Hello from Alex and Babby in Maleny, QLD Australia

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alex and babbycat

alex and babbycat

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Hi everyone, I am new member Alex. My 16 year old darling Babby (black male dsh) was diagnosed with diabetes in November 2010. The vet couldn't do any blood curves as poor old Babby went ballistic when they shaved his leg, he bit the vet nurse and was totally traumatised by the whole deal, so he was sent home with me to do my best with Caninsulin. After an initial period of despair, guilt and an enormous learning curve, I have been successfully home testing his BG regularly and measuring/monitoring 24 hr water intake, weight, wees/poos, ketones and urinary gluclose, appetite and food quantity.
Babby was fed Hills/Iams dry food most of his life, a fact I deeply regret, he now only has raw pet mince (kangaroo), BARF patties and the odd tin of fish.
His current insulin dose is 1.5 IU BID. After 2 months on Caninsulin his neuropathy is no better and BG levels/water/wees are still too high, so this coming Friday I am starting him on Lantus. I am feeling quite trepidatious, mainly because of what I have read about potential overlap issues while wanting to maintain consistency of dosing. My vet doesn't know much about Lantus, but he gave me a script for it as I seemed to know what I was doing!!? I have reference material from Jacqueline Rand's UQ research and that is all. I am planning to start the Lantus on the same dose as the Caninsulin, 1.5 IU BID, and monitor for 3 days before adjusting the dose. Apparently Lantus is less potent than Caninsulin so I may have to increase it. This is the first time I have ever posted to any kind of forum, so if I have written too much, sorry! Any comments/advice greatly appreciated. Cheers, Alex
 
Welcome Alex! We have a couple members in Australia on Lantus. It is fantastic that you are already feeding lo carb and testing at home!

We also have a forum that is for Lantus users; they all use your insulin and will be able to help you with dosing. They do want a spreadsheet so they can wisely advise on doses, based on past history. We have an excellent one that is a google document. It is color coded and really makes it easy to see patterns and trends. Here are the directions: Setting up a spreadsheet If you need help, just ask.

The Lantus forum also has some great stickies with info on how Lantus works: viewforum.php?f=9
 
Thanks for the welcome! The roo pet mince has added taurine and calcium, but is not really complete nutrition, I know. However, he does eat it all, which is such a relief as I find it scary when I feed him, inject him, then he decides he doesn't like what I fed him and refuses to eat! The BARF patties, which I have run out of at present, are Biologically Active Raw Food formulated here in Australia for both cats and dogs, I believe these provide complete nutrition and he usually will eat most of what is given. He will always eat tinned food, but I thought that raw food would be better. I haven't been as consistent with feeding the same thing every day as I suspect I should be, but the amount is always the same. Is consistency in the type of food crucial? Thanks for the links.
 
We think diabetics do well with small meals spread out during the day. Many of us freeze the wet food and let it thaw during the day and overnight. I use a timed feeder that can be set for 5 meals.

With Lantus, you are urged to pick up the food an hour or two before testing, so the blood glucose number is not affected by the food.
 
alex and babbycat said:
Thanks for the welcome! The roo pet mince has added taurine and calcium, but is not really complete nutrition, I know. However, he does eat it all, which is such a relief as I find it scary when I feed him, inject him, then he decides he doesn't like what I fed him and refuses to eat! The BARF patties, which I have run out of at present, are Biologically Active Raw Food formulated here in Australia for both cats and dogs, I believe these provide complete nutrition and he usually will eat most of what is given. He will always eat tinned food, but I thought that raw food would be better. I haven't been as consistent with feeding the same thing every day as I suspect I should be, but the amount is always the same. Is consistency in the type of food crucial? Thanks for the links.
Click to expand...

What is important with FD, is low-carb canned food or raw.
Sounds like you're OK.
 
Hi Alex welcome to the best place for you diabetic cat This place is awesome I should say the people here are awesome. If you need an question answered just put ADVICE in your subject line.You get more eyes on it then. Also had my 10 year old cat DX last May.With the help from here and Lantus he was only on insulin for 2 months .He is doing great he is on can food only no dry.With insulin it is best to start slow then increase a bit at a time till you find his dose. People here are just so great.I wish you all the best.You sound like you have everything under control....just stick with this place and you will do great....Sending Angels and tons of healing green light to help you and Babbycat. If I can help in any way Hugsssssssssssss Kath & Trey
 
hi there, just wanted to pop in and say welcome to fdmb.

how'd you fair with the flooding? my fiance's family is there in Queensland (Caboolture & Bribie Island) and had some evacuation orders issued but all in all came thru it ok. hope you did too. I hear it's spreading to Victoria now :-(
 
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