11/4 Ruby AMPS 374/+5 127 + vet visit w/Libre/+10 336/+11 444/PMPS 412/+2 368/+3 327

Katherine&Ruby

Katherine&Ruby

Member Since 2020
Yesterday.

So happy the site is back up again! :bighug:

I freaked out a little yesterday because Ruby was so high for days. @tiffmaxee and @carfurby, you were both so right because she floated right down this afternoon. I will never doubt you guys again! :cat:

Went to the vet today and he did an IDEXX Diabetes blood panel which includes urinalysis (I wanted to rule out a UTI because her pee is a little cloudy) and I'll have the results tomorrow. I had a Libre installed to give us a little break from the pokies, but the vet would not put it on her neck as was so helpfully suggested in this Think Tank thread. Instead he put it on her back near her shoulders. I even got a cute Kitty Kollar for her that is not going to be put into use. :( Crossing my fingers that it stays on for a week.
 
Maybe you could try a little shirt or onesie or something? Butters wore a fentanyl patch in that location and I put her in a harness that I have for her, which covered it up so she couldn't scratch it off. :D

Interested to hear your review of the Libre! Good luck with it.
 
Butters & Lyla said:
Maybe you could try a little shirt or onesie or something? Butters wore a fentanyl patch in that location and I put her in a harness that I have for her, which covered it up so she couldn't scratch it off. :D

Interested to hear your review of the Libre! Good luck with it.
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I have a little gray turtleneck sweater on her right now, but it's a little loose and I'm afraid she'll scratch it loose so I'm getting her a harness that is more snug. We had a Libre in September, and though I think it bothers her, at $35 for the sensor + $35 for the vet to plant it on her, it's actually cheaper than two weeks worth of Alpha Trak strips at the rate I go through them, plus I will get all of those night numbers that I miss because I value sleep.
 
Work the juice, Ruby! And good luck with the Libre! Have you considered switching to a human meter after the libre ends (since it's a human meter)? I switched from AT2 to ReliOn for price of strips AND because most people on the board naturally think in human meter numbers. Of course, AT2 works too but just wanted to throw the thought out there since it could be a good transition point. Hope you had a wonderful day!
 
JaxBenji said:
Work the juice, Ruby! And good luck with the Libre! Have you considered switching to a human meter after the libre ends (since it's a human meter)? I switched from AT2 to ReliOn for price of strips AND because most people on the board naturally think in human meter numbers. Of course, AT2 works too but just wanted to throw the thought out there since it could be a good transition point. Hope you had a wonderful day!
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Yes! I have a Contour Next One meter all ready to go after the Libre is finished. I've already transferred all of my data to the Human Meter spreadsheet, with the AT2 data noted. I haven't used the meter yet but I am looking forward to using strips that are $.25 each versus $1. Plus with this meter all of the data is uploaded to my phone so I can see trends in pretty graphs. I will continue to use the AT2 for curves if requested by my vet, but it boggles the mind that they are happy to install the Libre which is for humans but want me to use the AT2 regularly.
 
JaxBenji said:
But I've read this exact story from many members and their vets (they'll install a libre but insist on AT2).
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The reason for this (Ive seen it come up quite a bit) is because they are using the Libre to get a sense of the dynamic data trends from the glucose within the interstitial space vs static info from the blood glucose and unfortunately, there is no “pet version” to do this. Apples and oranges—they are not using the Libre simply to get static glucose readings like you get from a glucometer (human or pet).

With the Libre they are able to get a sense of or answer questions such as:

1) How consistent is the duration of action?
2) Are there sudden increases or decrease and are they transient or sustained? What is the speed of the changes?
3) What is the end of action?
4) Effects of food with your specific cat and again, speed of the effects

Sorry the vet put it on Ruby’s back:banghead: :(;)! Maybe it will be ok (fingers crossed!). I need to take a photo of the page from the most recent Feline Endo Textbook (Page 536 First Paragraph :bookworm:) noting the recommendation of the placement on the dorsal to dorsal lateral neck.....maybe people can share it with them and they will be more likely to listen :). The vets who validated it’s use have “been there done that” and learned the best/most successful application technique. Fingers crossed Ruby leaves it alone :p.
If she doesn’t, tell the vet it’s your turn to try it your way :rolleyes::facepalm:.....or should I say the “experts” way :cool:!!
 
