NEW MEMBER 11/1

[ForeverJoy]

Hullo, my name is Jennifer and my cat Clark was diagnosed yesterday (10/31). His GLU was 518 mg. He also had some elevated liver results, but the vet is hoping they might go down as his blood sugar gets better.

I’m scrambling to read and absorb as much information as I can in order to have a good start to helping him get better.

He’s approx 10yo and has been overweight/obese for at least half his life. We’ve tried various things to help him lose weight, but with two cats in the house, it’s been a challenging.

He’s been on a primarily dry food diet. He was on a “weight loss” kibble (26% carbs)for several years, but six months ago the vet suggested changing to a lower calorie/higher carb kibble (35% carbs). At that visit he was otherwise healthy. Since then he’s developed diabetes and lost 6lbs. I can’t help but wonder if the HC food was the last straw.

Because he was only just diagnosed, I haven’t given him any insulin (still waiting on ‘script) or changed his diet. I’m planning on trying to gather up food, meters, etc. today. My main question is should I switch him to LC wet and start testing daily (gotta learn some time), before starting insulin shots?

I’ll start my spreadsheet and update my signature as things change.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Hullo, my name is Jennifer and my cat Clark was diagnosed yesterday (10/31). His GLU was 518 mg. He also had some elevated liver results, but the vet is hoping they might go down as his blood sugar gets better.

I’m scrambling to read and absorb as much information as I can in order to have a good start to helping him get better.

He’s approx 10yo and has been overweight/obese for at least half his life. We’ve tried various things to help him lose weight, but with two cats in the house, it’s been a challenging.

He’s been on a primarily dry food diet. He was on a “weight loss” kibble (26% carbs)for several years, but six months ago the vet suggested changing to a lower calorie/higher carb kibble (35% carbs). At that visit he was otherwise healthy. Since then he’s developed diabetes and lost 6lbs. I can’t help but wonder if the HC food was the last straw.

Because he was only just diagnosed, I haven’t given him any insulin (still waiting on ‘script) or changed his diet. I’m planning on trying to gather up food, meters, etc. today. My main question is should I switch him to LC wet and start testing daily (gotta learn some time), before starting insulin shots?

I’ll start my spreadsheet and update my signature as things change.

@Bandit's Mom
@tiffmaxee
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Wendy&Neko

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Welcome Jennifer and Clark
You couldn't have found a better group to join
If it wasn't for the experienced members here and me taking their advice I know Tyler wouldn't be in remission since 1-24-21
I hope I don't overwhelme you with the information I give you
Just keep asking questions
I tagged a few members about your main question .
Meantime I can give you some information
Lantus its expensive in the US.
Most members get the generic you can get generic/biosimilar glargine at very reasonable prices using GoodRx coupon. Most members use the generic because Lantus is to expensive.
https://www.goodrx.com/lantus?label...d-pens-of-100-units-ml&quantity=1&slug=lantus
Make sure that the Match your prescription pull down menue says generic glargine 1carton of 5 3ml pens.
There is no wait time test, feed, give insulin
Lantus usually doesn't kick in until 2 hours after the shot

We buy the pens but use the syringes to draw out the insulin because if you use the pen you can only adjust by full units ,we adjust the doses by 0.25 units
You will need
U -100 SYRINGES WITH HALF UNIT MARKINGS



Also
The 5 pens will last about a year, we use the pens just like a vial, you would just insert the syringe it the gray rubber stopper on the pen and draw out your insulin
Its generic lantus
You will see the manufacturer says disgard lantus after 28 days, that refers to humans not cats. You can use each pen to the last drop
They are all good until the expiration date on them, just keep them in the fridge on the middle shelf



Or this one also

I see some members will call CVS, Rite Aid, Costco, Walgreen's, to get the price for 5 pens
Posted by another member
One members posted this
. I paid $175 for a box of 5 pens at Walmart pharmacy, but GoodRX coupon says you can get it for around $90 if you have a Rite Aid pharmacy near you.

Just call around for the best price

A member just posted this
Allie was using the Lantus and I just switched to the generic and using the GoodRX I got 5 pens for $81.30 at Walgreens.

GoodRX has a 1-800 number to assist you in using their services to get your pets prescriptions filled if the pharmacy gives you any issues.


