Figaro's Liz
Member Since 2019
Hi everyone, after much stalking of the forum I'm diving in to say hello!
Figaro is a 5.5 y/o sweet maine coon kitty, my very best buddy, and a great sport about his new normal with FD. He is being treated with Lantus (0.5U BID).
We are three weeks out of his traumatic hospitalization (I thought he had a urinary blockage, turned out to be a UTI), his FD diagnosis, and beginning insulin treatment. He was on an AB for the UTI up to 6/26, and the vet suspects the UTI is what made his BGs shoot up prior to diagnosis.
Background to diagnosis--in early May, Fig's vet noted he had a high BG (364) as part of unrelated bloodwork, but we thought maybe he was hyperglycemic from stress (new living situation with another, new cat in the house, plus vet visit). So we returned later for fructosamine (in 300s). Confusingly, he didn't have any other symptoms pointing to diabetes except some tiredness, so we put off starting insulin and the vet suspected prediabetes. Well, things took a nose dive and in the week leading up to the hospital, Fig started hiding away, was completely lethargic, not interested in toys or food, was barely eating, and rapidly lost over 1lb. We scheduled an ultrasound to check things out, but one night he started crying out while trying to pee and I took him straight to the 24-hour ER. He had ketones but was not yet acidotic. Fluids, insulin, AB, we stabilized him.
I have struggled to trust clinical signs and urine glucose/ketone testing, as my vet recommended. He has recovered so much towards his regular happy, active self. We have switched entirely to canned food (he used to have half dry/wet by volume).
Figaro had a BG curve done at the vet earlier this week, just over two weeks following his hospitalization. The vet recommended moving from a 0.5U BID schedule to 0.5 SID... I said okay, mostly because I was elated he had "good" numbers according to their curve, but his home numbers are NOT good and I am going back to BID.
We just started home BG testing with his AlphaTrak2, and while I was scared about the BG testing, I suddenly feel much more empowered to properly care for him. I will be participating in the Lantus forum soon as we start to get more consistent numbers.
That's where we are at now. The links and resources here have been so helpful, and knowing we are not alone makes all the difference in the world!
Edit: It has been an emotional roller coaster and so, so hard. I know you all know what I mean. I have only recently gotten to the point where I feel like I can do this. I always knew I WOULD do it because he is 1000% worth it, I just wasn't sure that I could.
Figaro is a 5.5 y/o sweet maine coon kitty, my very best buddy, and a great sport about his new normal with FD. He is being treated with Lantus (0.5U BID).
We are three weeks out of his traumatic hospitalization (I thought he had a urinary blockage, turned out to be a UTI), his FD diagnosis, and beginning insulin treatment. He was on an AB for the UTI up to 6/26, and the vet suspects the UTI is what made his BGs shoot up prior to diagnosis.
Background to diagnosis--in early May, Fig's vet noted he had a high BG (364) as part of unrelated bloodwork, but we thought maybe he was hyperglycemic from stress (new living situation with another, new cat in the house, plus vet visit). So we returned later for fructosamine (in 300s). Confusingly, he didn't have any other symptoms pointing to diabetes except some tiredness, so we put off starting insulin and the vet suspected prediabetes. Well, things took a nose dive and in the week leading up to the hospital, Fig started hiding away, was completely lethargic, not interested in toys or food, was barely eating, and rapidly lost over 1lb. We scheduled an ultrasound to check things out, but one night he started crying out while trying to pee and I took him straight to the 24-hour ER. He had ketones but was not yet acidotic. Fluids, insulin, AB, we stabilized him.
I have struggled to trust clinical signs and urine glucose/ketone testing, as my vet recommended. He has recovered so much towards his regular happy, active self. We have switched entirely to canned food (he used to have half dry/wet by volume).
Figaro had a BG curve done at the vet earlier this week, just over two weeks following his hospitalization. The vet recommended moving from a 0.5U BID schedule to 0.5 SID... I said okay, mostly because I was elated he had "good" numbers according to their curve, but his home numbers are NOT good and I am going back to BID.
We just started home BG testing with his AlphaTrak2, and while I was scared about the BG testing, I suddenly feel much more empowered to properly care for him. I will be participating in the Lantus forum soon as we start to get more consistent numbers.
That's where we are at now. The links and resources here have been so helpful, and knowing we are not alone makes all the difference in the world!
Edit: It has been an emotional roller coaster and so, so hard. I know you all know what I mean. I have only recently gotten to the point where I feel like I can do this. I always knew I WOULD do it because he is 1000% worth it, I just wasn't sure that I could.
). My sibling is diabetic type 1 and has been self-testing since the age of 11, so for them it was nbd to help Figaro do the same. It's huge to be able to trust someone... and to be able to ask for help when I'm panicking!