Now what? Advice?

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Kris10S

Kris10S

Member Since 2017
So today I have been home all day and wanted to do a mini curve to see how Oliver is doing. As you can tell by the numbers from just today not good. I am freaking out seeing a number in the 500s and just need some reassurance. I haven't been testing so who knows how long it's been this high.

Today I took away all dry and have only given wet to graze or snack on to see if he would be willing to eat it and he's eaten just about all of it. I know it takes time to see numbers change when removing dry, but I'm at my breaking point and need to see him better.

Friskies pate. 1/2 can at meal times and 1/2 left out watered down to snack on.

He's eating okay, drinking a normal amount, but very lazy (as expected). I don't care if he needs insulin I just want him regulated!

Any advice?
 
Kris10S said:
So today I have been home all day and wanted to do a mini curve to see how Oliver is doing. As you can tell by the numbers from just today not good. I am freaking out seeing a number in the 500s and just need some reassurance. I haven't been testing so who knows how long it's been this high.

Today I took away all dry and have only given wet to graze or snack on to see if he would be willing to eat it and he's eaten just about all of it. I know it takes time to see numbers change when removing dry, but I'm at my breaking point and need to see him better.

Friskies pate. 1/2 can at meal times and 1/2 left out watered down to snack on.

He's eating okay, drinking a normal amount, but very lazy (as expected). I don't care if he needs insulin I just want him regulated!

Any advice?
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Good signs - eating, drinking, OK with canned food. Congrats for getting three tests today so far. If you can try for one more before bed tonight that would help. You're building your baseline data base right now and, as difficult as it is, getting 4 tests a day for the next 2 or 3 days at this same 2 u dose is what you need. That should tell us what needs to happen next dose-wise.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Good signs - eating, drinking, OK with canned food. Congrats for getting three tests today so far. If you can try for one more before bed tonight that would help. You're building your baseline data base right now and, as difficult as it is, getting 4 tests a day for the next 2 or 3 days at this same 2 u dose is what you need. That should tell us what needs to happen next dose-wise.
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Thanks. I was able to get the 4 hour reading tonight. I absolutely hate sticking him so much and I wish he understood me when I told him I was doing it to help him. I will try for the same again tomorrow.
 
Kris10S said:
Thanks. I was able to get the 4 hour reading tonight. I absolutely hate sticking him so much and I wish he understood me when I told him I was doing it to help him. I will try for the same again tomorrow.
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We all understand the feeling of not wanting to hurt your kitty. You'll get a bit calmer about it over time and as you start seeing progress you'll be glad you're doing it. You'll be especially glad the first time you get a really low number and have an OMG moment - OMG, what if I'd given insulin on that number?!
 
good call ditching the dry.... look already today's preshot is better! It's a marathon. I was still getting numbers like yours two months after starting insulin.... you'll get there!
 
Kris10S said:
No, just purchased earlier this month. Has an expiration of 08/2018 on the vile.
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Mine had the same expiration date too but I believe it goes by how long since the first dose was taken from the vial. The manufacture says you should use a vial for 42 days but that doesn't seem to be anything to pay close attention to. Members here have had different kinds keep for a few months from beginning of vial use.. My boy's numbers went up for no reason I could see and I had lost track of how many days it had been in use so I started a new vial and bingo, his numbers came back in a good range.
 
vbc2000 said:
Mine had the same expiration date too but I believe it goes by how long since the first dose was taken from the vial. The manufacture says you should use a vial for 42 days but that doesn't seem to be anything to pay close attention to. Members here have had different kinds keep for a few months from beginning of vial use.. My boy's numbers went up for no reason I could see and I had lost track of how many days it had been in use so I started a new vial and bingo, his numbers came back in a good range.
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Oh this is good to know! I was hoping it would last a while as it is expensive. My vet is out until tomorrow so I can't update her until then and see what she recommends, but I will bring this up. She did say like any medication that overtime it can become less effective.
 
JanetNJ said:
good call ditching the dry.... look already today's preshot is better! It's a marathon. I was still getting numbers like yours two months after starting insulin.... you'll get there!
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Thanks! So far so good on eating only wet. I am using a few bits of dry for treats right now, but that's it. I am glad to know that you were seeing the same numbers after starting insulin, gives me hope that we will get regulated eventually.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
We all understand the feeling of not wanting to hurt your kitty. You'll get a bit calmer about it over time and as you start seeing progress you'll be glad you're doing it. You'll be especially glad the first time you get a really low number and have an OMG moment - OMG, what if I'd given insulin on that number?!
Click to expand...

I was able to get all numbers yesterday again. I am down to 3 test strips until I can order more on Friday so I will have to wait again until I see if the Vet ups his dose or what she suggests tomorrow.
 
Kris10S said:
I was able to get all numbers yesterday again. I am down to 3 test strips until I can order more on Friday so I will have to wait again until I see if the Vet ups his dose or what she suggests tomorrow.
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If it were my cat I would do 2.5 and see what happens.

