Update day 3, suggestions on dosing/testing/nutrition

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TanyaG

Member Since 2016
Hi all I'm starting a new thread as the other one was getting pretty long. I have updated my signature and spreadsheet so based on that info it would be really helpful to hear your thoughts and suggestions on continued dosing and testing. I noticed today she hasn't dropped much from AMPS to +6.

Tinka is currently on day 3 of insulin, she is on Lantus. I was recommended to do the Go Low Go Slow method on the last thread to begin as Tinka wasn't eating or drinking well due to loss of appetite and had lost weight, likely because she was feeling so unwell from the diabetes. Since yesterday, day 2, her appetite has increased and she has been more social and happier, not hiding under the bed and looking depressed etc. She still showing some signs of neuropathy in her back legs. I asked the vet orginally for something for this but he said the insulin would be fine. I've since been recommended I think it is called Zophran so I wil request this next week to help her.

My understanding from the Lantus stickies is that I will need to perform a curve on day 7 taking readings every 2 hours over a 12 hour period, so I plan to do this. I would like the strongest chance of remission for Tinka so would love your suggestions at that point if we can move onto the TR protocol if it would be helpful to her if her appetitie and eating has continued to be improved. She is currently eating Instinct grain free 95% protein which she seems to be liking. Long term I'd like to go raw. However I would like to look to switch to something that is lower in carbs or doesn't have fruits or vegetables in but my local health store has limited brands. So I'd have to look to travel to Calgary or order online. She can be a fussy eater though. I'm also not sure if changing her diet during the first few weeks whilst we trying to figure out a pattern is a good idea or not. I'm also open to changing her feeding times. She's currently being fed 4 meals just after AMPS, just after mid cycle, just after PMPS and just before bed which is before mid cyle. I'm now managing to get her to eat almost 50g per meal since yesterday, hoping she'll continue to pick up a bit of weight. Past month she was eating 1/3 - 1/2 that amount, so I'm pleased with that change. Thanks in advance!
 
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Just hold that .5 dose for now Tanya....it doesn't matter if you're doing TR or SLGS, the first 5-7 days on lantus are devoted to "filling the depot" (the depot is kind of like a spare tank of insulin that's slowly released back into the body....but first it has to be completely full before it releases the correct amount each day)

Great that her appetite has picked up!!! Hopefully she'll continue to eat well!!

You're testing enough now that you could do TR....there's no reason you need to test every 2 hours (even if you eventually decide to do SLGS) as long as you're testing as much as you are now.....Think of your spreadsheet like a puzzle picture....the more test results (puzzle pieces) you have sprinkled around, the easier it is to see what the picture is!!

As you continue on over the next few days, look for blank area's in your spreadsheet and grab a test at those times
 
Here's your earlier post http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/posts/1845028/ We put the link to the prior post in new ones so it's easy for people to quickly go back and read what's been going on

Also, now that you've got your signature and spreadsheet, I'd strongly suggest you move over to the Lantus Forum

You'll get the benefit of lots of experienced eyes watching out for you and Tinka there!!

Here's some information on Getting the Most from your Lantus Forum experience on how we post over there
 
Here's your earlier post http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/posts/1845028/ We put the link to the prior post in new ones so it's easy for people to quickly go back and read what's been going on

Also, now that you've got your signature and spreadsheet, I'd strongly suggest you move over to the Lantus Forum

You'll get the benefit of lots of experienced eyes watching out for you and Tinka there!!

Here's some information on Getting the Most from your Lantus Forum experience on how we post over there
Thanks so much Chris, much appreciate your help :) I will keep working on adding the BGs to her puzzle. I'll also post over on the Langis forum soon. I have been reading their stickies too. It's a lot to learn;) Is it normal for a BG to not really drop much in a 12 hr period. She's gone today from AMPS 15.4, +6 was 15 and plus +9 was 15.2. Very different to previous days where she dropped lower over the period. I'm sure I administered the shot correctly so just wondering why it didn't shift much. Thanks again!!
 
Until she's been on the same dose for several days, there's no way to gauge if it's the "right dose".....patience grasshopper ;)
Thanks Chris it just seemed strange that her BG barely dropped a number so I was worried maybe I did something like not adminster properly, but my hubby said he's sure I got it in. Will be doing my first insulin shot on Tinka by myself this eve so hope I can do it well and she stays still. I tested her ketones and there were none today so thats good. But the test strips showed her glucose in her urine was at the max reading. Assuming I don't have to worry about the glucose reading though as thats just a sign of the diabetes.
 
