AggyBear
Member Since 2021
Hey everyone, my kitty Agatha was diagnosed with diabetes Jan 7th, a week ago. I'm exhausted. All I've done is read read read and watch YouTube videos the last week. I want to run past y'all what I've been doing and solicit any advice or suggestions to help my Agatha.
For starters, here's the note I gave my vet: Agatha Born April 2007, 13¾yo. Agatha's sister Edward (litter mate at 7yo had cancer) died August 2014, she had feeding tube in November 2014, and again needed feeding tube (due to stress from my younger cat antagonizing her in October 2018) and fully recovered.
3 weeks ago noticed I need to fill up the water bowl more frequently (around the same time switched diet FROM Blue Buffalo Basics TO 4Health Wilderness + Adult Pet Supermarket wet food). Jan 30th noticed huge increase of urine in litter box, seems like it smelled sour? (I do have 2 cats but it was very abnormal), January 3rd noticed again Agatha very insistent for water (bowl was dry). Separated cats. January 4: made appt for January 7th at 1:30pm. Jan 5: feels like she's losing weight but still eating, vomited large amount of water followed by clear bile.
The vet ran a CBC blood test + urine analysis and found a little blood in the urine + gave her a shot of Convenia. She weighs 13.2lbs. He sold me an AlphaTrak 2 Blood Glucose Monitor with only 25 testing strips + lancets and syringes. I have kept records of her blood glucose test results. After realizing 3 days after diagnosis (facepalm) that testings needed to come first + not after feeding and insulin testings + feedings have been about 12 hours apart. Around 12pm + 12am I have been testing, then feeding + lastly giving the prescribed 1 unit of Vetsulin insulin. Starting January 10 I was able to start feeding her Wysong Epigen 90 with a bit of wet food. Her appetite remains good + she appears to feel well/is behaving normally.
Her BG readings are high + I'm trying to be patient as her treatment has really only been consistent for 4 days. My hope is that long-term the drastic diet change itself will help her go into remission + not use the insulin once things normalize. I have several questions.
1) I read poor or irregular absorption of insulin may happen with long-lasting insulins or injections in the scruff. I am giving it in her scruff. Where would be a more ideal place to give the shot?
2) Now that I have already purchased the AlphaTrak 2 starter kit for $75 (facepalm) I'm aware that human monitors will also work. I feel delirious with the amount of research I have done and I'm having trouble making decisions. Which monitors work well + are economic? I don't know how long I will have to continue monitoring her but the test strips for this model are at least $1/strip!
3) Are there any options for texting or private messaging friends on the message board for one on one help or is the public message board best?
4) Is there anything I can do to help her get better faster? I also came across some supplements for feline diabetes. Has anyone else used these with success?
Here are the links to her current food + the supplement I am referring to:
https://www.chewy.com/wysong-epigen-90-starch-free-formula/dp/103307
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUEFQCK/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
I am new to this and will probably think of more questions as soon as I hit send. Thank you all so much in advance. -Samantha
For starters, here's the note I gave my vet: Agatha Born April 2007, 13¾yo. Agatha's sister Edward (litter mate at 7yo had cancer) died August 2014, she had feeding tube in November 2014, and again needed feeding tube (due to stress from my younger cat antagonizing her in October 2018) and fully recovered.
3 weeks ago noticed I need to fill up the water bowl more frequently (around the same time switched diet FROM Blue Buffalo Basics TO 4Health Wilderness + Adult Pet Supermarket wet food). Jan 30th noticed huge increase of urine in litter box, seems like it smelled sour? (I do have 2 cats but it was very abnormal), January 3rd noticed again Agatha very insistent for water (bowl was dry). Separated cats. January 4: made appt for January 7th at 1:30pm. Jan 5: feels like she's losing weight but still eating, vomited large amount of water followed by clear bile.
The vet ran a CBC blood test + urine analysis and found a little blood in the urine + gave her a shot of Convenia. She weighs 13.2lbs. He sold me an AlphaTrak 2 Blood Glucose Monitor with only 25 testing strips + lancets and syringes. I have kept records of her blood glucose test results. After realizing 3 days after diagnosis (facepalm) that testings needed to come first + not after feeding and insulin testings + feedings have been about 12 hours apart. Around 12pm + 12am I have been testing, then feeding + lastly giving the prescribed 1 unit of Vetsulin insulin. Starting January 10 I was able to start feeding her Wysong Epigen 90 with a bit of wet food. Her appetite remains good + she appears to feel well/is behaving normally.
Her BG readings are high + I'm trying to be patient as her treatment has really only been consistent for 4 days. My hope is that long-term the drastic diet change itself will help her go into remission + not use the insulin once things normalize. I have several questions.
1) I read poor or irregular absorption of insulin may happen with long-lasting insulins or injections in the scruff. I am giving it in her scruff. Where would be a more ideal place to give the shot?
2) Now that I have already purchased the AlphaTrak 2 starter kit for $75 (facepalm) I'm aware that human monitors will also work. I feel delirious with the amount of research I have done and I'm having trouble making decisions. Which monitors work well + are economic? I don't know how long I will have to continue monitoring her but the test strips for this model are at least $1/strip!
3) Are there any options for texting or private messaging friends on the message board for one on one help or is the public message board best?
4) Is there anything I can do to help her get better faster? I also came across some supplements for feline diabetes. Has anyone else used these with success?
Here are the links to her current food + the supplement I am referring to:
https://www.chewy.com/wysong-epigen-90-starch-free-formula/dp/103307
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUEFQCK/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
I am new to this and will probably think of more questions as soon as I hit send. Thank you all so much in advance. -Samantha
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