Intro, New diabetic.

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HK987

Member Since 2017
Hi all,
My Husband and I recently found out our 7yr old boy Sensei is diabetic. It's been two weeks since the diagnosis, and first glucose curve performed at the vet's office. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of information and emotion. Hubby and I have been immersing ourselves in researching info about diabetes, hypoglycemia, testing, dietary changes, and home care. We received the diagnosis on Saturday 1-21-17, and immediately changed Sensei's food from dry kibble and friskies pouches of wet food, to Iams canned grain free formula. The doc informed us that she wanted to start him on Gabapentin (.25mL dose once daily) for the pain and discomfort in his back legs, which was giving him difficulty with ambulating.
So far the gabapentin seems to be helping, as he has been able to jump up on the couch and bed again, which he could not do previously. His weight at the initial visit was 15.3 lbs.
That following monday, 1-23-17, he spent the day at the vet's office for a glucose curve, and received his first dose of Lantus. He was given 2.5 units that morning, and at the end of the day, the Dr. recommended that we give him a solid 3 units twice daily as the dose he received there " Didn't seem to touch him. So for the past two weeks, he has been getting 3units of Lantus twice daily, and seemed to be doing well. We went for another glucose curve, and check up two days ago, Monday 2-6-17, and Dr. said his blood glucose went all over the place, peaking high, then dipping around 60's at one point, so she said we're decreasing his insulin dose by half because he was having a reaction to the 3 units. From the lurking I've done on the forum prior to now, that seems to be something quite a few other kitties have had trouble with as well. When he came home Monday night, we were advised not to give his evening injection. He ate dinner instead, and sleepily settled down on his spot on the couch. We have asked the major questions about feeding times, dose times, should we home test? The doc suggested home testing only during the visit two days ago. I feel like we should have immediately begun home testing after the first glucose curve two weeks ago, but we really didn't know. I'd like to ask everyone's opinion on which testing supplies prove trustworthy. I'm going to purchase the supplies at Walmart, and so far, I've read positive reviews on the Reli-on Confirm/ Micro, but I'd love to hear all suggestions. This is a huge change for us, but we are committed to educating ourselves and providing our sweet boy with a continuously happy life.
 
3 u is WAY too high of a starting dose. It is recommended cats start at one unit for several days as lantus builds up a deposit, and then raise the dose as needed in increments of 0.25

If you go to the lantus forum and look around at the top, read the yellow stickies that have tons of good info.


Relion is the most common type of meter people on this board use. I use the pet meter Alphatrak which is calibrated for cat blood and is probably the one your vet uses.... However the test strips are hella expensive compared to the human meters.
 
I agree, 3 units was too high! Doc said the 2.5 units they gave him as the first dose at his first glucose curve didnt affect him, so thats why she suggested the 3 units. I felt uneasy about it but trusted she knows what shes doing. As of two days ago, she said his glucose went all over the place, and he had a reaction to the 3 units ( I was thinking " Yeah well no kidding!!"). Now he's on one and a half units twice daily. That may also change before the next curve in two weeks. It's playing the waiting game, trial and error, seeing what works, what doesnt, you know how it goes. It is just SO nerve wracking first starting out with this.
 
I agree, 3 units was too high! Doc said the 2.5 units they gave him as the first dose at his first glucose curve didnt affect him, so thats why she suggested the 3 units. I felt uneasy about it but trusted she knows what shes doing. As of two days ago, she said his glucose went all over the place, and he had a reaction to the 3 units ( I was thinking " Yeah well no kidding!!"). Now he's on one and a half units twice daily. That may also change before the next curve in two weeks. It's playing the waiting game, trial and error, seeing what works, what doesnt, you know how it goes. It is just SO nerve wracking first starting out with this.
1.5 is much more reasonable... Most start with 1 and hold for several days to see the effect before going up 0.25-.5 units at a time. If you need any dosing help or other questions, post in the main health forum.
 
I agree, 3 units was too high! Doc said the 2.5 units they gave him as the first dose at his first glucose curve didnt affect him, so thats why she suggested the 3 units.
Your vet doesn't seem to understand how Lantus works. Good thing you found this board. Many of us had to switch vets a few times until we found one knowledgeable in Feline Diabetes.
 
Follow exactly what the FDMB "cat" people say...My DVM, who is an expert at everything surgically, did not seem very concerned about the D.M suffered by Elliott. Now, he is in remission 9 months later..because of the FDMB experts!!!!

Thanks Fran!
I'm very thankful to have found this forum, it has proved extremely helpful so far with reading about other people's experiences and advice. Hubby and I have already learned a lot from reading around the Lantus forum, we found out tips, tricks, and tidbits of helpful info that we would not have known otherwise. You know, the vet's office can show you how to perform the daily injections, but they can't tell us everything in between. The info and suggestions I've stumbled across so far have been so very helpful and appreciated.
 
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