Angel’s Journey 2
- Thread starter Celi
- Start date
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Here, I've copied Angel's old thread for you.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/angels-antics.228763/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/angels-antics.228763/
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
That later night feeding seems to make all the difference for Angel's BG levels.
Celi
Member Since 2020
Yes. And we have it down now so it is automatic. I wake up, grab Angel who is usually sleeping beside me, and we go into the bathroom where
I leave her food and bowl at bedtime, and she eats. Only takes a few minutes and I have learned to go back to sleep. It is certainly worth it! Another good idea you had that I wouldn’t have thought of.
I leave her food and bowl at bedtime, and she eats. Only takes a few minutes and I have learned to go back to sleep. It is certainly worth it! Another good idea you had that I wouldn’t have thought of.
Celi
Member Since 2020
Deb,
PMBG 108. Where do we go from here? I would like to see her evening numbers a little lower but not sure how to get that done. I am feeding3 snacks during the AM cycle and 2 during the PM cycle. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Maybe I should feed less during the day? How long OTJ and with what criteria can we say she is in remission? Thanks for all your help and support! BTW, I plan to post about her on the facebook page and also the forum and just wanted to ask if it is ok to mention your name.
PMBG 108. Where do we go from here? I would like to see her evening numbers a little lower but not sure how to get that done. I am feeding3 snacks during the AM cycle and 2 during the PM cycle. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Maybe I should feed less during the day? How long OTJ and with what criteria can we say she is in remission? Thanks for all your help and support! BTW, I plan to post about her on the facebook page and also the forum and just wanted to ask if it is ok to mention your name.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Looks to me like Angel is in remission. As long as she stays <120, I think she'll be ok.
Not sure there is anything else you CAN do to get Angel into lower numbers. Certainly not even a drop of insulin will make a difference, that would not also drop her BG levels too low.
Angel's body is producing enough insulin to keep her in those lower number. If it wasn't, you'd be seeing numbers back in the high blue (> 150) range and higher. I think you have to accept that she is always going to be a bit higher in the evenings, BG wise.
Diet controlled remission lasts as long as it lasts. There is no predicting if she will come out of remission some day or stay in remission for the rest of her life.
Keep your eye out for bouts of pancreatitis, and/or an infection/inflammation of any kind, as those are the 2 most common reasons for a diabetic cat needing insulin again. Steroids can also cause a loss of remission, but sometimes they are needed to control another health condition. Don't change the food carb percentage, unless you are sure it's the same as Angel currently eats. Watch out for any added sugars in any medications the vet may give you for Angel. Remind your vet that Angel is a diabetic, simply diet controlled. "Once a diabetic, always a diabetic."
Other than that, Congratulations!
You'll have to wean yourself off testing every day. Slowly but surely, you'll get more comfortable with fewer and fewer tests. Once a week or so for now and then once a month should be enough. Or if Angel every seems "off" behavior wise or some of the diabetes symptoms come back, you'll want to test again for a few days, to assure yourself that everything is ok with her.
No need to mention my name. I like to be a bit more reserved and private, if that is ok with you.
Not sure there is anything else you CAN do to get Angel into lower numbers. Certainly not even a drop of insulin will make a difference, that would not also drop her BG levels too low.
Angel's body is producing enough insulin to keep her in those lower number. If it wasn't, you'd be seeing numbers back in the high blue (> 150) range and higher. I think you have to accept that she is always going to be a bit higher in the evenings, BG wise.
Diet controlled remission lasts as long as it lasts. There is no predicting if she will come out of remission some day or stay in remission for the rest of her life.
Keep your eye out for bouts of pancreatitis, and/or an infection/inflammation of any kind, as those are the 2 most common reasons for a diabetic cat needing insulin again. Steroids can also cause a loss of remission, but sometimes they are needed to control another health condition. Don't change the food carb percentage, unless you are sure it's the same as Angel currently eats. Watch out for any added sugars in any medications the vet may give you for Angel. Remind your vet that Angel is a diabetic, simply diet controlled. "Once a diabetic, always a diabetic."
