Introducing Simba

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Francesca de Gironcoli

Member Since 2023
Hello everyone!
I’d like to introduce my furbaby Simba, a 10 years old european cat.
Last October I noticed he was drinking a lot so I brought him to the vet where he did blood and urine test and gave us the wonderful news.
Little Simba has diabietes!
We started right away with the cure: insulin every twelve hours calculated on his weight (no change of diet was recommended).
It did not go well: Simba became hypoglocemic after two shots, stopper purring (in which was a champion), stopped sleeping with me and my other cat (never happened before), started hiding and refusing the food.
After three days in which i had to force him eating, putting food in his mouth with a needless syringe (the vet suggesded this and did this herself the first time) he slowly became himself again.
The reason why, according to the vet, this happened is because the dose recommended was too high (even though she let me understand that she though that it was me who misuntrepreded the dose —which I strongly disagree). She told me to stop the cure with insulin, wait for him to feel better and then just change his food to a specific one for diabetics and go on my way.
After this episode I changed vet, swiching for one nearer to my home who had good reviews.
The new vet told me that the insulin cure was mandatory and to start again with then lowerest dose as soon as the change of diet was complete (in about two weeks).
While we were at it, Simba became ill with bronchtis: I brought him to the vet right away where he gave him a shot of slow release antibyotics. After two weeks Simba was fine again so I started once more the insuline cure; it was the beginning of December.
Necessary note: Simba is lovely and adorable and the love of my heart but he his an absolute beast from hell when you have to manadle him.
Somhow until now we managed it: I fill his bowl whit half of the wet food he needs for the day, I let him eat while I fill the needle, then I pet him and tell me how good he his while he strolls around with his tail high (his favourite way of being petted is while he walks). After a few minutes I pinch his neck and shot the needle there. He gest a little offended but he gest over it and go back to his bowl to eat some more. In the morning I leave right after to go to work, leaving aside the wet food also the dry one (half of the needed dose in this case too). I leave him in the living room with the door closed so I can check him with the vetcam and he doesen’t mix the food with my other cat Nala.
In the evening I do the same but I let the cats free in the house since I can check on them.
On December the 12th we had the glycemic curve, recomended by the new vet. I was doubious because Simba is a very difficoult cat and I did not like the idea of leaving him in an unfamiliar place all day but I had to trust my vet so I left him there and went to work.
In the evening when I arrived to pick him up he was furious and ready to kill. He starded in the morning with 80 and ad 4.30pm he ad 470. We tried but cannot test him the last time which was supposed to happen on 6.30pm: he was simply impossible to get near him and even the vet gave up.
Anyhow, he told me that the glycemia was too high (even though I tink it was even higher because of the sress) and told me to either increase the shot to three per day or change insuline to Caninsulin to Prozinc. I choose the latter and brought the new insulin starting again our routine of shot every twelve hours.
My vet told me we had to do another glycemic curve and booked an appointment on Decenber the 27th: he told me it was better if I didn’t leave him there but go back and forth from home (five times!!!) instead. I don’t like this solution at all not only because Simba would hate it but also because I don’t really this this would give an accurate result since it would be stressfull all the same. I am tempted to change vet yet again…
To add some other good news… Simba started to become way less collaborative these days. Yesyerday and today morning I simply could’t give him his insulin dose bacuse he started to run away and hiss and when I tried to grab him he bacame mad and tried to scratch and bite: I am no jocking when I say it was impossible to get near him, let alone shot him with a needle.
I tried to change the routine this morning, giving him the food in another room but it did not work. He fleed and hissed all the same and quite litterally broke my heart.
I’m very worried of what can happen if I cannot find a solution to make him accept this routine. I am home from work for the Christmas Holidays now so I have more time in the morning to try and handle this but in January I’ll need to leave home everg day right after the insulin shot and I’m anxious about it.
This is pretty much what happened until now… sorry, I understand it was quite long. Also, I apologize if I made mistakes but English is not my first language (both Simba, Nala and I are from Italy).
I feel very alone in this and every comment would be precious to me. Thank you for reading!
Bye!
 