I learned the hard way to always have a backup bottle of strips. Lol

8 months pregnant! Wow congratulations! It's this your first
 
JanetNJ said:
If it were my cat I would do 2.5 and see what happens.

I learned the hard way to always have a backup bottle of strips. Lol

8 months pregnant! Wow congratulations! It's this your first
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My vet it out until tomorrow, but I feel like that might be what she suggests anyway and we have always upped the dose on Monday's. I kind of wanted to give Oliver's ears a little break too after this weekend so I thought that I should wait until I am prepared to test on the higher dose. After switching him to all wet do you think I am feeding him too much? I see people say they switch to wet and the numbers start to fall and we saw the opposite. Yes! This is my first besides Oliver of course. I am having some anxiety over him not being the center of my world anymore and being able to give me the time and attention he needs. Luckily in a couple months I will be home for 12 weeks and hopefully get him regulated in that time.
 
Kris10S said:
My vet it out until tomorrow, but I feel like that might be what she suggests anyway and we have always upped the dose on Monday's. I kind of wanted to give Oliver's ears a little break too after this weekend so I thought that I should wait until I am prepared to test on the higher dose. After switching him to all wet do you think I am feeding him too much? I see people say they switch to wet and the numbers start to fall and we saw the opposite. Yes! This is my first besides Oliver of course. I am having some anxiety over him not being the center of my world anymore and being able to give me the time and attention he needs. Luckily in a couple months I will be home for 12 weeks and hopefully get him regulated in that time.
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I don't think you are feeding too much... He will eat a lot until his numbers come down.... Then he will be less hungry.

How exciting for you! My son just turned 5. He said when he's grown he wants 100 cats. No, no you don't. Lol

That's great you will have those three months to work on really getting him regulated.
 
JanetNJ said:
I don't think you are feeding too much... He will eat a lot until his numbers come down.... Then he will be less hungry.

How exciting for you! My son just turned 5. He said when he's grown he wants 100 cats. No, no you don't. Lol

That's great you will have those three months to work on really getting him regulated.
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That makes me feel better! I was worried maybe the additional food was contributing to his higher number.

100 cats is way too many (lol), but I could see having two. My husband isn't on board and now with a baby and Oliver's issues one cat and a dog is PLENTY!
 
Kris10S said:
That makes me feel better! I was worried maybe the additional food was contributing to his higher number.

100 cats is way too many (lol), but I could see having two. My husband isn't on board and now with a baby and Oliver's issues one cat and a dog is PLENTY!
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I had 5 when Phil was born.... Then we acquired 2 more, then our Zimmy passed away.... So currently we have 6.
 
JanetNJ said:
I had 5 when Phil was born.... Then we acquired 2 more, then our Zimmy passed away.... So currently we have 6.
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You're brave!! Oliver is my first and only cat. Growing up my mom didn't want one bc she said it would scratch all her furniture and pee on everything. I turned 18 and she bought me Oliver. When I moved out years later and took him with me she hated not having a cat and got one for the family! I love being a Cat mom!
 
Kris10S said:
You're brave!! Oliver is my first and only cat. Growing up my mom didn't want one bc she said it would scratch all her furniture and pee on everything. I turned 18 and she bought me Oliver. When I moved out years later and took him with me she hated not having a cat and got one for the family! I love being a Cat mom!
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We only sought to adopt our first 2... The other 5 were strays that found us. There's one trying to worm her way in... A stray we've been feeding about a year. I'm trying to resist
IMG_5092.JPG
 
JanetNJ said:
We only sought to adopt our first 2... The other 5 were strays that found us. There's one trying to worm her way in... A stray we've been feeding about a year. I'm trying to resist View attachment 30626
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I've fed a couple strays, but always found someone that could take them to a shelter. Oliver wouldn't tolerate another cat, I tried once and it didn't go well.
 
Kris10S said:
I've fed a couple strays, but always found someone that could take them to a shelter. Oliver wouldn't tolerate another cat, I tried once and it didn't go well.
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We have 5-7 that are here every day. Had them all fixed and installed a pet door to the garage so they can have shelter. In the garage are a heated pad and tent in the winter. We are sucker.
 
JanetNJ said:
We have 5-7 that are here every day. Had them all fixed and installed a pet door to the garage so they can have shelter. In the garage are a heated pad and tent in the winter. We are sucker.
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That is amazing. I would if I could. I would love to become a foster cat mom one day, but I am afraid I would get too attached and then just have cats everywhere!
 
Kris10S said:
That is amazing. I would if I could. I would love to become a foster cat mom one day, but I am afraid I would get too attached and then just have cats everywhere!
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It's hard! I've only done that twice. A stray had two kittens that we caught and teamed and rehomed... It was hard to let them go. Here's Phil with one of the kittens.
IMG_3946.JPG
 
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