For Sarahbeth

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I wanted to give you and Holly a proper welcome .
I chatted briefly with you in the Uk thread.

WELL DONE getting your Signature set up and see you are a dedicated cat mom. We are too! (well mums and dads). We will do our best to answer any questions you have and look forward to getting to know you both.

I'm posting the spreadsheet instruction just in case you missed it in the other thread.
FDMB SPREADSHEET INSTRUCTIONS

This spreadsheet with help anyone who comes to your aid, an at a glance view of how the insulin is working for Holly. Trust me it will serve you AND us going forward.

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY.

This is the best place to learn everything you need to know about feline diabetes.
jeanne

 

[Sarahbeth]

Thank you so much!

my original post is here where I was saying thank you and that the UK food guidance was really helpful.

I set up her spreadsheet

I’m currently finding it really difficult to get a blood reading before her first shot and eating but can get one within the first hour afterwards.

yesterday I had a revelation with getting the blood from her ear- I use the clean end of an old strip to get the blood drop off her ear then put it into the glucose reader while she’s having a treat! Only had one scratch since I worked this out yesterday (my hands and legs are in bits!)

my question was- how long should I be waiting to see her numbers come down in general? I’ve just changed her food to wet (last night) so don’t think there will be an immediate change. Her original blood glucose reading was 30.4 at the vets (but not sure how this compares to the human meter I’m using). She is going back for vet blood test on 22nd and for her yearly immunisations (might wear gloves!!)

Her behaviour has changed since starting the insulin (she’s less fidgety, drinking a bit less and peeing for less than a minute) but her numbers still are really high, and that’s what concerns me.

thank you so much for this forum and all of the information- I’m not crying all of the time now!! I feel like there’s a plan with changing her food and seeing how she gets on about 5 hours after her food because that’s when she’s had her lowest readings when I’ve done her glucose curve (twice now).

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Youre already seeing results. Less pee and camping out at the water dish. As this related to numbers? I will find someone more experienced with Caninsulin
@JanetNJ
Hang in there
j

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you so much!

my original post is here where I was saying thank you and that the UK food guidance was really helpful.

I set up her spreadsheet

I’m currently finding it really difficult to get a blood reading before her first shot and eating but can get one within the first hour afterwards.

yesterday I had a revelation with getting the blood from her ear- I use the clean end of an old strip to get the blood drop off her ear then put it into the glucose reader while she’s having a treat! Only had one scratch since I worked this out yesterday (my hands and legs are in bits!)

my question was- how long should I be waiting to see her numbers come down in general? I’ve just changed her food to wet (last night) so don’t think there will be an immediate change. Her original blood glucose reading was 30.4 at the vets (but not sure how this compares to the human meter I’m using). She is going back for vet blood test on 22nd and for her yearly immunisations (might wear gloves!!)

Her behaviour has changed since starting the insulin (she’s less fidgety, drinking a bit less and peeing for less than a minute) but her numbers still are really high, and that’s what concerns me.

thank you so much for this forum and all of the information- I’m not crying all of the time now!! I feel like there’s a plan with changing her food and seeing how she gets on about 5 hours after her food because that’s when she’s had her lowest readings when I’ve done her glucose curve (twice now).

Sounds like you have a feisty one! It looks like she's going to need another increase, BUT can you try to get at least one mid cycle reading a day? If you work during the day than a before bed reading would be helpful. Id go to 2.5.

 

[Sarahbeth]

Sounds like you have a feisty one! It looks like she's going to need another increase, BUT can you try to get at least one mid cycle reading a day? If you work during the day than a before bed reading would be helpful. Id go to 2.5.

she is particularly feisty now she’s feeling a bit better! Think my new trick is working well though- she’s so driven by the 100% duck breast treats so that’s a blessing I think!

do you think an increase to 2.5 right away or wait to see what effect the change in food has? I’m working from home at the minute so I can get reading in the middle of the day (but not every 2 hours as I teach online).

I read the advice and didn’t want to change 2 things at once and then her glucose go too low- but it’s still pretty high overall isn’t it. I’m going out to buy UK lower carb food today (1.9% of cals from carbs- the wet food she had last night and this morning is ~9.3% cal from carbs).

Thank you so much for all of your help.

 

[JanetNJ]

do you think an increase to 2.5 right away or wait to see what effect the change in food has? I’m working from home at the minute so I can get reading in the middle of the day (but not every 2 hours as I teach online).

I didn't realize you were changing foods. If you are going from higher carb to lower carb then yes, wait on an increase and see if the numbers come down. Glad you found something she likes! I'm a teacher too! . I'm all virtual right now too.

You don't have to test every two hours. Just catch on at like 5 - 6 hours after shot time.

 

[Sarahbeth]

I didn't realize you were changing foods. If you are going from higher carb to lower carb then yes, wait on an increase and see if the numbers come down. Glad you found something she likes! I'm a teacher too! . I'm all virtual right now too.

You don't have to test every two hours. Just catch on at like 5 - 6 hours after shot time.

Brilliant! Thank you so much. I’ll keep doing a lunch time test (which is 5ish hours after she has the shot).
Ill do another curve next weekend too- vets on Sunday.

You have saved me so much worry, thank you!

 

[JanetNJ]

Brilliant! Thank you so much. I’ll keep doing a lunch time test (which is 5ish hours after she has the shot).
Ill do another curve next weekend too- vets on Sunday.

You have saved me so much worry, thank you!

Let's see what the numbers do for 2-3 days with the food change. If still a bit too high then increase.

 

[Sarahbeth]

Hello all, thank you for all of your help!

We spoke with the vet last week and we upped Holly’s insulin to 2.5 units- her numbers were looking good until... a rough 48 hours with Holly.

She had been peeing in the house again over the weekend (she usually goes outside). She did it in front of me and I noticed there was blood (tiny bit) in her pee. I spoke to the vet and they asked to bring in a sample today- they are testing it and giving me a call later.

Holly has worked out how to open our cupboard and stole a loaf of bread yesterday lunch time (glucose was really high in evening). Then overnight she stole some welsh cake from the cupboard which my husband thinks she ate about a quarter of, and at lunch time and just now her glucose was also again really high.

she also has very bad diarrhoea last night and this lunch time (in the litter tray that we have put down)- it stinks to high heaven. Not sure if this was caused by the fruit cake she ate though(!). We’ve got child locks on the way for the cupboard.

All in all, a bit of a stressful couple of days, if anybody has any advice on whether this might be a blip, it would be great, but I was in tears last night!

Also does anybody have any advice on how to get the pee smell out of our wood floor? We hadn’t noticed she was going under our stairs and have this spray available in the UK Simple Solution Cat Stain and Odour Remover | Enzymatic Cleaner with Pro-Bacteria Cleaning Power - 750 ml but I can still smell it. I’ve always had a sensitive nose to cat pee though! My husband has also bleached (cat not near that area anymore) and it hasn’t touched it.
Thank you so much