@Francesca de Gironcoli
Welcome Francesca and Simba
You couldn't have found a better group to join, we have many experienced members here . I will tag a few for you
Are you home testing ?
I see you switched to Prozinc is this correct, previous was Caninsulin

Here is a link helping us to help you link. If you noticed, our members have some basic information about their cat's in their signature. Take a look at mine about Tyler
This helps us to not pester you by asking the same questions (your cat's name, insulin type, date of diagnosis, etc.) repeatedly. We also have a link to our spreadsheet in our signature. We are very numbers driven. The spreadsheet is a record of your cat's progress. By linking it in your signature, we can follow along and provide feedback should you need the help


If you need help setting up our Spreadsheet just ask we have a member who will be glad to help you
When you fill out your signature can you also add From Italy :cat:
 
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Hello everyone!
I’d like to introduce my furbaby Simba, a 10 years old european cat.
Last October I noticed he was drinking a lot so I brought him to the vet where he did blood and urine test and gave us the wonderful news.
Little Simba has diabietes!
We started right away with the cure: insulin every twelve hours calculated on his weight (no change of diet was recommended).
It did not go well: Simba became hypoglocemic after two shots, stopper purring (in which was a champion), stopped sleeping with me and my other cat (never happened before), started hiding and refusing the food.
After three days in which i had to force him eating, putting food in his mouth with a needless syringe (the vet suggesded this and did this herself the first time) he slowly became himself again.
The reason why, according to the vet, this happened is because the dose recommended was too high (even though she let me understand that she though that it was me who misuntrepreded the dose —which I strongly disagree). She told me to stop the cure with insulin, wait for him to feel better and then just change his food to a specific one for diabetics and go on my way.
After this episode I changed vet, swiching for one nearer to my home who had good reviews.
The new vet told me that the insulin cure was mandatory and to start again with then lowerest dose as soon as the change of diet was complete (in about two weeks).
While we were at it, Simba became ill with bronchtis: I brought him to the vet right away where he gave him a shot of slow release antibyotics. After two weeks Simba was fine again so I started once more the insuline cure; it was the beginning of December.
Necessary note: Simba is lovely and adorable and the love of my heart but he his an absolute beast from hell when you have to manadle him.
Somhow until now we managed it: I fill his bowl whit half of the wet food he needs for the day, I let him eat while I fill the needle, then I pet him and tell me how good he his while he strolls around with his tail high (his favourite way of being petted is while he walks). After a few minutes I pinch his neck and shot the needle there. He gest a little offended but he gest over it and go back to his bowl to eat some more. In the morning I leave right after to go to work, leaving aside the wet food also the dry one (half of the needed dose in this case too). I leave him in the living room with the door closed so I can check him with the vetcam and he doesen’t mix the food with my other cat Nala.
In the evening I do the same but I let the cats free in the house since I can check on them.
On December the 12th we had the glycemic curve, recomended by the new vet. I was doubious because Simba is a very difficoult cat and I did not like the idea of leaving him in an unfamiliar place all day but I had to trust my vet so I left him there and went to work.
In the evening when I arrived to pick him up he was furious and ready to kill. He starded in the morning with 80 and ad 4.30pm he ad 470. We tried but cannot test him the last time which was supposed to happen on 6.30pm: he was simply impossible to get near him and even the vet gave up.
Anyhow, he told me that the glycemia was too high (even though I tink it was even higher because of the sress) and told me to either increase the shot to three per day or change insuline to Caninsulin to Prozinc. I choose the latter and brought the new insulin starting again our routine of shot every twelve hours.
My vet told me we had to do another glycemic curve and booked an appointment on Decenber the 27th: he told me it was better if I didn’t leave him there but go back and forth from home (five times!!!) instead. I don’t like this solution at all not only because Simba would hate it but also because I don’t really this this would give an accurate result since it would be stressfull all the same. I am tempted to change vet yet again…
To add some other good news… Simba started to become way less collaborative these days. Yesyerday and today morning I simply could’t give him his insulin dose bacuse he started to run away and hiss and when I tried to grab him he bacame mad and tried to scratch and bite: I am no jocking when I say it was impossible to get near him, let alone shot him with a needle.
I tried to change the routine this morning, giving him the food in another room but it did not work. He fleed and hissed all the same and quite litterally broke my heart.
I’m very worried of what can happen if I cannot find a solution to make him accept this routine. I am home from work for the Christmas Holidays now so I have more time in the morning to try and handle this but in January I’ll need to leave home everg day right after the insulin shot and I’m anxious about it.
This is pretty much what happened until now… sorry, I understand it was quite long. Also, I apologize if I made mistakes but English is not my first language (both Simba, Nala and I are from Italy).
I feel very alone in this and every comment would be precious to me. Thank you for reading!
Bye!
@Suzanne & Darcy
@Christie & Maverick
@Wendy&Neko

