Introducing Sergei, diagnosed 14 September 2020

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Sergei said:
We have adjusted the diet significantly this week. Sergei almost at target weight already. Just 500g over though I think he's dropped a little this week. We've cut off any treats with high carb content and changed to a lower carb kibble. His main meals are lower carb wet food (Hill's m/d - Diabetes/Weight Management) Do the food changes usually help significantly in real terms over time?
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YES, food changes can have a BIG effect on blood glucose. So much so that I would strongly recommend that you continue feeding at least some high-carb food until you are able to test. We have had cats who go into remission from a diet change alone, and many cats who see BG drop by 5+ mmol/L. Until you are testing to see how Sergei reacts, you don't want to be giving insulin at the same time as withdrawing all carbs.

Another question: was yesterday (when he was looking brighter and drinking less water) the first day on a completely low-carb diet?
 
Adding another question: just realized you say you are feeding a "lower carb kibble". What kibble is that? I was not aware of any truly low-carb kibbles available in Europe-- if there is one, that would be great to know. Alternatively, if it's actually medium- or even high-carb (most kibbles are), that would take away a lot of the fear about the effects of Sergei's diet change.
 
MamaLovesMomo said:
@Wendy&Neko
I agree with @Wendy&Neko,

Not sure if you are reconsidering to change the caninsulin to either Lantus or Levemir. Caninsulin is actually for dogs, (Canine), not for cat (Feline). The only problem- Lantus & Levemir are both very expensive.
But- if Caninsulin works with Sergei --- that is totally fine. According to the research and studies, most cats get remission in those 2 brands. But each cat is different.

Thanks,

Len & Momo
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The more I read the more I can see the benefits of Lantus & Levemir. For the moment we are going to continue with the Caninsulin and observe. Our first few days have not been very consistent so we really don't have a complete picture yet of how he will respond.
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
YES, food changes can have a BIG effect on blood glucose. So much so that I would strongly recommend that you continue feeding at least some high-carb food until you are able to test. We have had cats who go into remission from a diet change alone, and many cats who see BG drop by 5+ mmol/L. Until you are testing to see how Sergei reacts, you don't want to be giving insulin at the same time as withdrawing all carbs.

Another question: was yesterday (when he was looking brighter and drinking less water) the first day on a completely low-carb diet?
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We are transitioning so the lower carb part of the diet is increasing every two days and the higher carb is decreasing. Yesterday was only day 2 so we were still at 3/4 higher carb, 1/4 low carb in the wet food. The dry is supposedly low carb but I've heard it may not be as low carb as it should be. I give him a few grams of higher carb wet food about two hours after insulin and I have supply on hand and will readily use it as needed. I always have some food out after insulin an I mix in some higher carb oral care kibble just to be safe.
 
Sergei said:
The more I read the more I can see the benefits of Lantus & Levemir. For the moment we are going to continue with the Caninsulin and observe. Our first few days have not been very consistent so we really don't have a complete picture yet of how he will respond.
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If possible -- no more dry foods... Dry foods are not meant for diabetic cats - even to those that have no diabetes..

It is a like a trial and error, always learning. I spent tremendous time, researching, reading, joining forums for my Cat to have good numbers... You need a lot of love, patience, prayers, and hard work for your cat to be in a good normal numbers.

And yes... I did. Thank God, and to all the people here. You can read all the posting that each member posted, you will learn from it. I am still learning, and never stop from researching.

From her Dm cat foods.. to Home made foods... all these things... if you have this kind of attitude.. Sergei will be well..

take care and God bless.
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Adding another question: just realized you say you are feeding a "lower carb kibble". What kibble is that? I was not aware of any truly low-carb kibbles available in Europe-- if there is one, that would be great to know. Alternatively, if it's actually medium- or even high-carb (most kibbles are), that would take away a lot of the fear about the effects of Sergei's diet change.
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I'm not sure where the Hill's m/d Diabetes Management ranks on carb scale but that's what they have us transitioning to. Our local specialty meat-based pet food store has what they say is low carb Kibble but I need to investigate that further. They also sell a sort of frozen pure meat food but I have no idea whether that is really no carb or even meets with adequate nutritional guidelines.
 
