New member, 1.28.20 - *LESS* Stressed Out Momma

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MooMoo

MooMoo

Member Since 2020
Hello all and thank you for taking the time to read/help and I apologize in advance for the lengthy post.

My MooMoo is a 9-year-old, 7 lbs lovable kitty who was recently diagnosed with Feline Diabetes. So far it's been a very stressful situation. To give a little back story, MooMoo (also known as Moose) is a very loving and sweet kitty but she is also a very, keep to herself, likes to be under tables and chairs kind of kitty. We recently moved back in October so knowing Moose's personality and habits when she started hiding under the couch at the new house we didn't think of it as much of a concern. It wasn't until we noticed she was walking on her hocks that raised our concern. Our first thought was she had hurt her hips or back crawling under the couch or jumping off the new bar, we never noticed an increase in her urination or water intake, she acted completely normal just walked kind of funky. The funky walk lasted about a week before we feared it was a spinal thing and we took her in. They did some tests and checked her blood and her Glucose was 400! I was devasted, I had no idea that a cat could just randomly become diabetic ( she had blood work done just 3 months prior and was fine). They admitted her to the hospital to regulate her levels and asked if we wanted to supply her with food, so we went and bought a bag of our normal (Rachel Rays Nurish) but also bought the Rachel Ray's Peak brand to see which one the Dr. thought was better - they chose the Peak version. So she was in the hospital from Friday night until Monday afternoon, I called each day to check on her levels.

Friday at intake they were 400
Saturday's check was 198
Sunday's check was 148
Monday's check was 150

They said that it was running around 300 before the shots each time. They sent her home Monday and instructed me to feed her 1/3 cup food and then give her 3 units, twice a day. I started the shots the next day, I feed her at 6:30 am and gave her the shot at 7:00 am. I have to persuade her to eat a large amount at once because she's a grazer when it comes to eating. She likes to eat a little, go lay down, clean her paws and then go back, so getting her to eat at least half of the food before her shot is a task in itself. She has never eaten the full 1/3 cup before her shot (they told me as long as she ate at least half to give her the shot), I did leave the food down for her and by lunchtime, she would have eaten the majority of it. We have to take her in every few days to get tested as they have instructed to not home test at this time.

The first time we took her in for her check she was on 3 units and tested at 75, they lowered the amount to 2.5. We went back a few days later and she tested at 71, they lowered the amount to 2 units. We took her back in yesterday and she tested at 45!!! She wasn't lethargic or unresponsive at all before we took her in yesterday she was walking around, wanting lovings, jumping on the chair. I'm at a loss, I don't want to hurt her in this process. They told us to lower the amount down to 1.5 units but to base it off what she eats, which we reiterated again how hard it is to get her to eat (I've even added in wet food to entice her, she still grazes). The last two shots (last night and this morning) I have given her 1 unit instead of the 1.5.

It's crazy but part of me wants to think that maybe she doesn't need insulin and the change of food has regulated her. I know that's practically impossible, I'm just terrified at this point I'm harming her more than I'm helping her. She's getting less willing to take the shots (running away from me) and I feel like we're both becoming overly stressed with this situation.

Again, thank you for taking the time to let me rant. If you have any suggestions, advice or even words of encouragement, Moo Moo and I appreciate it.
 
WELCOME TO FDMB you are in the right place! I dont feel comfortable giving dosing advice but there are others here who are very knowledgeable. They will be here soon. One thing I do know is dry food will raise levels. But please wait for further advice before you change anything ok? Someone will be here shortly.
BELIEVE me It WILL get easier!
 
Which insulin?
How did the vet test?
Did the vet really only test once a day while your cat was at the vet for 3 days?
Are you in the USA or elsewhere?

Deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release, deep breath, hold, release. Great stress reliever.

You don't know us. We have a lot of experience with many different insulins and many diabetic cats. We are lay people that have learned to treat our own diabetic cats.

Please learn to home test. Your vet already started your cat at too high of a dose and then did not decrease the dose quickly enough. Probably the only thing keeping your kitty alive was the high carb dry food.
 
Yes, I'm located in the US, North Carolina to be more specific. She's on Vetsulin currently. I'm pretty sure they drew blood out of her neck when the checked her initially and I believe they did ear pricks at the check-ups ( they always just took her back and brought her back out). I believe they tested twice a day, once before she ate in the morning and then again 5 hours later.

