DebiW
Member Since 2019
My girl, Dusty, is as strong headed and stubborn as her mom. That being said, I feel inadequate to help her when she needs me the most.
Her blood sugar (bs) last year was just over 200, but my vet attributed it to stress and never advised me.
I had bought her in for the same problem which had popped up again this year, which was intestinal symptoms: REALLY smelly loose poo and vomiting green/yellow bile. The vet had thought she needed i/d Digestive Care food, which was expensive at the vet, but cheaper after you transferred her rx at Petsmart. That was fine for one year, but again, her symptoms reemerged and more blood work was done.
Her bs this year was 420 (n=72-175) and, after consult and pushing for more examination of her blood to be sure of diagnosis, found her Fructosamine to be 731 (n=191-349).
They initially wanted her in for the day to do a "curve", but I didn't think would be accurate (and more expensive) as it would stress Dusty out more.
I am retired (disabled actually) married, but now have few friends so no one comes over and when they do she and another cat hides. We have an older cat who has become more carefree as she ages and is our "greeter". So after letting the vet know I had been an RN I brought her in for education and more expensive food.
I've tested people, both young and old as I was mainly a pediatric nurse, with finger pricks, but is more difficult with a cat. In the office, I tested on her ear and it was fine, because my cat is more docile in the office (it was 210). I was instructed to give her 1 unit 2x/day 1 hour after feeding to be sure she ate before her insulin. I was supposed to do a "curve" after 2 weeks which would be testing her bs every 2 hours and recording when she ate.
I'm telling you this has been a nightmare even though I'm trying to control my anxiety when I give her the shots and don't always do it at the same time. Being an older woman, I get up at least 3 times/night and have to take my own meds at 7 am/pm. I thought (at the vets) that I'd give her meds at the same time but, didn't figure out that our girls are used to eating much earlier so I adjusted the feeding to ~5 o'clock and insulin at 6. She didn't always eat her food (she didn't like the Purina DM- which I was upset after going to Petsmart and realizing I needed to have the BRAND in the rx [why can't I buy ANY DM rx food?] and going through that whole rigmarole at Petsmart on the phone with my vet to get a new rx faxed over- another story), but anyway, didn't feel comfortable waiting a whole hour when I didn't feel she ate enough.
Anyway, I've been giving her shots more near her feeding time, when she's acting more hungry and giving it with food, or soon after she eats. I don't want her running away from me when she's supposed to eat so am trying not to relate food with a shot. I don't think it hurts too much, but she doesn't particularly like it at all.
Fast forward 2 weeks later and we "try" and get her bs curve done. Of course, it's a cooler spring here so her ears are cold and I can't get enough blood to test, no matter how much I massage her ear. I've read you can use a non weight bearing claw, but she's a bit furry and I'm having trouble even getting the fur away from her ear.
I feel like such a failure and inadequate! I don't want her necessarily stressed out by having her in the vets for a whole day to do her curve, and I hate to keep harping on how much that would cost.
Dusty also hates the dm food and have read she can get by on regular Fancy Feast, but can't get a read on her bs to see if its adequate.
Has anyone ever done testing on other that the ear and does anyone have suggestions? Maybe I just need some reassurance. As I said, I've worked as an RN, but my wife has never given shots or tested bs and feels more inadequate than I.
I'm praying that this is all do to my giving too many treats (I didn't realize how much were giving them and we're ALL adjusting now) and can just adjust her food and be done with shots.
Her blood sugar (bs) last year was just over 200, but my vet attributed it to stress and never advised me.
I had bought her in for the same problem which had popped up again this year, which was intestinal symptoms: REALLY smelly loose poo and vomiting green/yellow bile. The vet had thought she needed i/d Digestive Care food, which was expensive at the vet, but cheaper after you transferred her rx at Petsmart. That was fine for one year, but again, her symptoms reemerged and more blood work was done.
Her bs this year was 420 (n=72-175) and, after consult and pushing for more examination of her blood to be sure of diagnosis, found her Fructosamine to be 731 (n=191-349).
They initially wanted her in for the day to do a "curve", but I didn't think would be accurate (and more expensive) as it would stress Dusty out more.
I am retired (disabled actually) married, but now have few friends so no one comes over and when they do she and another cat hides. We have an older cat who has become more carefree as she ages and is our "greeter". So after letting the vet know I had been an RN I brought her in for education and more expensive food.
I've tested people, both young and old as I was mainly a pediatric nurse, with finger pricks, but is more difficult with a cat. In the office, I tested on her ear and it was fine, because my cat is more docile in the office (it was 210). I was instructed to give her 1 unit 2x/day 1 hour after feeding to be sure she ate before her insulin. I was supposed to do a "curve" after 2 weeks which would be testing her bs every 2 hours and recording when she ate.
I'm telling you this has been a nightmare even though I'm trying to control my anxiety when I give her the shots and don't always do it at the same time. Being an older woman, I get up at least 3 times/night and have to take my own meds at 7 am/pm. I thought (at the vets) that I'd give her meds at the same time but, didn't figure out that our girls are used to eating much earlier so I adjusted the feeding to ~5 o'clock and insulin at 6. She didn't always eat her food (she didn't like the Purina DM- which I was upset after going to Petsmart and realizing I needed to have the BRAND in the rx [why can't I buy ANY DM rx food?] and going through that whole rigmarole at Petsmart on the phone with my vet to get a new rx faxed over- another story), but anyway, didn't feel comfortable waiting a whole hour when I didn't feel she ate enough.
Anyway, I've been giving her shots more near her feeding time, when she's acting more hungry and giving it with food, or soon after she eats. I don't want her running away from me when she's supposed to eat so am trying not to relate food with a shot. I don't think it hurts too much, but she doesn't particularly like it at all.
Fast forward 2 weeks later and we "try" and get her bs curve done. Of course, it's a cooler spring here so her ears are cold and I can't get enough blood to test, no matter how much I massage her ear. I've read you can use a non weight bearing claw, but she's a bit furry and I'm having trouble even getting the fur away from her ear.
I feel like such a failure and inadequate! I don't want her necessarily stressed out by having her in the vets for a whole day to do her curve, and I hate to keep harping on how much that would cost.
Dusty also hates the dm food and have read she can get by on regular Fancy Feast, but can't get a read on her bs to see if its adequate.
Has anyone ever done testing on other that the ear and does anyone have suggestions? Maybe I just need some reassurance. As I said, I've worked as an RN, but my wife has never given shots or tested bs and feels more inadequate than I.
I'm praying that this is all do to my giving too many treats (I didn't realize how much were giving them and we're ALL adjusting now) and can just adjust her food and be done with shots.
