Dosing advice...

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Backyardtarpon

Member Since 2013
Hey Everyone,

Jezzi and I got some much needed rest after the other night. I sincerely thank all those, voiced or silent, that went through the night with us.

Jezzi's numbers have been pretty consistent at around 275, that's with 1 U. Tonight though, at +10 she's 350. (for reasons I'll explain later, we did not make it to the new vet today, but I've spoken to them and they are in agreement with how I've handled this (thanks to you all!) the past few days. They actually told me that unless something really drastic happens, there's no hurry getting her in. They are impressed with the advice I've been given.

So, if you check her SS, I don't know if I should continue with the 1U or jump to 1 1/2 or 2 U to bring her number down. I think it jumped from stress, neighbors drooler came over.

I've actually been doing a lot of reading, there is just a wealth of information here and a lot to absorb.
 
We usually say to stay with a dose for a few days before increasing. She is still working with the food change, right? Patience, Mom, she's only been diabetic for 3 days. You'll need time for the insulin to work, the low carb food to work. Her cycle today is better than yesterday. - there's a lovely blue today. And she could be bouncing up a little from the blue. Their bodies sense a lower number than usual and releases some extra glucose to bring the number up.

Just keep getting data for a few more cycles. And do that breathing thing. :mrgreen:
 
No, she was diagnosed march 22, I just created SS three days ago.

Sorry for the confusion Sue, I knew you couldn't advise in a PM, so I just wanted to know what the concenus would be.

Leah & Jezzi
 
Sorry Sue, both since Sunday evening. But your right, I'll keep it at 1U I just saw that 350 and thought she was going the wrong way. I'll be so glad when I'm as comfortable and confident as you are. Forgive me...
 
See what you get at +12. If it was just stress, it should be gone by then.

You can stick with this dose for a couple days and see how the numbers look. In general, IMHO, it doesn't take most cats several days to settle in to PZI. I tend to be impatient when I don't see fairly quick results (I would have had a hard time with a depot insulin :lol: ).
If you can get a couple days of preshot and nadir readings, you should have an idea if a dose adjustment is needed.
 
There is nothing to forgive. We want you to ask about doses when you aren't sure. Our hope is that if we explain the reasons we suggest a particular dose, you will be able to take that information and be confident about making dose decisions on your own some day soon.

One thing to think about is that one number is just that, one number. We are looking for patterns and trends, and the more data the better.
 
Leah,

Do you have any BG test numbers from before 5/12? I'm thinking, maybe the vet took a few BG readings and you could add those to your spreadsheet.
 
I do, I'll have them fax it to me, it started rather high, 519 then stayed in the mid 400s a few days then was in high 300, then one day, the last day I took her there it was 120, he said the 6U is working, let's leave it there. After only one low reading! At the time I still thought he knew what he was doing, now I know better.

She's sleeping really good, so I'm going to wait till 1130 to run a BG that will be +4, but I have a feeling It was the drooler that got her stressed out. Although I don't know why, it's a little shiatsu, anytime it gets in Jezzi's way, she just smacks the poor thing. cat(2)_steam

It's really amazing to me how emotional, exhausting, overwhelming, frustrated, mad, confused and guilty this can make a person, and that was just this morning!
 
It's really amazing to me how emotional, exhausting, overwhelming, frustrated, mad, confused and guilty this can make a person, and that was just this morning!
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Yes, this disease is very stressful in the first few weeks. It's stressful emotionally, physically, financially. It wrecks havoc with your life. There is so much to learn. You wonder if your best friend will ever be feeling well again. You have so many emotional ups and downs. Things will settle down It will get better. Really it will. In a couple of months, you will look back on this journey and realize that it was all worth it.

You need to do something to help yourself relax from this whirlwind of activity. How about a piece of chocolate? or a glass of wine? or sitting down with a good book? or looking at the stars on this spring night? Whatever helps you to relax. We need you to take good care of yourself so you can continue to take good care of Jezzi, ok?
 
You guys are great, and very forgiving!

I took your advice and did the 1U, unfortunately, I fell out soon after. But first thing this morning PRE-food/shot she was 286, I'll be very happy if I can keep her below 300.

She's adjusting well to life without dry food, I'm really surprised since she's had dry food available to her since she could eat it. Don't get me wrong, she'll walk over to where it used to be and look for it, but soon realizes its not there and moves on.

Without airing my dirty laundry, stress and tension have run ramped in my house lately. Whether its from a financial stand point, her health, or arguing over the steps nessesary to keep her well (someone isn't quite convinced that what I'm doing isn't a waste of time), don't get me wrong, he loves jezzi and wants the best for her. He just thinks I should be listening to the first vet. I think he's starting to around as I show him her BG numbers and how they are leveling off. But he's had a lot of stress at work. I don't know, sometimes I just want to bang my head against the wall. In all my 48 years I NEVER thought I'd have a sugarcat. Or that it would cause such an upheaval. So I took your advice, climbed in the pool last night and watched over the canal. I don't dring (but had ice Tea), chocolate isn't on my diet (but had my smokes), and that helped me relax.

