Thank you + getting the word out there

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Fiona1

Fiona1

Member Since 2018
My cat had diabetes and ketoacidisis roughly a month ago. She was never diagnosed with diabetes before this.

I came to this forum right away and did my research. Also asked many questions.

There were 4 absolutely amazing people @Diana&Tom @Elizabeth and Bertie @Monica Lewis and @Kris & Teasel who gave me lots of information. These people were so amazing because they took the time out of their own lives to help me!

As you can now see from my spreadsheet, my cat may now be going into remission. Time will tell! I think the diabetes was steroid induced.

I’m fully aware that remission may not always be the case however my vet told me to do 5 units and come back in 10 days. Had I done this, without the advice on the forum (I initially went for 2), Tinkerbell may have had a hypo! That’s why I now feel it’s so imperative to set up a spreadsheet, home test and specifically make sure you home test before any shot is given.

I’m so lucky that I found my way here and I wish that more could be find their way here too. Does anyone have any ideas on how we could do this as id really like to participate?

I don’t feel im experienced enough to help yet myself with dosing etc, but I’d love to help where I can.
 
Fiona1 said:
My cat had diabetes and ketoacidisis roughly a month ago. She was never diagnosed with diabetes before this.

I came to this forum right away and did my research. Also asked many questions.

There were 4 absolutely amazing people @Diana&Tom @Elizabeth and Bertie @Monica Lewis and @Kris & Teasel who gave me lots of information. These people were so amazing because they took the time out of their own lives to help me!

As you can now see from my spreadsheet, my cat may now be going into remission. Time will tell! I think the diabetes was steroid induced.

I’m fully aware that remission may not always be the case however my vet told me to do 5 units and come back in 10 days. Had I done this, without the advice on the forum (I initially went for 2), Tinkerbell may have had a hypo! That’s why I now feel it’s so imperative to set up a spreadsheet, home test and specifically make sure you home test before any shot is given.

I’m so lucky that I found my way here and I wish that more could be find their way here too. Does anyone have any ideas on how we could do this as id really like to participate?

I don’t feel im experienced enough to help yet myself with dosing etc, but I’d love to help where I can.
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Thanks, Fiona! I hope your kitty is in remission! :cat:

One of the best ways you can help is to just be there with kind and comforting words of encouragement, you'd be amazed at how much that's appreciated! :):bighug::)
 
That's awesome news, Fiona! I hope Tinkerbell does indeed go into remission! May I ask what food you're currently feeding her? I'm always interested in seeing what people are feeding their cats who start showing signs of remission. I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of you!
 
Wonderful news. Hope tinkerbell is in remission very soon.

One way to help is to offer encouragement and virtual hugs :bighug:. Another is if people ask about Tinkerbell, you tell them about her journey. If you come across another parent with diabetic cat, point them in this direction. Offer to help them learn home testing, proper food anything you think they might be open to. If your willing mention to vet should a cat with diabetes is being surrendered maybe offer to foster until a home can be found. Even better see if vet will put you in contact with owner to see if they are aware how manageable it is. Sometimes they just need a little hand holding to get started.
 
So pleased to see this, Fiona. It's been a pleasure to help you! You've taken on board everything we said, you've done your reading, you've never grumbled, you've been polite and appreciative - so thank you for being a "model" newbie!

I understand that feeling of wanting to pass on your knowledge and experience of FD to others. This may be mostly from sticking around here on the board, and it may be in other ways as well. Paula's suggestions above are great - make sure your vet knows you'd be willing to help other diabetic cat owners...treating FD can be a lonely road so you can empathise, point people in the direction of this board, offer to help home test and suggest where to purchase supplies, etc.

One very simple thing you can to is educate friends, family or colleagues who have cats about the importance of proper nutrition for optimum good health. Some of us have been known to go up to fellow shoppers in the pet food aisle at supermarkets and start up a conversation about the best foods...something to be done with care and tact (!) but if you only educate one person this way, they might pass it on to others... and so on... and you'd have started the process.

So there are a few starter ways to help people in your real life area, but continuing to read and post here and any other feline health forums you may come across is equally important. We are all learning from each other here all the time. Offer virtual hugs and reminders to owners to give themselves treats; get to know other members' names and their stories and where they live; take note of any specialisms that some members may have (eg technical ability to set up spreadsheets etc) so you can tag fellow members who you think can help to look in as appropriate. Not many of us have time to read and comment on every post, so maybe work out how much time you can spend here and how that time can be most effectively spent - for example, you might want your first port of call to be the Welcome forum where you can offer a few friendly words of encouragement to scared newbies. You can then direct them to the Main Health forum, the beginners documents, explain how to set up a signature, and follow their progress when they start to post.

Welcome again to FDMB, Fiona. You're one of us now! All paws crossed for continuing good health for Tinkerbell!

Diana
 
Jenna & Kitsu said:
That's awesome news, Fiona! I hope Tinkerbell does indeed go into remission! May I ask what food you're currently feeding her? I'm always interested in seeing what people are feeding their cats who start showing signs of remission. I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of you!
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Thanks :)
I’m currently feeding her Bozita and Leonardo wet food. One of them is chunky and the other is like a pate. When she doesn’t seem to be eating much (getting used to new food), I give her tuna or sardines. Tried salmon and she wouldn’t eat it. I’m thinking of trying to incorporate some raw food into her diet but will need to research it fully first. Before this, she was eating half a pouch of wet and the rest Royal Canin dry as I thought this was best, which I now realise is not. Both wet foods I am feeding are from the UK approved list.
 
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Love-Paula aka Woodsywife said:
Wonderful news. Hope tinkerbell is in remission very soon.

One way to help is to offer encouragement and virtual hugs :bighug:. Another is if people ask about Tinkerbell, you tell them about her journey. If you come across another parent with diabetic cat, point them in this direction. Offer to help them learn home testing, proper food anything you think they might be open to. If your willing mention to vet should a cat with diabetes is being surrendered maybe offer to foster until a home can be found. Even better see if vet will put you in contact with owner to see if they are aware how manageable it is. Sometimes they just need a little hand holding to get started.
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This is a really good idea. I’ve been thinking about in the future, how id like to adopt another diabetic cat. Unfortunately I don’t think Tinkerbell would take to another adult cat as I tried this before and it didn’t work out. I’d definitely go and help people and give advice on diabetic cats though.
 
Fiona1 said:
My cat had diabetes and ketoacidisis roughly a month ago. She was never diagnosed with diabetes before this.

I came to this forum right away and did my research. Also asked many questions.

There were 4 absolutely amazing people @Diana&Tom @Elizabeth and Bertie @Monica Lewis and @Kris & Teasel who gave me lots of information. These people were so amazing because they took the time out of their own lives to help me!

As you can now see from my spreadsheet, my cat may now be going into remission. Time will tell! I think the diabetes was steroid induced.

I’m fully aware that remission may not always be the case however my vet told me to do 5 units and come back in 10 days. Had I done this, without the advice on the forum (I initially went for 2), Tinkerbell may have had a hypo! That’s why I now feel it’s so imperative to set up a spreadsheet, home test and specifically make sure you home test before any shot is given.

I’m so lucky that I found my way here and I wish that more could be find their way here too. Does anyone have any ideas on how we could do this as id really like to participate?

I don’t feel im experienced enough to help yet myself with dosing etc, but I’d love to help where I can.
Click to expand...

I took this to my vets office
http://www.felinediabetes.com/word.htm
 
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