RenaRF
Member
Hello! I'm new to this board but not to feline health message boards generally.
I'm a rescuer located in Northern Virginia, and one of my personal cats, Clide, was diagnosed with diabetes back in May. A little bit about Clide first. Clide was dropped at a high kill shelter a little over a year ago with a mouthful of rotten teeth. We rescued him (he was 14 when surrendered and is the sweetest fat tuxedo kitty you've ever seen), and the *plan* was that he was going to a senior sanctuary in rural Virginia. Long story shorter, he wound up coming back to me to get over an infection in May and he's stayed ever since.
He had bloodwork done back when we were trying to get our arms around the infection and that's when they mentioned high blood glucose. It wasn't terribly horrible, and the vet recommended we try diet regulation (Purina DM, Hill's MD [wet] and Royal Canin DS kibble [he LOVES his kibble]) and monitor his BG over the following weeks. And... sure enough, his BG came down from the low 300's to just a touch under 200 on the diet. He eats it exclusively.
Clide's 15 now and was dealing with some coughing etc., so I took him to the vet yesterday to get that checked out and to have another run at his bloodwork. Oh - forgot to mention - Clide also has stomatitis, and the mild breathing issues he's having are, we *think*, related to a flare-up in his sweet mouth (swelling way in the back). He is eating and drinking normally.
They called me today with the results. Total Protein and HCT indicate he's pretty dehydrated, and his BG was 325. Everything else - particularly kidney values - looked great. So, he goes back tomorrow for a glucose curve to get on the path to regulating him with insulin.
So that's what I know. I had a CRF (kidney) cat until he passed away in 2009 just past his 19th birthday. I'm a TERRIBLE needle phobe. I had to hire a vet tech to come out every other day for Grady's sub-Q fluids - so I'm really seriously worried about my own ability to do what Clide needs. Any advice? My understanding is that the needles are smaller - do the syringes come pre-loaded? Is there a more cost-effective way to get syringes and insulin online? That's the kind of information I'm looking for.
Any help is appreciated!!
Rena & Clide (and Rufus, Feats, Meatball & Bella)
I'm a rescuer located in Northern Virginia, and one of my personal cats, Clide, was diagnosed with diabetes back in May. A little bit about Clide first. Clide was dropped at a high kill shelter a little over a year ago with a mouthful of rotten teeth. We rescued him (he was 14 when surrendered and is the sweetest fat tuxedo kitty you've ever seen), and the *plan* was that he was going to a senior sanctuary in rural Virginia. Long story shorter, he wound up coming back to me to get over an infection in May and he's stayed ever since.
He had bloodwork done back when we were trying to get our arms around the infection and that's when they mentioned high blood glucose. It wasn't terribly horrible, and the vet recommended we try diet regulation (Purina DM, Hill's MD [wet] and Royal Canin DS kibble [he LOVES his kibble]) and monitor his BG over the following weeks. And... sure enough, his BG came down from the low 300's to just a touch under 200 on the diet. He eats it exclusively.
Clide's 15 now and was dealing with some coughing etc., so I took him to the vet yesterday to get that checked out and to have another run at his bloodwork. Oh - forgot to mention - Clide also has stomatitis, and the mild breathing issues he's having are, we *think*, related to a flare-up in his sweet mouth (swelling way in the back). He is eating and drinking normally.
They called me today with the results. Total Protein and HCT indicate he's pretty dehydrated, and his BG was 325. Everything else - particularly kidney values - looked great. So, he goes back tomorrow for a glucose curve to get on the path to regulating him with insulin.
So that's what I know. I had a CRF (kidney) cat until he passed away in 2009 just past his 19th birthday. I'm a TERRIBLE needle phobe. I had to hire a vet tech to come out every other day for Grady's sub-Q fluids - so I'm really seriously worried about my own ability to do what Clide needs. Any advice? My understanding is that the needles are smaller - do the syringes come pre-loaded? Is there a more cost-effective way to get syringes and insulin online? That's the kind of information I'm looking for.
Any help is appreciated!!
Rena & Clide (and Rufus, Feats, Meatball & Bella)