet today to get the rest of his full blood tests back, see if there is anything else going on and to start the insulin.
...
He has been having health issues since last summer- ... loose stools, and then didn't want to eat. He lost a lot of weight suddenly (3-4lbs) and we had him into the vet for that a few times. He did start eating again after a month or two and has been "fine" since, although he hasn't gained any weight. Over the period of time with the vet- they never wanted to blood test- as once he started eating ok, and drinking they thought he was ok as long as he didn't lose more weight- thinking the main problem was the loose stools. I did ask at every meeting, as well as on countless phone conversations if he should have one. He did have an ultrasound (why that and not a blood test I don't know) ... We are working with a new vet at the same practice ... She has also tested for hypothyroidism and anything else that he may have going on for him.

When the test results come back, keep an eye out for whether your vet has run Spec fPL test (for pancreatitis) and B12/folate levels. If she hasn't done those tests, it might be an idea to discuss them with her (some of the above sounds a little like pancreatitis symptoms). What were the findings from the ultrasound?

The vet may recommend twice a day feeding but I think many if not most folks here, feed multiple small meals as opposed to two big ones. And right now, you don't need to be concerned about feeding extra. Diabetics are essentially starving because their bodies can't use the food they take in adequately so keep Trouble's tummy happy!

Following on from Linda's comments, essentially despite the food he's eating Trouble's body is actually starving because he doesn't have enough insulin to let glucose pass into the cells to provide energy for normal functions in the body. The general rule with underweight diabetics is to pretty much let them eat what they need and adjust insulin requirements accordingly until they reach their ideal weight again. It's great that you're already on the ball with the food change.

One thing to note: you need to lift Trouble's food 2 hours before you take any pre-injection blood tests. In order to assess dosing requirements properly preshot tests should not be food-influenced.


Mogs
.

 

[Asrael]

Update And Thank you everyone! @Critter Mom , @MrWorfMen's Mom , @Cat Ma, @Tucker&Me

So the vet visit went well but was a little surprising, as well. All the blood tests were normal- except for the glucose, fructosamine, and I forget the other one that goes with Diabetes. But no kidney trouble, or anything else. I didn't ask about the Pancreatitis test- as I didn't get the message in time- but will next visit (Saturday). The vet was very open to me testing at home and was happy to compare the meters. I hope to order one today- and have it by Saturday when she wants to do a glucose curve. After that we will do them at home.

We decided to start him at 1. for the Lantus- because.. even noticing the changes in symptoms- his blood glucose level today was... 28.6!?!?!? compared to 19 before. His blood glucose on the blood test was 25. So we decided to go ahead- she thought maybe we would move up to 2 after his curve- if needed- and with the ability to test at home- but understood I did not want to start there. So that makes me happy

On the way home he started panting- and wrinkling his nose weird- so we took him back to the vet- they said it was stress- and so we came home and now he is alert but resting.. Poor guy!!!

Once I get my meter- I will post more- and I can't say enough how much I appreciate all of you and your help!
Thank you
Asrael (And Trouble)

 

[Cat Ma]

It will be very helpful when you get your meter. You'll be able to then compare and see if the BG #'s are lower at home (often likely) than at the vet and if the dose is appropriate. I don't see a reason to do a curve at the vet; you can do it at home.

@MrWorfMen's Mom and @Critter Mom, what are your thoughts on the Lantus starting dose? And the vet wanting to up the dose to 2 units after doing a curve on Saturday?

 

[BJM]

You already got my Glucometer Notes link (also in my signature). You may find the Secondary Monitoring Tools helpful, too, as your cat is more than a glucose number.
Tests at the vet may run 5.5-10 mmol/L (100-180 mg/dL) higher than at home.

 

[Asrael]

You already got my Glucometer Notes link (also in my signature). You may find the Secondary Monitoring Tools helpful, too, as your cat is more than a glucose number.
Tests at the vet may run 5.5-10 mmol/L (100-180 mg/dL) higher than at home.

You already got my Glucometer Notes link (also in my signature). You may find the Secondary Monitoring Tools helpful, too, as your cat is more than a glucose number.
Tests at the vet may run 5.5-10 mmol/L (100-180 mg/dL) higher than at home.

