WE DID IT!!!!!

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Emily'smom

Member Since 2017
Hello, friends! Got home from work and our new syringes (with half unit markings) AND our home test kit had arrived. So, my husband and I got right to work to learn how the meter/strips/lancets worked, and we home tested Emily for the first time! :) Got a reading of 298, which I know is high, but here are some stats: when she was eating "regular food (wet and dry) and on no insulin, her level was in the low 400's. On low carb wet, DM dry and .5 units 2x per day, she dipped to 60 during her day long glucose test. At vets suggestion, took her off insulin, and 2 weeks later on low carb wet and DM dry, she was in the low 200's. On our own, we put her back on appx. .25 unit 2x per day, but about a week and a half ago, she got very picky about eating, and not having any sort of number to go off of, we stopped giving her the insulin. After we got that 298 tonight, we fed her ... she ate an entire can of FF chunky chicken (something new for her and she seems to love it as it is a little chunkier than the pate that she seems to have a love/hate relationship with), and then gave her a .25 shot. Not quite sure where to go from here...suggestions? Currently, the ear prick test is a two person job. I assume we should test her again in the morning prior to feeding her. Should we not give her any food overnight? Normally she is a grazer so if we feed her at "dinner time" she will eat a little, and then overnight eat more so that for the most part when we get up in the morning, her "dinner" food is gone. Thoughts?? Thank you!! :)
 
Emily'smom said:
Hello, friends! Got home from work and our new syringes (with half unit markings) AND our home test kit had arrived. So, my husband and I got right to work to learn how the meter/strips/lancets worked, and we home tested Emily for the first time! :) Got a reading of 298, which I know is high, but here are some stats: when she was eating "regular food (wet and dry) and on no insulin, her level was in the low 400's. On low carb wet, DM dry and .5 units 2x per day, she dipped to 60 during her day long glucose test. At vets suggestion, took her off insulin, and 2 weeks later on low carb wet and DM dry, she was in the low 200's. On our own, we put her back on appx. .25 unit 2x per day, but about a week and a half ago, she got very picky about eating, and not having any sort of number to go off of, we stopped giving her the insulin. After we got that 298 tonight, we fed her ... she ate an entire can of FF chunky chicken (something new for her and she seems to love it as it is a little chunkier than the pate that she seems to have a love/hate relationship with), and then gave her a .25 shot. Not quite sure where to go from here...suggestions? Currently, the ear prick test is a two person job. I assume we should test her again in the morning prior to feeding her. Should we not give her any food overnight? Normally she is a grazer so if we feed her at "dinner time" she will eat a little, and then overnight eat more so that for the most part when we get up in the morning, her "dinner" food is gone. Thoughts?? Thank you!! :)
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Great job testing!!!

My only suggestion is to skip the dm food... It's about 15% carb. Cutting it out will be helpful in getting the numbers down.

Try to get a mid cycle number to see how low it is going.

Can you add to your signature what your cats name is, date diagnosed, insulin type, and food? Just click on your name at the top right and choose signature.
 
Next we're going to ask you to setup a Spreadsheet :smuggrin:: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Understanding the SS: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

You can feed overnight but try to make sure she has not eaten 2 hours prior to your morning pre shot test (AMPS). Same goes for evening. I refer to it as a 20/7 buffet ;). 2 hour fasting periods AM/PM.

Add on tip for Janet's suggestion of removing DM dry, if you do this you'll definitely want to keep testing her since she's already at 2.0U. I'd slowly take it out of the picture as she may need less insulin. Dry food medium carb food like Purina DM effected my boy and he did much better once I got him off of it and onto Young Again Zero :). Yes it is more expensive but the 8lb bag lasts me the same amount his old Purina Indoor formula 28lb bag lasted o_O. YAZ is a better food for the money. In turn, he still does OK with medium carb wet foods, especially since he is not very fond of pate :cat:.
 
It's scary the first few times. I guarantee you'll be a pro in no time. Look at Janet's signature - she made a great video on how to get blood and do ear tests.

