Alternative Monitoring/Oral Medication

[Diabetic Cats in Need (DCIN)]

Used to be we had an ISG subgroup on Alternative Monitoring. How to evaluate a cat's diabetic condition if for some reason the cat couldn't be blood glucose tested.

Someone else from the Board and I have started working with the owner of a newly diagnosed diabetic cat. We were approached about rehoming this cat, but we want to try to work with the owner to keep the cat in his home. Turns out, though, that the cat is fractious when approached with more than one hand. A towel is not a good suggestion; tried that. The cat has to be anesthetized for blood draws at the vet.

This is a young cat (and thus remission is a good possibility), and the owners love the cat and seem willing to treat the cat. However, the cat has other ideas.

If you are one of those folks that uses alternative monitoring, could you please explain what it is you do to monitor? If you are concerned about "going public" with not BG testing, please PM me with your insights. I will be going through the Alternative Monitoring subgroup on the old Board for ideas.

Because this cat is difficult to handle, the vet has prescribed an oral medication. I'm not certain what it is, but likely Glipizide. I have told the owner about the downsides of Glip, but that may be the cat's only alternative for medication. If you use/used Glip, please let me know the dosage you used and how it affected your cat's glucose (blood or urinary) ;evels. Again, please PM me if you are more comfortable with that.

Thanks in advance!!


DCIN Adoptable Diabetics in sig line
Toby in Baltimore...Sweet Kiki in WV...and our very special Twinkie with dian in Pittsburgh, the great Commonwealth of PA.

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Vinnie was on glip at the shelter in RI. will have to look back on his records to see if I can find the dose. I do know his liver values were up some, probably from the glip, but put him on some Denosyl and they are all back to normal.

As for monitoring...I did Patches(GA) for 4 years starting in 1990 but at that time Lily had a glucose test tape I used (since discontinued) and I would get a urine sample approx. same time every day and test it. Vet always wanted to see 10% glucose showing and if negative, drop the dose a little. Of course back then it was also WD canned and dry. I think the only way to monitor without testing is by catching urine every day, using the KetoDiastix to test for both glucose level and ketones, watch the PU/PD, give only canned food and hope for the best.

 

[maryjoandsmokie]

Sounds like my Smokie.

This is on the old FDMB: http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/list.php?27

If this address doesn't work go to the old site and click on the insulin group list
and scroll down to "Alternative Monitoring."

Good luck with the precious kitty.

 

[maryjoandsmokie]

I am sorry.
I was in a hurry and did not read all your post before giving you the
Alternative Monitoring site.

Smokie was started on the Glipizide and took it for only 4 days.
I was able to get a urine spec. using a tiny container that i slipped under her after she began to urinate. I had to practice many times to be able to do this and after i was successful i tested her urine two and three times a day. I posted the test results and JoJo followed my post day and night and helped me with the Insulin (Lantus) dosing.

I was able to give Smokie injections of Insulin easily by giving it after she started eating.

I monitored everything there was to monitor about Smokie and let her eat all the wet food
she wanted because she was literally starving to death. Just skin and bones. As her insulin needs decreased, so did her food needs decrease and when she got to that "good size" she kept it.

Smokie was OTJ in just a little over a month and she would have died if not for the help of JoJo and i will always be grateful to her for that gift.

 

[Roni and Moonie]

Dear Venita--I was indeed the keeper of the Alternative Monitoring..Moonie was very fractious, so what i did:
Ordered Purina Glucotest Urine Detection System from amazon.com, which is usually cheapest, or ,look elsewhere on line--
Moonie could not be tested with ketostrips, as she would take off when I approached and I could not get her to urinate on anything else but fresh step scoopable litter-
SO--These glucotest squares are mixed into the clumping scoopable litter, where they can stay 5-7 days--Where the cat pees, you remove the clump, & open it to fish out the squares-The urine turns it different colors & there is a chart on the bottle indicating what the bg is for that urine event--These squares do work!
Please note, urine is stored in the bladder for 3-5 hours, so the number you are getting is from several hours ago--I did this at least 3 times a day and definitely at amps & pmps---It is not the easiest or most accurate way, but it worked for us for 11 months--You know the Glipizide is not the best for a young cat that has a chance to go otj, but we do what works for us!!!--
Eventually, testing the urine this way, a pattern emerges & you can sort of plot the day's numbers--Jojo helped me through this time you know & was a lifesaver--
Sounds like this cat needs to be approached with food, before touching--Thus giving a snack like the freeze dried chicken may work--
Sounds like your hands are full, but there is a good chance here--If you need my help-PM me, or come onto lantus--I live there
Would be glad to help this person--No problem-On health BG testing is pushed, which it should be, but there is always one cat that will become ferocious when faced with bg testing--I know-I had one, but look at her now :mrgreen: --Always available--Hugs & good luck Roni & Moonie

 

[BJM]

The other thing which may help is to begin training the cat to allow more handling, using a process called shaping.

Here is how:
* Create a list of very small incremental steps which begin with what the cat allows now and progresses up to the ideal of what you want the cat to tolerate.
* Then, for each step, do the following until the step is tolerated well:
- 3 or more times, spread out during the day, attempt the step.
- If it is successful, reward the cat with something the cat likes - a toy, praise, petting, a low-carb treat, etc.
- If it is unsuccessful, back up to the previous step. Also consider if there is another, smaller step which could be attempted.
* Continue working with the cat until the step can be reliably accomplished for a good week or so.
* Move to the next step.

This will take weeks if not months, but it can be done.

I'm currently working with my civvie, Buster, to get him to tolerate having his claws clipped and his ears cleaned. Initially, it took 3 of us at the vet, with towels and welding gloves, to do this ... and he'd pee all over us. Now, I can sneak a clip of a front claw or two at home, when he is relaxed, without getting scarred for life.