A New Chapter--Becoming Diabetic

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Paula&Boots

Member Since 2013
Hi Everyone! This new chapter in our lives began July 11, 2013. I took Boots(9yrs old) to the vet for increased water consumption and what seemed unstoppable urination as well as weight loss and devouring food, but begging for more. After examination and tests, it was confirmed that he had diabetes. His BG was 543. I've changed his diet and started twice a day insulin shots. Those go pretty smoothly as he can't even tell I'm giving them. I took him this week for his first glucose curve and needless to say, we have some work to do. Due to the cost of a vet visit for every glucose curve, I've decided to start home testing. I've been watching the very helpful videos on finding the "sweet spot" to draw blood. My question is, what happens if you do not hit that "sweet spot" and hit the vein? That seems like such a small space to try and hit.

Any suggestions are welcomed and thanks for listening!
Paula& Boots
 
Welcome Paula and Boots! :YMHUG: Congratulations on finding yourself in the best place you never wanted to be. ;-)

Great job on switching the diet! What food(s) are you feeding Boots now? Not sure if you've seen this or not, but most of us use Dr. Lisa Pierson's Food Chart for helping us find cheaper OTC low carb foods for our kitties (you want anything less than 10% under Column C).

Home testing is the best way to see how your kitty is doing at any given time and will save you tons of money in the long run. What meter are you using? Are you using a lancing device or using the lancet freehand? Don't worry if you hit the vein a time or two when starting out. Your goal is to not hit it, but it will still happen on occasion. If you haven't see these already, here are some more testing tips to help you get through the first couple of weeks of testing (when it's the hardest).

A few more questions for you that I'm sure others are going to want to know:
  • What type of insulin
  • How much is the dose?
  • What tests were used to confirm diabetes diagnosis? Did they do a fructosamine test?
  • How are you holding up? Doing all right through all of this? :-D

Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or need any help!
 
Hello and welcome to the board!

More questions I am afraid - but the more we know, the more we can help.. so.. have you bought a meter already? Where do you live? (country nearest city)

If you do hit a vein it just bleeds a bit more. You can stop bleeding by firm pressure for maybe 15 seconds using a cotton ball. Maybe you get a small bruise. Sometimes I aim for the vein if I really need blood for a test and my cats are being chintzy about giving some.

If you live in the US heres a shopping list. If not, let me know and I can give regional recommendations.

1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro.
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast


Wendy
 
Thanks so much, KPassa and Wendy, for your responses and I hope all is well with your babies :-D

Boots is eating Pruina DM canned, but I will definitely checkout the food chart for some OTC! I have purchased the One Touch Ultra Mini and a lancing device came in the kit. I have watched several videos where some use the pen and some just freehand. My plans are to start testing tomorrow once I feel somewhat comfortable about doing it. Like I mentioned earlier, the insulin shots go smoothly---just not too sure how he is going to feel about an ear prick. I will probably have to try it both ways and see which works best for us.

At diagnosis, Boots started Lantus insulin at 1 unit twice a day. After the glucose curve resulting in numbers ranging from 355-388, we have bumped insulin up to 1.5 units twice a day. Since that testing was done at the vet and knowing the stress of being there, those are probably not accurate numbers, therefore just a small increase at this time.

The tests that were used to confirm diabetes were a CBC, T-4 and urinalysis. Along with discovering the diabetes, he also had a UTI :sad: Dr. has suggested a fructosamine test after this next glucose curve.

As for me, I was overwhelmed the first couple of days trying to soak up as much information as I could. Now, Momma's gotta do what Momma's gotta do and get my boy healthy again :-D :-D
 
Hello Paula & Boots and a warm FDMB welcome to the two of you.

I always like to point out Kpassa's wonderful document on Ear Testing Psychology or how to make your cat more comfortable with the process. It's in the main tips document but I think it gets overlooked, since there are so many links in there.
 
Good luck with the testing = some cats are better bleeders than others so dont get discouraged if you dont get blood first few tries - just remember to give the treat and we can work on technique.

Many of us here feed the fancy feast classic pates, friskies pates or wellness grain free.

Wendy
 
My second diabetic but first to have home test

Hi All,

Thank you so much for being here. I really need help and everyone seems to be so kind and forthcoming. Introduction: I am brand new to this forum and signed up with a very small monthly donation. I wish I could do more but I am on disability therefore, whatta ya gonna do! (originally from Jersey :-) now in Ohio.