GoodRx / Customer service

1 (855) 268-2822


I can suggest some U-100 syringes with half unit markings
either one is fine. You can't order the Relion Syringes you have to go into the store. I'm not sure if you need a script for Walmart , call and ask them

Or
https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/1316/surecomfort-u100-syringes-half-unit-31g-3-10cc-5-16in-100ct

https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product...100-vet-rx-half-unit-syringes-31g-3-10cc-60ct
You can just call ADW diabetes ,tell them what syringes you want and they will contact your vet to fax over a script for them, ask your vet for refills also

Here's a coupon code to give them

10% off your next order

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Here are some transitioning tips:
http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf
Also found this posted by one of our members
Whenever you decide to make a change to her diet, please do it very slowly and with close monitoring of her BG (with home testing) and insulin requirements. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
mix of wet/dry then gradually decreasing the amount of wet. It'll be easier on his GI system,

Here is our food chart that you can look at
Most members feed Fancy Feast Pate or Friskies but you can feed other lc wet foods

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/

A low carb wet diet that is 10% carbs or under. Most of us use around 4-7%carbs
I have always fed Tyler either 2 or 3 % carbs, but that's just me


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
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with
Here is a video one of our members made testing her kitty
She's using a pet meter that has to be coded ,with a human meter you don't have to code it.
So ignore that
I have always used a human meter
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


Learn how YOUR kitty is responding to insulin:

• Onset - the length of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream & begins lowering blood glucose
• Peak/Nadir - the lowest point in the cycle
• Duration - the length of time insulin continues to lower blood glucose
• How to do a Curve - a simple explanation

I suggest you set up your hypo kit in case you need to bring Clark's BG up
For your Hypo kit
Med and High Carb food and some honey/karo



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good idea to mark the cans with magic marker how many carbs

Or any on the food chart. Doesn't have to be Fancy Feast just an example about the med and high carb foods


https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-

10% and under is low carb
11% -15 is medium carbs.

16- 24 is high carb.



Most of us use the Relion human meter from Walmart
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197


Any human meter will be fine since our numbers are based on human meters


You can read all about Lantus here , read all the yellow stickys
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Welcome Jennifer and Clark!

Do you know if he had ketones? If you have a copy of the urinalysis, you can check to see what it says under Ketones (KET). If negative for ketones, a change in the diet is the first step. Some lucky cats get regulated with just a food change and end up not needing insulin. You also want to get a glucose meter and start testing the blood sugar at home to see how it responds to the food change. Tests/curves done at the vet can show inflated readings due to stress. In less than a week you should see a significant improvement in his numbers. He might still need insulin, but a lower dose. The few days of diet change will also give you an opportunity to get comfortable with home testing his blood sugar.

Will he eat canned food? If he is a kibble addict, there are low carb options in dry food as well – Young Again, Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein and Wysong Epigen 90. You could start by changing him to a low carb kibble and then slowly work on transitioning him to a low carb canned diet.

Which insulin has your vet prescribed?

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Which insulin has your vet prescribed?

Hi Bhooma
Her vet is prescribing Lantus, she has it in her signature and profile
@Bandit's Mom

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Some folks will do the diet transition first before starting on insulin. I wouldn’t hold off for longer than 2 weeks though. Dry food is not good for any cats especially diabetic cats so low carb wet food is your best choice. That’s like feeding your diabetic child a diet of chips, ice cream and sweets.


Was the diabetes diagnosed with a fructosamine test?

unregulated cats will eat and still lose weight because they can’t process the nutrients in the food they eat.

Lantus is a great insulin for cats and you can start home testing now so you can get the hang of it. You don’t need a pet meter, most of us use Walmart’s ReliOn meter and you can get all the testing supplies at a store or order online. We can help you with lots of testing tips, Diane already gave you some, to make it easier on both of you. Home monitoring is the only way to get your cat regulated and safe.

you’re off to a great start, just hang in there, I know it’s quite a learning curve!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Those so called "diet dry foods" don't work. When I worked at our local shelter, we put all the fatties in a room together and just gave them the W/D or R/D. None of them lost weight, some gained. I adopted one of them at 17 lbs, got him home and on a low carb wet and raw diet and he slimmed down nicely.