Thanks ladies
 
Hello and welcome. You are definitely not alone.

It sounds like you changed to Prozinc, is that correct? That's actually great news! Prozinc is much better for diabetic kitties than Vetsulin, so your new vet was absolutely right to make the suggestion. Good job!

I don't have experience with Prozinc but I see that several members have been tagged who can help you with that. I just want to offer a couple suggestions since you said you're having a hard time giving Simba his shot and testing him.

First, are you testing him at home? I know you said you're in Italy, so I'm not sure what sort of glucose meters you have there, but it will be a lot easier on Simba if you can test at home instead of having to take him to the vet. If you can purchase a human meter from the pharmacy, that is what most of us use on this forum. Every time you test Simba at home by pricking his ear, you give him a treat. Every single time. It's like a little reward for getting their blood checked. We use freeze dried treats that are low in carbs, and therefore safe for diabetic kitties.

Regarding his insulin, have you tried giving it to Simba while he's eating? That may sound like it would make him angry, but some cats (mine included) are so focused on their food that they barely notice the shot. I feed Snickers, and while her nose is in the bowl I give her shot. She does not even blink. Sometimes, I'll even test her blood sugar while she's eating. That is a little trickier, but it is sometimes easier.

In general for shot giving and test taking, what I have found helps is to keep things simple. Don't make a big production out of it. Wherever Simba is and whatever they are doing, go to them. Don't grab them and bring them to you. For example, if Snickers is on the bed, I'll test her blood sugar while she's on the bed. If she's by her scratch post, I'll test her there. I try not to make a big deal out of it. I start by petting her head, and then just take her ear and give her a little poke with the lancet to check her blood.

Snickers does not like me to pull or tug on her ears. That bothers her more than the actual poke from the lancet. So I'll try to grab her ear quickly, poke it, then sometimes I'll let go right away and just pet her. Then I'll grab her ear again and get the blood. It's probably gonna take a little trial and error to see what works for you and Simba, but I hope some of this can help.

Hopefully what I said makes sense, if not please let me know. More people will be along to help, but for now take comfort in knowing that things can get better :)
 
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up
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fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with
Here is a video one of our members made testing her kitty
She's using a pet meter that has to be coded ,with a human meter you don't have to code it.
So ignore that
I have always used a human meter
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

I am ptetty sure you can purchase the Bayer Contour Next Human Meter or the
freestyle freedom lite,
 
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Hello and thank you for your answers!
I am trying and working on Simba’s infos to add to my signature:)

Yes, i switched to Prozinc this month on the 13th.
Everything went quite fine until yesterday. I can’t give him the shot while he’s eating: if I try or even if I just touch him he changes side of the bowl or even leaves.
I tried again this evening but he became feral once again and I could not get near him. I’m quite desperate at this point.

After I gave up he calmed down immediately and came to confort me because I was crying very hard… the little, bipolar thing.

I did not know that home testing was a thing, I found out reading articles online but niether of the vets told me or suggested it.
Thank you for the very detailed instructions!
I’ll try and see what I can do… to test a cat like Simba can be a suicidal mission :(

I tried to ask my current vet what snack could I give him but he told me to give him none because he needs to be on a strickt diet. I am doubtios about that… i red that dried poll could be good and I wanted to use it as a prize after the insulin but I never really did it because I didn’t want to go againts my vet advise.

