Frustrated and need advice

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Sara and Mr. Kitty

Sara and Mr. Kitty

Member Since 2018
I’m at a loss and need advice. Mr. Kitty has been OTJ since January 2019 and recently had an IBD flare after switching foods (insert face palm) that I believe kicked him out of remission. I tested him 2 hours prior to his vet appointment and his BG was 394. I was sure he was out of remission. The vet tested him twice and his BG was 231 and 262. They didn’t give me insulin. I bought a Relion thinking maybe my tester was bad...tested 433 on AT2 and 300 with the relion today. He’s drinking more water and I think I should take him back in to the vet. Has anyone ever dealt with something similar? I’m just really frustrated and sad :(
 
I'm sorry you are having a hard time here with Mr. Kitty. Hopefully, if needed, starting insulin therapy again will bring him back into remission.

So, I'm tagging some more experienced members for input and advice. Keep getting the data from testing, that's going to provide basis for the input you will get. Don't lose hope, this is a bump in the road and you are doing your best to get Mr. Kitty healthy and happy.

@MrWorfMen's Mom
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Sue and Luci
 
Idjit's mom said:
I'm sorry you are having a hard time here with Mr. Kitty. Hopefully, if needed, starting insulin therapy again will bring him back into remission.

So, I'm tagging some more experienced members for input and advice. Keep getting the data from testing, that's going to provide basis for the input you will get. Don't lose hope, this is a bump in the road and you are doing your best to get Mr. Kitty healthy and happy.

@MrWorfMen's Mom
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Sue and Luci
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Thank you. I went ahead and made another appointment for him this Thursday.
 
Ok, that's good. He may need to have insulin again. It's something that all of us who have kitties in remission think about, and can happen. But, I think we are the lucky ones to have had the experience at all.

Will you be using Vetsulin again if starting insulin again is what you decide with the vet? There are other insulins you may wish to read about here on the board and consider.

Please keep testing so you know what's going on and can provide that data to the vet. And..please keep us updated going forward. :bighug:
 
Hi and welcome back. I am sorry you have high numbers again.

Looking at your SS it does look like Mr Kitty does need insulin again.
Keep testing a couple of times a day to get an overal picture.
Try testing, then feeding, then 3 hours later take another BG level. If it drops than that usually means the pancreas is at least working a bit

I am glad you have made a vet apt.
Ask them to do a fructosamine test. That will give a view of the last few weeks BG levels as an average and may convince the vet.
Also this time I would ask to go onto Lantus, levemir or prozinc insulin.
I don't know where you live but one of those three insulins should be available to you.
They are much better insulins for cats....longer lasting and not nearly as harsh.

My cat Sheba fell out of remission after 2 1/2 years. My vet put her back on insulin after four days of higher numbers. She had been unwell and I had been monitoring the numbers closely over that time.

If your vet still won't give you insulin, I would go to another vet.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
Idjit's mom said:
Ok, that's good. He may need to have insulin again. It's something that all of us who have kitties in remission think about, and can happen. But, I think we are the lucky ones to have had the experience at all.

Will you be using Vetsulin again if starting insulin again is what you decide with the vet? There are other insulins you may wish to read about here on the board and consider.

Please keep testing so you know what's going on and can provide that data to the vet. And..please keep us updated going forward. :bighug:
Click to expand...
I’m so torn with what kind of insulin we should use. We’ve seen 2 different vet doctors and I although would like to switch to Lantus, I really can’t afford it right now and my partner wants to use Vetsulin again since we’re use to how it works. I just tested the little booger and he’s back down to 262 from 301 after eating...thank you for the support :bighug:
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi and welcome back. I am sorry you have high numbers again.

Looking at your SS it does look like Mr Kitty does need insulin again.
Keep testing a couple of times a day to get an overal picture.
Try testing, then feeding, then 3 hours later take another BG level. If it drops than that usually means the pancreas is at least working a bit

I am glad you have made a vet apt.
Ask them to do a fructosamine test. That will give a view of the last few weeks BG levels as an average and may convince the vet.
Also this time I would ask to go onto Lantus, levemir or prozinc insulin.
I don't know where you live but one of those three insulins should be available to you.
They are much better insulins for cats....longer lasting and not nearly as harsh.

My cat Sheba fell out of remission after 2 1/2 years. My vet put her back on insulin after four days of higher numbers. She had been unwell and I had been monitoring the numbers closely over that time.

If your vet still won't give you insulin, I would go to another vet.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Click to expand...
Hello and thank you for the warm welcome back. Seeing high numbers again really makes me sad, but I know we have the best support system here and we’re going to get through this! We’ve been to 2 different vets and both have been pretty supportive. I would like to switch to Lantus but I really don’t have the means to pay for it right now, and my partner wants to go back on Vetsulin since we’re familiar with it.
 