Hi Tanya,

She still showing some signs of neuropathy in her back legs. I asked the vet orginally for something for this but he said the insulin would be fine. I've since been recommended I think it is called Zophran so I wil request this next week to help her.

Zobaline (B12 methylcobalamin) is the supplement you need for neuropathy. Here's a link to the website:

Zobaline for Diabetic Cats

(For general info, Zofran is the branded version of ondansetron - an anti-nausea medication.)

It's very good to read that Tinka is already starting to feel happier. :)

:bighug:


Mogs
.
 
Hi Tanya,



Zobaline (B12 methylcobalamin) is the supplement you need for neuropathy. Here's a link to the website:

Zobaline for Diabetic Cats

(For general info, Zofran is the branded version of ondansetron - an anti-nausea medication.)

It's very good to read that Tinka is already starting to feel happier. :)

:bighug:


Mogs
.
Thank you Mogs I'm so pleased that we are seeing improvements already with increased appetite, more social and she even played with me for about 5 mins so that is progress indeed:) Thanks to you all for your help! I'm going to request the zobaline from the vet this coming week:)

Only thing is I've noticed she is scratching more so it could be the food I'm giving her. It's salmon, venison and pork flavours. But it could well be something else in the food or even the environment. She's not making wounds on her skin though as she's still on the 1/8 pret steroids per day. Not sure how long I can keep her on this lose dose. I anticipate that the itching may get worse when she comes off the steroid as thats what has happened in the past and she rips her skin off especially round her face and makes terrible wounds, even damaged her eye temporarily last time. The steroid just suppresses the problem and then when you stop it comes back, sometimes worse. Is it ok for me to change foods during these first 7 days or preferably not?

I'd like to try some different protein options in other brands and also to go lower in carbs. I tried to calculate the carb content on Instinct grain free 95% which is what she's curretnly eating and I think its 11% carbs (dry matter) which is higher than I though it would be, I'm assuming its too high for diabetic. If I manage to find a lower carb food like 5% or less to switch too do I need to this carefully whilst she's on insulin or is it not much change? Thank you!
 
Thanks Chris it just seemed strange that her BG barely dropped a number so I was worried maybe I did something like not adminster properly, but my hubby said he's sure I got it in. Will be doing my first insulin shot on Tinka by myself this eve so hope I can do it well and she stays still. I tested her ketones and there were none today so thats good. But the test strips showed her glucose in her urine was at the max reading. Assuming I don't have to worry about the glucose reading though as thats just a sign of the diabetes.
Don't worry about the glucose part of the strip. it's going to read high for now.
 
I'm going to request the zobaline from the vet this coming week:)

Zobaline doesn't require a vet's prescription.....it's just a particular form of the vitamin B-12 ....others in Canada have gotten it from Vitacost or from a natural supplement store....just need to make sure there's nothing in it but the active ingredient Methylcobalamin

Is it ok for me to change foods during these first 7 days or preferably not?

You test often enough that it would be fine for you to try other foods
 
Zobaline doesn't require a vet's prescription.....it's just a particular form of the vitamin B-12 ....others in Canada have gotten it from Vitacost or from a natural supplement store....just need to make sure there's nothing in it but the active ingredient Methylcobalamin

You test often enough that it would be fine for you to try other foods

That is great I don't need a vet script! I see the one from vitacost is a capsule and has other inactive ingredients in are those are fine then for cats?

Good to know I can try other foods options if testing often as may need to switch foods cause of the itch and carbs. Thanks! :)
 
One of our other members used those exact ones from Vitacost so I guess it must be OK....if you have a health food store around, you might be able to find it there too.....you just want to make sure it doesn't contain any sugar or xylitol

You can get Zobaline but you'd have to buy it from Lifelink and I don't know how much the shipping would be to Canada (but they do ship there)
 
She is currently eating Instinct grain free 95% protein which she seems to be liking. Long term I'd like to go raw. However I would like to look to switch to something that is lower in carbs or doesn't have fruits or vegetables in but my local health store has limited brands.

