How to have a convo with your vet

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Tina and Gracie (GA)

Tina and Gracie (GA)

Member Since 2017
I know I need to have the conversation with my vet that I've been home testing and have NOT been administrating the insulin.
Note** I would inject--pending her numbers needed it.

It's going to be an awkward conversation, as she advised again't home testing after I came in one day having a panic attack over low blood sugar.

But, if I didn't home test I wouldn't have known something was wrong, or that her insulin was too high.

I really like her. So, please don't say to switch. I just need suggestions on how to start the convo.
 
Teenuh said:
I know I need to have the conversation with my vet that I've been home testing and have NOT been administrating the insulin.
Note** I would inject--pending her numbers needed it.

It's going to be an awkward conversation, as she advised again't home testing after I came in one day having a panic attack over low blood sugar.

But, if I didn't home test I wouldn't have known something was wrong, or that her insulin was too high.

I really like her. So, please don't say to switch. I just need suggestions on how to start the convo.
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I think if you're comfortable and she is willing to work with you to provide the best care for your kitty, then switching is unnecessary. I think many people here have stated, and probably most of us believe, that home testing is really best practice when it comes to managing diabetes. Nobody would suggest giving insulin to a human without home testing, so why is it ok for our fur babies? Maybe just starting by explaining that home testing felt like the right thing to do for your peace of mind and the health of your kitty, and let the spreadsheet speak for itself. :bighug:
 
Kris & Teasel said:
Your best weapon in this discussion is your SS. Even if you were using a pet meter, Gracie's BGs would still be under 100. That would be too low to give insulin. I don't see how your vet can argue against home testing with evidence like this - presented very tactfully of course. :)
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Are the AT meters mostly as accurate? I did wonder today--what if.... her numbers are actually significantly higher on the pet meter.
 
Teenuh said:
Are the AT meters mostly as accurate? I did wonder today--what if.... her numbers are actually significantly higher on the pet meter.
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The pet meter will read higher but the difference is less at low BGs and more at high BGs. Most people use a human meter because the AT test strips are too darned expensive for the amount of testing we recommend.
 
Teenuh said:
Hmmm. I'm debating on whether or not to order another set of testing strips. I ran out awhile ago.

Even in Canada they are expensive?
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They are far more expensive in Canada! You’d think they were gold plated but our insulin is far cheaper here. We go through more strips than insulin tho. Here it’s about $1 per strip most human meters. I order from eBay.
 
My vet thinks over 8 units is too much insulin. I am going to try switching Phoebe to Levimir. I've been able to get my insulin without a prescription. But now I need one. I am dreadin the conversation telling her I am giving 15.5units. She also thinks 150 is good numbers to live with and is gonna freak at the lower 100s and 70s. I'm a wuss. Asking for bravery vines.
 
Phoebes said:
My vet thinks over 8 units is too much insulin. I am going to try switching Phoebe to Levimir. I've been able to get my insulin without a prescription. But now I need one. I am dreadin the conversation telling her I am giving 15.5units. She also thinks 150 is good numbers to live with and is gonna freak at the lower 100s and 70s. I'm a wuss. Asking for bravery vines.
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When is the conversation?

I really should of had the convo today while I was there today. We were discussing blood sugars, and I asked about coming off insulin--even though I've been off for just over a weekish. Opps.
 
Teenuh said:
When is the conversation?

I really should of had the convo today while I was there today. We were discussing blood sugars, and I asked about coming off insulin--even though I've been off for just over a weekish. Opps.
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Tomorrow over the phone. :/
 
Teenuh said:
Pet insurance I hear covers the supplies...little late for that though.
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Was too late for us too. We emigrated from the UK with our cats. Had pet insurance in the UK but once out here it proved to be the case once you read the fine print that adult cats were hardly covered really for anything coz of age and the premiums were through the rooftops.
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
Those are pretty awesome number on your ss especially using alpha track....nicely done!:D
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Only the top are AT. And I must admit during that phase she was technically on a dose that was two high which was making her go from high 400's down to 50ish in a 2+ span.

Switched over to human meter and a lower dose and it was like night and day for her. I dare not say the R-word though!

I can't take all the credit. @Djamila is the one who nudged me to test more. I was stubborn and hesitant.
 
PussCatPrince said:
Was too late for us too. We emigrated from the UK with our cats. Had pet insurance in the UK but once out here it proved to be the case once you read the fine print that adult cats were hardly covered really for anything coz of age and the premiums were through the rooftops.
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Don't forget about pre-existing conditions. Ahhhh pet insurance sounds similar to human insurance.

At least we know next time. I swear...a memo should be given to every new pet owner , but then the pet insurance companies wouldn't make money.:banghead:
 
PussCatPrince said:
Was too late for us too. We emigrated from the UK with our cats. Had pet insurance in the UK but once out here it proved to be the case once you read the fine print that adult cats were hardly covered really for anything coz of age and the premiums were through the rooftops.
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You’re British? Knew I liked you :D I’m Scottish. Emigrated to Canada.
 
Teenuh said:
@Kris & Teasel do you ever use the AT?
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I used it at earlier on and for a while was able to order strips from a Canadian pet pharmacy at (relatively) good prices. I stockpiled a bunch then and when they ran out I switched to a Freestyle Lite meter and haven't looked back. Those strips are still expensive by US standards but less than half the cost of AT strips. At least we can insulin cheaply and Lantus/Levemir are available over the counter for us in human pharmacies.
 