Thank you @BJM, the glucometer notes are very helpful! and will look at the secondary monitoring tools too, already monitoring water- and food. We did talk to the vet about the test running higher and she thought that it was part of it for sure. It is overwhelming- But wanting to do the best we can for Trouble

 

[Asrael]

It will be very helpful when you get your meter. You'll be able to then compare and see if the BG #'s are lower at home (often likely) than at the vet and if the dose is appropriate. I don't see a reason to do a curve at the vet; you can do it at home.

@MrWorfMen's Mom and @Critter Mom, what are your thoughts on the Lantus starting dose? And the vet wanting to up the dose to 2 units after doing a curve on Saturday?

Thanks for your thoughts @Cat Ma . I will feel better when I have the meter too. Then I can compare everything and also feel more in control of it all. I am ok with the curve happening at the vet I think for the first time- just because I will have to take him in to test the glucometer when I get it- and that is another trip to the vet, so why not do it throughout the day at once and I think its something that she wants to do the first time. I did ask her how much experience she had with cats with diabetes and she said a lot- and I do believe her... Also Saturdays are quieter there, no surgeries, dentistry's and less patients especially on a holiday weekend.. I questioned the Saturday too.. and we have a long weekend here in Canada so I think she wanted to check in with it before the weekend, especially with the higher reading today and in the blood test. If consensus here is different, maybe I can put it off to next week.. I am open to hearing all. And I am not going up to 2 unless there seems to be a real need for it- and definitely not if I don't have a meter I appreciate the response and any others that come about this- as I said learning, learning- oh so much to learn
Thank you!

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

I am wondering what the "other" test was. If it was for ketones, pancreatitis, or hepatic issues then there may be a good reason for the vet wanting to start Lantus at 1u. given Trouble's higher sugar today. This really sounds pretty much like the routine protocol many vets use. Did the vet give you a copy of the lab results or can you find out what the other test was for from the vet?

What concerns me is that if Trouble's sugar levels ARE decreasing from the low carb wet diet as expected, his body will just be getting re-acquainted with having less glucose floating around and that might have caused an exaggerated stress glucose elevation. This is just speculation on my part but I find it hard to believe his glucose would actually be higher now that he is on a low carb wet diet.

Without knowing what the other test was, it would be inappropriate to be either criticising or condoning starting with the 1u dose. I would however want to be testing to make sure it is safe and not causing Trouble's numbers to plummet too low.

As for raising the dose to 2u as of Saturday, I find with my own cat that I need a minimum of 7 days on a given dose to really see what it is doing for her. My cat bounces for a day or two with 0.5u increases and the one time I increased by a full unit, this effect was even more pronounced.

Obviously doing curves at home will give you a better idea of Trouble's "true" glucose levels so I'd be wary of raising to 2u on Saturday after the clinic curve. I'd still be inclined to get the vet to agree to increases of no more than 0.5 u at a time. Otherwise you run the risk of missing Trouble's most "appropriate" dose.

 

[Asrael]

Thanks again @MrWorfMen's Mom The test was on a list of full blood scan, they basically tested for everything. I can't remember what it was although she went over it all with me. After reading about the Lantus in the forum, and the responses here I am going to try to get the curve done for Tuesday instead- as it will have been for 7 days. I wouldn't want to increase his dose even .5 on a holiday weekend, so why not wait And I think regardless of what she says once we are testing we can raise by .5 instead of 1 if needed. My husband sort of wants to listen to the vet on this (Saturday testing)- but I think he will be ok with it.. And I should for sure have my meter by then It was really weird that his levels were so much higher- but he wasn't happy to be there.. that is for sure. Also in the blood test it was 25.. so maybe it was more accurate than the 19.. She thought it was probably stress, and maybe a low reading from the last time.

Thanks again and will keep you all updated

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hi Asrael - welcome to here from a fellow BC'er, but across the water. Can you see me waving?

You asked a couple questions that I thought I'd respond here so others can see. I use the Relion Confirm/Arkray Glococard 01 meter. No, we cannot buy them in Canada, but I live 40 minutes from the border and buy strips in bulk. My backup meter is the Bayer Contour. The Accucheck Aviva is another good model. If you can't cross border shop, the best thing to do is look for strips on Ebay. You should be able to get a free meter with the initial purchase of strips - London Drugs for sure usually has that deal going. We've had other membes used the Bravo mentioned above. Unfortunately the only meter I've seen with a 0.3 blood drop requirement is the Freestyle - don't get it. I had huge problems with it. So that means getting a meter than needs a 0.6 blood drop size. My vet uses the OneTouch, but it needs an even bigger blood drop. As for other supplies, lancets, syringes and Lantus - I've been finding the best deals lately at Safeway - go figure! Make sure you get the 5 pack of Lantus cartridge, that's the most economical deal.

