I'm new and feel like I'm drowning already

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Stellasmom

Member Since 2021
My 8 yr old Stella is newly diagnosed and on vetsulin which I understand from another board member that I should be on Lantus or another long lasting insulin. I havent started doing any home testing yet as I dont understand it yet.
 
@Marje and Gracie @Sienne and Gabby (GA) @Chris & China (GA) introducing Tommie Lyn. Her kitty Stella was just DX'd and like everyone has, she is feeling overwhelmed. I encouraged her to get on FDMB first and foremost to help get her on track and feeling better. I am way too out of the loop and rusty to be giving guidance. Too much potentially new and different that I'm just not up on. But the help and support here is the best, bar none, don't know what we would have done without the guidance I got with Hank. Forever grateful. Hopefully she is able to soon get Stella a better insulin then make her way to the ISG's for more detail.

So far I've not been great help with the techie stuff to even get her started. SO glad to see some old familiar faces still here! :bighug:
 
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Welcome to the best place you never wanted to be Tommie!! Don't worry....we've got you! Just take one step at a time and soon you'll be doing the sugardance with the best of us!

Here's some information on How you can help us to help you. Holler if you need some help with any of the technical stuff.

Betty is right. Lantus is a better insulin for most cats than Vetsulin, but we've had some cats do OK on Vetsulin too.

Have you actually started giving insulin yet? Have you changed Stella to a low carb canned or raw diet?

If you haven't already started insulin and Stella had no signs of ketones, there's no rush to start. This is the safest time to change the diet and learn to home test to see what Stella's BG runs at home when she's not stressed at the vet as well as how any diet change is affecting her numbers.

Don't want to overwhelm you all at once so there's some things to get you started!

Remember, big deep breaths....in through the nose, out through the mouth. If you're freaked out, Stella's going to think there's a reason she should be freaked out too which just makes it harder on both of you!
 
Thanks for the words. This is day 2 of insulin. I switched to wet low carb food right away because of @bettyandhank. Shes really guided me along thru here. Still overwhelmed and my cat hates me. Because of the shots but its getting done. Ill check out your other link in the morning. Thanks for the help.
Chris & China (GA) said:
Welcome to the best place you never wanted to be Tommie!! Don't worry....we've got you! Just take one step at a time and soon you'll be doing the sugardance with the best of us!

Here's some information on How you can help us to help you. Holler if you need some help with any of the technical stuff.

Betty is right. Lantus is a better insulin for most cats than Vetsulin, but we've had some cats do OK on Vetsulin too.

Have you actually started giving insulin yet? Have you changed Stella to a low carb canned or raw diet?

If you haven't already started insulin and Stella had no signs of ketones, there's no rush to start. This is the safest time to change the diet and learn to home test to see what Stella's BG runs at home when she's not stressed at the vet as well as how any diet change is affecting her numbers.

Don't want to overwhelm you all at once so there's some things to get you started!

Remember, big deep breaths....in through the nose, out through the mouth. If you're freaked out, Stella's going to think there's a reason she should be freaked out too which just makes it harder on both of you!
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Stellasmom said:
my cat hates me
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No, your cat doesn't hate you. It's all new to her too! And like I said above, if you're giving off "stressed out" signals, she's going to feel it.

As silly as it might seem, try singing a silly song when you're testing or shooting. It forces you to use a different part of your brain so it's harder to give off those "vibes" that Stella is picking up on.

"You are my Sunshine" is a favorite around here!
 
Stellasmom said:
Ill check out your other link in the morning. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

I know tech stuff can be intimidating, so if you need help with setting up a spreadsheet or getting your Signature done, just say so!

I can help you set them up and so can @Bandit's Mom. I'm often busy with the Facebook group so if you don't see me on here, please contact her!

Just click on our name and choose "start a conversation" to send a private message.
 
Stellasmom said:
Still overwhelmed and my cat hates me.
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I can understand how you feel. I also felt Kabosu hated me, I was stressed, and he was stressed because of it.

I'd suggest you give your cat something she really loves right after the shot.
I was giving Kabosu a bit of tuna (he'd die for it!). Eventually he learnt that insulin is good for him, and now he does not mind it at all. In fact, sometimes I sleep in during the weekend, and he wakes me up and takes me to his BG meter and syringes! Literally begging for the shot! And he purrs when I inject him, can you imagine?
 
@Stellasmom I can relate to your feeling of overwhelm. My Scout just got diagnosed 2 weeks ago and I am just now starting to feel a bit less overwhelmed than I was before. This is hard stuff, worrisome stuff. I just joined this forum, too, and look forward to learning more from others. You are not alone.
 
I am very new too and finding it so hard to absorb all the new information. I understood diabetes before but this is next level stuff! I have yet to inject my cat for the first time. Just taken first BG reading and just fed her. Feel so guilty, she was not enjoying the testing process...
 
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