So tell me, has anyone else had a spouse that didn't quite agree with our method of treatment, or cause havec over financial expenditures this disease has created? If so, what is the best way to go about convincing him that the routine I've created for her is the most beneficial for her health. And in doing so, will allow her to live out the rest of her life comfortably.

As you can see, it hasn't been a great time the past 24 hours...
 
So tell me, has anyone else had a spouse that didn't quite agree with our method of treatment, or cause havec over financial expenditures this disease has created? If so, what is the best way to go about convincing him that the routine I've created for her is the most beneficial for her health. And in doing so, will allow her to live out the rest of her life comfortably
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My sugar cat, Bob....
The day I brought him home from the diagnosis, I told my wife what was going on, and showed her the bill for the initial dx and it was somewhere between 300 and 400 dollars. I explained he would need insulin, blood tests, special food, etc. I should mention that Bob was "her cat", not mine. We took him and two littermates in when they were only days old. We were only keeping one of them, his sister Lillian. When it came time to give the other two up, she couldn't part with Bob, so we kept him also. For 11 years, Bob was "hers" and Lilly was "mine". Bob never had anything much to do with me. Lilly stuck to me like glue and never had any use for "Mom". Flash forward 11 years. Lilly died and I was crushed. Three months later, Bob gets diabetes...
I come home with sick Bob, and my wife says "we can't afford this. We'll have to put him down." I looked at her and said "nope, we aren't". I didn't know squat about feline diabetes. But I sure wasn't going to put him to sleep when the vet told me it was manageable. Or because of money.

So I transferred a couple thousand dollars out of MY savings account, and told her "I will deal with this. All of this. The shots, the testing, the bills....everything." And I did. She never tested him, never gave him insulin, never spent a penny of her money. Two months later, Bob went off the juice. In that two months, Bob became "my cat". He bonded completely with "Dad". If both of us were home, it was my lap he chose, my side of the bed he slept on, me he came looking to for breakfast or comfort or attention.

Flash forward two years.... as I type this, sugar-free Bob is asleep on my foot which has also fallen asleep. And when my ex-wife drops by for an occasional visit, Bob runs and hides under the bed. While diabetes wasn't the cause of the new prefix in her "title", it was one of the bricks in the wall... But Bob, Mullet and I are doing pretty damn good these days regardless.

My words of wisdom to your hubby would be "Dude, get on board with this". Your first vet could have killed Jezzi. He needs to really understand that fact. And if you both have to endure a month or two of insanity and stress in order to help Jezzi, then that's just what life may have in store for you. In the end, it can either be an experience that bonds the three of you together more than you can possibly imagine, or it can cause you and DH completely unnecessary stress and strife. If DH can hop on the train and enjoy the ride with you, he won't regret it later. If not, then he needs to own up to any ill feelings that result as being "on him", and not on you, or Jezzi.

My humble opinion...
 
I'm not married (which causes it's own set of problems as I spent Nikki's 1st week on insulin convinced she'd go hypo while I was at work and feeling horribly guilty over it) but what I can tell you is that it DOES get better. Just 2 weeks in and we have our shot routine down. I'm still working on testing as I can't treat Nikki due to her gastro issues and she's firmly convinced she doesn't want to do whatever I want to do but we're making slow progress. So hang in there! In a week or two you'll be a pro!
 
Thanks Carl, thank you for sharing that. I agree that while it won't be the cause of "the D word" it's definately a big brick. He knows things will fall in to place, whether or not he wants to be a part of it is on him, 100%! I may have mentioned in one of my first posts, The one from Panic Leah, that while Jezzi was mine before this marriage, she took right to him. As soon as he sat down she would jump right into his lap. But I've been noticing a change. Last night she curled up to me, and today, she's my shadow. She's sits and patiently puts up with me poking her ear, and doesn't move until the meter beeps signaling the test is complete, like we've been doing this for years. But I guess it's akin to using a clicker to train a dog.

Anyway, sometimes having a furry family is better than having a Beans one.
 
I saw you mention how receptive she has become to the ear pokes... That's pretty common, and Bob was the same way. It seems like they learn to associate the sharp objects with not only the treats afterwards, but also with "feeling better", and the routine becomes, well, routine, and not an awful experience (for her or for you). As long as you are the primary caregiver as far as the "treatment" goes, that bond will continue to grow.

To this day, if I go to the drawer where I keep Bob's meter, and he hears the zipper open or even the drawer open, he will appear at my feet out of nowhere, lay down and start purring. His treat after tests was fresh boiled shrimp, and he'll chew through a steel door to get to his shrimp! :lol:
 
Funny you mention that, Jezzi's one true addiction is fresh shrimp. Here on the east coast of Central Florida, there's no shortage of them. She's knows when I've been to Port Canaveral to pick some up and is usually sitting at the door waiting for me. I can tell you how many times I've tripped over her cleaning and cooking them. I barely get any for us! I was so happy to read that there's no carbs or sugar, making for the purrfect treat.
 
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