As for food, you have to shop around. I don't buy online, as my kitters are on raw food. When I did feed canned food, I found a couple places with good prices, such as Tisol, but I don't think they are on the island.

Onto other topics - first, the starting dose. How much does Trouble weight? What is his ideal weight? We find a number of vets will start cats on too high a dose. Vet stress can definitely make a difference and you don't want to consider that when determining a starting dose. I have a non diabetic cat that was once 11.6 at the vet and 2.9 at home the next day. You might want to pop on over to the Lantus/Levemir forum for more reading. We have two methods there we use for determining doses, either the Tight Regulation protocol or the Start Low Go Slow Method. Each has their own method of determining a starting dose. And dose increases are typically done in .25U increments. I suspect the knowledge of Lantus and how it works in cats is much greater here than the vets office. People here have been living feline diabetes for years.

Dry food can take a few days to get out of the system, but I don't think you need to wait until Saturday to start insulin - if you can be home to monitor him before then. The sooner you can get a cat back into normal numbers on insulin, the better your changes of getting him into regulation and hopefully into remission.

 

[Melly]

Hi Asrael! Melanie here from Ontario. My little guy was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. We started on Lantus on Monday, which luckily is insanely inexpensive at our vet's office, and purchased an AlphaTrak for BG monitoring. I'm not sure how much human strips are but our starter kit was $55 and the strips themselves are a little over $1 each. I'm willing to fork out the cash for convenience sake, to be perfectly honest - perhaps that will change in the future!

 

[Tucker&Me]

Hi Asrael and Mr.Trouble!
So much to take in!! You are getting EXCELLENT advice here.
I am so happy for you that your husband is involved and can help both share and support your efforts to care for the resilient Mr. Trouble!!
Just curious as to how you feel Trouble will tolerate the ear pokes?
Just be sure to ask, ask ASK! ANY QUESTIONS you have about it. We love questions!
Just a few random things that helped me:
I dedicated a lidded, sectioned plastic 'tuperware' to have all my testing supplies at the ready. Meter (AND it's quick instruction pamphlet) strips, lancets for poking, a few cotton balls, Neosporin tube, my tiny rice bags for warming, reward snacks, and a tiny torch.
This little kit kept me organized and ready.
When acclimating Tucker to what was ahead... I had the tiny bright torch (flashlight) to locate the vein and acclimate ME to finding it without the torch.
I talked to him calmly and explained things somewhat as I massaged his ears. He liked it.
Just tell yourself, this is super important and must be done and that you are going to get very good at this! You will.
Trouble will pick up on this. Most kitties somehow know they are being helped to feel better!

Just ask any questions you have, as I always forget something in my posts.
All the best!

 

[Asrael]

Hi Asrael - welcome to here from a fellow BC'er, but across the water. Can you see me waving?

You asked a couple questions that I thought I'd respond here so others can see. I use the Relion Confirm/Arkray Glococard 01 meter. No, we cannot buy them in Canada, but I live 40 minutes from the border and buy strips in bulk. My backup meter is the Bayer Contour. The Accucheck Aviva is another good model. If you can't cross border shop, the best thing to do is look for strips on Ebay. You should be able to get a free meter with the initial purchase of strips - London Drugs for sure usually has that deal going. We've had other membes used the Bravo mentioned above. Unfortunately the only meter I've seen with a 0.3 blood drop requirement is the Freestyle - don't get it. I had huge problems with it. So that means getting a meter than needs a 0.6 blood drop size. My vet uses the OneTouch, but it needs an even bigger blood drop. As for other supplies, lancets, syringes and Lantus - I've been finding the best deals lately at Safeway - go figure! Make sure you get the 5 pack of Lantus cartridge, that's the most economical deal.

As for food, you have to shop around. I don't buy online, as my kitters are on raw food. When I did feed canned food, I found a couple places with good prices, such as Tisol, but I don't think they are on the island.

