Introduction: Kalista & KitKat

[Kalista]

I'm very happy to have found this board and have been reading for the last few days, getting familiar with the absolute goldmine of information and experiences shared here.

My babygirl is a 7 year old, domestic shorthair named KitKat. Over the last few months she has lost a lot of weight, is drinking water excessively and of course her output of urine has decreased. Appetite remains good, as do energy levels (she plays with the other cat, is not sleeping more than usual, etc). I am making small changes to her diet such as discontinuing kibble and focusing on wet food. We had been mixing both, mostly as an effort to get some additional calories in for weight gain.

I am a T2D, so checking glucose is not something that concerns me. I have a meter, but I also know how expensive strips can be. The upfront costs of treatment are a big concern, as I am a single income and to be honest it's a struggle to make ends meet as it is. I know I'll be able to do more with tax return but that is a ways off and watching her get so thin is just tearing at my heart.

I know that's a terribly depressing intro, but I am hopeful that being here will help us both along on this journey. Thanks for reading!

Kalista

 

[CORKY]

I'm very happy to have found this board and have been reading for the last few days, getting familiar with the absolute goldmine of information and experiences shared here.

My babygirl is a 7 year old, domestic shorthair named KitKat. Over the last few months she has lost a lot of weight, is drinking water excessively and of course her output of urine has decreased. Appetite remains good, as do energy levels (she plays with the other cat, is not sleeping more than usual, etc). I am making small changes to her diet such as discontinuing kibble and focusing on wet food. We had been mixing both, mostly as an effort to get some additional calories in for weight gain.

I am a T2D, so checking glucose is not something that concerns me. I have a meter, but I also know how expensive strips can be. The upfront costs of treatment are a big concern, as I am a single income and to be honest it's a struggle to make ends meet as it is. I know I'll be able to do more with tax return but that is a ways off and watching her get so thin is just tearing at my heart.

I know that's a terribly depressing intro, but I am hopeful that being here will help us both along on this journey. Thanks for reading!

Kalista

Hi, my name is Maria, my baby's name is Corky, I myself know being on a "constipated" budget not to say the least
I want to put on the closet forum 2 FreeStyle2 monitors that were send by the company instead of 2 sensors, I would like to give these away, the sensors can be purchased at Walmart for $ 32.99, you would need a PRN Vet's prescription , they last 14 days each, I have the TrueMatrix & ReliOn glucose meters the cheapest strips are the ones from TrueMatrix at Walmart you can get them for $17.89 for 30 strips, I get a more accurate reading but the Free Style2 has its up and down, sometimes the sensors falls off if not placed or shaven fur correctly, or at times they stop working before the 14 days they are guaranteed in either case. So I use the strips and sensor when I have it
your choice it's been hard for me too financially you can reach out to the DCIN FOUNDATION, you can email Contact the Forum they gave me the info they can do a 1 time assistance they helped me with the insulin, syringes and monitor strips and the small neddles for the blood, it God's sent , best to you

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

Hi and welcome!

Pet meters have indeed expensive strips, but you don’t need one. Human meters are perfectly fine and most of us use Walmart’s ReliOn Premier which costs about $10 and you can get 100 strips for $17.99.

It sounds like you haven’t started insulin yet? Was the diabetes diagnosed by a vet? The generic of Lantus is affordable and lots of folks here can give you advice on discount coupons to use. Costco pharmacy also has great prices and you don’t need to be a member.

As for the weight loss and excess urination both are common side effects of unregulated diabetes, but both improve once your cat is regulated and we can help with that. Diabetic cats can’t process the nutrients well so they eat but will continue to be hungry and lose weight. I advise you to feed her way more than usual right now to counter act that a bit. Transitioning her fully to wet low carb only will help manage the diabetes a lot. Make sure she has several smaller meals or low carb treats throughout the day so it’s easier on her pancreas and it also helps avoid bug sugar spikes.

I honestly never went back to my vet for my cat diabetes once I found this forum and home testing will save you lots of money.

With a diabetic cat you need

• A low carb wet diet that is 10% carbs or under. Most of us use around 4-7% carbs
• A suitable insulin such as Lantus (generic is fine or glargine bio similar) or Prozinc which are long acting, more gentle insulins than the old insulins.
• We recommend hometesting the blood glucose with a human meter…it is not necessary to use a pet meter which is expensive to run and is no better. It will keep your kitty safe and you will know how the dose is working for your kitty. Only testing every so often will not tell you what is happening in between those times and an awful lot can happen in even a day.
• HELP US HELP YOU has information about the spreadsheet, signature and hypo box which you will need to be able to look after your beloved kitty properly

We are happy to help you with setting up the spreadsheet, sorting out what food to buy, how to transition safely to a low carb diet, how to learn to home test and much more.