Teenuh said:
I know I need to have the conversation with my vet that I've been home testing and have NOT been administrating the insulin.
Note** I would inject--pending her numbers needed it.

It's going to be an awkward conversation, as she advised again't home testing after I came in one day having a panic attack over low blood sugar.

But, if I didn't home test I wouldn't have known something was wrong, or that her insulin was too high.

I really like her. So, please don't say to switch. I just need suggestions on how to start the convo.
Click to expand...

I am wondering...are you going to the vet for this conversation? If so, why? It looks like Gracie is doing great, so why does she have to go to the vet? I am asking partially because I think it might impact how I would 'start the convo'. If you were just supposed to go in for a glucose check since the doctor did not want you home testing, could you just call or email them?

I think I would let them know that I was doing regular home testing because I feel that not doing so would be irresponsible and would unnecessarily put my baby at risk. You could point out that the AAHA Guidelines actually recommend it. (Using data from a 'legitimate' source can make them take you a little more seriously...and it should be much harder for them to dispute the facts.) Here are a few related excerpts from the guidelines:
"Home monitoring of BG is ideal and strongly encouraged to obtain the most accurate interpretation of glucose relative to clinical signs. Most owners are able to learn to do this with a little encouragement, and interpretation of glucose results is much easier for the clinician."
"In-clinic blood glucose curves (BGCs) are more likely to be affected by stress hyperglycemia than BGCs generated at home. Veterinarians should be cautious of high glucose results and subsequent overzealous increases in dose."
"The pressing concern for the newly diagnosed and treated cat is the development of hypoglycemia in individuals that may quickly go into remission. Cats on long-acting insulin may not show overt signs of hypoglycemia until the BG is dangerously low, so it is important to identify impending hypoglycemia by home glucose testing whenever possible."

You could share your spreadsheet with her to let her see the numbers - would she have wanted you to shoot insulin on those low numbers?! Maybe you could wait until there have been low numbers and no insulin for at least two weeks and offer to come in for a fructosamine to confirm/prove that she is in remission.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
I used it at earlier on and for a while was able to order strips from a Canadian pet pharmacy at (relatively) good prices. I stockpiled a bunch then and when they ran out I switched to a Freestyle Lite meter and haven't looked back. Those strips are still expensive by US standards but less than half the cost of AT strips. At least we can insulin cheaply and Lantus/Levemir are available over the counter for us in human pharmacies.
Click to expand...
I order Freestyle Lite on eBay. Got 200 strips for $122. Better than here.
 
FurBabiesMama said:
I am wondering...are you going to the vet for this conversation? If so, why? It looks like Gracie is doing great, so why does she have to go to the vet? I am asking partially because I think it might impact how I would 'start the convo'. If you were just supposed to go in for a glucose check since the doctor did not want you home testing, could you just call or email them?

I think I would let them know that I was doing regular home testing because I feel that not doing so would be irresponsible and would unnecessarily put my baby at risk. You could point out that the AAHA Guidelines actually recommend it. (Using data from a 'legitimate' source can make them take you a little more seriously...and it should be much harder for them to dispute the facts.) Here are a few related excerpts from the guidelines:
"Home monitoring of BG is ideal and strongly encouraged to obtain the most accurate interpretation of glucose relative to clinical signs. Most owners are able to learn to do this with a little encouragement, and interpretation of glucose results is much easier for the clinician."
"In-clinic blood glucose curves (BGCs) are more likely to be affected by stress hyperglycemia than BGCs generated at home. Veterinarians should be cautious of high glucose results and subsequent overzealous increases in dose."
"The pressing concern for the newly diagnosed and treated cat is the development of hypoglycemia in individuals that may quickly go into remission. Cats on long-acting insulin may not show overt signs of hypoglycemia until the BG is dangerously low, so it is important to identify impending hypoglycemia by home glucose testing whenever possible."

You could share your spreadsheet with her to let her see the numbers - would she have wanted you to shoot insulin on those low numbers?! Maybe you could wait until there have been low numbers and no insulin for at least two weeks and offer to come in for a fructosamine to confirm/prove that she is in remission.
Click to expand...

I gave her my spreadsheet in my early numbers when I was using AT. This was the day I went in because she was having a hypo.
I wish I knew what she thought of it. She probably thought I was some crazy person, but in reality she has felines who have diabetes. I'd be curious to know if she tests. I'm almost 99% certain she does...she has to. She knows the risks.

I actually saw her yesterday. I thought Gracie was sick. They did a fructosamine ( I didn't pay for it, as I declined it). She did it anyway and just didn't charge me--wasn't really happy about that. Still waiting on the phone call for the numbers--hopefully today. If they numbers are still semi high I'll hold of on the convo until I get a little more time with low numbers and ask to recheck. If the test shows good numbers (non-diabetic numbers) then I think I'm going to have to have the convo, as I really would rather tell her the truth. If she disagrees then I may have to look for a different vet.

I'd just rather have a good solid leg to stand on. AAHA guidleines, BS numbers and low fructosamine.
 
Some good advice here - best of luck talking to your vet! I wish I had had "the talk" with my former vet. I was pretty committed to switching by that point, but now I wonder if they're giving the same bad advice to new clients and it bothers me. It sounds like your vet is a lot more willing to listen to you than mine was. Even if they don't, you'll know that you tried and that you're doing the best you can for your kitteh.
 
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