Scott, I know you know this but the sooner you can get to grips with testing, the better for all of you. Obviously you need to know bg so you know you have a shootable number and keep insulin in Sergei’s system, and monitor as necessary to keep him safe thereafter in the cycle. But you two humans need to know that you’re on the right road, too - you sound super-anxious and distressed and that’s not good. Sergei may well be picking up on this.

So have you watched videos on testing? Have you tried practising on each other? Do you know the importance of the ear being warm? There are lots of little tricks and tips that can help you to master the technique and I think this is your priority. Can you ask the vet or vet tech to help you learn? Even if you have to pay for a “lesson”? I think you’d feel a whole lot better if you know you can check on bg at any time. Hypo is a scary prospect but if you have the ability to check bg and head off an emergency, I think it would take a lot of the terror away for you.
 
Sergei said:
I've been giving him two or three tiny pure meat jerky treats from my specialty pet food store just after insulin
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Everybody does this differently, but I usually inject Hercules while he is eating... He gets quite engrossed on eating (He is always hungry), and I swear he doesn't seem to notice, or can be bothered to stop eating to see what is happening... Maybe worth a try, in the sense he will be distracted with something else?

I give him treats after he get his Blood glucose tests. My hope is that he associates as "ok, I'll put up with this, because I know afterwords gets better"

BTW, many people here finds it easier to prick the ear with the lancet "free-hand", i.e. without the "poker" thing. I find it very hard to see where it is going or how far is it going. If I just use my hands, I can be more gentle and precise. Along the same lines, I use a syringe to shoot insulin, I think most people here do also? I never used a pen, but it does seem it might give you less control. Shooting with a syringe certainly takes less than 5 seconds.... Also, you can choose the length and thickness of the needle, which may also help.

I had gestational diabetes, and had to prick myself twice a day. I got used to it over time. Cats ears do not have many nerves, so I hear is not bad, but is hard for us to judge. Nevertheless, even if it hurts to test.... the diabetes hurts more in the long run....and you will be able to be more sure that you are providing the right care if you know his BG. It gets easier for you and Sergei with practice, I promisse!
 
Scott, I hope you don't feel like we are nagging you. We know you are doing your best for Sergei-- and you are doing a great job! Your close attention to him is keeping him safe until you get the testing up and running.

Another suggestion for both the testing and the insulin shots: try singing! Cats pick up when we're stressed or nervous, and it makes them stressed and nervous too. That's probably a lot of what is going on here-- believe me, we all know how stressful it is when you first start shooting insulin, especially when you have to shoot blind. The singing is to distract both of you and turn down the stress level-- kind of a "fake it til you make it" thing, even if you feel stressed, it's hard to stay stressed while singing. Silly songs are a bonus.

I also like @Hercule's mum's suggestion to switch to using syringes instead of the pen mechanism. I don't know how your Caninsulin pen is made, but for the Lantus and Levemir pens I'm used to, you can stick a syringe into the spongy tip of the pen cartridge and use it just like a mini-vial. And then just inject it straight in, no having to wait 5 seconds with the needle in the cat! If you ask your vet for U-40 syringes (that is a pet-specific concentration, I think, so it might be harder to find elsewhere) I think you'll find it easier to use.
 
As you can tell Scott we are ALL pretty passionate about our cats and their disease. I know its an overwhelming amount of information. Take it as it comes and read. Have your partner read also. This WILL all start making sense and give you the power to take control.
One of the first things I ever learned here is ...

