julie & punkin (ga)
Member Since 2011
The Critical Importance of Home-Testing, Even with the First Shot: Chewy (be forewarned, this is very sad) and Baby
The top portion of this post offers a "Table of Contents" of where to find commonly needed information from the Yellow-boxed stickies at the top of the Lantus/Levemir Insulin Support Group. The second portion of this post contains links that are often referred to, but that are not contained in the stickies.
From the Yellow-Boxed Stickies:
The Basics: New to the Group? Start Here:
...Treating a Hypo
...Daily threads & posting
...Create a spreadsheet
...Convert from mmol to mg
...FDMB FAQ's, including definition of regulation
...Feeding your diabetic cat, low carb treats, body condition score (how fat is your cat?), food lists
...Glucose Meters & spot checks
...Curves on Lantus & Levemir, understanding the tests you get
...Links to Tight Regulation Protocol and Start Low Go Slow approach
...Single topic posts
------Making the Most of Your Lantus/Lev Insulin Support Group
------Suggestions for Advice-Givers
------American Association of Feline Practitioners
------Health Links/FAQs about Feline Diabetes
------Hometesting Links and Tricks, Dosing with Calipers, Preventing Overdoses
------Using Food to Manipulate the Curve
------Feeding lowest/zero carb versus low carb
------Feed Kitty as Much as S/he Wants?
------How much should I feed? Feline Calorie Counter
------Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
------Should I Increase the Dose?
------New Dose Wonkiness, Bouncing, Failed Reductions
------Reminder: Earning Reductions and Starting OTJ Trials
------Reminder: Counting Cycles
------How Low is Too Low?
------Tight Regulation Protocol, Myths Debunked
------Cat on a Pogo Stick - Increase, Maintain or Lower the Dose to Stop Bouncing
------Feline Diabetes & Glucose Toxicity
------Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA); Oldtimer Alex Update & Ketone Awareness
------Dental Procedures
------A Primer on Pancreatitis
------Chronic Kidney Disease
------Vaccinations
------Acromegaly & Insulin Resistance Information
------2010 Special Report from AAHA: Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs & Cats
------2014 ~ 39th Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
~~~~~~~~~~Which Insulin in Cats - p 156
~~~~~~~~~~Management and Monitoring of the Diabetic Cat - p 160
~~~~~~~~~~Feline Diabetes - p 229
~~~~~~~~~~Diabetes Mellitus and Quality of Life - p 730
~~~~~~~~~~Acromegaly in Cats – p 733
~~~~~~~~~~Insulin Resistance – p 737 (description of mechanisms of resistance on p 738 under heading Pet)
~~~~~~~~~~Medical and Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus – p 739 (description on p 741 of glucose toxicity and lipotoxicity)
------French Fry's FD Library
------Where Can I Find?
------OTJ Party Videos
Lantus & Levemir - Syringe and Insulin Info, Handling, Drawing and Fine Doses
...Lantus & Levemir, what's the difference?
...Purchasing Lantus & Levemir
...How to handle the insulin & draw a dose
...Syringes, prefilling, testing on accuracy of markings
...Diluting Insulin
...How to know when your insulin is no longer effective, how long should it last?
...Syringes
...Video on how to draw Lantus or Levemir from a pen/cartridge or vial (made by julie & punkin)
...Pictorial guide to small doses
...Giving insulin injections; photos showing shot placement
Lantus & Levemir - What is the Insulin Depot?
...What is the Insulin Depot?
...Lantus & Levemir, what's the difference?
...Carryover & Overlap
Start Low Go Slow Method (SLGS)
...Treating a Hypo
...Requisites for following SLGS
...Guidelines on Dosing - starting, increasing, decreasing a dose
...Shooting and Handling Low Numbers
...Remission, Relapse of cats in remission
...Understanding the action of your insulin
Tight Regulation Protocol:
...Links for dealing with hypos
...Links to the various versions of the Rand/Roomp Dosing Protocol for Lantus & Levemir users
~~~~AlphaTrak users can find their meters referenced on page 4 of the 2013 PDF that you must download entitled "Management of Diabetic Cats Using Long-Lasting Insulins," by Rand, located on the TR Protocol page linked above.