That's terrifying to think something major could have happened! I'm looking at meters on Amazon because I want to have a more consistent reading throughout. Any suggestions on better brands?

I've also seen mention of oral hypoglycemic medications and was curious about that, but I get the feeling from reviews I've read that's wishful thinking.

I just want to be sure what I'm doing is the right things to do and the "trial and error" method we've been doing doesn't seem to be working.

I truly appreciate any and all help.
 
I think I did the signature correctly, haha. I don't currently have a meter for the spreadsheet but I will get it set up for when I do.

thanks!
 
MooMoo said:
That's terrifying to think something major could have happened! I'm looking at meters on Amazon because I want to have a more consistent reading throughout. Any suggestions on better brands?
Click to expand...

Many people here use a human glucometer. One brand is the Relion brand of meters, available at Walmart. Readily available, quick to get test strips, buy at least 100 for any meter you do decide to get. The cost of test strips is where you will be spending your money.

Look at this link here for some other suggestions of meters, from 2018 but the most recent we have. Blood Glucose Meter Ratings, Comparisons, and Recommendations

Some people buy a specific meter for pets, like the Alphatrak 2. Reads closer to what your vet gets with lab equipment. Test strips are REALLY expensive, $1 to 2 each and you want to test at least 4 times a day. More at the beginning when you are trying to find the onset, nadir, duration of the insulin you are using. Test strips are not so readily available and if your cat is in low numbers you want plenty of test strips.

I've also seen mention of oral hypoglycemic medications and was curious about that, but I get the feeling from reviews I've read that's wishful thinking.
Click to expand...
Oral medications to help a diabetic cat make the pancreas work harder and can destroy any remaining insulin producing cells which means your cat will need insulin at some point. I'm simplifying things greatly here to get you some info quickly.

I just want to be sure what I'm doing is the right things to do and the "trial and error" method we've been doing doesn't seem to be working.
Click to expand...

We'll help teach you. We also suggest you work with your vet. We should be considered as an adjunct to your vet. We are laypeople that have had diabetic cats of our own and know a lot about feline diabetes, but not everything.

p.s. Vetsulin spelled incorrectly in your signature. Put the DX: date for your cat. Don't need the date you joined the FDMB, we can see it below the picture of your MooMoo.

Thank you for making me laugh, with the "one with 2 legs" comment in your signature. We all need those laughs! Thanks.
 
Welcome I used to use the pet meter the Alpha Trak but the strips were too expensive since I test my cat several times in the can and the pm to make sure he is safe. I switched to the human meter Relion Prime and I love it. Its 9 dollars and 100 strips costs 17.88 Best of luck you are at the right place. I don't know what I would have done without these awesome members
 
Thank you, I’ll look into that one. I was told by the vet tech originally that human meters wouldn’t work.

Can I ask how long before your kitty’s shots do you feed them? I was doing 30 mins before and she would barely eat a quarter of the food without being overly persuaded, tonight I did an hour before and she ate half. Like I said before Moo Moo is a grazer so it’s really hard to get her to eat.
 
MooMoo said:
Thank you, I’ll look into that one. I was told by the vet tech originally that human meters wouldn’t work.

Can I ask how long before your kitty’s shots do you feed them? I was doing 30 mins before and she would barely eat a quarter of the food without being overly persuaded, tonight I did an hour before and she ate half. Like I said before Moo Moo is a grazer so it’s really hard to get her to eat.
Click to expand...
With Vetsulin, you do want to feed them 20-30 minutes before giving the shot to make sure that there is food for the insulin to work on since it can be a harsher insulin. I would feed my cat about 1/4 to 1/3 of a can, and then feed her some more at +2, or two hours after her shot, because that was when the insulin starting kicking in and the food helped to slow the drop some.

Diane also used Vetsulin so she can share what worked for her kitty as well :cat:
 
Hi and welcome! just want to confirm that human meters work on cats just fine !
Our dosing methods are based on human meter numbers.
Until pet meters were invented/ made a few years ago, all vets, if testing in their rooms had to used the human meters!

keep asking questions. This is a very supportive community
 
Thank you all for the help! It so comforting to have somewhere to turn to with these questions. I love my vet and they are normally so helpful but in this situation I kind of felt left in the dark. So thank you all again, MooMoo thanks y’all too!
 
