New and overwhelmed. Need all the advice and help.

[Kim3803]

Hi, I posted here about a week ago but I need more information and advice. I'm so stressed and overwhelmed reading this forum and taking in all this info.
Jax is 10 years old, he was diagnosed with diabetes 3/10/2020. I'm sorry but my vet has been absolutely no help at all. I was given Prozinc- 2 units every 12 hours. I was talked into Purina DM but that last maybe 3-4 days and my cat gave up. Hes back to FF (which hes been eating his whole life) only wet diet. 1 1/4 can in am and pm. I have spent over $850 in 3 visits with little to no information. Until I started digging deeper into this forum I just thought I give him the 2 units every 12 hours which I've been doing the past 15 days but I'm seeing that I should/need to be home testing and could even have to adjust his dose? I'm so lost in all of this. I am looking into ordering a meter and strips and lancets asap. I'm sorry this post is all over the place. The symptoms are much better so far, Less water, Less urine, still has a bit of an appetite but hes not used to every 12 hour feedings. I don't know if I'm giving him enough food at this point or not. He's 10.5lbs.
How often a day do I have to test? How do I know if I need to adjust the dose? I just feel so nervous about doing that, I want to be 100% safe.

 

[JanetNJ]

. I was given Prozinc- 2 units every 12 hours. I was talked into Purina DM but that last maybe 3-4 days and my cat gave up. Hes back to FF (which hes been eating his whole life) only wet diet.

Prozinc is a great insulin. The dose is a bit higher then we recommend to start... 1 unit twice a day is the recommended, so just be careful. It's fine she doesn't want the dm. Most don't. FF CLassic (not the gravy ones) is perfect.

I have spent over $850 in 3 visits with little to no information. Until I started digging deeper into this forum I just thought I give him the 2 units every 12 hours which I've been doing the past 15 days but I'm seeing that I should/need to be home testing and could even have to adjust his dose?

Once you start home testing, you won't need all those vet visits! Once I started testing at home my cat didn't go back for an entire year. Sorry your vet isn't being very informative, but that's what we are here for, and we are happy to help!!! Insulin isn't a set it and forget it kind of thing. Insulin needs do change. Home testing will let you know if a dose is too much or too little. It saved my cat's life several times over the years. I have a video in my signature showing how I tested my cat at home.

Great that you are going to get a meter. I use an alphatrack which is a pet specific meter, but MOST on this board use a regular human meter because the test strips are a lot cheaper. The relion Prime is a popular choice.

so what you would need is

1. a meter (make sure it needs a small sample of 0.3-0.5)
2. a box or two of 100 test strips
3. a box of or two of 28 gauge lancets. ANY BRAND IS FINE. I use trueplus which I get on amazon nice and cheap and sharp.
4. cotton cosmetic rounds to go behind the ear.

I always tested before each shot, and then at least once mid cycle. I did before the shots and then once mid day and one before bed test.

Glad to hear the symptoms are better. You don't have to feed just every 12 hours. Most find several small meals a day are best. Just no food at least two hours before the pre-shot test.
THe rule of thumb is ABOUT 20 calories per pound of food. If hes unregulated he might need a little more than that. So at 10.5x20 so that's about 210 calories. so that's about 2.5-3 cans a day. So you could do a can in the morning, half can mid day, can in the evening, half can before bed.

 

[Kim3803]

Prozinc is a great insulin. The dose is a bit higher then we recommend to start... 1 unit twice a day is the recommended, so just be careful. It's fine she doesn't want the dm. Most don't. FF CLassic (not the gravy ones) is perfect.


Once you start home testing, you won't need all those vet visits! Once I started testing at home my cat didn't go back for an entire year. Sorry your vet isn't being very informative, but that's what we are here for, and we are happy to help!!! Insulin isn't a set it and forget it kind of thing. Insulin needs do change. Home testing will let you know if a dose is too much or too little. It saved my cat's life several times over the years. I have a video in my signature showing how I tested my cat at home.

