Freaked Out Newbie

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evallano

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So my 10 year old cat Jack was diagnosed today with Diabetes and also has high liver readings, possibly from infection. He was started on an anti-biotic today for that. So I'm reading all I can about feline diabetes...for education and because I can't sleep...and I'm so afraid I'm gonna miss something. Though Jack has been overweight for some time now (sorry Jackie but its true), its only been in the past three weeks I've noticed a change in him. Correction....he has always been fine except three months ago, he got esophillic plaque on the top of his head. No idea why. Once that healed it started on his neck. Once that healed, that brings us to three weeks ago, I noticed the excessive drinking and urination. Long story short...Jack is my family, my baby and my therapist all rolled into one. So there is no other option for me other than to help him through this and make the rest of his life enjoyable and healthy. Since I've had him from age 6mths, I owe it to him.

My question is...during my initial panic of his diagnosis, the vet (who is a fairly new vet) spoke of a new insulin treatment that has shown high percentage of "remission" in cats. (Can't remember the name sorry...starts with a G). He says that its more expensive but may only be needed for a few months as supposed to a lifetime of injections. Sounds great, but too good to be true? He also mentioned PZI...standard I guess. But mentioned that if I start on the PZI first instead of the newer insullin, it won't give ANY remission. So I'm really confused as to what I'm supposed to do. I don't know how long he's been suffering and I want to start treatment immediatley...but have no idea what to do.

Thank God for this site. I was so afraid I'd be lost in cyberspace and find crazy sites.

Sincerely,
Liz and Jack
 
Hi Liz and Welcome.
I think your vet was talking about Glargine??? here we call it lantus and it is the most popular insulin on the board.
the pzi is also used.
The first thing you should consider is changing his diet... we have a food list that includes all the low carb foods
sorry i'm a bit tired.
did your vet mention home testing?
 
I'll catch up with you in the morning...and by then you should have plenty of responses.
Try to not worry too much. this is a very treatable disease and yes, many cats do go off the juice.
 
hi there and welcome. take a deep breath first :-)

was the insulin mentioned called glargine? if so, it's what is more commonly called lantus around these parts and yes, it has a very high remission rate, especially when started early in treatment. the pzi insulins can lead to remission too though so don't count that one out right away either. :-) the really awesome one unfortunately was discontinued a bit ago but there's a new one out called prozinc that several people here are using now so you can get help here on either insulin you and your vet go with ok
 
The first five years of his life yes, he was on crap food. I was uneducated. Since then I've been much smarter. He's been on NutriSource, Fromm and Holistic Select (current). However since his last visit two months ago with the esophillic plaque, he's lost 2lbs. We have had stress lately too...until today, he lived with two dogs, a kitten and a puppy. Due to changes in my relationship status...we are now with friends and are enjoying one on one time again. So I hope the lessoned amt of stress will help too. As far as food...our vet is putting him on Purina DM. I'm nervous about that though...be so cautious about what I feed him for the last few years...does purina have a good rep?
 
Lantus is the brand name, Glargine is the generic name.

Ask the vet to write the prescription for Lantus cartridges or solostar pens, rather than
the 10ml vial.

You get 5 3ml cartridges (15 ml) rather than one 10ml vial. It costs more up front,
but you open only one cartridge at a time...which you can then use for up to 2 months before
the insulin inside becomes ineffective (shelf life after opening).

If you get the 10ml vial, you open it and you get only 1-2 months out of that...you will throw
away 80-90% of the insulin. Cartridges/pens are much more economical in the long run.


You still use regular insulin syringes with the cartridges/pens. You want .3cc U-100 insulin
syringes, 30 or 31 gauge, 'short' needles, with 1/2 unit markings. You can buy these
at people pharmacies....Walmart's ReliOn brand is popular here and economical.

Be sure the pharmacist sells you 1/2-unit-markings, NOT 1/2cc capacity. Some pharmacists
will insist that no such thing exists as 1/2-unit-markings. INSIST in seeing the words "1/2-unit
marks" or something similar on the box of syringes.

Since you are going to be using Lantus, please go over to your Insulin Support Group
for Lantus and read all the sticky-note information for Lantus at the top of the forum, here:

viewforum.php?f=9


We recommend starting your kitty at 1unit of insulin 2x/day. Insulin is NOT dosed by
weight in cats. Please start low, go slow, as we say. It's much easier to raise the dose if
needed than to start too high and experience bad things like hypoglycemia, and rebound.

Lantus likes a steady dose....same dose every time. And takes about a week to build up its
shed (reservoir) in the body. So you should NOT adjust the dose upward for at least a week,
until you run a BG curve with home-testing. We will help you with all that.

WHERE ARE YOU (city/state)....maybe we have a nearby member.
Edited: Oh, never mind. I see you are in Lexington, KY.
 
Liz, those life changes can be tough on both the furry kids and you...but hopefully in time things will become routine and normal again.
As for food I am about to go get the link for our low carb foods. anything under 7-10 carbs but the list includes nearly every brand and flavor out there...including their carb count....which you will never see on the can.
brb.
and if you see this...how about testing your kittie's blood glucose at home? We all do it, you can too. And if you need help don't hesitate to check out the Newbie Kit link below my signature on this page ok.
brb
 
As you've heard, both insulin's mentioned are good, each has it's supporters. My miss Maisey was only on PZI for a month and is now OTJ (off the juice). Vet prescribed food is not better than lots of canned wets. The Purina DM is about half the carbs of most vets favorite, but it is still way over the 10% carbs we like as a maximum. I think someone already gave to the link to Binky's lists - lots to choose from.
We have all been freaked out, stressed and then informed and calmed. You will get there too.
 
Are you sure that diabetes is the correct diagnosis? If there is some infection, my new vet said that sometimes that can look like it may be diabetes. That was a question with my cat too.
 
Well, his GLU number was 490. The vet is starting Lantus tomorrow and is trying to see if that will help the levels of his liver. If those levels aren't affected by the insulin, then he's checking other possiblities. My vet has been very supportive through all this and has even cut some costs for office visits for us. I'm still very nervous though. I have a crazy work schedule and work in a hotel. So I'm worried about timing of the shots. I do have a roommate that is a medical assistant who can give shots and is willing to help out. So that helps, but I'd like to be there all the time.

So...if he's been on dry food (mainly because of his stomach not handling wet), should I switch him to wet? There's so much info out there, I'm not sure if I'm making the right choices!
 
Liz i would not reccomend changing foods until you are testing. it can be very very dangerous as low carb food can drop the glucose 100 or more points and then you have too much insulin on board.
will you be home testing?
would you like a kit?
Lori
and Lord Thomas
 
Actually, since you are starting insulin tomorrow -- it is ok to make the food change now.

The concern is if you have a dose based on high carbohydrate food, the change in food can cause a crash to low blood sugar from insulin overdose.

Since you are just starting out at a hopefully low dose -- best to change to low carbohydrate (grain free) canned foods as soon as practical -- might need to convince your kitty that this food is YUMMY and better than the dry old kitty crack.
 
really phoebe...the insulin dose is based on her high carb diet...she's not testing. would'nt it be safer to wait till she's testing?
just saying. IMHO
lori
and lord thomas
 
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