Other than that, Congratulations!
You'll have to wean yourself off testing every day. Slowly but surely, you'll get more comfortable with fewer and fewer tests. Once a week or so for now and then once a month should be enough. Or if Angel every seems "off" behavior wise or some of the diabetes symptoms come back, you'll want to test again for a few days, to assure yourself that everything is ok with her.
No need to mention my name. I like to be a bit more reserved and private, if that is ok with you.
Celi
Member Since 2020
I can’t thank you enough for all your help! Without your wonderful advice and support, we would never have gotten here. I will probably test once a day for awhile since I am still finding it hard to believe that we are here. Angel has been such a good sport about all the injections and testing - Not sure I could have done it with an uncooperative cat. I am so gratified when I hear her strong purring again now that she is feeling so much better! FYI I showed her SS to my vet yesterday, the same one who said just give 4U of insulin and no need to test and that older cats don’t go into remission. He was not impressed or even interested in how we did this. I would understand if he were a bad vet but he has been great over the years with my horses, dog and even Angel when she had other problems. I don’t understand the lack of curiosity but apparently he thinks it would have been fine for her to have numbers around 200 and be on insulin forever. Very disappointing. I won’t post her numbers all the time now but I hope you don’t mind if I consult you from time to time as the need arises.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Well, Perry we are very glad that you took this as the learning opportunity it was and were able to get Angel into low numbers, get Angel on a low carb canned food, and do some things different with the feeding times, like that +9 in the evenings that really seems to help her, and get Angel into diet controlled status. Age should have nothing to do with a cat being able to become better regulated than the 200 range, which is over renal threshold.
We certainly wish that more vets would be willing to learn more about feline diabetes. But it is what it is and personally I agree with you on your disappointment with your vet. As you said, that vet has been good for other things, so I'm sure you will keep seeing him for your other animals and perhaps Angel if she has another health issue.
I'm not often on these days except late in the evenings. So if you ever have a need for a more immediate response, please as always, post in the Feline Health forum. Busy gardening and bird watching whenever I can this time of year.
Take good care of yourself and Angel. See you around, I'm sure.
p.s. This feels like one of my "kid's" has graduated and moved away from home. A little bit sad but gratifying mostly.
We certainly wish that more vets would be willing to learn more about feline diabetes. But it is what it is and personally I agree with you on your disappointment with your vet. As you said, that vet has been good for other things, so I'm sure you will keep seeing him for your other animals and perhaps Angel if she has another health issue.
Any time Perry, any time.
I'm not often on these days except late in the evenings. So if you ever have a need for a more immediate response, please as always, post in the Feline Health forum. Busy gardening and bird watching whenever I can this time of year.
Take good care of yourself and Angel. See you around, I'm sure.
p.s. This feels like one of my "kid's" has graduated and moved away from home. A little bit sad but gratifying mostly.
Celi
Member Since 2020
I do sort of feel like a bird pushed out of the nest. Haha! But it sure is a good feeling to be here. I wish I had another choice for a vet but we now live on our farm and he is the best available close enough for emergencies, particularly with the horses. I may take Angel to a good feline specialist I know of who is an hour and a half away. I am sure I will have another issue with the present vet when I tell him I am suspending all vaccinations for Angel. He may refuse to treat her anyway. I told him she was in remission and emailed her SS, but he was not impressed.
Have fun with your gardening and birdwatching! I spent the morning in my garden since it is still nice and cool. Isn’t as much fun when it gets hot here in Texas.
Again, Angel and I are so grateful for all your help. I told my husband that all you experts are doing what we should be able to count on our health care providers to do.
Have fun with your gardening and birdwatching! I spent the morning in my garden since it is still nice and cool. Isn’t as much fun when it gets hot here in Texas.
Again, Angel and I are so grateful for all your help. I told my husband that all you experts are doing what we should be able to count on our health care providers to do.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
You're welcome.