FurBabiesMama
Member Since 2017
Hi. I did not feel that the vet who diagnosed Mia's diabetes was knowledgeable enough. For one thing, she recommended against home testing and wanted me to come in every couple of weeks for a fructosamine test - enough said. So, I decided to find a new one. I found a mobile vet service, and emailed a couple of questions. I could tell by the responses that this vet had more knowledge - for example, she feels at-home testing and periodic curves are the best way to monitor/decide dosing - so I decided to give her a try.
The first visit was yesterday. First, let me say that mobile vet service is AWESOME. It was so much better having her come to us than having to take Mia to an office. She asked about what I am feeding her and had me show her the Young Again bag. She asked where I was getting my info on which wet foods to use, and when I told her catinfo.org, she was actually familiar with it. I told her I try to stick with 5% carbs or less which she said is great, and that I would like to eventually have them on wet only though that is not going so well. She agreed with that goals. She wants me to continue to monitor symptoms - drinking/urination/appetite - and weigh daily or every other day.
So, here are the things she recommends/says that are a little different than what I have read here, and I would like your thoughts on this, please:
1) I have read that ketone checks should be done regularly. She said that with a diabetic cat, I need to be alert to any symptoms of sickness and treat them as urgent, but if none are present, there is no reason for blood work, urinalysis or even ketone checks any more than maybe every 6 months.
2) I have read that if a pre-shot test is lower than 225/250 (AlphaTRAK), I should not give a shot but should stall and test again and so on. She said if pre-shot test results are not below 100, to give the shot as normal, and if they are slightly below 100, she still wants me to give the normal shot but first make SURE Mia has eaten some.
3) She does not want me adjusting dosing without her okaying it. She said that changing the dosing around too much can slow down the process of getting them regulated.
4) It had been suggested to me that Mia may have done some bouncing, and what I read on it made me agree, but she said she does not think so. She said Mia did not go low enough for the somogyi effect. She said her body is just having to adjust to lower levels (and the correct response is to hold firm on the dosing and let it work itself out).
5) She said our goal range should be 90-270. I have read many different things about ranges. so I really do not know on this one. Throwing it in here for feedback.
Sorry this is SUPER long, but I wanted to get it all in. Feedback on any or all points is appreciated. Thank you.
The first visit was yesterday. First, let me say that mobile vet service is AWESOME. It was so much better having her come to us than having to take Mia to an office. She asked about what I am feeding her and had me show her the Young Again bag. She asked where I was getting my info on which wet foods to use, and when I told her catinfo.org, she was actually familiar with it. I told her I try to stick with 5% carbs or less which she said is great, and that I would like to eventually have them on wet only though that is not going so well. She agreed with that goals. She wants me to continue to monitor symptoms - drinking/urination/appetite - and weigh daily or every other day.
So, here are the things she recommends/says that are a little different than what I have read here, and I would like your thoughts on this, please:
1) I have read that ketone checks should be done regularly. She said that with a diabetic cat, I need to be alert to any symptoms of sickness and treat them as urgent, but if none are present, there is no reason for blood work, urinalysis or even ketone checks any more than maybe every 6 months.
2) I have read that if a pre-shot test is lower than 225/250 (AlphaTRAK), I should not give a shot but should stall and test again and so on. She said if pre-shot test results are not below 100, to give the shot as normal, and if they are slightly below 100, she still wants me to give the normal shot but first make SURE Mia has eaten some.
3) She does not want me adjusting dosing without her okaying it. She said that changing the dosing around too much can slow down the process of getting them regulated.
4) It had been suggested to me that Mia may have done some bouncing, and what I read on it made me agree, but she said she does not think so. She said Mia did not go low enough for the somogyi effect. She said her body is just having to adjust to lower levels (and the correct response is to hold firm on the dosing and let it work itself out).
5) She said our goal range should be 90-270. I have read many different things about ranges. so I really do not know on this one. Throwing it in here for feedback.
Sorry this is SUPER long, but I wanted to get it all in. Feedback on any or all points is appreciated. Thank you.
