Hello! New to Testing.

[smellycat]

Hello.
Just came across this community and would love some advice.

I've had a diabetic cat for 4 years or so with little help from my vet. I have been bringing him to the vet for about once a month since finding out he was diabetic for testing his glucose. He is on wet cat food with a morning/evening feeding schedule. I have finally come to the point that Ive realized my vet has been using this for money rather than helping my cat, being that I still don't know how to regulate him and have been given little to no information from them. On top of that, my cat loses his mind every time I have to bring him to the vet which isn't giving them accurate readings which now makes me believe he is getting too much vetsulin. Ive done a lot of research and have come to find out most people test their cats themselves. Tonight, I'm pretty certain he was having symptoms of hypoglycemia in which I gave him food that he ate good and acts normal again.

I need to start testing him myself and was hoping to get some advise on where to start. Ive read a lot of individuals use the OneTouch meter which I will purchase ASAP to get started. Being that the vet has given me an amount of insulin to give twice a day, do I test before feeding and shoot but still use the same number of units they told me? Im not sure what number Im aiming for on the meter in order to up or lower his doses. Any experienced tester advise would be GREATLY appreciated

 

[Summers Mom]

Hi and welcome!! You are in the right place for great help and great advice. You always want to test before the AMPS and PMPS. I use the relion prime meter from walmart. The test strips are really cheap. 100 strips for $18. I don't use vetsulin so i can't tell you how much to give or if you would give the same amount but i am sure someone will come along and help you out on that. When i started testing a few months ago, i was terrified but after the first couple of times it gets easier and easier. Trust me. If i can do it, you can do it! lol I just have been giving shots for 3 weeks now and i am good with that too but it was so scary at first. And thank god i have a cat that is very good with the shots! I test at the am shot and pm shot which is every 12 hours and i test through the day as well because summer is not regulated just yet. Yeah alot of vets do not know a whole lot on feline diabetes and are not a lot of help. You will find this is the place for all the help you will need for your cat!!

 

[smellycat]

Thank you. I'm really happy to have found this. I've been doing his shots for years but have just listened to the amount the vet has told me but I no longer trust that they know how to manage him. Its been years and he still isn't regulated so Im ready to figure all this out for myself, feeling silly that I haven't done it earlier. Could have saved countless times of worry and money. I will definitely look into the meter from Walmart too. Thanks again!

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you. I'm really happy to have found this. I've been doing his shots for years but have just listened to the amount the vet has told me but I no longer trust that they know how to manage him. Its been years and he still isn't regulated so Im ready to figure all this out for myself, feeling silly that I haven't done it earlier. Could have saved countless times of worry and money. I will definitely look into the meter from Walmart too. Thanks again!

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC. You can do this. Once I started testing my cat didnt see the vet for a year.


Go to Walmart and get

1. Relion micro or confirm meter
2. Box of 100 extra test strips
3. Box of 28 gauge lancets
4. Cotton cosmetic rounds
5. Neosporin ointment with pain relief

 

[Summers Mom]

Thank you. I'm really happy to have found this. I've been doing his shots for years but have just listened to the amount the vet has told me but I no longer trust that they know how to manage him. Its been years and he still isn't regulated so Im ready to figure all this out for myself, feeling silly that I haven't done it earlier. Could have saved countless times of worry and money. I will definitely look into the meter from Walmart too. Thanks again!

When you get a meter, start writing down the test numbers each time until you get your spreadsheet up/ Your spreadsheet is where you keep all your kitties blood glucose numbers so you can see how he is doing and everyone on here can see his numbers therefor when you need help they can look at your kitties spreadsheet and that info on there is how they help you.

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Welcome! Most vets don't seem to know what they are doing when it comes to feline diabetes. There is definitely no reason to have to go to the vet every month. You will want to make sure he does not eat for about two hours before shot time so that you can take a pre-shot test and get a number that is not impacted by food. It is also helpful to get mid-cycle tests so that you can see the impact the insulin has. Over time, you will gather enough data that you will be able to make dosing decisions. You will get a lot of help and support here.

Please take a few minutes to set up a signature that provides basic info so that you will not have to provide the same info over and over each time you post. Also, set up a spreadsheet to record your testing results and doses given and put a link to it in your signature. These items will not only help you, they will help us help you.