Feeling defeated

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Mshaas75

Mshaas75

Member Since 2016
been up since 6 doing test every 2 hours. These numbers are so discouraging. See chart. I just want to cry. I know it's only my first week hopefully it will get better
 
The numbers are high. We have a maddening saying around here : this sugar dance is a marathon, not a race. It takes awhile for their bodies to learn how to use the insulin.

Is the Purina wet or dry? Wet low carb food is best. The vet on this site has put together a lovely food chart. Most people try to feed under 10%. When we switched Oliver from dry to wet low carb, he dropped 100 points overnight.

http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Looks like some varieties of Purina Pro are 15-25% carbs.

I'd finish the curve. With Vetsulin you want to know when the insulin kicks in. (Looks early today). And when it wears off. If he goes up from this point on, it isn't lasting very long. Both of those may mean he needs a little dose increase. One unit is a great starting dose but many people need to increase slowly over time to get to better levels. BUT if you switch to a lower carb food, you want to be careful not to make two changes at once.

The higher numbers are discouraging, but the fact that you have gotten them and know what they mean is encouraging. You have learned so much in just a week - how to set up a spreadsheet, how to test at home and what the numbers mean. Some people go home from the vet and hold the dose for a month, never changing anything and having no idea what is really happening. Give yourself some kudos - you deserve them!
 
It will - once you have finished today's curve we can have a look and see what to do next - my cat has had numbers in the 600's to start with, but remember - your cat doesn't care what the numbers are - they just want to be happy. You are doing great!
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
...Give yourself some kudos - you deserve them!
Click to expand...
She speaks the truth! :) I totally feel your pain....I am frustrated and struggling to be patient with my cat's return to insulin after a blissful 3-year remission. It can be so overwhelming, but you're doing right by your cat!!! Hang in there. This message board is the bomb-diggity and you will get help and support when you need it. Good luck!
 
Is that dry DM you are feeding?
You are getting a good amount of drop in BG that is good. Vetsulin typically does not lat for 12 hours, usually 8-10 hours but you are showing an even shorter duration.
Are you testing Paris' urine for ketones? I would at those high BGs.
How long has Paris been on 1 unit? I would increase dose after being on 1 unit after 3-5 days if this trend continues. I myself would go to 1 1/2 unitsbut to be safer you might want to increase only to 1 1/4 unit
 
She is in the wet dm food. The vet thought that would help and when the glucose number went up we started her on insulin on Tuesday evening. So technically this morning was her 7th shot. I have not tested yet for keotones I just started reading about them today. Looks like I need to go buy something to test that. Could be too she wasn't feeling well cause while I was in the shower she threw up a hair all with some liquid. Since being in the new DM wet food she rarely throws up anymore. We will see what her number is at 2:30
 
Ok I could find her food on the chart its
Purina pro plan veterinary diets DM savory selects wet food.
 
She won't eat the pate kind. But we made it through the 12 hours of testing. I'm feeling really bad about all the ear poking. She does very well though.
 
Alexi said:
It will - once you have finished today's curve we can have a look and see what to do next - my cat has had numbers in the 600's to start with, but remember - your cat doesn't care what the numbers are - they just want to be happy. You are doing great!
Click to expand...
I was looking at your chart and I see sometimes you are under 200 and still give a shot. I thought if under 200 then no shot? Hopefully I will get something in the 200 range soon. I did see from your chart that it takes time but how can it be so high one day and low the next?
 
Mshaas75 said:
She won't eat the pate kind. But we made it through the 12 hours of testing. I'm feeling really bad about all the ear poking. She does very well though.
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My kitty isn't crazy about the texture of the pate foods. Sometimes, if you add a little warm water and make a gravy, they like it better.
 
It is tough when you get started. Leo has been on insulin since August 2015. We were scared and nervous when we started. He still has issues and getting blood out of him is like trying to wrangle a squirming worm. We are lucky - he is not a picky eater. But it is important to regulate food.
 
I think we have all felt what you are feeling and only time makes it better... I promise it gets better...
If I was to make 1 suggestion I would reconsider the insulin your using. We started with vetsulin as well and Dre was miserable.... it did not last very long at all for him and way to harsh as he is a early nadir cat. (It is made for dogs) We then went to pro zinc and he was happy but it dd not last long enough either. If I could do it over I would have started with lantus.
Your doing great and it will pay off!!:bighug:
 
Weruva mideast feast is juicy --as Julie said most of them are but my brats only like the 1 flavor:banghead:
the sheba natural juices are very soft and very juicy pates--
some fancy feast are wetter than others as well--the fish n shrimp are a fav around here--
natures variety pride has a different texture as well-
pinnacle is very wet too-
Chewys has a great return policy--they will schedule a pick up if not happy and nice about too!
Daves is another juicy one-
all are low carb-:bighug:
 
Its agonizing in early days. Hang in there it takes a while. Unfortunately its not a quick treatment, quick result condition. Pace yourself :) it'll get better.
 
The numbers are holding steady which is good, if you change to a lower carb food the numbers should start to come down, if you do that first (I transitioned over a week) then we can look at the dose again. Slow and steady is the way.
 
Mshaas75 said:
I was looking at your chart and I see sometimes you are under 200 and still give a shot. I thought if under 200 then no shot? Hopefully I will get something in the 200 range soon. I did see from your chart that it takes time but how can it be so high one day and low the next?
Click to expand...
Sorry just noticed this - I have been testing and changing doses for months so I have lots of data showing how she responds to different doses, lately she has just been giving odd numbers but I am trying to push her into lower ranges as there is a chance she could go into remission, she had pancreatitis at some stage (most likely pre-diagnosis) and fatty liver on diagnosis, so as things have healed she is getting better numbers and most likely her pancreas is producing some insulin, the big change came when I changed to DM pate on the advice of a specialist. So I am very confident in how she will respond now to different doses and what numbers I will get, but this isn't something a beginner should attempt.
 
Aww dear Heather, I think we've all experienced that feeling. The feeling of not having the numbers in control is a feeling that is so frustrating.
But believe me (us all) you will get there, just put on those well known patient pants and sit it out.:p (I know it is hard to do that but you will learn eventually that that is the only thing you can do)
Like Sue said, the sugardance is a marathon not a sprint, that's a comment I got a lot when I was feeling this way, right @Sue and Oliver (GA) ?;)
Hey Heather, there is no shame in crying about it, I did too when I found out the diagnose and in the first weeks I was a wreck.
Hope this post will cheer you up a bit, and if you want to talk about it...everyone is here for you if you need us, or just need a listening ear! :bighug:
 
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