I am glad you have reduced to 1 unit.
3 units is a huge dose to start with.
Please make sure you have some higher carb food and honey or karo on hand at all times in case of low numbers. You will find links to food information in the ‘How you can help us help you’ link you have already been given.

The fb page linked to us is great but they don’t give dosing advice so I would stick to this forum for that and getting sorted out.
 
MooMoo said:
Thank you, I’ll look into that one. I was told by the vet tech originally that human meters wouldn’t work.

Can I ask how long before your kitty’s shots do you feed them? I was doing 30 mins before and she would barely eat a quarter of the food without being overly persuaded, tonight I did an hour before and she ate half. Like I said before Moo Moo is a grazer so it’s really hard to get her to eat.
Click to expand...
Hi my cat used to be on Vetsulin , I switched to Lantus.
He wasn't doing bad on the Vetsulin but I wanted to try and maybe get him into remission. Tyler never had a problem with eating his whole meal,
Don't feed MooMoo 2 hours before you test him, you don't want it food influenced.
Maybe he will have a better appetite for you.
Then test him, feed him, wait 30 minutes and then give him the Vetsulin shot
 
Some of the research I’ve read indicates that food alteration is typically the route taken before injections. Which has me concerned they jumped to insulin to quickly? Idk, that’s probably my emotions getting the best of me.

They told me to do 1.5, but she’s still only eating half of the dry food so I’ve been doing 1. She ate the most tonight that she has but she ran as I was doing the injection and I’m not sure if it went in her or the floor. I called the vet they said to not give another one and watch her the rest of the evening.

She had a bad shot last night, a friend has been helping me and learning how to give injections because I have to travel for work sometimes and it takes a village as they say, but last night MooMoo flinched during the shot and ran. And this morning she wasn’t having it, it normally took me few minutes to administer the shot, this morning it took me 45 minutes and lots of tears. And then this tonight. This is hard.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug:
it will get much easier I promise.

are you letting her eat when you give the shot? Let her eat something yummy as you are giving the shot and hopefully she won’t notice as much.
NEVER repeat an injection if you think you might have missed it or not all went in. it is better to be high for a day than too low for a moment!

Don’t increase the dose until you are testing and can see the dose is not enough. We will tell you if you need to increase.

As you transition to a low carb diet and get rid of the dry high carb , the BG will drop .... another very good reason to stay with the 1 unit and be testing the BG levels.

Be kind to yourself. It will get easier. Keep posting and telling us how it’s going. We are here to support ypu
 
Some cats have a reduced appetite when they are diagnosed with FD. Some cats have a huge appetite. My Sheba was not hungry at all the first week after diagnosis and the change of food and it was a struggle to get her to eat enough..... and the vet had told me to only feed her twice a day........ I know better now that multiple snacks throughout the day and night is much better. Sheba eventually started to eat and put on all the weight she’d lost.

As others have said with Vetsulin it is important that she eats well 30 mins before the shots but you can also offer other snacks during the day and night. ... especially in the first half of the cycle when the insulin is at its strongest.

The first week is always the hardest as you both have to learn new routines. It doesn’t hurt to have a good cry and kick a few things! We all get it!
:bighug:
 
Is there a food that you cat does like?
What were you feeding her before the diabetes diagnosis?
Anything besides the Rachel Ray Nutrish food?
Is the dry food you are feeding now the Rachel Ray Peak?
What canned food are you feeding now?
Maybe we can help you find something similar but better for your cat.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
:bighug::bighug::bighug:
it will get much easier I promise.

are you letting her eat when you give the shot? Let her eat something yummy as you are giving the shot and hopefully she won’t notice as much.
NEVER repeat an injection if you think you might have missed it or not all went in. it is better to be high for a day than too low for a moment!

Don’t increase the dose until you are testing and can see the dose is not enough. We will tell you if you need to increase.

As you transition to a low carb diet and get rid of the dry high carb , the BG will drop .... another very good reason to stay with the 1 unit and be testing the BG levels.

Be kind to yourself. It will get easier. Keep posting and telling us how it’s going. We are here to support ypu
Click to expand...