Onto other topics - first, the starting dose. How much does Trouble weight? What is his ideal weight? We find a number of vets will start cats on too high a dose. Vet stress can definitely make a difference and you don't want to consider that when determining a starting dose. I have a non diabetic cat that was once 11.6 at the vet and 2.9 at home the next day. You might want to pop on over to the Lantus/Levemir forum for more reading. We have two methods there we use for determining doses, either the Tight Regulation protocol or the Start Low Go Slow Method. Each has their own method of determining a starting dose. And dose increases are typically done in .25U increments. I suspect the knowledge of Lantus and how it works in cats is much greater here than the vets office. People here have been living feline diabetes for years.

Dry food can take a few days to get out of the system, but I don't think you need to wait until Saturday to start insulin - if you can be home to monitor him before then. The sooner you can get a cat back into normal numbers on insulin, the better your changes of getting him into regulation and hopefully into remission.

Thank You so much for your detailed response I really appreciate it I do feel your support across that beautiful water And thanks for the tip on London Drugs- I think I will try the accucheck meter and I can go get it there today, and that would make me feel so much better to be able to test at home with him right away I would get the Bravo but can't find much info on it from others using it. I do wish that I could go to the states but I rarely go there. Will check around for best prices on lancets- etc.. our safeway turned into Save on More but we do have a superstore and walmart close by. I will check it out. I also will check in the Lantus forum for more info too.

As for weight- Trouble is 4.4 Kg. I think his ideal weight should is probably 6 kg.. She started him at .25 x his weight she said. I am happy to go up in tiny increments.. and will do that regardless of what she says (saying this now.. but as you said vet pressure- will come here for support and reminders). I am home/work from here and have a slower week so can moniter him, and will hopefully be able to get the glucosometer today.

I do think stress played a huge part in Trouble's high number yesterday- but I am also thinking he has been somewhat high for a while (we just didn't know the signs).. The litterbox has been a sticky mess since last August- we just kept thinking it was the litter or our large cat peeing alot in the same space, and then the weight loss, and water drinking (just don't know why the vet didn't catch it?!?)

Anyways- Thank you so so much! I appreciate your help and I am sure I will be posting more about the BG levels and spreadsheets on the forums soon!
Have a great day!

 

[Asrael]

Hi Asrael! Melanie here from Ontario. My little guy was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. We started on Lantus on Monday, which luckily is insanely inexpensive at our vet's office, and purchased an AlphaTrak for BG monitoring. I'm not sure how much human strips are but our starter kit was $55 and the strips themselves are a little over $1 each. I'm willing to fork out the cash for convenience sake, to be perfectly honest - perhaps that will change in the future!

Hi Melanie
Its great to hear from you- I appreciate your sharing and your support. I hope your kitty is doing well and responding ok to the insulin. What dose did he start at? It sounds like you got a great deal on the alphatrak Our vet wasn't sure what it cost- and I think I will go with a human one- but the strips are still pricy! (.75c each for the one I am thinking of) Sending you love and light as we start this journey! Have a great day!

 

[Asrael]

Hi Asrael and Mr.Trouble!
So much to take in!! You are getting EXCELLENT advice here.
I am so happy for you that your husband is involved and can help both share and support your efforts to care for the resilient Mr. Trouble!!
Just curious as to how you feel Trouble will tolerate the ear pokes?
Just be sure to ask, ask ASK! ANY QUESTIONS you have about it. We love questions!
Just a few random things that helped me:
I dedicated a lidded, sectioned plastic 'tuperware' to have all my testing supplies at the ready. Meter (AND it's quick instruction pamphlet) strips, lancets for poking, a few cotton balls, Neosporin tube, my tiny rice bags for warming, reward snacks, and a tiny torch.
This little kit kept me organized and ready.
When acclimating Tucker to what was ahead... I had the tiny bright torch (flashlight) to locate the vein and acclimate ME to finding it without the torch.
I talked to him calmly and explained things somewhat as I massaged his ears. He liked it.
Just tell yourself, this is super important and must be done and that you are going to get very good at this! You will.
Trouble will pick up on this. Most kitties somehow know they are being helped to feel better!

Just ask any questions you have, as I always forget something in my posts.
All the best!

Yes! It is so much to take in but great advice! And I am so thankful as I feel that as overwhelmed as I feel that it is a huge help and will support me as I get the hang of things- It is amazing the responses and how helpful everyone is! I will definitely keep asking.

I appreciate the advice-= it is a great idea to have a tupperware- going to try to get to the store today to get all the extras that I need! and I appreciate the extra support about the ears.. It seems daunting, but is so important- he was fine to do it at the vets.. but I think he was scared- and his name is Trouble for a reason

Will let you all know how its going! Thank you so much!