FOOD CHART have a look on this chart and choose foods that are under 10%.

You will also need some higher carb foods for that hypo box..information in the help us help you link.

This is an excellent site for diabetic cats…it has been around for more than 25 years and has very experienced people to help you.

Keep asking lots of questions!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Hi and welcome to the best group you could ever find
Most of us use the Relion human meter
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197

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

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.
I have always used a human meter
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

If your vet prescribes Lantus its expensive in the US. I hope your vet will prescribe it
Most members get the generic you can get generic/biosimilar glargine at very reasonable prices using GoodRx coupon. Most members use the generic because Lantus is to expensive.
https://www.goodrx.com/lantus?label...d-pens-of-100-units-ml&quantity=1&slug=lantus
Make sure that the Match your prescription pull down menue says generic glargine 1carton of 5 3ml pens.
There is no wait time test, feed, give insulin
Lantus usually doesn't kick in until 2 hours after the shot

We buy the pens but use the syringes to draw out the insulin because if you use the pen you can only adjust by full units ,we adjust the doses by 0.25 units
U -100 syringes with the half unit markings
I can suggest a few if you would like


Also
The 5 pens will last about a year, we use the pens just like a vial, you would just insert the syringe it the gray rubber stopper on the pen and draw out your insulin
Its generic lantus



Or this one also

I see some members will call CVS, Rite Aid, Costco, Walgreen's, to get the price for 5 pens
Posted by another member
One members posted this
. I paid $175 for a box of 5 pens at Walmart pharmacy, but GoodRX coupon says you can get it for around $90 if you have a Rite Aid pharmacy near you.

Just call around for the best price

A member just posted this
Allie was using the Lantus and I just switched to the generic and using the GoodRX I got 5 pens for $81.30 at Walgreens.

GoodRX has a 1-800 number to assist you in using their services to get your pets prescriptions filled if the pharmacy gives you any issues.

I think I found it for you
GoodRx / Customer service

1 (855) 268-2822

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Most feed Fancy Feast Pate or Friskies ,you will see the carbs on the food chart Ale gave you

For your Hypo kit
Med and High Carb food and some honey/karo



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good idea to mark the cans with magic marker how many carbs

Or any on the food chart. Doesn't have to be Fancy Feast just an example about the med and high carb foods

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-

10% and under is low carb
11% -15 is medium carbs.

16- 24 is high carb.
from The Official Lantus, Levemir & Biosimilars Slang Dictionary MC =11=15% and HC is usually 16-24%

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi Kalista and Kitkat and welcome,
Has Kitkat actually been diagnosed with diabetes and are you giving any insulin at the moment?
If he has been diagnosed and you are not giving any insulin I would be concerned. A diabetic cat who is not getting insulin can develop ketones which can progress to a much more serious illness.
I would encourage you to get some Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy and test his urine to see if he does have any ketones.

 

[Kalista]

Has Kitkat actually been diagnosed with diabetes and are you giving any insulin at the moment?

If he has been diagnosed and you are not giving any insulin I would be concerned.

I would encourage you to get some Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy and test his urine to see if he does have any ketones.

She has not been diagnosed yet. I am trying to save up some money to get her in to a vet as I know that testing will be required for diagnosis and prescriptions as needed.

I came to the forum looking for more information in the hopes that treatment would seem more manageable (especially financially). I am making the changes that I can to her diet and will be getting other suggested supplies.

As a diabetic myself, I have an understanding of the basics of this disease. I am trying my best to do what is within my ability for her.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

The one test that will confirm whether your cat is diabetic is a fructosamine test. It's the equivalent to a hemoglobin A1c. If your kitty is due for an annual exam, then a full blood panel will be helpful. You want to be sure that there's not some other condition that may be causing a rise in blood glucose numbers.

If you're holding on due to finances, please pick up some Ketostix. The one very expensive consideration is if KitKat develops DKA. Testing for ketones is solid preventative measure. Trace levels of ketones are manageable at home. Beyond that can be an emergency.

If you're not familiar with it, CareCredit can be used for veterinary visits. It may be a way to get your cat's vet visit paid for and you will have some bandwidth until you cat your tax money.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

I’ve used carecredit many times for both my cats. It’s a way to pay smaller amounts monthly with no interest for a year.

I would also suggest that you pick up the testing supplies at Walmart and start home testing her now at least once a day at home so you have data to share with the vet and with us.