Very new to diabetes testing

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fordup

Member Since 2020
Lucy diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago
Started at two units twice a day. This weekend vet said getting too low so cut back to one unit. Suggested home testing as opposed to a day at the vet fir hourly testing $$$. Tested at shot time this evening and on the Freestyle lite (Canadian). After much fumbling Got 18.8 as a reading. If I understand the conversion at x18 that’s 340 ish US? So way too high?? All help appreciated until I get the hang of this.
Thanks
 
fordup said:
Lucy diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago
Started at two units twice a day. This weekend vet said getting too low so cut back to one unit. Suggested home testing as opposed to a day at the vet fir hourly testing $$$. Tested at shot time this evening and on the Freestyle lite (Canadian). After much fumbling Got 18.8 as a reading. If I understand the conversion at x18 that’s 340 ish US? So way too high?? All help appreciated until I get the hang of this.
Thanks
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Yes that's high but not unusual for a newly diagnosed cat. How long after the shot was that number? Or was it just before a shot?
 
It was 13 hours (took an hour to get the test!)for the first test, from last shot right at next shot time. One hour after feeding
 
fordup said:
One hour after feeding
Click to expand...

The order you should be trying for is Test, Feed, wait 20-30 minutes and Shoot. You want to test first (when she hasn't had any food for the 2 hours immediately before the "Pre-shot" test), Feed to make sure she eats a good amount and then you can shoot 20-30 minutes later. I'm glad your vet reduced her to 1U...2U is a high starting dose.

Caninsulin is a very harsh insulin so it's important that she eats a good meal before you shoot, but you need to know how high she is before she eats.....otherwise the "Pre-shot" test could be "too low to shoot". If you feed her first, you'll get a number that's influenced by the food she just ate.

I'd really suggest you consider using one of the better insulin's for cats. Caninsulin is a fine dog insulin (thus the "canin" prefix) but it tends to hit hard and fast and then wear off long before the next shot is due in cats. It hasn't been a recommended insulin for cats for several years.

Living in Canada means you could get Lantus, Basaglar or Levemir (they are all human insulins that work much better in cats) at any human pharmacy without a script.

Could we get you to start keeping track of your tests on our special spreadsheet? It's really a very valuable tool and we depend on it to give the best advice possible. Here are the Instructions on getting the FDMB spreadsheet but if you have any trouble setting it up, feel free to send either myself or @Bandit's Mom a private message by clicking on our name and choosing "start a conversation". We are happy to set it up for you!
 
G
Chris & China (GA) said:
The order you should be trying for is Test, Feed, wait 20-30 minutes and Shoot. You want to test first (when she hasn't had any food for the 2 hours immediately before the "Pre-shot" test), Feed to make sure she eats a good amount and then you can shoot 20-30 minutes later. I'm glad your vet reduced her to 1U...2U is a high starting dose.

Caninsulin is a very harsh insulin so it's important that she eats a good meal before you shoot, but you need to know how high she is before she eats.....otherwise the "Pre-shot" test could be "too low to shoot". If you feed her first, you'll get a number that's influenced by the food she just ate.

I'd really suggest you consider using one of the better insulin's for cats. Caninsulin is a fine dog insulin (thus the "canin" prefix) but it tends to hit hard and fast and then wear off long before the next shot is due in cats. It hasn't been a recommended insulin for cats for several years.

Living in Canada means you could get Lantus, Basaglar or Levemir (they are all human insulins that work much better in cats) at any human pharmacy without a script.

Could we get you to start keeping track of your tests on our special spreadsheet? It's really a very valuable tool and we depend on it to give the best advice possible. Here are the Instructions on getting the FDMB spreadsheet but if you have any trouble setting it up, feel free to send either myself or @Bandit's Mom a private message by clicking on our name and choosing "start a conversation". We are happy to set it up for you!
Click to expand...
Chris & China (GA) said:
The order you should be trying for is Test, Feed, wait 20-30 minutes and Shoot. You want to test first (when she hasn't had any food for the 2 hours immediately before the "Pre-shot" test), Feed to make sure she eats a good amount and then you can shoot 20-30 minutes later. I'm glad your vet reduced her to 1U...2U is a high starting dose.

Caninsulin is a very harsh insulin so it's important that she eats a good meal before you shoot, but you need to know how high she is before she eats.....otherwise the "Pre-shot" test could be "too low to shoot". If you feed her first, you'll get a number that's influenced by the food she just ate.

I'd really suggest you consider using one of the better insulin's for cats. Caninsulin is a fine dog insulin (thus the "canin" prefix) but it tends to hit hard and fast and then wear off long before the next shot is due in cats. It hasn't been a recommended insulin for cats for several years.

Living in Canada means you could get Lantus, Basaglar or Levemir (they are all human insulins that work much better in cats) at any human pharmacy without a script.

Could we get you to start keeping track of your tests on our special spreadsheet? It's really a very valuable tool and we depend on it to give the best advice possible. Here are the Instructions on getting the FDMB spreadsheet but if you have any trouble setting it up, feel free to send either myself or @Bandit's Mom a private message by clicking on our name and choosing "start a conversation". We are happy to set it up for you!
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the info. I read through the first 10 points and it didn’t look mobile friendly so will try tomorrow on a computer first. What a great resource this site is. thanks again
 
Waving "Hi" from BC. If your test was 13 hours after a shot, it's not unexpected for the numbers to be high. The lows are more likely to be 4-6 hours after the shot. I started on Caninsulin too, before switching to Lantus.
 
Welcome to FDMB! Looks like you are off and running. You already have figured out your signature WELL DONE!
There are some things we'd like you to add to it though. It looks daunting but you've already figured out the hard part.
We would like everyones signature to contain this information. Its important because it gives anyone that comes to your aid, all the information needed to give that aid.
  • under Settings, Click on Signature. This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
    • There is a limit of two lines which may include two links; you may separate pieces with commas, dashes, | etc. This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
    • Add any other text, such as
    • Caregiver & kitty's name (optional)
    • DX: Date
    • Name of Insulin
    • Name of your meter
    • Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
    • Dosing: TR or SLGS or Custom (if applicable)
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Be sure to click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom. If you need help urgently it is important we know these things at a glance. We don’t want to waste valuable time finding out information.

With this info at the bottom of all your posts, helpers wont have to keep asking the same questions over and over and eliminates wasted time in case of an emergency.

This IS the best site on this planet, to learn everything you need to know about feline diabetes!

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY.:bighug:
jeanne
 
fordup said:
Is London Drugs as good a place as any to pick that up in the GVRD
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They are OK, mine had long line ups. Strangely enough, Safeway Pharmacy nearme has the best prices on diabetes supplies. Costco and Superstore also good options. I would also talk to your vet to make sure he/she is on board with the insulin switch.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
They are OK, mine had long line ups. Strangely enough, Safeway Pharmacy nearme has the best prices on diabetes supplies. Costco and Superstore also good options. I would also talk to your vet to make sure he/she is on board with the insulin switch.
Click to expand...
Great info
Thanks a lot
 
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