DONT FORGET TO BREATHE. ;):coffee:

Take solace in that ,WE ALL have walked in your shoes. :bighug:
jeanne
 
I used syringes with Caninsulin. We have seen people who used Lantus pens say it seems to sting more than using syringes, so I would definitely see if you can get syringes instead. Remember, they too are single use. @jt and trouble (GA) one of the many reasons I don’t give Caninsulin help. The locum vet said I could reuse syringes up to three times, also said I only needed to worry for the first half hour after the shot about hypos. Our time on Caninsulin was not something to be proud of.:oops:

@MamaLovesMomo I don’t know where you live, but in Canada, Lantus and Levemir are more cost effective than Caninsulin,
 
Wendy&Neko said:
. @jt and trouble (GA) one of the many reasons I don’t give Caninsulin help. The locum vet said I could reuse syringes up to three times, also said I only needed to worry for the first half hour after the shot about hypos. Our time on Caninsulin was not something to be proud of.:oops:
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Sorry if I tagged you. When looking for "veterans" to come help I go to the insulin specific forum and see what veteran names are posting. I should have investigated further. My apologies. :oops:

Thats scary about the local vet:eek:
 
Diana&Tom said:
Scott, I know you know this but the sooner you can get to grips with testing, the better for all of you. Obviously you need to know bg so you know you have a shootable number and keep insulin in Sergei’s system, and monitor as necessary to keep him safe thereafter in the cycle. But you two humans need to know that you’re on the right road, too - you sound super-anxious and distressed and that’s not good. Sergei may well be picking up on this.

So have you watched videos on testing? Have you tried practising on each other? Do you know the importance of the ear being warm? There are lots of little tricks and tips that can help you to master the technique and I think this is your priority. Can you ask the vet or vet tech to help you learn? Even if you have to pay for a “lesson”? I think you’d feel a whole lot better if you know you can check on bg at any time. Hypo is a scary prospect but if you have the ability to check bg and head off an emergency, I think it would take a lot of the terror away for you.
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I completely agree. I've watched so many videos on those ears and I'm thinking I may try a toe. His ears get so twitchy and he just seems to have a lot of nerve endings in them. Sergei goes in on Monday for his first BG and we will be addressing the issue of testing very seriously then. I was very anxious about giving him caninsulin tonight and got very worried about whether I had fed him enough carb, since we are transitioning to lower carb food. I mixed a slightly more generous portion of the higher carb wet food and added some higher carb kibble to his bowl and made sure that was available for him if he wanted it. Before peak I made sure he ate a little. I also kept grape sugar on hand and have stayed with him monitoring this cycle. He seems to have done okay, he gets a bit sleepy but he did get up and was communicative and he wanted bat at his toy butterfly a little. I feel a little guilty to say it but I was a little relieved this morning that we could not do insulin after Sergei vomited. I really do not like this driving blind into the insulin cycle.
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
hope everything is ok Scott.
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Thanks. I'm up with Serg burning the post midnight oil just watching him resting peacefully. We are just coming out of our expected peak (+5.5 hours now). Sergei was communicative and responsive all evening. No disorientation. We've always had a little way of checking in with Sergei when he's sleeping (He's always been a super deep sleeper). If he seems to be sleeping I say his name he taps his tail. He did this during his naps this evening. When he was awake, he even played a little (I was very careful not to overdo it because of the risk of sending him too low) and that gave me some peace and hope at the end of a most tubulent week. Thanks for all of your support.
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Scott, I hope you don't feel like we are nagging you. We know you are doing your best for Sergei-- and you are doing a great job! Your close attention to him is keeping him safe until you get the testing up and running.

Another suggestion for both the testing and the insulin shots: try singing! Cats pick up when we're stressed or nervous, and it makes them stressed and nervous too. That's probably a lot of what is going on here-- believe me, we all know how stressful it is when you first start shooting insulin, especially when you have to shoot blind. The singing is to distract both of you and turn down the stress level-- kind of a "fake it til you make it" thing, even if you feel stressed, it's hard to stay stressed while singing. Silly songs are a bonus.

