meredith
New Member
Hi everyone,
My cat Dio was diagnosed with diabetes on 4/9/11. He was in DKA ( could smell the ketones) with a blood glucose of 405. From his vet visit in March, he had lost down to 7.7lbs from 11.3lbs. I've beaten myself up a million times over it because I work as a critical care nurse. I had changed the dry kibble in the house to a weight loss formula and knew he had lost some weight, but didn't put it all together until I smelled his breath. We have three cats in our house and their weight was good, Dio looked like he was getting sick. Anyway, my vet did not keep him or give him iv fluids. I know that his severe dehydration should have been treated, but I didn't argue with the vet over this. I generally get "you know how to do this" from our vet. And, I really don't know how to do this.
I brought him home and began lantus insulin and blood glucose checks. The dose has been 2 units twice a day and the first week, he ran in the 400's consistently regardless of it being pre-meal or 6 hours post. The second week we increased to 4 units of lantus twice a day and he is running in the 300's consistently. He is eating 2-3 cans of classic fancy feast per day. In general, his personality is bright again, his eyes are bright, he is energetic. His fur looks good again. The ketones are gone from his breath, and his nose and skin are no longer dry. He is however, starving all the time. I'm trying to keep a strict schedule of feeding, insulin and blood glucose checks and he is the best patient I could ask for. He is the sweetest cat we have ever owned and I want to do the best I can for him. The vet has been less than helpful lately and I'm thinking I need to ditch him. I've done numbers, but he doesn't seem interested in helping us. He was on vacation last week, but left without checking on Dio (the only diabetic cat he has had in awhile). Maybe I just answered myself and he isn't qualified to treat him since he doesn't routinely treat diabetic cats? We are planning on having a meeting at the vet office Monday to hammer out our issues with the vet.
I guess I need to know if I'm doing ok right now? And, I'm curious about the spreadsheet I see on some of your posts. How do you use it and where did you get it from? Is it ok for him to be so hungry all the time and will this stop?
thank you for this message board and for any assistance you can give us.
My cat Dio was diagnosed with diabetes on 4/9/11. He was in DKA ( could smell the ketones) with a blood glucose of 405. From his vet visit in March, he had lost down to 7.7lbs from 11.3lbs. I've beaten myself up a million times over it because I work as a critical care nurse. I had changed the dry kibble in the house to a weight loss formula and knew he had lost some weight, but didn't put it all together until I smelled his breath. We have three cats in our house and their weight was good, Dio looked like he was getting sick. Anyway, my vet did not keep him or give him iv fluids. I know that his severe dehydration should have been treated, but I didn't argue with the vet over this. I generally get "you know how to do this" from our vet. And, I really don't know how to do this.
I brought him home and began lantus insulin and blood glucose checks. The dose has been 2 units twice a day and the first week, he ran in the 400's consistently regardless of it being pre-meal or 6 hours post. The second week we increased to 4 units of lantus twice a day and he is running in the 300's consistently. He is eating 2-3 cans of classic fancy feast per day. In general, his personality is bright again, his eyes are bright, he is energetic. His fur looks good again. The ketones are gone from his breath, and his nose and skin are no longer dry. He is however, starving all the time. I'm trying to keep a strict schedule of feeding, insulin and blood glucose checks and he is the best patient I could ask for. He is the sweetest cat we have ever owned and I want to do the best I can for him. The vet has been less than helpful lately and I'm thinking I need to ditch him. I've done numbers, but he doesn't seem interested in helping us. He was on vacation last week, but left without checking on Dio (the only diabetic cat he has had in awhile). Maybe I just answered myself and he isn't qualified to treat him since he doesn't routinely treat diabetic cats? We are planning on having a meeting at the vet office Monday to hammer out our issues with the vet.
I guess I need to know if I'm doing ok right now? And, I'm curious about the spreadsheet I see on some of your posts. How do you use it and where did you get it from? Is it ok for him to be so hungry all the time and will this stop?
thank you for this message board and for any assistance you can give us.