With a glucose of 518, I rather suspect he will need some insulin support. I would start low carb food as soon as you can, for both kitties if possible. If you pick up a meter and start learning to home test, you'll see how much the change in diet is helping him. Changing to low carb can really help how much insulin he needs. So as long as there were no ketones, you can experiment for a little while. Note, the sooner you can get him regulated on insulin, the greater the chances of remission, should that be a goal.

 

[ForeverJoy]

Welcome Jennifer and Clark!

Do you know if he had ketones? If you have a copy of the urinalysis, you can check to see what it says under Ketones (KET). If negative for ketones, a change in the diet is the first step. Some lucky cats get regulated with just a food change and end up not needing insulin. You also want to get a glucose meter and start testing the blood sugar at home to see how it responds to the food change. Tests/curves done at the vet can show inflated readings due to stress. In less than a week you should see a significant improvement in his numbers. He might still need insulin, but a lower dose. The few days of diet change will also give you an opportunity to get comfortable with home testing his blood sugar.

Will he eat canned food? If he is a kibble addict, there are low carb options in dry food as well – Young Again, Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein and Wysong Epigen 90. You could start by changing him to a low carb kibble and then slowly work on transitioning him to a low carb canned diet.

Which insulin has your vet prescribed?

KET says 15mg/dL
Many of his liver values were trending high, but the vet said she's hoping they will normalize as his blood sugar stabilizes. I called to see what type of glucose test they used, but won't hear back until tomorrow. Clark gets incredibly stressed out by car rides and the vet, to the point he completely empties his bladder. I've not had a cat that scared of the car before, and I was unpleasantly surprised the first time it happened.

I picked up the ReliOn meter and strips, but the lancets might be the wrong size. I got the Ultra Thin 30 gauge. Should I start practicing with them, or take them back and exchange? I'm not sure when would be a good time to start doing the blood draws, especially since the first few (dozen?) may be stressful and failures. Does time of day matter when first starting, or should I go ahead and attempt to do them on a schedule? (I've been scouring the message board, but a lot is still going over my head.)

Their dry food is gone as of this afternoon. I picked up some Friskies Pate, and gave them both (I have two cats) 1/4 a can, and they inhaled it. Lol... The struggle has always been to make sure they each eat only their portion. Clark has always trended towards being overweight, and Lewis has always been a normal weight. They've had dry food the majority of their lives. At first it was free range, but the last two years or so we've used feeders on timers to only give them portions throughout the day. I'm not sure how to do the wet food... if we need to do a shared timed dish, or get two timed ones.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Keep the 30 gauge lancets for later, but pick up some 26 or 28 when you can. Expect there will be a few failures to start with the blood testing, do think of them as just practice runs before you need it. You can test at random times for now. What's more important now is a routine, perhaps pick a location that is the testing spot. And getting used to treats as rewards for ear rubbing.

Great news on them loving the Friskies! You can get rotating feeders, like the Petmate or Catmate that are good for wet food. They have a little space below that allows you to put a cool pack to keep food cool. Or you can just add an ice cube on top and it will melt and add water - also a good thing for a diabetic.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Here is an auto feeder that hold 5 slots and comes with 2 ice packs for wet food
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-C500-Digital-Automatic/dp/B01AUYLVU8/ref=sr_1_6?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuM_y2p79_AIVDvrICh1_xAy6EAAYASAAEgJBDfD_BwE&hvadid=178540036693&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9003521&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6990619631848479728&hvtargid=kwd-12652445711&hydadcr=10635_9894649&keywords=petsafe 5-meal automatic pet feeder&qid=1675560889&sr=8-6

Extra ice packs so you can keep them in the freezer ready to go
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Rep...5c-bd5c-e23f6094563c&pd_rd_i=B091HTXNHR&psc=1

This one has 3 slots with one ice pack
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Automatic-Feeder-Digital/dp/B01MXDFB28

Extra ice pack
https://www.amazon.com/Mate-Replace...cb-974a-deec2fb8a80c&pd_rd_i=B07KFP7PRG&psc=1

You can even order the stainless steel inserts for the 5 slot if you don't like your kitty eating out of plastic, from what I have heard plastic could cause acne on some cats
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Mate-Sta...36-830d-6cc20f385409&pd_rd_i=B0B3MS1MWR&psc=1

 

[ForeverJoy]

Some folks will do the diet transition first before starting on insulin. I wouldn’t hold off for longer than 2 weeks though. Dry food is not good for any cats especially diabetic cats so low carb wet food is your best choice. That’s like feeding your diabetic child a diet of chips, ice cream and sweets.