...Requisites for following the Tight Regulation Protocol
...Weight Based formula & calculator for initial Lantus dose
...How often to test when you start your cat on insulin
...When to increase, hold or decrease a dose
...Remission, link to study about cats in remission and impaired responses to glucose
Lantus & Levemir - Tight Regulation Protocol: Shooting & Handling Low Numbers
...Links to dealing with a hypo
...Becoming Data Ready to Shoot Low Numbers
...How to Deal with Low Preshot Numbers
...Don't Panic! or How to Handle Low Numbers
Is Tight Regulation Possible With a Full-Time Job? Yes!
It's recommended that all new members should begin with the posts listed above. The yellow-boxed stickies contain the fundamentals to learn how to use Lantus and Levemir with your diabetic cat.
From the Announcements: Suggestions for Advice-Givers
After learning the basics, you may have additional questions that aren't addressed in the stickies above. The posts below are from the bookmark collections of Amy & Trixie, Dyana & JD, Julie & Punkin, Marje & Gracie, Sandy & BK, Sienne & Gabby and Wendy & Neko. We compiled the best of our bookmarked posts that often explain more about what is in the stickies and apply the information to particular cats and situations. As with everything on this site, the discussions are by lay people, not veterinarians, except for some posts by Dr. Lisa, who is a vet. Overall, we thought they offer interesting discussions and opportunities to learn a little more about feline diabetes. If you have questions about something contained in the posts below, please open a new thread (condo) and ask how (or IF) it applies to your cat rather than bumping up these posts below.
A Collection of Interesting Past FDMB Posts:
Reflections on having a diabetic cat:
A Break Up Letter to D'Artagnon's Diabetes
A Tribute to FDMB from Genghis
Gabby's Tribute
Starting out with a diabetic cat:
A New Member's Advice to Other New Members
Updated Tips for New Members
Hometesting: Bonnie and Junior's Adventures
Counting Cycles
Dawn Phenomenon
Expectations, Why You Should Manage Expectations
Pet Specific Glucometers, discussions about pet meters vs human meters: Applying Dosing Guidelines from SLGS and Tight Reg Protocol to pet glucometer numbers: spreadsheet conversions: Pet Meter to human glucometer spreadsheet and AT/Merck value spreadsheet ; Low numbers on pet glucometers
Lantus, repackaged by Wedgewood Pharmacy
Reductions and starting OTJ Trials
Shooting Schedule, getting back on time
Somogyi, latest research disproving its existence: ; Somogyi, Bouncing, Overdosing, Charlie
Spreadsheets: Whole Cat Report and Spreadsheets, Spreadsheets - Jigsaw Puzzle Analogy, Coleman: Adding a new year to the ss
Testing & Shooting Tips: here and here ; Dosing with Calipers; Preventing Overdoses, Marking Vacation Doses;
Syringes in Australia:
....You get them from Hyperdrug UK: https://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/ and these are the syringes you get: BD Microfine Insulin Syringes 0.3 ml Item Number: BDMICROFINE03ML, webcode D7118. They take about a week or so to get to Australia.
Food is important:
Two different lists from CatInfo.org, sortable depending on what you need:
.....Food list - sort by components,
.....Cat Info (protein, fat, carb, phosphorus chart updated spring 2017) and
Cat Nutrition
Dry Food (low carb) in the Diet, by Dr. Lisa, DVM
Dry Food Carbs - Scooter from 5.5u to OTJ:
...and Scooter's ss (look at February 19th)
...Spider got rid of dry food starting 6/4 and ending 6/8, otj trial started 6/15
Food in Australia (Canned) for FD
Food in Canada
Feeders, Timed or Auto
Low Carb vs Lower Carb
Senior Kitties: Don't let your senior cat become a skinny old man
Senior Kitties: Metabolism Explained
My cat may be ill/not feeling great/have a special condition:
Appetite, lack of appetite and skipping shots; Appetite: Liver Shake Recipe
Assist Feeding (video)
Assist Feeding Yahoo Group
Blood Tests, Interpreting Results
Capsules, Chicken flavored
Cerenia
Chin Acne
Convenia by Dr. Lisa, DVM:
Dental: Find an accredited Veterinary Dentist in the US
Digestive Problems:
Feline Hepatic Lipidosis - Maverick's Story; Feline Assisted Feeding Yahoo Group
Glucose Toxicity
High Dose Kitties
......Acromegaly, Insulin Resistance, Insulin Autoantibodies: research and testing information
