Here we are again

[jane & mr friend]

Hello all.

Mr Friend and I joined in September 2008. He was diabetic when I adopted him from Cats Protection, but although I'd read up on diabetes, I thought it was far easier to manage than it turned out to be - I thought it would just be a matter of giving an injection twice a day. Friend came home at the end of September, and by the beginning of November we had our first hypoglycemic episode. There followed a nightmare of measuring glucose levels, and that sock filled with rice that you warm in the microwave and the stabbing of the ear and trying to adjust insulin levels and then another hypoglycemic episode within a couple of weeks. By the end of November, after several stays in the vet, it was declared that he no longer had diabetes.

After about a year, he started to lose weight again, but it was hyperthyroidism rather than a return of the diabetes. We've managed this condition since then, but recently the weight loss has happened again, his hyperthyroid dose increased and stabilised, then the same has happened again. The vet phoned me an hour ago to let me know his most recent tests have indicated that not only is his hyperthyroidism out of control again, his diabetes has returned.

I'm gutted. With hindsight, and being coldly ratonal, I shouldn't have adopted a cat with diabetes in the first place. I'm squeamish about needles and injections and squeamish about blood. We had a horrific time back in 2008, to the extent that we even discussed whether it would be better to return him to Cats Protection as we didn't feel we were coping with his diabetes - we were terrified he'd have a hypoglycemic episode whilst we were both at work and die, and wondered whether he would be better off living with someone who was at home more of the time. Finding out he wasn't diabetic felt like a miracle.

We were aware that it might come back again, but it's not really any less of a shock. Knowing how awful it was last time, and how difficult we found it - the injections were okay, but trying to measure the glucose levels by picking the ear was just terrible - just the stress of knowing it was coming in an hour or so, and our utter incompetence at managing to get a reading (we've got at least three different blood reading measurer things in the kitchen still I think as we went through different ones!). I just feel at the moment that I won't be able to cope with it again, or that we're going to manage to kill him this time.

Anyway, I am off to the vet to discuss the results, how we can move forward with his hyperthyroidism and starting insulin again. Apologies for the lengthy post - I don't need any specific adivce right now - I got so much fantastic advice here back in 2008, which I remember both of - I just need to get it all out somewhere where other people know what it's like!

Jane

 

[BJM]

Hang in!

 

[Ry & Scooter]

Hi and welcome back! Once a cat is diabetic, they are diabetic for life. It doesn't go away, but it can go into a state of remission.

Really, testing is only as bad as you make it. The more stressed, panicked, anxious, nervous, or whatever you are, the worse of a time you're going to have. If you go in with confidence, a calm voice, and a smile on your face, you will be far more successful. That is so important.

Yes, testing can be tough in the beginning. It's just a matter of perfecting your technique. One thing you always have to do is treat and reward, even if your poke is unsuccessful. Try 3 times, if you can't get blood take a break, give him a treat and try again later. Don't get all flustered because you fail. You'll get better.

Yes, sometimes cats don't want to cooperate. It's not because poking hurts them, don't get it in your mind that you're causing your cat awful painful torture, because you're not. You're testing him because you care about him and you value his life and safety. The struggle is that you're doing something different to them... you're all riled up, freaked out, frustrated, scared, and restraining them... so they freak out too!

But as you know, hypoglycemia is an incredibly deadly and scary thing so testing is paramount and you must do it. It's never easy , everyone struggles in the beginning. I had to wrap Scooter in a towel and sit on him and poke him until his ears were swollen and bruised. Did it suck? Yes. Did I want to run and cry and give up? Yes. But I didn't, I stuck through it, and it just got better and better, to the point where Scooter sought me out to be tested. And through my diligent testing and dosing, Scooter is now off insulin.

Here are a few more tips for being successful in testing.

1. Use a larger sized lancet, 25-28 gauge is good. Sometimes they are marked for alternate site testing.
2. Freehand the lancet instead of using the device. Hold the lancet between your fingers, beveled side up, at a 45 degree angle, and poke the edge of the ear quickly.
3. Use a little dab of Polysporin ointment or Vaseline on the ear and wipe it off right before testing to help the blood bead up better and not get soaked into the hair.
4. Use a flashlight behind the ear to help see where the vein is better. You are not aiming at the vein though - you're aiming at the sweet spot between the vein and the edge of the ear.
5. If he has dark hair, try testing on the inside edge of the ear.
6. Along with the rice sock try massaging the ear also. After poking, stroke the ear towards where the poke hole is to help it bead up.