Was the diabetes diagnosed with a fructosamine test?

unregulated cats will eat and still lose weight because they can’t process the nutrients in the food they eat.

Lantus is a great insulin for cats and you can start home testing now so you can get the hang of it. You don’t need a pet meter, most of us use Walmart’s ReliOn meter and you can get all the testing supplies at a store or order online. We can help you with lots of testing tips, Diane already gave you some, to make it easier on both of you. Home monitoring is the only way to get your cat regulated and safe.

you’re off to a great start, just hang in there, I know it’s quite a learning curve!

Thank you. I'm sorry for the scattered replies. I have lots of thoughts/information swirling in my head and struggling to make everything line up neatly. I think because it's a lot to process all at once.

Food: Since I haven't received the Lantus yet, I was thinking of trying the low carb wet food for the next several days and see if that affects his blood sugar levels. Or at least to try and establish a less-stressed baseline. Car rides absolutely terrify him, and since I'm still waiting to hear what type of glucose test they used, I'm hoping the next few days will still be helpful even without the insulin.

Just picked up the ReliOn meter and strips today. Not sure exactly when I should start the blood testing. I might have gotten lancets that are too small, 30 gauge, so trying to decide if I should run back to the store and exchange them before starting. I'm flailing a bit on this bit about when to start, just do it, wait for a feeding, etc.

 

[ForeverJoy]

Keep the 30 gauge lancets for later, but pick up some 26 or 28 when you can. Expect there will be a few failures to start with the blood testing, do think of them as just practice runs before you need it. You can test at random times for now. What's more important now is a routine, perhaps pick a location that is the testing spot. And getting used to treats as rewards for ear rubbing.

Great news on them loving the Friskies! You can get rotating feeders, like the Petmate or Catmate that are good for wet food. They have a little space below that allows you to put a cool pack to keep food cool. Or you can just add an ice cube on top and it will melt and add water - also a good thing for a diabetic.

I saw a pet food list somewhere that had suggested treats. Right now they have and love Greenies, but if something like freeze dried chicken is better, I'm happy to transition them. Would you happen to have a link or suggestion? I don't think it was on Dr. Pierson's food chart, but I've skimmed so many pages in the last 24hrs I can't remember where I saw it.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

@ForeverJoy
freeze dried treats
Click on this link and look at post #6. Numbers are to the right
You can get any freeze dried treats ,information is there
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/brand-new-many-questions-3.255627/#post-2878703

Greenies are too high in carbs , not good

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Not sure exactly when I should start the blood testing. I might have gotten lancets that are too small, 30 gauge, so trying to decide if I should run back to the store and exchange them before starting.

You can't return them, even if they've never been opened because they're considered a "blood product" and once you've paid for them, they're yours.

You want the Relion "THIN" lancets (less than $2). "Thin" is thicker than "Ultra Thin" or "Micro Thin". Once your cats ears "learn to bleed", you can use the 30 gauge lancets.

As you poke, the body will start to grow more capillaries into the area to "heal the wound", so even if you don't necessarily get a good blood sample, in the long run it'll get easier and easier. After over 5 1/2 years of poking China, I think if I just waved the lancet next to her ear she'd probably bleed (just kidding but not much!)

Here's something I wrote up for others for testing...maybe it'll help you too!

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you.

Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well

For new kitties, using a heavier gauge lancet is also really helpful. A 25-28 gauge lancet pokes a bigger "hole" than a 31-33 gauge lancet does, so look for "Alternate Site testing" lancets that are usually a lower number

Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!

There are more testing tips here:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

When you go back to the store, pick up some Urine Ketone Test Strips.

Since there were ketones when diagnosed, you're going to want to be able to test for them.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

@ForeverJoy Hi Jennifer now that you bought the Relion Meter don't forget to add that to your signature and also add had Ketones at DX

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Basically any treat with one ingredient, just a meat, is a good one. Or multiple ingredients, all meat. Orijen is one such example. There are lots of freeze dried, air dried, or dehydrated ones out there. Usually the dog section of pet stores will have larger size packages for better prices.

What you get really depends on what the cat loves. Many people refer to freeze dried chicken as kitty crack. It can also be crumbled on food to entice them to eat, if they are picky eaters.