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Menace came by her name for a reason too but she is the most co-operative little patient a Mom could ask for. Hopefully Trouble will be too!

 

[Alix]

Hi Asrael and Trouble,

I am yet another Canadian (from Calgary) and there isn't much I can add to the excellent advice you have already received. I use a OneTouch Ultra that I got free from Costco when I bought a box of testing strips. The cheapest place I have found to buy the test strips so far for me is Safeways ($65.00/100). I feed my Scamp Fancy Feast chicken pate and beef pate (the beef is actually chicken with beef flavouring).

Just keep in mind that Troubles numbers will probably always be high when he is at the vet's - Scamp was there yesterday and when she got home she gave me a number in the 30s - this morning it was better!! I understand the want for the vet to do the glucose curve but just keep in mind you can do one on your own at home where Trouble won't be as stressed - just do a test every two hours and you will see what the vet will be looking for.

Good luck and best wishes for you and Trouble!!

 

[Asrael]

Hi Asrael and Trouble,

I am yet another Canadian (from Calgary) and there isn't much I can add to the excellent advice you have already received. I use a OneTouch Ultra that I got free from Costco when I bought a box of testing strips. The cheapest place I have found to buy the test strips so far for me is Safeways ($65.00/100). I feed my Scamp Fancy Feast chicken pate and beef pate (the beef is actually chicken with beef flavouring).

Just keep in mind that Troubles numbers will probably always be high when he is at the vet's - Scamp was there yesterday and when she got home she gave me a number in the 30s - this morning it was better!! I understand the want for the vet to do the glucose curve but just keep in mind you can do one on your own at home where Trouble won't be as stressed - just do a test every two hours and you will see what the vet will be looking for.

Good luck and best wishes for you and Trouble!!

Thanks Scamp. I appreciate the welcome and your sharing I ended up getting an accucheck aviva today- seemed to need the least blood (yet when I pricked his ears.. lots of blood came out- maybe I pricked it too much? Oh well- his reading was quite high- maybe because he got stressed from the first prick 19.1 (on the home meter)..

Will try to get used to testing him- I want to do all the curves at home- thought the first one may be good at the vets only because he will have to go in for a few pricks anyways to see how our meters are calibrated to each other.. So will think about it- Hate for him to be there all day- but the most stressful part for him (I think) is getting into the car and going there, but will think about it some more. Poor little guy

Thank you so much!

 

[Melly]

Hi Melanie
Its great to hear from you- I appreciate your sharing and your support. I hope your kitty is doing well and responding ok to the insulin. What dose did he start at? It sounds like you got a great deal on the alphatrak Our vet wasn't sure what it cost- and I think I will go with a human one- but the strips are still pricy! (.75c each for the one I am thinking of) Sending you love and light as we start this journey! Have a great day!

We started at 2 units twice daily - Sisko's first BG curve is tomorrow. He seems to be responding well so far, in that he's not responding poorly!

I'm glad you were able to get a home meter. How did Trouble take to having his ear pricked?

 

[Asrael]

We started at 2 units twice daily - Sisko's first BG curve is tomorrow. He seems to be responding well so far, in that he's not responding poorly!

I'm glad you were able to get a home meter. How did Trouble take to having his ear pricked?

Hi Melly,
Good luck with the curve tomorrow- are you doing it yourself or going to the vets? I am glad he is responding well Our vet wants our cat to have the first curve on Saturday (he started Tuesday...) But thought it might be too soon- unfortunately she is not in the office again until Thursday... so not 100% sure what we will do...

My guy did not like the ear pricking- but maybe I got the vein to head on- there was a bit of blood- and he did test quite high... 19.1 on home meter- but he seems well.. Hungry.. she wants him to be fed every 12 hours.. So that is hard.. only 1 more hour to go and he can eat to his hearts delight!!

Hope all goes well tomorrow
Asrael

 

[Robin&BB]

Hi, Asrael - Just wanted to say how handsome your boy Trouble is ... & will be thinking good thoughts for you both as you run the gauntlet that is feline diabetes. My Bat-Bat did beautifully on Lantus. (In fact, if she doesn't go off-the-juice - she's close, but not there yet - by the time we run out of her vial of ProZinc, I will likely be switching her back to Lantus.)