Also, reinforcing Yong's advice. No food 2 hours prior to AM or PM test. That way you get valid tests.
 
Yong said:
Next we're going to ask you to setup a Spreadsheet :smuggrin:: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Understanding the SS: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

You can feed overnight but try to make sure she has not eaten 2 hours prior to your morning pre shot test (AMPS). Same goes for evening. I refer to it as a 20/7 buffet ;). 2 hour fasting periods AM/PM.

Add on tip for Janet's suggestion of removing DM dry, if you do this you'll definitely want to keep testing her since she's already at 2.0U. I'd slowly take it out of the picture as she may need less insulin. Dry food medium carb food like Purina DM effected my boy and he did much better once I got him off of it and onto Young Again Zero :). Yes it is more expensive but the 8lb bag lasts me the same amount his old Purina Indoor formula 28lb bag lasted o_O. YAZ is a better food for the money. In turn, he still does OK with medium carb wet foods, especially since he is not very fond of pate :cat:.
Click to expand...
I will think about setting up a spread sheet, but things are a bit crazy right now...we are leaving for vacation in a few days, and I still haven't figured out Emily's care, and am juggling two jobs. But, I have put it on the list of things to do! I can try to make sure she does not eat overnight (or at least 2 hours before her morning and evening pre-test), but not being home during the day, or being asleep at night, that is going to be somewhat hard to do. She is a grazer, so even though she is only feed morning and night, that food can last for a while, and she picks at it throughout the night and day. We tested her again this morning. I do know she did not eat beforehand. Her number was at 255, so down from 298 yesterday. We are only giving her 1/4 unit (not 2.0), so a very tiny amount, as 1/2 unit seemed to bring her mid-afternoon numbers too low (60). I have a new vet coming to the house this afternoon. I will do an afternoon test with her, and see what we come up with. I am also going to check out the Young Again Zero, as quite a few people on these boards have mentioned it. Thank you!! :)
 
You'll be a pro in no time! A good suggestion I got here was to give them treats after every test so they associate testing with something good. Sometimes Tigger is to fussy to test, like this morning. I usually try to do it when he's lying peacefully and kind of sneak up on him, lol. It's also important to make sure their ear is on the warm side...it helps with getting blood. I use a pill bottle filled with warm water and put it up against his ear. Keep practicing, it will get easier.

Boy do I understand about the stress of getting Emily's care sorted out before traveling. We were right at the beginning of our diabetes journey when we went away, and then again when he was on too high a dose. That was a worrisome weekend! I was always told to err on the side of them remaining too high because a hypoglycemic incident could be deadly so that's mostly what I was worried about. Talk to the vet this afternoon and see what she suggests for when you go away. Do you have a pet sitter who will give injections? I do thank God! Let us know how the vet goes....
Stephanie
 
You’re doing a great job!

I agree with what the others are saying about not feeding the DM… or any other dry food.

Derek’s absolute favorite is also FF chunky chicken… his also loves the FF Fish and Shrimp… both non-pate and low carb… I usually feed these just before his shot and as a snack.

Derek is also a grazer…

I would suggest just leaving wet food out for Emily… after awhile you’re figure out how much to leave out so she finishes it a few hours before her next shot (start with leaving a small amount out and work up from there)… this is what I do with Derek (and 9 other cats)… I’ll take up the plates if I’m around (or awake) a couple before his insulin time...

For the food I leave out… the ones I prefer (a bit cheaper)… and all the cats like are Friskies cat concoctions Pate Scrumptious Salmon & Chicken Liver Dinner, 9Lives Meaty pate with real chicken and 9Lives Meaty pate with real ocean whitefish… all very low carb...

Also... It's always a good idea to add a tablespoon or 2 of water to the pate... I use a shot glass :)...

Mix the water in really well... this makes it more gravy like (and more appealing) and helps keep kitty hydrated:cat:

Best of luck to you and Emily!

:):cat:
 
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Good job Emily's Mom! You sure are busy. It is hard to care for our kittehs with so much going on. Kudos to you.
 
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