Great that you are going to get a meter. I use an alphatrack which is a pet specific meter, but MOST on this board use a regular human meter because the test strips are a lot cheaper. The relion Prime is a popular choice.

so what you would need is

1. a meter (make sure it needs a small sample of 0.3-0.5)
2. a box or two of 100 test strips
3. a box of or two of 28 gauge lancets. ANY BRAND IS FINE. I use trueplus which I get on amazon nice and cheap and sharp.
4. cotton cosmetic rounds to go behind the ear.

I always tested before each shot, and then at least once mid cycle. I did before the shots and then once mid day and one before bed test.

Glad to hear the symptoms are better. You don't have to feed just every 12 hours. Most find several small meals a day are best. Just no food at least two hours before the pre-shot test.
THe rule of thumb is ABOUT 20 calories per pound of food. If hes unregulated he might need a little more than that. So at 10.5x20 so that's about 210 calories. so that's about 2.5-3 cans a day. So you could do a can in the morning, half can mid day, can in the evening, half can before bed.

Thank you for your help and the information. Before he was diagnosed he was getting 4-5 small meals throughout the day. The nurse at the vet made it clear he is NOT to eat during the day only before his shots cause it will raise his levels. He gets pretty agitated throughout the day and will be on the counter or opening the cabinet. 6am-6pm is a long stretch and I have a 2nd cat that I'm making go on the same schedule and I feel so bad for both of them.
I don't know how familiar you are with FF but Jax can get tired of the pate and just walk by and meow meow meow for something else. I've looked on the food charts that were recommended on here and the Chunky and Flaked versions seemed to look good. I am open to trying any other wet food but it seems like it would have to be a pate. Neither of my cats were ever fans of pate. I never knew about the grilled and medleys being so high in carbs cause of the gravy. They've eaten that their whole life. I always thought any wet food was better than dry but that's not the case and here we are.

 

[Kim3803]

He's been on the 2 units 2x daily for 15 days so far. Some days he has more energy than others but I haven't noticed any alarming or lethargic behavior. Once I start home testing I guess I will start to understand I need to lower the dose myself?

 

[JanetNJ]

y. The nurse at the vet made it clear he is NOT to eat during the day only before his shots cause it will raise his levels.

That's kind of an old school approach. Keeping food out helps them balance out lows.

Chunky and flaked are fine. Anything under 10 carb is good (under 7 is even better).

 

[JanetNJ]

He's been on the 2 units 2x daily for 15 days so far. Some days he has more energy than others but I haven't noticed any alarming or lethargic behavior. Once I start home testing I guess I will start to understand I need to lower the dose myself?

We can help you with dosing. Once you start testing we can help you set up a spreadsheet that you can link in your signature. It updates in real time so we can see how your cat is doing. If it's too much we will recommend reducing. If it's not enough you will raise it in 0.25-0.5 increments. Don't worry you aren't alone in this.

 

[Kim3803]

We can help you with dosing. Once you start testing we can help you set up a spreadsheet that you can link in your signature. It updates in real time so we can see how your cat is doing. If it's too much we will recommend reducing. If it's not enough you will raise it in 0.25-0.5 increments. Don't worry you aren't alone in this.

Thank you so much I really appreciate this.

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you so much I really appreciate this.

any time. IF you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! where are you from?

 

[JanetNJ]

BTW Jax is a cutie. Two of mine are all grey too. well one has a tiny spot of white, but mostly all grey. haha

 

[Kim3803]

any time. IF you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! where are you from?

I'm from New York. Thank you, he is a very sweet cat but he is very vocal too lol. My 2 never got along, he's always been the playful one.

 

[Kim3803]

any time. IF you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! where are you from?

As far as the lancets go, do you recommend getting a lancet device or push button lancets at first? I've read a lot of people free hand it after they get experienced.

 

[Kim3803]

Do you recommend any “healthy” treats I can get for after testing as a reward? I only have temptations which I’m assuming I shouldn’t be giving at all.

 

[JanetNJ]

I'm from New York. Thank you, he is a very sweet cat but he is very vocal too lol. My 2 never got along, he's always been the playful one.

Hi neighbor... I'm in NJ.

 

[JanetNJ]

As far as the lancets go, do you recommend getting a lancet device or push button lancets at first? I've read a lot of people free hand it after they get experienced.