I also like @Hercule's mum's suggestion to switch to using syringes instead of the pen mechanism. I don't know how your Caninsulin pen is made, but for the Lantus and Levemir pens I'm used to, you can stick a syringe into the spongy tip of the pen cartridge and use it just like a mini-vial. And then just inject it straight in, no having to wait 5 seconds with the needle in the cat! If you ask your vet for U-40 syringes (that is a pet-specific concentration, I think, so it might be harder to find elsewhere) I think you'll find it easier to use.
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I loved the suggestion of singing and I did it while my partner gave insulin. It went so well. We were all relaxed. Sergei seemed to know it was time and he came and sat with us. I gently rubbed him and sang while m partner gave the injection. It went well. Thanks for that. Also interested in exploring the idea of Lantus which lots of people seem to like. I want Sergei to have a smoother insulin experience. I feel a little worried that the Caninsulin may be a bit intense. Are there increased risks of hitting a vein with the normal syringes?
 
Thats completely understandable. I think with the food you gave he will be ok. But do keep a close eye on him. Youre doing the best you can once you start testing ypu will have more confidence.
have you read this?
Hometesting Links and Tips

For twitchy ears you may just want to start rubbing them just while sitting around get him use to messing with his ears. Every time you make an action give him a treat whether or not you complete an action. YOU WILL DO THIS I have complete confidence in you!

your doing great Scott and your partner too!
 
Sergei said:
I loved the suggestion of singing and I did it while my partner gave insulin. It went so well. We were all relaxed. Sergei seemed to know it was time and he came and sat with us. I gently rubbed him and sang while m partner gave the injection. It went well. Thanks for that. Also interested in exploring the idea of Lantus which lots of people seem to like. I want Sergei to have a smoother insulin experience. I feel a little worried that the Caninsulin may be a bit intense. Are there increased risks of hitting a vein with the normal syringes?
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LOVE THIS!!!:bighug:
 
Sergei said:
Thanks Jane. These last three days have been a real challenge, from the initial diagnosis which came back at about 5pm on Monday until now, 2:35 am sitting with Sergei making sure he makes it through five hours post insulin, which is happening right now. I've had to just let myself go through the emotions and to try to muster the confidence, reminding myself that I need to keep it together to help Sergei. Tying to gather and process as much information as I can and as quickly as possible is a colossal undertaking. Are you doing testing at home or are the values on your spreadsheet from the vet? I need to get the testing sorted quickly.
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I am doing testing at home, but did not start doing that until three days after diagnosis. Only the very first BG level is from the vet office. The first couple days of testing were mostly about me figuring out how to do things. Then I started PSAM and PSPM, and then my vet asked that I do a PSAM and then a second test at 9-10 hours later since in his opinion, that's the most likely time for nadir on basaglar.

You can see that Ragnar's levels have been pretty high. However, he is acting normal other than the increased drinking and peeing, and he's nowhere near being at risk of hypoglycemia right now. My vet prefers to spend at least a week letting the initial dose stabilize since we started low, and then making decisions. So last night I sent him my numbers so far and we agreed to increase his dose today. I'm testing every 3-4 hours today. We'll see how his readings go for the next week and then assess again.

I think it's important not to panic or try to over-analyze every little change in BG if the cat isn't having declines in behavior or attitude, and the vet has started at an appropriate insulin dose. As owners, we want to jump in and fix everything right now, but there's a reason to take things a bit slower in most cases.
 
Sergei said:
I loved the suggestion of singing and I did it while my partner gave insulin. It went so well. We were all relaxed. Sergei seemed to know it was time and he came and sat with us. I gently rubbed him and sang while m partner gave the injection. It went well.
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This is a real step forward. You’re relaxed and Sergei knew it was time for his shot. As well as singing you could have some calming music playing in the background. The point is that Sergei has to feel safe. If you’re anxious and tense, he will wonder what’s going on and be scared, or flinch, or run away. As another member here put it earlier this week - if a doctor or nurse was about to give you an injection and they seemed tense and stressed, would you feel relaxed? - probably not.

