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ashtrayxgirlx

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Hi, my name is Sara and I have an 8 year old cat named Katalenuh. She was diagnosed last Spring as a diabetic kitty. Little did we know at the time, but we were in for a roller coaster. She is prone to UTI's and that's initially how we found out she was diabetic. Since then, she has had 2 more urinary tract infections. Her most recent one being last month. We are STILL trying to sort out her insulin doses, which means frequent vet visits, but anything for our sweet little girl. We've recently started her on a new insulin, which seems to be a good match for her. She's on 2cc twice a day (just started this Monday, it's a change from 3cc once a day). Anyway, I'm not sure what protocol around here is, but we have been having a heck of a time with her and her litter box. She will use it ever few days and was using it to poop but other than that, she's going on our floor. The last couple of days she's pooped and peed outside of the litter box. On occasion she WILL use it, just not consistently. We are not sure what to do, so if anyone has any advice, we would surely appreciate it.

Below is a photo of Katalenuh from Monday on the way to the vet. She's a very vocal girl and she likes for everyone to know it.

2ry6lvt.jpg


I look forward to learning more about how to make my cat happy from the forums, so thanks everyone!
 
She is a beautiful girl.

What kind of insulin? What kind of food?

We have a very successful protocol here that has helped thousands of cats to regulation and often, remission. It calls for wet low carb food (see this site by a vet. - cat info.org), a slow acting insulin (Lantus, Levemir and ProZinc are the most popular) and testing blood sugars at home.

We would love to help you help your kitty.
 
awwww, cute pic.
Are you testing her blood sugar at home?
 
ahhhh, prozinc. ok we have alot of pro zinc shooters here.
and the wet food...that is good, however we have yet to find a suitable dry food. and beleive me we have looked!
what dose are you giving and how often.
also...testing bg's at home?
lori
 
She gets 2cc's twice a day. We're currently *trying* to wean her off of dry food but she's stubborn and incredibly picky. We have however dramatically decreased her intake of dry food. We haven't been able to take her bg at home, which is why we've been taking her to the vet to have it checked so often. If any of you have any suggestions on checking bg at home (where to buy meters, strips, lancets etc) it would be greatly appreciated.
 
ProZinc is a nice long lasting insulin that usually gives a smooth even curve from shot to shot.

Yes, as Lori said, if you can get rid of the dry, that would be best. In some cats, even a little makes a huge difference. BUT you should be testing at home before you take it away entirely. Our Oliver went down 100 points overnight when we switched from dry to wet. If we hadn't been testing, we would have overdosed him.

We like to see cats start at .5 or one unit every 12 hours. If you start higher, you run the risk of going over the ideal dose.

We think testing at home is more accurate than testing at the vet. Almost every cat is stressed at the vet with strange sounds, noises and smells and people "who are not the mommy". And stress raises bg levels. A dose determined with vet numbers can be too high once the kitty is home and relaxed.

Here is how we test: Video for hometesting We have taught lots of people how to do it over the internet and would be glad to teach you.
 
We posted at the same time. Here is a shopping list for hometesting supplies:

What you need to start hometesting

A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.

Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 25-26 gauge is good. Any brand will work.

Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.

Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking.

Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.

And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not Lo carb treats
 
Better still, why don't I send you everything you'll need to start test asap. Then I'll show you a utube video made by one of our members that is really excellent.

We have taugh thousands of beans how to test and the kittehs...no joke...grow to enjoy it !!

I run Newbie Kits...check out the link below in my sig. while i look up the video k?
Lori
 
ashtrayxgirlx said:
She gets 2cc's twice a day.
Click to expand...

Insulin is measured in units, not cc :smile:

2 cc would be two completely full insulin syringes which is basically an OD. I'm sure you're not giving your cat that much insulin :smile:

We're currently *trying* to wean her off of dry food but she's stubborn and incredibly picky. We have however dramatically decreased her intake of dry food.
Click to expand...

Here are tips on how to get a dry food addict to eat canned food: http://catinfo.org/docs/Tips for Transitioning PDF 1-14-11.pdf

I wouldn't dramatically decrease the dry food. Your cat needs to eat and because she's new diabetic, she's going to be starving all the time until her blood glucose levels are in a more healthier range.

We haven't been able to take her bg at home, which is why we've been taking her to the vet to have it checked so often. If any of you have any suggestions on checking bg at home (where to buy meters, strips, lancets etc) it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Hometesting tips: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287

Buy a Human blood glucose meter and test strips and lancets at any Human pharmacy. Any of the big name ones are good: AccuChek, OneTouch, FreeStyle, etc. Wal Mart has the inexpensive Relion brand of meters and supplies.
 
