Confidence to start insulin

Monstybender said:
I have not read them. I only have one unit syringes. I would like to start out at .25 but that’s going to be hard to read on those syringes. She bounces from 217 to 350 on the last libre. Which probably is off because it’s a human meter. I spent all day at work and I am exhausted. The last thing I want to do is try to put a libre on an angry cat that doesn’t feel good by myself. If I open the prozinc and I’m not ready I will have less days when I do want to open it.
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You definitely will need some U-40 syringes with half unit markings. Look at the photo that was attached up higher in this thread — with the photo of the syringes.
 
Some brands of U40 half unit marked syringes:


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You can buy U40 syringes online. A prescription may or may not be needed depending on what your state law is. Amazon doesn't require a prescription at all.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
What are your typical morning BG numbers before your kitty has eaten?
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I have never been able to test them before she eats. I tried this morning and she was really uncooperative. Hissing, growling and running away. This is why Bexacat was perfect for us. Monster is a spicy one and now that I am testing twice a day she is real mad and ears are hurting her. Forget paws she will rip my hand off. I was able to get keytones as I was chasing after her with the meter. Still .02. Likely due to the new food, not sure why they are staying at .02. I did take Thursday off of work to start insulin. I hope it goes better than today. Will need to order 1/2 unit syringes.
 
We had one placed last week and shipped it off the next day. My fault, I should have put the shirt on her before I left. They didn’t use glue per my request because she had a reaction to the glue last time. It was a new vet and I forgot skin tac when we left. I had planned on putting the other libre on today but if I’m not starting insulin till Thursday I’d rather wait in case she rips it off. Putting the shirt on her will be a real task too. She really needs to have bloodwork done. I do think she has pancreatitis. I switched back to the half old food and half new food today and seems to be better. Her poop this morning was very light colored which usually is very dark. So I will have to talk with the vet about that also tomorrow. The breathing is still a bit rapid today. I have not giving cerenia yet.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Hello and welcome. Sounds like it's been a long journey so far. Sorry to hear the Bexacat didn't work out.

When my long haired girl Neko was diagnosed with diabetes, she used to try to raid my other cat's food all the time. He just after Neko's diabetes diagnosis, after got diagnosed with crystals. So I had a problem with her needing low carb wet food, and him supposedly needing the high carb food for his crystals. I talked to his vet about what food I could food both. The vet suggested raw food, so I switched to tgat. I found out later that what would also work is any low carb wet food that is lower in phosphorus, with plenty of water added. See this web page. Cat Urinary Tract Diseases: Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection. The website is written by a vet specializing in feline nutrition.

You absolutely do not need to feed vet food. Besides being pricey, the ingredients are not the greatest and they are very often too high in carbs for a diabetic cat. This list of foods for diabetes and CKD includes lower carb and low phosphorus and should work for you too. CKD food Chart There are a couple options on that list that are novel protein (lamb, rabbit, pork or whatever meat she hasn't eaten before), that can also help with the IBD.

Prozinc is a good insulin for cats. If feeding a low carb wet food diet, you can start with 0.5 units. The glycobalance and crystals food are high carb and cats on high carb food we suggest 1.0 units.

If she has been off Bexacat since January and in higher numbers, you really do need to start her on insulin. There is some information in this post that will help you getting ready for low numbers. Happy to hear you have started home testing. New? How You Can Help Us Help You! Home testing and having high carb food around to counter any lower numbers are how you can keep her safe.
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Can I ask what you fed her?
 
Maybe a silly question, but are you giving her a low carb treat like a Pure Bites freeze dried chicken treat with every BG ear test? Maybe even more than one. Maybe before and after? Whatever it takes. Most cats get used to the testing once they associate it with some kind of high value treat.
 
If she will allow it, you can also take the BG test while she’s eating. This usually works after you get pretty proficient at testing. I used to shoot insulin while my boy was eating too, but that is easier than getting a BG test.

Hang in there and keep trying. Things will get easier.
 
I feel your pain with the Libre struggles. Hope you had more success with the new libre :( The Libre 3 plus applicators have been terrible lately about not releasing the sensor, too! My vet advised me to have a pen or chopstick or something ready to pry sensors out, so in case no one has advised you the same, that advice might save you some grief. I had one rip a sensor right back off last week because I couldn't pry it out before Pants ran away from me.

Sorry your family is giving you crap about considering insulin for your kitty, it's absolutely not justified. Hoping for good news/direction from the vet today.
 