Tomlin said:
The reason for this (Ive seen it come up quite a bit) is because they are using the Libre to get a sense of the dynamic data trends from the glucose within the interstitial space vs static info from the blood glucose and unfortunately, there is no “pet version” to do this. Apples and oranges—they are not using the Libre simply to get static glucose readings like you get from a glucometer (human or pet).

With the Libre they are able to get a sense of or answer questions such as:

1) How consistent is the duration of action?
2) Are there sudden increases or decrease and are they transient or sustained? What is the speed of the changes?
3) What is the end of action?
4) Effects of food with your specific cat and again, speed of the effects

Sorry the vet put it on Ruby’s back:banghead: :(;)! Maybe it will be ok (fingers crossed!). I need to take a photo of the page from the most recent Feline Endo Textbook (Page 536 First Paragraph :bookworm:) noting the recommendation of the placement on the dorsal to dorsal lateral neck.....maybe people can share it with them and they will be more likely to listen :). The vets who validated it’s use have “been there done that” and learned the best/most successful application technique. Fingers crossed Ruby leaves it alone :p.
If she doesn’t, tell the vet it’s your turn to try it your way :rolleyes::facepalm:.....or should I say the “experts” way :cool:!!
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This is fascinating! Thank you for the insight. However, I'm not sure how a neighborhood vet would find the data from the interstitial space vs. static info relevant--I'm not seeing a vet at a major animal hospital or research facility. The first one was placed by IM vets at Blue Pearl, who charged me $95 for the privilege!

I was very direct with our vet about the placement. It was literally the first one he's ever done (he's super sweet, happy to let me take over a lot of Ruby's care by home testing, but young and only a few years out of vet school). I gave him a Kitty Kollar and a knit sweater and told him I wanted it on the neck, on either side of her spine, to be covered with the Kollar because having it on Ruby's back really irritated her and also asked him not to put too much Vet Bond on because there were scars for a few weeks from when she scratched off the last one. If he couldn't do it, he could put it on her back and use the sweater. He then came back to me and said he read a few "papers" on the subject and the back was the best place to put it but he found another "paper" that advised him to put it above the shoulder but not on the neck. :eek::banghead::mad: If you could post the page from that textbook, I'd be happy to show it to him if this sensor falls off before a week is done.
 
+2=368 and +3=327. Coming down slowly from the vet. Very weak, ate a little dinner, sleeping a lot. She’s like a limp pile of fur and bones. :(
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
However, I'm not sure how a neighborhood vet would find the data from the interstitial space vs. static info relevant--I'm not seeing a vet at a major animal hospital or research facility. The first one was placed by IM vets at Blue Pearl, who charged me $95 for the privilege!
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A vet at a BluePearl would understand this. They wouldn’t need to be from a U setting or research setting :). Just an FYI, one sensor runs $35 on average. You can put the next one on yourself :).....seriously. I’ve put them on and it’s easy.

I will get the page to you later today :).
 
Tomlin said:
A vet at a BluePearl would understand this. They wouldn’t need to be from a U setting or research setting :). Just an FYI, one sensor runs $35 on average. You can put the next one on yourself :).....seriously. I’ve put them on and it’s easy.

I will get the page to you later today :).
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The first Libre I bought was $65 at CVS. The one I just got at Waldgreens was $34.99 because I got a smart pharmacist who applied some coupons. It's crazy how prices can vary so widely when you're not paying for things with insurance!

I would very much like to put the next one on myself. The only part of the process that freaks me a bit is shaving poor Ruby.

I started a new thread today about the Libre if you want to follow along: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/11-5-ruby-libre-day-2-amps-211.238116/
 
I get mine at Walgreens as well :). Many places sell them 2 at a time so the price is obviously double. I tell people to always check whether the quote is for one or two.

Once the thicker fur has been shaved down, I actually just use a bikini shaver to get the light fur off down to the skin vs my Wahl pet shaver. Just pull the skin so it’s tight :). Another help is the Smith & Nephew skin barrier prep pads before applying the sensor. I rub it on the skin where the Libre is going. It helps it stick and provides a super thin protective barrier between the skin and adhesive from the CGM to help prevent irritation.
 
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