.......Acromegaly, IAA, Using R - collection of 12 links and information
.......Cushing's (Hyperadrenocorticism): Zoey 1 and Zoey 2; Purrdy 8/29/16; Turner 8/30/16
......Switching from Lantus to Levemir, JoJo & Dr. Lisa, dvm
......Switching from Lantus to Levemir, Doodles, advice before switching
Ketones, Blood Ketone Meter, Izzy
Ketones, Tigger; Barsa 4/3/15: and Barsa 4/7/15
Ketones, Mechanism of Diabetic Ketoacidosis graphic
Metacam in Cats
Overdose double-dosed Lantus - Ebby
Overdose - Ole 9uR instead of 9uLantus
Overdose - Baby 1st dose 5u instead of 0.5u
Pancreatitis & Concurrent Conditions (a vet well-known for her experience with feline pancreatitis)
Phosphorus Binders in cats with kidney disease
Slippery Elm Bark and a second link on SEB
Subcutaneous Fluids (Video):
Urinary Tract Inflammation/Infection, Dr. Lisa, DVM ; D-Mannose
Urine in mattresses, getting the smell out
Vaccines in Cats by Dr. Lisa, DVM
Special strategies that help some cats:
Bouncing, Jetta
Using Food to Manipulate the Curve, Tashie
Reductions, Reductions, Shaving & 3 drops below 50, Maggie
Reductions & OTJ Trials
Shooting Intra-muscular & Sid
Shooting Low
Tight Regulation, Following TR, Pumbaa & Suze
Tight Regulation Protocol: Myths Debunked (&Bouncing)
..........Post #6 Shooting a dropping number
..........Post #17 Increasing the dose during a bounce
..........Post #37 Combining elements of Start Low Go Slow & Tight Regulation Protocol
Traveling with Diabetic Kitties; and Traveling and Camping
If other members have bookmarked posts that contain helpful information that you would like to add to the list above, please post them below & include the main topic of the post.
The top portion of this post offers a "Table of Contents" of where to find commonly needed information from the Yellow-boxed stickies at the top of the Lantus/Levemir Insulin Support Group. The second portion of this post contains links that are often referred to, but that are not contained in the stickies.
From the Yellow-Boxed Stickies:
The Basics: New to the Group? Start Here:
...Treating a Hypo
...Daily threads & posting
...Create a spreadsheet
...Convert from mmol to mg
...FDMB FAQ's, including definition of regulation
...Feeding your diabetic cat, low carb treats, body condition score (how fat is your cat?), food lists
...Glucose Meters & spot checks
...Curves on Lantus & Levemir, understanding the tests you get
...Links to Tight Regulation Protocol and Start Low Go Slow approach
...Single topic posts
------Making the Most of Your Lantus/Lev Insulin Support Group
------Suggestions for Advice-Givers
------American Association of Feline Practitioners
------Health Links/FAQs about Feline Diabetes
------Hometesting Links and Tricks, Dosing with Calipers, Preventing Overdoses
------Using Food to Manipulate the Curve
------Feeding lowest/zero carb versus low carb
------Feed Kitty as Much as S/he Wants?
------How much should I feed? Feline Calorie Counter
------Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite
------Should I Increase the Dose?
------New Dose Wonkiness, Bouncing, Failed Reductions
------Reminder: Earning Reductions and Starting OTJ Trials
------Reminder: Counting Cycles
------How Low is Too Low?
------Tight Regulation Protocol, Myths Debunked
------Cat on a Pogo Stick - Increase, Maintain or Lower the Dose to Stop Bouncing
------Feline Diabetes & Glucose Toxicity
------Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA); Oldtimer Alex Update & Ketone Awareness
------Dental Procedures
------A Primer on Pancreatitis
------Chronic Kidney Disease
------Vaccinations
------Acromegaly & Insulin Resistance Information
------2010 Special Report from AAHA: Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs & Cats
------2014 ~ 39th Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
~~~~~~~~~~Which Insulin in Cats - p 156
~~~~~~~~~~Management and Monitoring of the Diabetic Cat - p 160
~~~~~~~~~~Feline Diabetes - p 229
~~~~~~~~~~Diabetes Mellitus and Quality of Life - p 730
~~~~~~~~~~Acromegaly in Cats – p 733
~~~~~~~~~~Insulin Resistance – p 737 (description of mechanisms of resistance on p 738 under heading Pet)
~~~~~~~~~~Medical and Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus – p 739 (description on p 741 of glucose toxicity and lipotoxicity)
------French Fry's FD Library
------Where Can I Find?