The trick will be to apply the same technique when you start testing. Gather the supplies in the same spot each time, all sit together, stroke and talk to Sergei, sing, talk to each other, have some light tv on in the background, whatever... pick up the meter and show it to Sergei, let him sniff it or touch it... carry on stroking him, including his head and ears... make sure the tip of the ear is warm, hold it between your finger and thumb and then do a quick decisive poke with the lancet. Get your reading and tell Sergei what a good boy he is. Ok that’s easier said than done but really that’s all it is and when you’ve done it once or twice you’ll be fine. It really is all about staying calm. Be sure to give Sergei a treat each time so he associates it with a positive experience. And you guys need a reward too each time so that you also start to see the whole thing as just part of your routine.
 
I don't want to raise a controversial subject but I need a general principle about feeding to work from given that the vet has Sergei simultaneously on a high dose of insulin and is changing his diet. She gave us dietary guidelines for feeding the diabetic cat but I'm being pretty liberal at the moment. I've been keeping food out after insulin and even make sure he eats a little every hour, especially approaching peak. I hope this is not the wrong thing. Do I understand correctly that in general food will not result in a drop in BG? Sorry if that seems a stupid question but I do not want to do the wrong thing and I am second guessing myself quite a lot here. We have a peak coming in the next three hours and I just want to keep my boy safe.
 
Hi Scott--

No, I think you're doing exactly the right thing by leaving extra food out and going slowly on the food transition.

Food doesn't drop BG, if anything it can raise it. It raises more with more carbs. What drops BG is removing those carbs from Sergei's diet-- that's why we counsel caution before changing the diet. If insulin is being administered, the diet change can cause a big reduction in insulin needs. The only way to go through the process safely is to be home testing throughout, so that you can monitor how it's going and adjust the dose based on need.

I would just keep doing what you're doing and not change the diet very much at all before you get home testing up and running. Definitely still offer food when insulin is near peak action-- many cats will respond to low BG by seeking out food (instinctively trying to raise BG), it's a nice safety mechanism to have.
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Hi Scott--

No, I think you're doing exactly the right thing by leaving extra food out and going slowly on the food transition.

Food doesn't drop BG, if anything it can raise it. It raises more with more carbs. What drops BG is removing those carbs from Sergei's diet-- that's why we counsel caution before changing the diet. If insulin is being administered, the diet change can cause a big reduction in insulin needs. The only way to go through the process safely is to be home testing throughout, so that you can monitor how it's going and adjust the dose based on need.

I would just keep doing what you're doing and not change the diet very much at all before you get home testing up and running. Definitely still offer food when insulin is near peak action-- many cats will respond to low BG by seeking out food (instinctively trying to raise BG), it's a nice safety mechanism to hav
Thank you so much. I need a lot of good energy. I’m going to try to find a glucose meter so I can test him, hopefully PS tonight. It would calm my nerves greatly and give me a greater sense of control.
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jt and trouble (GA) said:
Mornin Scott! How are things going?


well...its morning here :p
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jt and trouble (GA) said:
Mornin Scott! How are things going?


well...its morning here :p
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Morning / Late afternoon :). I finally got a break from being acute care nurse. Partner says things are fine. Sergei has been sleeping a lot but he was before the insulin too, so I’m concerned about all sorts of things. I’ll try to update later. Going to wade through the miasma of Coronavirus in search of glucose meter and the strength and resolve to use it. I need but one drop of lovingly cultivated blood. Any tips on dealing with the fur on his ears. Does the drop easily emerge?
 
Sergei said:
I need but one drop of lovingly cultivated blood. Any tips on dealing with the fur on his ears. Does the drop easily emerge?
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Not necessarily, at first (eventually the ears grow some extra capillaries and "learn to bleed"). Start with the larger size lancets (smaller gauge, 26 or 28) to help this.

As for fur, one approach is to first dab a tiny bit of petroleum jelly (brand name Vaseline in the US, not sure what it would be for you guys) on the ears first, wiping off the excess. That will help the blood bead up so you can collect it easily.

Good luck!
 