If I touch her while she eats she loses all interest in the food and just wants loving. It’s a vicious cycle.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Some cats have a reduced appetite when they are diagnosed with FD. Some cats have a huge appetite. My Sheba was not hungry at all the first week after diagnosis and the change of food and it was a struggle to get her to eat enough..... and the vet had told me to only feed her twice a day........ I know better now that multiple snacks throughout the day and night is much better. Sheba eventually started to eat and put on all the weight she’d lost.

As others have said with Vetsulin it is important that she eats well 30 mins before the shots but you can also offer other snacks during the day and night. ... especially in the first half of the cycle when the insulin is at its strongest.

The first week is always the hardest as you both have to learn new routines. It doesn’t hurt to have a good cry and kick a few things! We all get it!
:bighug:
Click to expand...

There’s been few good cry’s so far! And thank for your input, my vet made me feel like a failure because I can’t force her to eat all in one sitting. Y’all have helped me so much just in the short amount of time I’ve been here! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
So maybe tomorrow, you will go and edit your Thread title and change it to
New member, 1.28.20 - Less Stressed Out Momma
 
Deb & Wink said:
Is there a food that you cat does like?
What were you feeding her before the diabetes diagnosis?
Anything besides the Rachel Ray Nutrish food?
Is the dry food you are feeding now the Rachel Ray Peak?
What canned food are you feeding now?
Maybe we can help you find something similar but better for your cat.
Click to expand...

Before the diagnosis we feed all our babes at the same time in the evening ( I have 4 kitties and 5 doggies ), they all eat the Rachel Rays Nurish. Since diagnosis MooMoo has been on the Rachel Rays Peak and yesterday I started adding in a little of the wet version of the Rachel Rays Peak.
 
I got a meter! It’s the Accu-Chek Aviva Connect. Is there a point difference to know when comes to the readings? Should I test her now or wait to go to the vet with it?
 
I mean bc it’s a human reader I didn’t know if you had to add or subtract points to make it accurate or if it is what it says it is.
 
MooMoo said:
I got a meter! It’s the Accu-Chek Aviva Connect. Is there a point difference to know when comes to the readings? Should I test her now or wait to go to the vet with it?
Click to expand...

Now that you get a meter
You find all the blood glucose number spectra will show
Study them diligently
http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-convert.htm

Bg between 70-105 are normal good bg numbers

Bg between 110-235 are okay numbers

But a Bg numbers over 235 where the renalthrold goes are not good numbers

Hypo bg numbers are all those from 50 to 0 that would leave brainunjury.
 
It read at a 93! That’s with no shot since 7:45 this morning at 1 unit.

Edit* unless some of that missed shot at 7:30 tonight did go in...
 
Last edited:
Ideally when you start with the meter you have now

We start with most important checks

A.m pre-insulin

+ 3 hoursafter

+ 6 hours after

+ 9 hours after

+12 Pm pre-insulin


But we also know this isn't workable done for all, with cats not being in bg testing mode, since not all have cats that let them gladly be bg tested. I was very lucky with My Simba. We also know getting the hang of the right high skilled ear-bg testing can have it's mixed both successes and failures while learning.
 
ALWAYS CHECK BG before every shot. At the moment if the BG is under 200 don’t give insulin or feed, stall and post and ask for help.

no you don’t add or sub tract any numbers.
 
Always test BEFORE she eats.
How many hours after the last dose of insulin was the 93? some of tonight’s shot could have got in.
we really need you to set up a spreadsheet so we can help more.
 
If some of the 1 unit dose from this evening went it that was at 7:30, if it didn’t then the last shot she had was at 7:45 this morning, also 1 unit. I will work on the spreadsheet.
 
I live in Australia and it doesn’t mean anything to me when you say last dose at 7.30 pm. Can you tell me how many hours since you last gave insulin (when you thought some didn’t go into your kitty please). Thanks:)
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I live in Australia and it doesn’t mean anything to me when you say last dose at 7.30 pm. Can you tell me how many hours since you last gave insulin (when you thought some didn’t go into your kitty please). Thanks:)
Click to expand...

So sorry, still learning the formatting. Her BG was at 93mg +3 from the “maybe” shot.
 
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