------OTJ Party Videos
Lantus & Levemir - Syringe and Insulin Info, Handling, Drawing and Fine Doses
...Lantus & Levemir, what's the difference?
...Purchasing Lantus & Levemir
...How to handle the insulin & draw a dose
...Syringes, prefilling, testing on accuracy of markings
...Diluting Insulin
...How to know when your insulin is no longer effective, how long should it last?
...Syringes
...Video on how to draw Lantus or Levemir from a pen/cartridge or vial (made by julie & punkin)
...Pictorial guide to small doses
...Giving insulin injections; photos showing shot placement
Lantus & Levemir - What is the Insulin Depot?
...What is the Insulin Depot?
...Lantus & Levemir, what's the difference?
...Carryover & Overlap
Start Low Go Slow Method (SLGS)
...Treating a Hypo
...Requisites for following SLGS
...Guidelines on Dosing - starting, increasing, decreasing a dose
...Shooting and Handling Low Numbers
...Remission, Relapse of cats in remission
...Understanding the action of your insulin
Tight Regulation Protocol:
...Links for dealing with hypos
...Links to the various versions of the Rand/Roomp Dosing Protocol for Lantus & Levemir users
~~~~AlphaTrak users can find their meters referenced on page 4 of the 2013 PDF that you must download entitled "Management of Diabetic Cats Using Long-Lasting Insulins," by Rand, located on the TR Protocol page linked above.
...Requisites for following the Tight Regulation Protocol
...Weight Based formula & calculator for initial Lantus dose
...How often to test when you start your cat on insulin
...When to increase, hold or decrease a dose
...Remission, link to study about cats in remission and impaired responses to glucose
Lantus & Levemir - Tight Regulation Protocol: Shooting & Handling Low Numbers
...Links to dealing with a hypo
...Becoming Data Ready to Shoot Low Numbers
...How to Deal with Low Preshot Numbers
...Don't Panic! or How to Handle Low Numbers
Is Tight Regulation Possible With a Full-Time Job? Yes!
It's recommended that all new members should begin with the posts listed above. The yellow-boxed stickies contain the fundamentals to learn how to use Lantus and Levemir with your diabetic cat.
From the Announcements: Suggestions for Advice-Givers
After learning the basics, you may have additional questions that aren't addressed in the stickies above. The posts below are from the bookmark collections of Amy & Trixie, Dyana & JD, Julie & Punkin, Marje & Gracie, Sandy & BK, Sienne & Gabby and Wendy & Neko. We compiled the best of our bookmarked posts that often explain more about what is in the stickies and apply the information to particular cats and situations. As with everything on this site, the discussions are by lay people, not veterinarians, except for some posts by Dr. Lisa, who is a vet. Overall, we thought they offer interesting discussions and opportunities to learn a little more about feline diabetes. If you have questions about something contained in the posts below, please open a new thread (condo) and ask how (or IF) it applies to your cat rather than bumping up these posts below.
A Collection of Interesting Past FDMB Posts:
Reflections on having a diabetic cat:
A Break Up Letter to D'Artagnon's Diabetes
A Tribute to FDMB from Genghis
Gabby's Tribute
Starting out with a diabetic cat:
A New Member's Advice to Other New Members
Updated Tips for New Members
Hometesting: Bonnie and Junior's Adventures
Counting Cycles
Dawn Phenomenon
Expectations, Why You Should Manage Expectations
Pet Specific Glucometers, discussions about pet meters vs human meters: Applying Dosing Guidelines from SLGS and Tight Reg Protocol to pet glucometer numbers: spreadsheet conversions: Pet Meter to human glucometer spreadsheet and AT/Merck value spreadsheet ; Low numbers on pet glucometers
Lantus, repackaged by Wedgewood Pharmacy
Reductions and starting OTJ Trials
Shooting Schedule, getting back on time
Somogyi, latest research disproving its existence: ; Somogyi, Bouncing, Overdosing, Charlie
Spreadsheets: Whole Cat Report and Spreadsheets, Spreadsheets - Jigsaw Puzzle Analogy, Coleman: Adding a new year to the ss
Testing & Shooting Tips: here and here ; Dosing with Calipers; Preventing Overdoses, Marking Vacation Doses;
Syringes in Australia:
....You get them from Hyperdrug UK: https://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/ and these are the syringes you get: BD Microfine Insulin Syringes 0.3 ml Item Number: BDMICROFINE03ML, webcode D7118. They take about a week or so to get to Australia.