We started at a lower dose, but it was not controlling her bg levels so we had to go to giving her insulin every 12 hours instead of just once a day. We have taken her bg at home, we just can't afford to purchase strips and such.
 
ashtray, can you give us your name? i like names.
and i can get you started with strips and teach you how to buy them uber cheap on ebay.
you will no longer have to go to the vet unless your cat is really sick.
we do EVERTHING the vet does...at home!
you will grow so confident and empowered as you actually watch the dose working or not working.
many cats go off the juice completely here with proper diet and well executed dosing.
it is true.
Lori
 
I supply the newbie kit for free. i don't sell it. people on the board contribute supplies, money etc to keep the operation going. I am very enthusiastic becuase hundreds of recipients have saved themselves money and their cats health this way.'
not saying a donation is unappreciated but we are not looking to make $ from you...only to help your kitty.
you will recieve $100 worth of equipement at least.
 
It's far cheaper to home test then pay for vet testing, and it's more accurate. It's also the only way to safely administer insulin.

It's very hard to regulate a cat eating dry food. You'll have a much easier time once it's completely eliminated from her diet. However, and this is very important, eliminating dry food can cause a cat's blood sugar to drop dramatically, so you want to make sure you're testing/reducing the dose as you make the change or you risk a hypoglycemic incident.

Unlike dogs, cats also always need insulin every 12 hours--their faster metabolisms make shooting once a day ineffective.
 
lori and tom said:
ashtray, can you give us your name? i like names.
and i can get you started with strips and teach you how to buy them uber cheap on ebay.
you will no longer have to go to the vet unless your cat is really sick.
we do EVERTHING the vet does...at home!
you will grow so confident and empowered as you actually watch the dose working or not working.
many cats go off the juice completely here with proper diet and well executed dosing.
it is true.
Lori
Click to expand...
My name is Sara, I opened with that in my first post :smile: Thank you for all of the kind support.
 
lori and tom said:
I supply the newbie kit for free. i don't sell it. people on the board contribute supplies, money etc to keep the operation going. I am very enthusiastic becuase hundreds of recipients have saved themselves money and their cats health this way.'
not saying a donation is unappreciated but we are not looking to make $ from you...only to help your kitty.
you will recieve $100 worth of equipement at least.
Click to expand...

I've been perusing the link, but I'm not sure I understand how it works. I will pass this information onto my mom, I know she will be happy to hear. We will even have enough money left over to donate something.
 
This has made my mood almost 100% better. We were so worried about how we were going to get a meter because of how expensive they are.
 
Hi Sara,
You did open with that introduction and I missed it ohmygod_smile sorry.

Ordering is easy. Like Sue said, go to the web store and press on the 1 cent to order. Donations are made right next to it and you just put in the amount you can donate.

I will see to it you get your kit by Saturday latest if you order by tonight.

Do you or your mom have a paypal account set up yet?
You will want that to order strips on ebay....many of us get strips that way...and it's much cheaper.

Let me know if you want anything special in your kit.
How many cats do you have total? I have some very nice catnip toys and would'nt want to leave anyone out :razz:

Lori
and tomtom
 
I can send you a bunch of syringes too. Whatever I can fit in there.
 
lori and tom said:
Hi Sara,
You did open with that introduction and I missed it ohmygod_smile sorry.

Ordering is easy. Like Sue said, go to the web store and press on the 1 cent to order. Donations are made right next to it and you just put in the amount you can donate.

I will see to it you get your kit by Saturday latest if you order by tonight.

Do you or your mom have a paypal account set up yet?
You will want that to order strips on ebay....many of us get strips that way...and it's much cheaper.

Let me know if you want anything special in your kit.
How many cats do you have total? I have some very nice catnip toys and would'nt want to leave anyone out :razz:

Lori
and tomtom
Click to expand...

We have syringes. You can save those for someone who needs them more than we do. I have a paypal account, but I noticed that there's a place to pay by credit card. Is that alright? I only have one cat, but I'm sure she will appreciate a toy :) Oh and yes, I did view the video. I have it bookmarked.
 
I have not checked my emails for orders yet...but your dear kitty shall have 2 new toys...catnip and home made with love by another sugar kitty's mom.
 
Sara I just checked and there is no order from you. I do believe the credit card option is ok. Please let me know what you want to do. I would like to get your kit out tomorow before I go to work.
Lori
and tomtom
 
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