Crista & Ming
Very Active Member
Hello! I just want to start by saying there's A LOT. At least, it feels like a lot to me. Not just in terms of how many units I'm giving Ming, but all the other factors and issues I'm having regarding Ming and his diabetes.
This is probably going to be a long post so I'll try to organize it in a way where it will be easy for every one to understand. Thank you SO MUCH in advance for reading and taking the time to answer all my questions and concerns!
I'll be going through all the stickys posted but I thought it wouldn't hurt to post about my cat and see what others think! If I ask any questions that are already answered on the stickys, I apologize but thank you for your incredible patience and knowledge!!
Ming's Medical Issues
March:
Anyway, again, I appreciate you SO MUCH for reading all of this and taking the time to answer my questions! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
This is probably going to be a long post so I'll try to organize it in a way where it will be easy for every one to understand. Thank you SO MUCH in advance for reading and taking the time to answer all my questions and concerns!
I'll be going through all the stickys posted but I thought it wouldn't hurt to post about my cat and see what others think! If I ask any questions that are already answered on the stickys, I apologize but thank you for your incredible patience and knowledge!!
Ming's Medical Issues
March:
- Was hospitalized for a week because of vomiting and was diagnosed with pancreatitis and diabetes
- Did an ultrasound and saw that the pancreas was very ... inflamed? I can't remember the word my vet used to describe lots of tissue or damage around the pancreas
- Was prescribed 1 unit twice daily Prozinc
- Several instances of pancreatitis - CHRONIC PANCREATITIS
- Vet did not want to prescribe steroids because of diabetes
- We slowly went up 1 unit each time he got pancreatitis or when his fructosamine test would come back high
- End of August, Ming is on 6 units twice daily Prozinc. Started 6 units on August 25th 2018
- No home testing. I asked about it with my vet. He recommended against it - saying it caused unnecessary stress. I also didn't know anything about home testing and where to even BEGIN. The chronic pancreatitis (and other unfortunate things in life happening) did not help with giving me the time and state of mind to figure out home testing
- TODAY: I started home testing!!!!!! I bought a OneTouch Ultra2. I poked Ming 3 times already (he received insulin at 7:45 pm according to my mother) and his readings are as follows (I’ll update as I go):
- 2100: 14.0
- 2200: 13.6
- 2300: 9.3
- 2400: 6.0
- Ming eats A LOT: 2 big cans of DM PLUS snacks. Before diabetes, he also would eat about four 3 oz. cans. He is 16-17 lbs. Before diabetes, he was 18 lbs. Since having 6 units, he's been visibly gaining weight.
- Ming gets hungry after finishing his meals and will look for food and try to eat human foods
- He pees BIG pees. Before 6 units. he was peeing A LOT (4-5 big pees a day). Since 6 units, he pees a more normal amount (2 big pees a day)
- He used to never drink water before diabetes. After diabetes, drank a lot. Since increasing his dose of insulin, I have not noticed him drinking too much but I know he drinks something since his big water cooler has lowering water levels.
- Before diabetes, he ate a variety of foods: Fancy Feast classic pates (80% of his diet), Primal Freeze Dried Raw Nuggets, and Nature's Variety. Sometimes I'll throw in things like Cats in the Kitchen, Weruva, and Simply Nourish. These foods were all chosen because of budget and Ming's preferences. I would have loved to have him only on Weruva or Frozen Raw but Ming said no. Haha!
- After diabetes, I kept the same diet but added DM because my vet wanted that and because my mother wanted that.
- Since August, Ming is only on DM and some freeze dried raw mixed in and as snacks
- 7AM and 7PM Feedings
- We leave his food out until he finishes
- 730AM and 730PM Insulin Shots
- However... my mom and I both feed and shoot because of my work schedule. I try to be consistent. Sometimes I'll shoot 10 mins early or feed 15 minutes early. My mom? I have no idea.
- Ming gets SNACKS. He gets hungry around 3 pm and 11 pm. I sometimes will give him one nugget of Primal. Same with my mom.
- I want him on RAW. I've found out that he will eat frozen raw if I mix in the freeze dried raw. Perhaps I could work him up to be exclusively on frozen raw
- My mom is against this.
- I buy DM food because my mom got mad at me for feeding him raw, feeding him FF, and getting pancreatitis over and over. She thinks his diet is causing his pancreatitis. I don't know if it is and I have decided it would not hurt to appease my mother and feed Ming DM until we get his pancreatitis under control
- When I was trying to feed only freeze dried raw, my mom would feed him DM meals when I wasn't able to feed and shoot. I felt this was worse than only feeding him DM since the difference in carb content and fat content would be different and possibly affect his insulin and glucose levels. Remember, I was NOT home testing.
- His poop on DM is HUGE and DARK. His poop before diabetes on FF & variety was always small and light brown
- Good news: I think my mom is satisfied that Ming has been on DM for a month or so and seems to be open to me trying to feed him raw exclusively. Especially because I've been talking to her about home testing.
- Raw food diet
- Understanding home testing
- No more pancreatitis
- Understanding if snacking is okay
- Decrease hunger and amounts eaten
- REMISSION!
- I have the OneTouch Ultra 2. Are the readings on par with whatever the vet uses/what is standard?
- How do I know when to decrease/increase a dose of insulin?
- What is a normal blood glucose curve? What is normal?? (I kind of googled it and got some answers but it would great to hear from the experienced on his forum!)
Anyway, again, I appreciate you SO MUCH for reading all of this and taking the time to answer my questions! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
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