8/24 Blaze AMPS 324, +2 235, +3 190, +4 255, +9 334, PMPS 365, +2 260, +4 270

[Sarah and Blaze]

Re: conversation with the vet, you can show her the spreadsheet and tell what you have learned about Novolin. You can also state that you skipped a shot to be able to keep Blaze safe, because you had no idea just how much the Novolin was affecting him and didn't want to take any chances. Same with the reduced dose, tell her what bouncing is, just in case vet doesn't know the finer details of feline diabetic treatment.

Perhaps instead of boarding, since they don't seem to know too much about FD (not testing, raising the dose so much, so fast) and you are worried about this, what about hiring someone to come in, and care for all three cats? And do what you want done. They could join the membership and ask for help if needed. Just a thought.

The wedding too???? oh boy...wedding cake, luvin' it!!

@Idjit's mom Okay, thank you for the advice. I wanted to be prepared when I take him in next Friday, since she doesn't seem to know too much about FD, like you said. If she can get on the same page as me and I know she will be having the vet techs give the correct dose (he will be on Lantus by then) and monitoring him really well, I would feel fine with boarding him at the vet. I know they would be comfortable giving his insulin and would know the signs of symptoms of hypo.

I'm not opposed to hiring someone but I would be more comfortable if it were someone I knew and trusted or someone who had some experience with a diabetic cat. Unfortunately, I live out in the country, it's not a quick drive for many people. I have a girl friend who will be coming to my house every day to check on my other two kitties, I will rely on timed feeders in between the times she can come, but she works nights and has a 4 year old so I know there's no way she would be able to come twice a day to test/feed/shot with Blaze. I feel like I have no choice but to board Blaze, even though I hate the thought of him being away from home for 10 days

 

[Idjit's mom]

@Idjit's mom Okay, thank you for the advice. I wanted to be prepared when I take him in next Friday, since she doesn't seem to know too much about FD, like you said. If she can get on the same page as me and I know she will be having the vet techs give the correct dose (he will be on Lantus by then) and monitoring him really well, I would feel fine with boarding him at the vet. I know they would be comfortable giving his insulin and would know the signs of symptoms of hypo.

I'm not opposed to hiring someone but I would be more comfortable if it were someone I knew and trusted or someone who had some experience with a diabetic cat. Unfortunately, I live out in the country, it's not a quick drive for many people. I have a girl friend who will be coming to my house every day to check on my other two kitties, I will rely on timed feeders in between the times she can come, but she works nights and has a 4 year old so I know there's no way she would be able to come twice a day to test/feed/shot with Blaze. I feel like I have no choice but to board Blaze, even though I hate the thought of him being away from home for 10 days

Understand about not being able to have someone come in, especially a stranger. You are doing, and will continue to do, what is best for Blaze, and the other kitties. You will miss him and vice versa, but 10 days is not forever and you will be happily reunited.

 

[Sarah and Blaze]

Yes he's fine. Not much action ....he's gone up a tad or maybe that's just meter variance but he's obviously not dropping. Call it a night! Tomorrow if AMPS is high enough and you can monitor, you could try the 0.75u again.

@MrWorfMen's Mom
Okay sounds good! Thank you again for helping me through another day!
If AMPS is 300 or above, should I try 0.75U? I only have to leave to do some grocery shopping but can wait to do that until later in the afternoon so I can monitor him.

 

[Sarah and Blaze]

Understand about not being able to have someone come in, especially a stranger. You are doing, and will continue to do, what is best for Blaze, and the other kitties. You will miss him and vice versa, but 10 days is not forever and you will be happily reunited.

I trust my mom and grandma to do all this with Blaze, but of course, they will be in Maui too! I know it's only 10 days and he will be okay but you're right, I will miss him! But at least I will know he's somewhere safe and getting his doses.

Goodnight Lou! Sweet dreams of hula dancing

 

[Sarah and Blaze]

Now on the wedding front.....Maui......you lucky girl. Always wanted to go to Maui. Can I come too? View attachment 47354

@MrWorfMen's Mom and of course, you can come to Maui too! It's a small wedding, we have room for two more!!

 

[Sarah and Blaze]

On the testing front, my go to question for any vet who suggests you should blindly shoot insulin into your cat is to ask them if they would inject a baby with insulin without knowing if it was safe to do so. Blaze is your baby. Your vet needs to appreciate that and should IMHO not argue with the logic of home testing. What you do at home is your business and you can always use the nod technique......nod in agreement and then carry on with testing.

On the dosing front, I'd be up front with her. It may be that Blaze would have been fine on the 2u she prescribed BUT she also prescribed food that was considerably higher in carbs than a diabetic should be eating. Tell her you were changing diet to lower carb food and were just being cautious given you are at work during the day and couldn't monitor him so you started off at a lower dose to ensure his safety.

And telling you to never skip a dose is a recipe for disaster. I'm betting that if you ask your vet when the onset of Novolin is, when nadir usually occurs and how long it lasts through the 12 hour cycle, she won't be able to answer those questions. Put her on the spot. Let her know you've done your homework and let her squirm at bit. There are a lot of vets out there who don't have a lot of experience or knowledge about treating diabetic cats. Prescribing Novolin, no testing recommended, telling you to never skip a shot and a diet that is very high in carbs all tell me your vet, who is probably great for most things, is not up on current practise for feline diabetes. Vets get precious little training on diabetes and it covers multiple species. You'd be surprised how many vets treat cats like small dogs and the two are totally different. If they don't have a lot of diabetic cats in their practice, they don't have any reason to keep current. They also aren't hands on caregivers. You hold the needle and deal with this 24/7 therefore you need a partner not a dictator for a vet.

Not sure if that helps or not but I wouldn't be afraid to stand my ground with the vet and negotiate a partnership with her. You care for Blaze's diabetes and she deals with any other problems. If she isn't going to be at your beck and call 24/7, then she has to allow you to make some decisions to keep Blaze safe and you sane.

This helps immensely! Just needed to figure out the best way to bring these things up with her and make sure she is on the same page as me. Great advice that I will back and read the night before I have to take Blaze in, so I am ready with my information and to stand my ground!