Newly diagnosed

[Stacee]

My 8 year old, female kitty Gingey was diagnosed last week. Over the weekend we had glucose curve test done at veterinary clinic. Doctor recommended food change/feeding schedule. Slowly changing food from all dry to wet. Scheduling is proving a bit frustrating because she was a free feeder who grazed through out the day. 12hr schedule is making her really "meowy" she is currently on Novolin 1.5 units every 12 hours. She is improving greatly. Able to jump on the bed and counter again. Waiting for home glucose meter to be delivered. I feel really uncomfortable administering insulin without checking levels first. Probably stems from having diabetic humans in my life. I think we will be ok just a lot to learn and get used to. Excessive thirst is gone, litter box isn't flooded with urine. I look forward to reading and Leary as much as I can from this site to help my little furbaby.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Welcome.
The human insulin N/NPH like your Novolin (assuming it is N and not R or combination of N and R) is sometimes prescribed but only lasts 8-10 hours and does not work well in many cats.
It is good that you are pursuing home testing. Most of us here test our cat's blood glucose at home using a human meter. We test before each shot and periodically between shots. We record our reading and other info in a spreadsheet. See:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Here is a link to home testing blood sugar
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

It is good that yo are changing to canned food. A low-carb canned is best. No reason for a prescription food. Here is a list of commercial low-carb canned
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/shortcut-shopping-list-all-8-or-less-updated.117688/

 

[Gill & George]

Hello and welcome,

Waiting for home glucose meter to be delivered.

If you are waiting for a pet meter, I would just get a human meter from the pharmacy and start testing right away, they work pretty well for a cat and are accurate enough for home use for us to keep our kitties safe, not to mention they are a lot more economical and strips easily available which is great if you find yourself running out.
I'm not surprised you feel uncomfortable shooting blind, I would too, and in particular if you are making the change from a dry to a low carb wet, be aware that the changes in BG can be quite dramatic for some kittis as you make the change, so the sooner you start testing the safer.

A lot of folk in the US use the relion confirm, I believe it's from walmart.

What wet food are you swapping over to?

 

[JanetNJ]

Welcome! You can feed in between shot times. Most of us feed several times a day

 

[Heather H]

That's what I'm having to do with Frannie. She was getting both moist and dry. Just gave her the last bit of dry today and tomorrow will be starting strictly on the wet. We're still in the getting use to it all phase as well. She seems to be doing well for now and has an appointment next wednesday the 15th to see how things are going. Best of luck to you and your baby from Frannie and I!

 

[Stacee]

Hello and welcome,



If you are waiting for a pet meter, I would just get a human meter from the pharmacy and start testing right away, they work pretty well for a cat and are accurate enough for home use for us to keep our kitties safe, not to mention they are a lot more economical and strips easily available which is great if you find yourself running out.
I'm not surprised you feel uncomfortable shooting blind, I would too, and in particular if you are making the change from a dry to a low carb wet, be aware that the changes in BG can be quite dramatic for some kittis as you make the change, so the sooner you start testing the safer.

A lot of folk in the US use the relion confirm, I believe it's from walmart.

What wet food are you swapping over to?

I am switching to hill DM wet food the vet recommended. I will pick up human meter today, I had no idea I could use human meter. . She seems to be doing ok. I was surprised at list of non prescription commercial foods she could have that aren't as expensive. I'm heading out to Walmart to grab a few to see what she like. Gingey was feed dry food exclusively she is loving the wet food.

 

[Stacee]

Welcome.
The human insulin N/NPH like your Novolin (assuming it is N and not R or combination of N and R) is sometimes prescribed but only lasts 8-10 hours and does not work well in many cats.
It is good that you are pursuing home testing. Most of us here test our cat's blood glucose at home using a human meter. We test before each shot and periodically between shots. We record our reading and other info in a spreadsheet. See:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Here is a link to home testing blood sugar
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

It is good that yo are changing to canned food. A low-carb canned is best. No reason for a prescription food. Here is a list of commercial low-carb canned
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/shortcut-shopping-list-all-8-or-less-updated.117688/

Thank you for list of food!

 

[JanetNJ]

I am switching to hill DM wet food the vet recommended. I will pick up human meter today, I had no idea I could use human meter. . She seems to be doing ok. I was surprised at list of non prescription commercial foods she could have that aren't as expensive. I'm heading out to Walmart to grab a few to see what she like. Gingey was feed dry food exclusively she is loving the wet food.

The perscription food honestly is not better nutrition wise, and costs about $2 per can as opposed to .50 cents for fancy feast.

 

[JanetNJ]

Most of us on the boards feed either Fancy Feast Classic or Friskies Pate

 

[Gill & George]

I am switching to hill DM wet food the vet recommended. I will pick up human meter today, I had no idea I could use human meter. . She seems to be doing ok. I was surprised at list of non prescription commercial foods she could have that aren't as expensive. I'm heading out to Walmart to grab a few to see what she like. Gingey was feed dry food exclusively she is loving the wet food.

Sounds like George, he was on dry Rx food, as per vets recommendations, when he was diagnosed I swapped him to wet lc overnight, before starting insulin, and after reading stuff on here and and on Dr Lisa's site catinfo.org. and George never looked back, he actually prefers the wet..

 

[Stacee]

O gosh I am an idiot! I was getting high numbers on glucose meter. Called vet he asked me to come in at time she was due for next injection. Had me show him exactly how I was giving it. Turns out I was cheating her out of full dose. I was only giving 1 unit of Novolin not 1.5. Today her numbers are better. I am glad I have a great vet and glucose meter.