 

[ForeverJoy]

@ForeverJoy Hi Jennifer now that you bought the Relion Meter don't forget to add that to your signature and also add had Ketones at DX

Thank you for the reminder. I’m still trying to get all my ducks in order. I still need to set up a spreadsheet also.

 

[ForeverJoy]

Basically any treat with one ingredient, just a meat, is a good one. Or multiple ingredients, all meat. Orijen is one such example. There are lots of freeze dried, air dried, or dehydrated ones out there. Usually the dog section of pet stores will have larger size packages for better prices.

What you get really depends on what the cat loves. Many people refer to freeze dried chicken as kitty crack. It can also be crumbled on food to entice them to eat, if they are picky eaters.

I have some canned chicken, so I rinsed it well and have been using it while learning how to do the blood tests. Handling all the testing bits and trying to learn how to take care of Clark, feels a bit like trying to learn to juggle and earn a PhD while riding a unicycle all at the same time. Lol…

 

[ForeverJoy]

Great news on them loving the Friskies! You can get rotating feeders, like the Petmate or Catmate that are good for wet food. They have a little space below that allows you to put a cool pack to keep food cool. Or you can just add an ice cube on top and it will melt and add water - also a good thing for a diabetic.

Since I have two cats, should I consider two feeders to increase the chances of each getting the correct amount of food each day? Right now I’m putting down about 1/4 can every 3-4 hours, but that’s not really feasible long term.

 

[ForeverJoy]

I’ve been randomly poking Clark’s ear since last night. At first he was unhappy with me, but when I started giving him some canned chicken he was less irritated.

Is it okay to use a lancet more than once during the same test, if I didn’t get a good poke the first time? It seems to be taking me three times to get a drop of blood.

So far his readings today were (assuming I did everything correctly) 413, 394 and 430. He was 518 when diagnosed at the vet, but I’m still waiting for them to get back with me with my list of questions… like what type of glucose test they used.

I haven’t started the insulin yet, but have changed cold turkey from high carb dry to low carb wet. So far both cats are absolutely thrilled with the change, and harass me every time I go into the kitchen. Lol…

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Great job getting those first test! I used to reuse the lancet a second time if I failed the first.

Since you are using a human meter, and many vets use a pet reader which usually reads higher than a human meter in high numbers, sounds like you are getting similar numbers. Since you are reading high numbers at home, the type of test at the vets is not so important now. Also, cats can read higher at a vet due to stress. I had one kitty read over 150 pts higher at the vet than at home.

feels a bit like trying to learn to juggle and earn a PhD while riding a unicycle all at the same time. Lol…

With one arm tied behind your back.

 

[ForeverJoy]

Here are some transitioning tips:
http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf
Also found this posted by one of our members
Whenever you decide to make a change to her diet, please do it very slowly and with close monitoring of her BG (with home testing) and insulin requirements. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
mix of wet/dry then gradually decreasing the amount of wet. It'll be easier on his GI system,

Here is our food chart that you can look at
Most members feed Fancy Feast Pate or Friskies but you can feed other lc wet foods

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/

A low carb wet diet that is 10% carbs or under. Most of us use around 4-7%carbs
I have always fed Tyler either 2 or 3 % carbs, but that's just me


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
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with
Here is a video one of our members made testing her kitty
She's using a pet meter that has to be coded ,with a human meter you don't have to code it.
So ignore that
I have always used a human meter
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


Learn how YOUR kitty is responding to insulin:

• Onset - the length of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream & begins lowering blood glucose
• Peak/Nadir - the lowest point in the cycle
• Duration - the length of time insulin continues to lower blood glucose
• How to do a Curve - a simple explanation

I suggest you set up your hypo kit in case you need to bring Clark's BG up
For your Hypo kit
Med and High Carb food and some honey/karo



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good idea to mark the cans with magic marker how many carbs

Or any on the food chart. Doesn't have to be Fancy Feast just an example about the med and high carb foods


https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-

10% and under is low carb
11% -15 is medium carbs.

16- 24 is high carb.



Most of us use the Relion human meter from Walmart
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197


Any human meter will be fine since our numbers are based on human meters


You can read all about Lantus here , read all the yellow stickys
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/

Thank you for all the information. I still don’t have any insulin. I need to contact the vet to see what’s causing the delay.