We're all rooting for you & Trouble! - Robin

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hungry.. she wants him to be fed every 12 hours.. So that is hard.. only 1 more hour to go and he can eat to his hearts delight!!

With Lantus, several small meals are better. With the older insulins, their onset was harsh so you wanted to make sure they ate a good meal before the shot. Smaller meals are also easier on their pancreas. Just don't feed anything for 2 hours before the shot, as that food can influence the test number.

 

[Asrael]

With Lantus, several small meals are better. With the older insulins, their onset was harsh so you wanted to make sure they ate a good meal before the shot. Smaller meals are also easier on their pancreas. Just don't feed anything for 2 hours before the shot, as that food can influence the test number.

Thanks for that @Wendy&Neko . I talked alot with my vet about it because I wanted to feed him- he is skinny and if he is hungry I want him to eat.. but she was pretty clear that that is what she wanted us to try first... she did admit that she didn't know if that was really the best way- but that she didn't want his blood sugar to spike during the day so much or many times. So will take what you say into consideration- and make my decision tomorrow from there Also.. if I test before the insulin- I can still feed him directly before the insulin but after the test correct? We did two at home tests today- 1 was 7 hours after the insulin and he was 19.1 and one 1.5 hours after and he was 17.6.

Thanks

 

[Robin&BB]

Thanks for that @Wendy&Neko . I talked alot with my vet about it because I wanted to feed him- he is skinny and if he is hungry I want him to eat.. but she was pretty clear that that is what she wanted us to try first... she did admit that she didn't know if that was really the best way- but that she didn't want his blood sugar to spike during the day so much or many times. So will take what you say into consideration- and make my decision tomorrow from there Also.. if I test before the insulin- I can still feed him directly before the insulin but after the test correct? We did two at home tests today- 1 was 7 hours after the insulin and he was 19.1 and one 1.5 hours after and he was 17.6. Thanks

I'll preface this with ECID (every cat is different) ... but just wanted to say that I when I started Bat-Bat with Lantus, we stuck to the 12-hr. regimen of test (AMPS/PMPS), feed & shoot, with her total daily canned ration divided into two portions per day, each right before her injection. (No mini-meals in between.) Did she act hungry & complain to me about it? Sure! (For quite a while, actually.) But at this point, did it mean that I was starving her? Nope. She had gone really skinny right before her first diagnosis in 2013 - similar to what you've described in your first post; (Bat had been as much as 18+ lbs. the preceding year); was down to about 9 lbs. when we discovered her diabetes. With the Lantus & low-carb food, she was back to a nice 11.00-11.5 lbs. fairly quickly and has stayed there.

I can understand your vet's rationale here, especially early in treatment: She likely wants you to be able to get a good read on how Trouble's body reacts to insulin over the 12-hr cycle. Unless he falls into the hypo-zone somewhere in that cycle (at which point you MUST feed a little bit of higher carb food, then retest to make sure his BG has risen back into the "safe" zone), were you to start right out of the box with multiple mini-meals during those 12-hr cycles, it makes it harder to see how his body's processing that insulin all on its own. (But I also understand that for people who cannot be around to test more frequently, mini-meals might provide an extra measure of safety if there's a worry about BG dropping too low when one can't be there to monitor & correct for it.)

It sure can tug at your heartstrings, though, when in the beginning of treatment (& if you have a formerly free-feeding, chow-hound kitty like mine) your cat follows you around the house, begging & meowing pitifully. But not to worry: Trouble won't starve with a changed feeding schedule. One more thing: To avoid scarf & barf (Bat tended toward that), I added a little water to her food & pulled the plate halfway through the meal for a five-minute "rest," before setting it back down for her to finish up. (Yep, it really helped!)

Sorry this is long, but hope it's useful to you in some way.

 

[Robin&BB]

You'll want to get set up with a spreadsheet here pretty soon (there are others here who can help you with that, as they did me) so that you can plug those BG#s & test #s into it, so that we have something to look at for reference whenever you have questions or concerns about Trouble.

Here are "How to Create our Spreadsheet" instructions.