Food is important:
Two different lists from CatInfo.org, sortable depending on what you need:
.....Food list - sort by components,
.....Cat Info (protein, fat, carb, phosphorus chart updated spring 2017) and
Cat Nutrition
Dry Food (low carb) in the Diet, by Dr. Lisa, DVM
Dry Food Carbs - Scooter from 5.5u to OTJ:
...and Scooter's ss (look at February 19th)
...Spider got rid of dry food starting 6/4 and ending 6/8, otj trial started 6/15
Food in Australia (Canned) for FD
Food in Canada
Feeders, Timed or Auto
Low Carb vs Lower Carb
Senior Kitties: Don't let your senior cat become a skinny old man
Senior Kitties: Metabolism Explained
My cat may be ill/not feeling great/have a special condition:
Appetite, lack of appetite and skipping shots; Appetite: Liver Shake Recipe
Assist Feeding (video)
Blood Tests, Interpreting Results
Capsules, Chicken flavored
Cerenia
Chin Acne
Convenia by Dr. Lisa, DVM:
Dental: Find an accredited Veterinary Dentist in the US
Digestive Problems:
Constipation, Maggie11 & Ann; Feline Constipation
Fortiflora
Hairballs/Chronic Vomiting
Probiotics in IBD (or other) cats
Probiotics, Prebiotics, S. Boulardii to stop Diarrhea
Antacids (Pepcid)
Euthanasia, Deciding When and How to Humanely Euthanize a Companion Animal and Quality of Life ScaleFortiflora
Hairballs/Chronic Vomiting
Probiotics in IBD (or other) cats
Probiotics, Prebiotics, S. Boulardii to stop Diarrhea
Antacids (Pepcid)
Feline Hepatic Lipidosis - Maverick's Story; Feline Assisted Feeding Yahoo Group
Glucose Toxicity
High Dose Kitties
......Acromegaly, Insulin Resistance, Insulin Autoantibodies: research and testing information
.......Acromegaly, IAA, Using R - collection of 12 links and information
.......Cushing's (Hyperadrenocorticism): Zoey 1 and Zoey 2; Purrdy 8/29/16; Turner 8/30/16
......Switching from Lantus to Levemir, JoJo & Dr. Lisa, dvm
......Switching from Lantus to Levemir, Doodles, advice before switching
Ketones, Blood Ketone Meter, Izzy
Ketones, Tigger; Barsa 4/3/15: and Barsa 4/7/15
Ketones, Mechanism of Diabetic Ketoacidosis graphic
Metacam in Cats
Overdose double-dosed Lantus - Ebby
Overdose - Ole 9uR instead of 9uLantus
Overdose - Baby 1st dose 5u instead of 0.5u
Pancreatitis & Concurrent Conditions (a vet well-known for her experience with feline pancreatitis)
Phosphorus Binders in cats with kidney disease
Slippery Elm Bark and a second link on SEB
Subcutaneous Fluids (Video):
Urinary Tract Inflammation/Infection, Dr. Lisa, DVM ; D-Mannose
Urine in mattresses, getting the smell out
Vaccines in Cats by Dr. Lisa, DVM
Special strategies that help some cats:
Bouncing, Jetta
Using Food to Manipulate the Curve, Tashie
Reductions, Reductions, Shaving & 3 drops below 50, Maggie
Reductions & OTJ Trials
Shooting Intra-muscular & Sid
Shooting Low
Tight Regulation, Following TR, Pumbaa & Suze
Tight Regulation Protocol: Myths Debunked (&Bouncing)
..........Post #6 Shooting a dropping number
..........Post #17 Increasing the dose during a bounce
..........Post #37 Combining elements of Start Low Go Slow & Tight Regulation Protocol
Traveling with Diabetic Kitties; and Traveling and Camping
If other members have bookmarked posts that contain helpful information that you would like to add to the list above, please post them below & include the main topic of the post.
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