About 15 years ago I had a diabetic cat, Moon, who I was able to keep with us for quite a long time, especially for that time period. People didn't seem to know about home testing their feline loved ones so I did frequent visits to our vet, who was fantastic, for her to do the glucose curves. Now I have another diabetic kitty names Simon (or Simmie or Stinky :-). He is a real love muffin and will do anything for food. :-) He is a type 2 diabetic...I knew better but he got too fat and that is all my fault. I can say that I tried desperately to reduce his caloric intact but the bottom line is that I screwed up and now he has to suffer for that. Therefore, I need to ensure that his next life stage is as wonderful as it can be. Hence, this question about home monitoring...I am just not sure about the darn sweetspot for the blood capture. I've seen all the videos and explanations and I hope I don't sound really stupid but I think some of the ways people describe the area to be poked are a little different. I am hoping you folks can help me out. I'll ask specific questions.

1. I am lucky Simmies ear is almost totally transparent. He is a pumpkin colored kitty and if one looks at his ears it is easy to see where the veins are located. Here is how I see it - going from the outside of the ear (his right ear) there is: the rim, then some non-vein looking 1/16th or smaller transparent space, then a very noticeable vein, then moving inward, more transparent space. Is that how you all see it?

2. My real confusion is am I supposed to poke him with the lancet directly INTO that easily noticeable vein or before it (section after the rim) or after it? This is my most confusing issue because I believe everyone has different terminology. Anyway, I would like to know exactly where to poke my dear boy. I tried for the first time today and it was an abject failure on my part. He was very excited for his 'gift' snack (just a small piece of turkey breast...who wouldn't be happy with that! He stayed on my lap and didn't fight me, he was just fine with me poking at him with the lancet like a madwoman (actually I only tried twice, just two pokes each time and could not get any blood), then finally let him lunge at his snack.

3. Not only was I unsure of where to poke him I didn't know if I poke firmly enough. The ear is very thin and I don't know if I am supposed to poke enough to get the lancet all the way through the ear flesh or only part way. It seemed when the first time I tried it the lancet didn't go through enough to generate blood flow. Sigh...I know I sound like a lunatic. Sorry. The second time I poked him (in the other ear) some little blood flow was coming but very little and I felt so sorry for him that I just let him dive on his snack then go take a nap. He didn't seem to mind any of this at all. I think part of his relaxed attitude comes from me and my hubby. From the time we get any of our 'kids' we make sure to handle them all the time.

4. Can someone help me? I won't try again for a couple of days but he didn't seem unnerved by the entire exercise. In fact, he is now sleeping in one of his beds, facing me.

HELP! Thank you, Lyd
 
Welcome Lyd and Simon!

You may want to start your own post as not many people will see it here on the tail-end of this post. It also helps keep all the information specific to you and your cat in one location. In order to do this, you can go to the Main Health Forum and click on "New Topic" to start a new topic for the two of you.

To answer your questions about the Sweet Spot, it's the area between the vein and the edge of the ear. You don't want to poke through the ear (i.e. give a piercing), but it happens on occasion. You also don't want to always aim directly for the vein, as it has a tendency to bleed more. If you're having trouble getting blood, however, it's sometimes the best place to aim for when you're first starting out (just try not to do it too often). :lol:

Here are some more ear-testing tips, including a picture of the sweet spot. Some key tips are to warm the ear first with a rice sock or equivalent and to make sure you stem the bleeding with a bit of tissue, paper towel, or cotton to help reduce bruising and scabbing during the first couple of weeks as the ears "learn to bleed."
 
Hi, you are very kind to have responded to my post. I should have started a new post, as you have suggested, but I was in a panic today and didn't think straight. I also noticed that I shouldn't have posted here per the newbie instructions posted by the moderator. I guess I just was having a tough time and let my emotions take control of my mind.

You really are very nice. Thank you. I hope to have better luck tomorrow.

Hugs to all,
Lyd and Simmie!
 
No worries. It can be a confusing forum to navigate. I just wanted to make sure you get the necessary eyes on your post. ;-) When you start your new post, make sure to specify the insulin you're using, the dose you're giving, and the food you're feeding to help us help you better. :YMHUG:
 
Hi there,

I will move over to the base posting segment of this site but before I moved on to where I was supposed to be I want to thank the wonderful person who helped me yesterday. I think it was Rebecca. Anyway, I made the mistake, in my panic yesterday, by posting to this specific forum to ask for help. Regardless, the help you have given me is superior to my vet. I just wanted to thank you gain and let you know I DID get a good blood sample from my Simmie an hour ago. And I am glad I did because his glucose level is still high 368.

Now that I know what I am doing and the fact that Simmie can handle all these needles I can give him better care.
Hugs,
Lydette
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top