I used a device for about 3 days before ditching it because 1. My cat didn't care for the click sound by her ear and 2. It was too tricky getting it in the right spot. You are aiming for the very edge of the ear. Easier to just poke. I have a video in my signature showing how I tested my cat CC at home.

 

[JanetNJ]

Do you recommend any “healthy” treats I can get for after testing as a reward? I only have temptations which I’m assuming I shouldn’t be giving at all.

Temptations are a no no. Save them though because they do help to raise bg when they go too low.

These were one of her favorites. PureBites Freeze-Dried Cat Treats with Chicken Breast 2.3 oz ( Packaging May Vary ) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071P7M2HG/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20. I actually bought the ones for dogs because it's cheaper per ounce. Half my cats like them and half don't, so maybe try one of these cat sized bags. There's different flavors of pure bites too. I also used to give cold cuts or chicken or catnip.

 

[Kim3803]

I used a device for about 3 days before ditching it because 1. My cat didn't care for the click sound by her ear and 2. It was too tricky getting it in the right spot. You are aiming for the very edge of the ear. Easier to just poke. I have a video in my signature showing how I tested my cat CC at home.

I just watched your video, thank you it made me feel better.
Ok I’m going to order the meter, strips, lancets and treats.
Thank you again for all your help I appreciate it so much.
I know I will definitely have more questions.

 

[JanetNJ]

I just watched your video, thank you it made me feel better.
Ok I’m going to order the meter, strips, lancets and treats.
Thank you again for all your help I appreciate it so much.
I know I will definitely have more questions.

I was fortunate that my cat was so chill about everything. Nothing bothered her. Lol

 

[Kim3803]

I was fortunate that my cat was so chill about everything. Nothing bothered her. Lol

Yes your very lucky. Jax is pretty chill so I’m hoping he’ll be good about it. At first he didn’t mind the insulin but now he’s starting to nudge around and I do it when he’s almost done eating so I’m a little nervous now about testing but I’m staying positive.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I am open to trying any other wet food but it seems like it would have to be a pate. Neither of my cats were ever fans of pate.

The Fancy Feast "Roasted" are also low enough. They're small bits of meat mixed with some thickened meat juice (for lack of a better way to explain it)

If your cats are fans of "gravy", a lot of us add extra warm water to the pate and make our own "gravy-like substance" (which is also a good way to get extra water into your cat to help keep the kidney's healthier).

Another option is to make bone broth to mix with the pate food. Bone broth is very nutritious and adds that extra water we like as well as some yummy flavor. Make up a bunch, put it into ice cube trays to freeze, pop into baggies and use as needed!

 

[Kim3803]

The Fancy Feast "Roasted" are also low enough. They're small bits of meat mixed with some thickened meat juice (for lack of a better way to explain it)

If your cats are fans of "gravy", a lot of us add extra warm water to the pate and make our own "gravy-like substance" (which is also a good way to get extra water into your cat to help keep the kidney's healthier).

Another option is to make bone broth to mix with the pate food. Bone broth is very nutritious and adds that extra water we like as well as some yummy flavor. Make up a bunch, put it into ice cube trays to freeze, pop into baggies and use as needed!

This is great info, thank you so much.

 

[Kim3803]

We can help you with dosing. Once you start testing we can help you set up a spreadsheet that you can link in your signature. It updates in real time so we can see how your cat is doing. If it's too much we will recommend reducing. If it's not enough you will raise it in 0.25-0.5 increments. Don't worry you aren't alone in this.

I'm not sure if I should start a new thread about this but I figured I'd just reach out to you since you helped me so much. I just did my first home test. It went perfect! I was so happy. I also got the pure bites chicken treats to reward him afterwards. I got a relion premier. It's an hour from when Jax eats dinner and it read 363. I've been trying to read up on how different the reading can be from a human meter to a pet one. I'm also going to try and start a spreadsheet if I can figure it out lol.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I'm also going to try and start a spreadsheet if I can figure it out lol.

If you need help with it, feel free to send me a private message. I'd be happy to set it up for you. Just click on my name and choose "start a conversation"