Nicole&DexterB
Member Since 2022
Hello all! My name is Nicole aka Dexter's Mom. Dexter is a 5 year old male domestic shorthair rescue ive had since he was about 3-4 weeks old. Fast forward a few years and he is now a newly diagnosed sugar baby weighing in at 14 lbs after a stent at the emergency vet hospital on 7/15/22. A few weeks prior I noticed he was hovering the cat bowl a bit more but figured it was normal chonky self since I have another cat at well. Dexter always had to be first to the bowls pre diagnosis since I used to free feed but still only twice daily then. I went downstairs one evening to where the litter boxes are and came across a few piles of vomit from who I assumed to be Dexter. There was an increase in pee but with having 2 males I had a hard time noticing this sign since I figured they kept competing to be the last one to mark the spot kinda thing. Dexter always played with the water fountain prior to diagnosis so him being at the fountain never crossed my mind. After this I tried changing food around a bit hoping it was a simple change in him not liking the food anymore; with 2 gradual food changes nothing was changing and I was starting to worry more as to what could be wrong. Dexter was also laying in spots he normally doesn't lay in and not being as cuddly as he would be randomly throughout the day. With his nose being dry on 7/14 that night, I knew that was the last sign i needed and took him to the vet hospital next day since I couldnt get him in last minute with his primary vet.
The day I took him to the hospital it was determined he was diabetic with a slight kidney disease to boot. He ended up being in the hospital for two days before I brought him home while he was monitored and got his insulin on a starting dose for him by the hospital vets. A month later he is doing a lot better, allowing me to take his BG levels, eating well again and seeming to go back to his normal self. He has been on 1.5u of Glargine 2x daily since diagnosis. I have gotten him to 3 cans of Fancy Feast of day; 2 full cans, 1 can spilt for two small meals during the day if he wants it. He mostly goes for seafood pates and beef/liver slightly watered down but not alot. I mix in tuna sometimes since its high in some things and chicken as well even though chicken isnt his favorite. I have been trying to test before each injection, each small meal and if I can sneak another one or two I can since we are on a later feed schedule with my work.
Pheww, ok so that's the backstory! Before this he was rather healthy but a little chonky which we were working on. Now for a few questions I have after seeing some good number since starting home monitoring this week. I think I linked my spreadsheet correctly but please advise if not or any questions.
Since i started home monitoring Dexter we have been seeing very good numbers in the 70s-89 so far with only one small dip in the 60s. Does this mean he is heading towards remission already this soon? Could it be as simple as a diet change for him? Lastly, I’m not understanding the insulin decrease in dosage part fully or which dosing method would be best to use for Dexter. Should I start lowering his dosing this early into him being diabetic? I’m worried he could be getting a little too much insulin with the way his numbers have been since home monitoring but not completely sure how to determine that.
I will be making a follow up appointment with his primary vet for their opinion on how he is doing so far too.
The day I took him to the hospital it was determined he was diabetic with a slight kidney disease to boot. He ended up being in the hospital for two days before I brought him home while he was monitored and got his insulin on a starting dose for him by the hospital vets. A month later he is doing a lot better, allowing me to take his BG levels, eating well again and seeming to go back to his normal self. He has been on 1.5u of Glargine 2x daily since diagnosis. I have gotten him to 3 cans of Fancy Feast of day; 2 full cans, 1 can spilt for two small meals during the day if he wants it. He mostly goes for seafood pates and beef/liver slightly watered down but not alot. I mix in tuna sometimes since its high in some things and chicken as well even though chicken isnt his favorite. I have been trying to test before each injection, each small meal and if I can sneak another one or two I can since we are on a later feed schedule with my work.
Pheww, ok so that's the backstory! Before this he was rather healthy but a little chonky which we were working on. Now for a few questions I have after seeing some good number since starting home monitoring this week. I think I linked my spreadsheet correctly but please advise if not or any questions.
Since i started home monitoring Dexter we have been seeing very good numbers in the 70s-89 so far with only one small dip in the 60s. Does this mean he is heading towards remission already this soon? Could it be as simple as a diet change for him? Lastly, I’m not understanding the insulin decrease in dosage part fully or which dosing method would be best to use for Dexter. Should I start lowering his dosing this early into him being diabetic? I’m worried he could be getting a little too much insulin with the way his numbers have been since home monitoring but not completely sure how to determine that.
I will be making a follow up appointment with his primary vet for their opinion on how he is doing so far too.