Sergei said:
Morning / Late afternoon :). I finally got a break from being acute care nurse. Partner says things are fine. Sergei has been sleeping a lot but he was before the insulin too, so I’m concerned about all sorts of things. I’ll try to update later. Going to wade through the miasma of Coronavirus in search of glucose meter and the strength and resolve to use it. I need but one drop of lovingly cultivated blood. Any tips on dealing with the fur on his ears. Does the drop easily emerge?
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At first it may be difficult for a drop to come. It takes time for new capillaries to grow. BUT IT IS DOABLE. Dont get discouraged if the first attempt is a failure. Give Sergie his treat and let him go. You can regroup yourself and he can relax some it is imperative to give a treat after each attempt. You want Sergei to associate testing with getting something YUMMY. Remember this takes TIME everyone here has gone through the same thing. Some cats dont fuss at all, some put up a terrific fight (that would be my Trouble he hated testing) The more you desensitize Sergei the easier it will be. You can also smear a tint amount of Vaseline on the spot you are going to prick that way when the blood does come it will pool.

You also want to prick the inside right along the edge of the ear. (some use the outside) the inside tends to have less hair.
I'm going to tag Ale she has a great chart on where to make that prick
@Aleluia Grugru & Minnie
@Nan & Amber (GA)
They both have great charts!
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Not necessarily, at first (eventually the ears grow some extra capillaries and "learn to bleed"). Start with the larger size lancets (smaller gauge, 26 or 28) to help this.

As for fur, one approach is to first dab a tiny bit of petroleum jelly (brand name Vaseline in the US, not sure what it would be for you guys) on the ears first, wiping off the excess. That will help the blood bead up so you can collect it easily.

Good luck!
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We got our drop and it was more difficult for us than it was for him. The reading was also fairly conclusive that he is not even close to hypo at the end of the last insulin cycle and before food. He was at 21,0 which is high but a little lower than the "off the chart" over 25 he showed at the vet, part of which could have been stress. On the upside, I'm less alarmed about giving him insulin at the moment though. Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement for attempting BG testing.
 
Sergei said:
We got our drop and it was more difficult for us than it was for him. The reading was also fairly conclusive that he is not even close to hypo at the end of the last insulin cycle and before food. He was at 21,0 which is high but a little lower than the "off the chart" over 25 he showed at the vet, part of which could have been stress. On the upside, I'm less alarmed about giving him insulin at the moment though. Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement for attempting BG testing.
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Yes!!! You can see now how very important it is to test... you being less alarmed is great progress :)
And it does get easier.
 
Now my big concern is ketoacidosis. We see the vet on Monday so maybe they will be able to help us assess him. He is very clearly not feeling well. He remains his sweet and loving self though.
 
Very cool Scott! You and Partner are on your way! I dont know if anyone has shared this with you yet but we have a saying here:

Diabetes is not a sprint race. Its a MARATHON. We will help you with anything you need because you ARE part of this global family.
;):bighug:
 
you can by urine strips anywhere they sell diabetic supplies. A drugstore or pharmacy should stock them Regular old HUMAN keytosis strips. You collect a clean sample and dip the strip into the sample and it turns color. You match the strip to the guide on the bottle.
There are lots of tips on how to collect a clean sample when you get them just let us know we can walk you through it. (not the sample the process:p) You dont need a script for them or a vets permission. ;)
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
you can by urine strips anywhere they sell diabetic supplies. A drugstore or pharmacy should stock them Regular old HUMAN keytosis strips. You collect a clean sample and dip the strip into the sample and it turns color. You match the strip to the guide on the bottle.
There are lots of tips on how to collect a clean sample when you get them just let us know we can walk you through it. (not the sample the process:p) You dont need a script for them or a vets permission. ;)
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Thanks and a good idea. I may try to pick some up at a drug store tomorrow.. I’m starting to wonder if there may be an underlying missing piece to this puzzle that we have not yet discovered. Thanks for your wonderful support. Everyone has been a great help. Taking my raw, worn-out self off to bed now.
 