Monstybender said:
We had one placed last week and shipped it off the next day. My fault, I should have put the shirt on her before I left. They didn’t use glue per my request because she had a reaction to the glue last time. It was a new vet and I forgot skin tac when we left. I had planned on putting the other libre on today but if I’m not starting insulin till Thursday I’d rather wait in case she rips it off. Putting the shirt on her will be a real task too. She really needs to have bloodwork done. I do think she has pancreatitis. I switched back to the half old food and half new food today and seems to be better. Her poop this morning was very light colored which usually is very dark. So I will have to talk with the vet about that also tomorrow. The breathing is still a bit rapid today. I have not giving cerenia yet.
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@Staci & Ivy has a wealth of experience with the Libres.
 
Hi and welcome. It seems you are already familiar with the Libre use to a degree. Your instinct not to allow any glue is the RIGHT decision (it's all explained in the document Wendy linked for you to read about using a Libre.
The glue can harm their fragile skin and or cause the Libre to stop working and then you are out of luck.

It's best to use the Skin Tac (it's a moisture barrier, not glue actually) to protect their skin. And always rotate the area to the other side of the body when you change to a new one. They are very easy to apply. And yes, I keep a toothpick handy and lift the cap easily while holding down the little disc in place so the Libre doesn't lift up when you pull off the cap. Probably my #1 tip!
I cover the Libre with a Tegaderm and then my girl wears a tube top so she can't mess with the Libre. It works for us. Many cats wear a wrap (some kind of bandage wrap) or a tee shirt.
They do get used to wearing a covering.

It's very important to be able to double check the low numbers with a blood test, an ear prick. When the Libre reads LO and drops down under 50, you need to know if they are really that low or higher and safe.

It all takes practice, we have all been there too. You can do this and stand up for your kitty. Don't listen to others who are being negative.

We are here to help. If you have more questions about a Libre, just let me know. :cat:
 
Staci & Ivy said:
Hi and welcome. It seems you are already familiar with the Libre use to a degree. Your instinct not to allow any glue is the RIGHT decision (it's all explained in the document Wendy linked for you to read about using a Libre.
The glue can harm their fragile skin and or cause the Libre to stop working and then you are out of luck.

It's best to use the Skin Tac (it's a moisture barrier, not glue actually) to protect their skin. And always rotate the area to the other side of the body when you change to a new one. They are very easy to apply. And yes, I keep a toothpick handy and lift the cap easily while holding down the little disc in place so the Libre doesn't lift up when you pull off the cap. Probably my #1 tip!
I cover the Libre with a Tegaderm and then my girl wears a tube top so she can't mess with the Libre. It works for us. Many cats wear a wrap (some kind of bandage wrap) or a tee shirt.
They do get used to wearing a covering.

It's very important to be able to double check the low numbers with a blood test, an ear prick. When the Libre reads LO and drops down under 50, you need to know if they are really that low or higher and safe.

It all takes practice, we have all been there too. You can do this and stand up for your kitty. Don't listen to others who are being negative.

We are here to help. If you have more questions about a Libre, just let me know. :cat:
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Thank you so much!
 
Staci & Ivy said:
Hi and welcome. It seems you are already familiar with the Libre use to a degree. Your instinct not to allow any glue is the RIGHT decision (it's all explained in the document Wendy linked for you to read about using a Libre.
The glue can harm their fragile skin and or cause the Libre to stop working and then you are out of luck.

It's best to use the Skin Tac (it's a moisture barrier, not glue actually) to protect their skin. And always rotate the area to the other side of the body when you change to a new one. They are very easy to apply. And yes, I keep a toothpick handy and lift the cap easily while holding down the little disc in place so the Libre doesn't lift up when you pull off the cap. Probably my #1 tip!
I cover the Libre with a Tegaderm and then my girl wears a tube top so she can't mess with the Libre. It works for us. Many cats wear a wrap (some kind of bandage wrap) or a tee shirt.
They do get used to wearing a covering.

It's very important to be able to double check the low numbers with a blood test, an ear prick. When the Libre reads LO and drops down under 50, you need to know if they are really that low or higher and safe.

It all takes practice, we have all been there too. You can do this and stand up for your kitty. Don't listen to others who are being negative.

We are here to help. If you have more questions about a Libre, just let me know. :cat:
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Staci. Where do you find this little tube top?
 
Monstybender said:
These are my syringes that I have . I asked the vet for half unit today and they gave me same thing.
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Could you please take a photograph of the actual syringe kind of close-up so I can see the markings. It looks like from the packaging that there are half unit marks on there. For doses where we are adjusting by .25 units you just have to eyeball the distance between the half unit mark and the whole unit mark.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Could you please take a photograph of the actual syringe kind of close-up so I can see the markings. It looks like from the packaging that there are half unit marks on there. For doses where we are adjusting by .25 units you just have to eyeball the distance between the half unit mark and the whole unit mark.
Click to expand...
 

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