Yes, I live alone with my cats so there is no one who can help me with that…

I have stripes and a specialm litter to test his urine, I don’t know if they can be useful (the vet said no).

So far there are no more symptoms, not event the thirst. I have no idea how to see how he’s doing and I’m very worried if I cannot find a solution to give him his cure.

Thanks again for all your kind answers!
 
He starded in the morning with 80 and ad 4.30pm he ad 470.
If this is from your last curve at the vet, where he would be stressed, that 80 meant his insulin dose at the time was too high and needed to be lowered. What insulin dose was he getting on Caninsulin and what is his Prozinc dose now?

For home testing - which is really the best way to keep him safe, there are some tips here, including a video on testing a fractious cat: Hometesting Links and Tips
If none of that works, some people get the Freestyle Libre attached to their cat. How that works, with pictures, in here:
FreeStyle Libre: video, demonstration, explanations, tips – discussion!

There may be better/cheaper foods you can feed your cat. Most of us do not feed the "vet approved" foods. You want to feed him food that is under 10% carbs. There are many commercially available options. This UK Cat Food List has a list of foods available in the UK and the majority also available in Europe, a lot online. As for treats, most freeze dried treats will work. Most have just a single meat listed under the ingredients. Some people bake or boil chicken breasts and cut them into pieces. That works too.

If you have urine strips that test glucose, then yes, those would be helpful. If you test his urine and there is no glucose in it, it could be that he needs less insulin (or none).
 
Welcome to FDMB!

If you think Simba may be difficult to test, an alternative to a handheld glucometer is a continuous glucose monitor. There is a sensor that is attached to your cat and your are able to read the numbers on your phone. I believe they are available in Italy. The question is more whether your vet is aware that they are being used with companion animals. We have a good number of members who are using these monitors.

We are very vocal advocates for home testing. It is the best way and probably the only way to ensure your cat is safe. It sounded like Simba tested at 80 the day of his curve at the vet's office. Given that this was his first test of the day, there's no way to know how low his numbers were at nadir (i.e., the lowest point in the 12-hour cycle). We strongly encourage members to test prior to giving insulin and at some point closer to nadir. You would be testing at least 4 times per day.

Many cats get irritated at being either tested or getting their insulin shot. I would give my cat her shot once she was eating. She was very food motivated so a bowl of food in front of her had her attention and it was no problem to give her an injection. I would also make sure you are using a U40 insulin syringe that has a 30 or 31 gauge needle. (The larger the number the thinner the needle.)

Your cat does not need to be on a "strict diet." Many vets will tell you to feed your cat only twice a day. Most of the members here feed their cats several smaller meals per day. For example, I would feed my cat at shot time, then again an hour later and then an hour after that. The only time we suggest not giving your cat food is 2 hours prior to shot time. You don't want your pre-shot test to be influenced by food. Giving Simba low carbohydrate treats is absolutely fine. Anything that is entirely protein is likely to be zero carbs -- a piece of chicken or anything like freeze dried chicken or other protein is good for a diabetic. Also, please make sure that what you are feeding your cat is low in carbohydrates. Most of the prescription diabetic foods are not low in carbohydrates. We do not have a food chart specific for Italy. This chart is for the UK but I suspect that some of the foods may be available in Italy. If not, there are "cat food carb calculators" available on the web. You would plug in the nutritional information from the can or the manufacturer's website. We consider under 10% as low carb. However, most of our members feed their cats in the 5% range.
 
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Hello again, thank you, I am very interested to the continuouse glucose monitor and all the advises about the food…

Finally this morning I managed to do the shot… it was not easy because Simba does not care enough about the food. When I kneel beside him he started to leave twice and I had to keep him still with my legs. He got offended and fleed leaving the bowl. I had to put it where he was hiding for him to finish the food… but at least he did not hiss today!
He was never all that gluttonous and this has not changed with diabetes.
This may be the 100th time I say this but… I am very worried about this situation with him so not cooperative.

Thank you all kind people.
 
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