The BG test last night allowed everyone to sleep a little easier. I kept an eye on Sergei through the peaks but I was more comfortable just petting him and letting him sleep. I also got a lot more sleep. Partner and I considered Sergei's current physical state and really went over the vet's findings during the last consultation. She noted minor heart murmur not before heard. We also reviewed the literature on diabetes they gave us and looked closely at our cat and what about him has changed in the last few months. We both think it is worth having a discussion with the vet about further investigating the possibility of feline acromegaly in Sergei's case.
 
Sergei said:
The BG test last night allowed everyone to sleep a little easier. I kept an eye on Sergei through the peaks but I was more comfortable just petting him and letting him sleep. I also got a lot more sleep. Partner and I considered Sergei's current physical state and really went over the vet's findings during the last consultation. She noted minor heart murmur not before heard. We also reviewed the literature on diabetes they gave us and looked closely at our cat and what about him has changed in the last few months. We both think it is worth having a discussion with the vet about further investigating the possibility of feline acromegaly in Sergei's case.
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Acromegaly is not as uncommon as was once thought but is not usually considered a possibility in cats showing high blood glucose until further down the line. Insulin resistance is a frequent symptom, and there are others.
There is a high dose/acro forum here which you may or may not have seen, if you’re interested. It’s always good to be informed but don’t worry yourself unnecessarily at this point.
There are people here with hands-on experience of treating acro (myself included) so if that does turn out to be the case you would still find support here.
 
Diana&Tom said:
Acromegaly is not as uncommon as was once thought but is not usually considered a possibility in cats showing high blood glucose until further down the line. Insulin resistance is a frequent symptom, and there are others.
There is a high dose/acro forum here which you may or may not have seen, if you’re interested. It’s always good to be informed but don’t worry yourself unnecessarily at this point.
There are people here with hands-on experience of treating acro (myself included) so if that does turn out to be the case you would still find support here.
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Thank you for that encouragement. Last night was really the first I had heard of Acro, after my partner said he worries that Sergei may have a pituitary tumor. We looked at our cat very closely for a few minutes and considered some of what we've both previously talked about, the clubbing of his paws, the redistribution of his body mass towards his belly, the weird look he gets in his eyes (I've said to partner many times in last few months that I worry about Sergei's eyesight) and the changes in states of consciousness in him (sometimes he just seems unrousable. Then there are the breathing sounds (I can hear him snoring right now from the other side of the flat), the increasing appetite and weight: he's gone up 100g this week even after cutting his food significantly.
 
Sergei said:
Thank you for that encouragement. Last night was really the first I had heard of Acro, after my partner said he worries that Sergei may have a pituitary tumor. We looked at our cat very closely for a few minutes and considered some of what we've both previously talked about, the clubbing of his paws, the redistribution of his body mass towards his belly, the weird look he gets in his eyes (I've said to partner many times in last few months that I worry about Sergei's eyesight) and the changes in states of consciousness in him (sometimes he just seems unrousable. Then there are the breathing sounds (I can hear him snoring right now from the other side of the flat), the increasing appetite and weight: he's gone up 100g this week even after cutting his food significantly.
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It is always a possibility but there are other conditions that show similar issues. There is a test you can run for acro but I don’t think it’s usually done until a cat is shown to need high doses of insulin and as yet, you don’t know.
Studies have been done in recent years to try to learn more about acro. The RVC here in the UK did some trials of treatment I believe. If you run a search for RVC feline acromegaly, a few pages will come up. I know you’re not in the UK but you’d be able to see what treatment has been carried out.
As I said, it’s good to be informed but don’t jump to any conclusions just yet.
 
Sergei had another very down day. He spent the whole day crashed out. Our reading of 21,0 at +10 hours has me very worried. Ptnr and I managed to perk him up a bit toward evening. He sat on my lap and wanted a cuddle. Otherwise very difficult to bring into present tense. He will eat and drink and has output as expected. It's just the limp body, the faraway look in his eyes and the difficulty we have rousing him that is very worrying.
 
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