Hi Tanya. I am new to this like you and went online buying all the low carb wet right away, including Instinct. You are correct that it has veggies, peas in the 4 types I got, and that is not a low carb veggie. I actually pick out the peas that I see in it when spooning it into the dish. I bought some Ziwipeak 6oz cans, in cases, on Chewy (best price I have found) and that food has no veggies from what I can see, just meat protein. I am going to stick with Ziwipeak along with some of the Tiki seafoods (amazon seems to have best price) for my boy. I was overwhelmed here at first but am learning quickly. Folks here are so helpful and they have all been through what we are just starting to go through. Paul
 
Hi Tanya. I am new to this like you and went online buying all the low carb wet right away, including Instinct. You are correct that it has veggies, peas in the 4 types I got, and that is not a low carb veggie. I actually pick out the peas that I see in it when spooning it into the dish. I bought some Ziwipeak 6oz cans, in cases, on Chewy (best price I have found) and that food has no veggies from what I can see, just meat protein. I am going to stick with Ziwipeak along with some of the Tiki seafoods (amazon seems to have best price) for my boy. I was overwhelmed here at first but am learning quickly. Folks here are so helpful and they have all been through what we are just starting to go through. Paul
Hi Paul, great to connect with you! I hope that you are seeing some improvements in Bronx so far? It really has been a learning curve, could not have done it well without this group, so grateful to everyone for their help:) What part of the world are you based? I haven't seen Ziwipeak or Tiki here locally in Banff/Canmore, Canada, but I'll search around and see if I can find it somewhere nearby or online. Thats great they are lower in carbs. Yes I pick the peas out of Instinct too. I'm glad she's at least eating now but would like to improve on lowering carbs and possible some options that don't flare her skin too. Hopefully I can find these options here. Thanks again! All the best :)
 
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One of our other members used those exact ones from Vitacost so I guess it must be OK....if you have a health food store around, you might be able to find it there too.....you just want to make sure it doesn't contain any sugar or xylitol

You can get Zobaline but you'd have to buy it from Lifelink and I don't know how much the shipping would be to Canada (but they do ship there)
Thanks so much Chris! I'll try find it at my local health store and avoid all the sugars and get it as clean as possible.
 
Hi Paul, great to connect with you! I hope that you are seeing some improvements in Bronx so far? It really has been a learning curve, could not have done it well without this group, so grateful to everyone for their help:) What part of the world are you based? I haven't seen Ziwipeak or Tiki here locally in Banff/Canmore, Canada, but I'll search around and see if I can find it somewhere nearby or online. Thats great they are lower in carbs. Yes I pick the peas out of Instinct too. I'm glad she's at least eating now but would like to improve on lowering carbs and possible some options that don't flare her skin too. Hopefully I can find these options here. Thanks again! All the best :)
I am in NJ but buy all food online. Chewy.com for the Ziwipeak and Amazon.com for the Tiki. I also found mixed flavor cases of Ziwipeak so you can see what flavors Tinka likes best before you buy a whole case since the food is not cheap. Many others have used food readily found in the pet aisle at supermarkets but not sure what brands they use that are low in carbs. I add water to the food as much as Bronx will tolerate since ketones are always a concern when our cats are at high BG #s. There are two ways to home test for ketones, a "dipstrip" that is tested with the urine and color change indicates ketone status or blood meter used like a BG meter. Those meters are not so cheap and neither are the ketone strips used in them. Any pharmacy will have the dipstrips which are cheap and that is what I mainly use. There are a few methods to get the urine. My method is using a ladel while he pees. Another method is placing plastic wrap in the box to capture the urine before it hits the litter. I have learned so much in the short time I have been here and you will too. Paul
 
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found this in another thread http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-here-fancy-feast-in-canada.40718/
In Canada, we actually have a good selection of grocery store brands that are low carb. Compliments (Sobeys/IGA) and President's Choice (SuperStore, LobLaws) foods are good choices. One big bonus is that the PC and Compliments cost less than FF, and several of them have better ingredients! There are several PC flavours that are low carb- like duck - which FF doesn't even carry. The WalMart and PC ones are in Janet's international charts, and the FF ones are in her old charts. Regardless, stick with pate ones - no gravies. The gravy ones are full of corn starch. If it's used, wheat gluten is listed on the labels in the ingredients, so it's easy to avoid those if you like.

The Compliments ones (Sobeys) also have really good pates. The ones you buy in a box (turkey and giblets, beef dinner, and mixed grill) are all pates and good to use.

Friskies also has some really good low carb pates, and it says "Pate" clearly on the label. My guys like turkey & giblets, chef's dinner, chicken dinner and - as a once a week treat only!- the salmon dinner or whitefish and tuna.

If they are not in Janet's list, the next best thing is to label read- avoid obvious grains (wheat, rice, corn) and other carbs (potatoes, peas), fruit & vegetables, and things called "food starch".. which I assume is cornstarch, but the "starch" part says "stay away" to a sugarcat.
 
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