 

[Asrael]

I'll preface this with ECID (every cat is different) ... but just wanted to say that I when I started Bat-Bat with Lantus, we stuck to the 12-hr. regimen of test (AMPS/PMPS), feed & shoot, with her total daily canned ration divided into two portions per day, each right before her injection. (No mini-meals in between.) Did she act hungry & complain to me about it? Sure! (For quite a while, actually.) But at this point, did it mean that I was starving her? Nope. She had gone really skinny right before her first diagnosis in 2013 - similar to what you've described in your first post; (Bat had been as much as 18+ lbs. the preceding year); was down to about 9 lbs. when we discovered her diabetes. With the Lantus & low-carb food, she was back to a nice 11.00-11.5 lbs. fairly quickly and has stayed there.

I can understand your vet's rationale here, especially early in treatment: She likely wants you to be able to get a good read on how Trouble's body reacts to insulin over the 12-hr cycle. Unless he falls into the hypo-zone somewhere in that cycle (at which point you MUST feed a little bit of higher carb food, then retest to make sure his BG has risen back into the "safe" zone), were you to start right out of the box with multiple mini-meals during those 12-hr cycles, it makes it harder to see how his body's processing that insulin all on its own. (But I also understand that for people who cannot be around to test more frequently, mini-meals might provide an extra measure of safety if there's a worry about BG dropping too low when one can't be there to monitor & correct for it.)

It sure can tug at your heartstrings, though, when in the beginning of treatment (& if you have a formerly free-feeding, chow-hound kitty like mine) your cat follows you around the house, begging & meowing pitifully. But not to worry: Trouble won't starve with a changed feeding schedule. One more thing: To avoid scarf & barf (Bat tended toward that), I added a little water to her food & pulled the plate halfway through the meal for a five-minute "rest," before setting it back down for her to finish up. (Yep, it really helped!)

Sorry this is long, but hope it's useful to you in some way.

Thanks @Robin&BB . I really appreciate you taking the time to write this out and share your experience. What you say is in line with what the vet thought- and it helps to know that it is ok to do this at least at first. It is hard because he is so thin- but it sounds like Bat-Bat was too- so it feels good to know that he did well this way I am around and can test- in between appointments (I have a home office), and can monitor him for the most part. I do feel lucky the way he shows us that he wants food is by being very sweet and nice and cuddling and purring alot.. he does sit in the kitchen and look at us too If it were our other cat- I can't even imagine (although he was really quiet last night with no food left out for him)
I do like the break idea with the food too- just to give his stomach time to adjust/absorb.. He eats really pickily and slowly- so if the food is chunks of meat- it can take him 20 minutes to eat most of his helping too- so a break allows him to be maybe a bit more hungry too.

Thanks for the spreadsheet link too- Will try to get one started this weekend.

Have a great day
Asrael

 

[Angela]

Welcome Asreal! I'm in B.C. myself. I use the One Touch Ultra2 meter. I got it for free from Shoppers Drug Mart with the purchase of testing strips. Strips will set you back about $80-90 for 100. My vet actually uses human meters to test their patients rather than the pet meter.

As for food, I feed my Spaz fancy feast pates (all poultry based ones). I used to feed him all dry food and about two weeks after changing his diet to 100% fancy feast he went into remission .

@Cat Ma if I remember correctly, I paid about $165 CAD for five Lantus Solostar pens and that fee included the pen needles as well.

 

[Robin&BB]

Thanks @Robin&BB . What you say is in line with what the vet thought- and it helps to know that it is ok to do this at least at first. It is hard because he is so thin- but it sounds like Bat-Bat was too- so it feels good to know that he did well this way I am around and can test- in between appointments (I have a home office), and can monitor him for the most part. I do feel lucky the way he shows us that he wants food is by being very sweet and nice and cuddling and purring alot.. he does sit in the kitchen and look at us too. He eats really pickily and slowly- so if the food is chunks of meat- it can take him 20 minutes to eat most of his helping too- so a break allows him to be maybe a bit more hungry too.

You're so welcome! Yes, she was extremely thin (when undiagnosed DB really starts kicking in, their little bodies just start burning up fat & even muscle tissue). But the good news is that effective treatment with insulin stops that from happening. So ... you're on the right track!
(You might try to test @ around the +4 to +6 range today to start getting an idea of when he nadirs (lowest point in cycle) after a dose.)

 

[Melly]

@Robin&BB I want to thank you too for your comments surrounding the twice-daily feeds. Our vet recommended the same thing in order to achieve regulation as soon as possible, and to also then increase our chance of remission.

@Asrael we're home testing - if you'd like, feel free to pop over to my intro thread, I'm hoping to update it throughout the day.