What type of meter are you using?. You have both in your signature.
Depending where you live, you can get Lantus insulin from Marks pharmacy in Canada. @Idjit's mom do you have the details for Marks please?
They will post to the US if you have a prescription and they are much cheaper than the US

Lantus is a much better insulin for your kitty. Longer lasting and gentler.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
What type of meter are you using?. You have both in your signature.
Depending where you live, you can get Lantus insulin from Marks pharmacy in Canada. @Idjit's mom do you have the details for Marks please?
They will post to the US if you have a prescription and they are much cheaper than the US

Lantus is a much better insulin for your kitty. Longer lasting and gentler.[/QUOTE
Thank you for responding. I bought a Relion today and will update my signature. We reside in the USA and will look up the pharmacy.
Click to expand...
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
What type of meter are you using?. You have both in your signature.
Depending where you live, you can get Lantus insulin from Marks pharmacy in Canada. @Idjit's mom do you have the details for Marks please?
They will post to the US if you have a prescription and they are much cheaper than the US

Lantus is a much better insulin for your kitty. Longer lasting and gentler.
Click to expand...
I’m sorry I thought I responded but I don’t see it? I’ve updated my signature, thank you! We’re using a Relion meter now.
 
I’m glad you have the ReliOn meter.
Thanks for updating your signature. We always look at that for info when helping.
Mr Kitty is lucky to have you.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi and welcome back. I am sorry you have high numbers again.

Looking at your SS it does look like Mr Kitty does need insulin again.
Keep testing a couple of times a day to get an overal picture.
Try testing, then feeding, then 3 hours later take another BG level. If it drops than that usually means the pancreas is at least working a bit

I am glad you have made a vet apt.
Ask them to do a fructosamine test. That will give a view of the last few weeks BG levels as an average and may convince the vet.
Also this time I would ask to go onto Lantus, levemir or prozinc insulin.
I don't know where you live but one of those three insulins should be available to you.
They are much better insulins for cats....longer lasting and not nearly as harsh.

My cat Sheba fell out of remission after 2 1/2 years. My vet put her back on insulin after four days of higher numbers. She had been unwell and I had been monitoring the numbers closely over that time.

If your vet still won't give you insulin, I would go to another vet.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Click to expand...
Hello again, can you please explain what a fructosamine test will confirm? Back to a new vet tomorrow. I called the the vet we took him to 2 weeks ago 2x and no one called me back. You would think a diabetic cat needing insulin would be a priority. I’m so frustrated. Thank you :bighug:
 
shefflerlmt said:
can you please explain what a fructosamine test will confirm?
Click to expand...

Cat's can react to going to the vet by having their BG go higher just due to the stress. By doing a fructosamine, you'll get a good idea of what Mr. Kitty's glucose numbers have been like over the past 2-3 weeks....when he was at home and not totally stressed out.

The one time that a fructosamine is valuable is at diagnosis so you see what their average has been over the past few weeks.
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
Cat's can react to going to the vet by having their BG go higher just due to the stress. By doing a fructosamine, you'll get a good idea of what Mr. Kitty's glucose numbers have been like over the past 2-3 weeks....when he was at home and not totally stressed out.

The one time that a fructosamine is valuable is at diagnosis so you see what their average has been over the past few weeks.
Click to expand...
Thank you! It’s interesting because he tested much lower at the vet than at home that day, which is the reason why they didn’t give me insulin.
 
Mr. Kitty continues to surprise me. We went back to our usual vet today and his blood sugar after the vet tech left the room was 356. She came back into the room five minutes later to take him back for their test and he was 427. I am using a human meter and they’re using Alpha track so I wasn’t surprised at the difference. My husband and I decided to stick with vetsulin for the short term since we are use to how it works with him. He was 257 PMPS so I gave him .50U and will report back at +2. Let the dance begin.
 
shefflerlmt said:
It’s interesting because he tested much lower at the vet than at home that day, which is the reason why they didn’t give me insulin.
Click to expand...

That's not impossible! Most cats go higher, but there are some that actually react to stress by going lower!

China earned her first two reductions in dose while we were in a strange hotel when my mom was having open heart surgery!
 
katiesmom said:
You can try using the Lantus savings card at your pharmacy. $99 for a 5 pk of pens.
Click to expand...

Just an FYI....Lantus has changed the wording on their savings card. It now says it's good for 1 month's worth of Lantus ….and since our sugarcat's are on such low doses, most of them can't even use up 1 pen in a month's time.

Pay $99 for your monthly supply of any one or combination of Sanofi Insulins*^

I've been suggesting on the Facebook group that if they want to try it, have their vet write the script for "as directed" instead of something like "1 unit twice a day"
 
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