Is this odd?

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Yong & Maury GA

Yong & Maury GA

Member Since 2017
Hello wonderful members!
I've noticed the past couple days that Maury is feeling the needle for his shots all of the sudden. Before it was once in a while and I thought maybe I didn't make a good enough tent. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if there are any tips?

Also, he has been wanting to be near me more during the day but I am just going to take that as a good sign for now and try not to overthink anything.

Thanks in advance :cat:
 
I notice that with Teasel occasionally but I chalk it up to some carelessness in my technique. It might also be some temporary localized sensitivity. Do you vary the injection site?
 
I try to rotate the injection site but I may not be doing it as efficiently since I did something to my back last week and still have mobility issues. This is also the reason I have not been able to do my first curve on him yet. :(
 
Do you check to make sure the bevel of the syringe is facing upwards? Apparently this helps it pierce the skin more smoothly, causing less pain. Also, make sure the angle of entry isn't too steep, and you're not shooting into muscle.

Sometime Squallie is very clingy, which is not his usual behavior. I don't know why this happens, but I have surmised that it may have something to do with the deeper bond we develop with our sugar kitties, and they with us. I am sure he has days when he just feels less than 100% and maybe that makes him a little clingy, too. (He's also not overly fond of the other cats in the house, so I think sometimes he does this to show them that I am HIS, and not theirs, lol!)

I'm sorry to hear you hurt your back, hope it's better soon! :):)
 
sherrib said:
Just wondering what happens if you do accidentally shoot in the muscle ?
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Shooting into the muscle can be quite painful, and will cause the insulin to be absorbed at a much faster rate, potentially as much as 50% faster, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.
 
@Yong Are you home testing Maury? I also notice with Squallie that he tends to get more clingy if his bg levels are going lower than usual.
 
Chuck seems to be feeling his shots recently too. I have to practically hold him down to shoot. Never use to do this. We shoot in his scruff. I tried other sites before but he's still pretty skinny there's not much to grab any where else. I just gave him his shot so I'll try another site tomorrow afternoon. I wonder if the temporary sensitivity could be the issue.
 
@Squalliesmom I give the shot as parallel to his body as I can so I'm pretty sure it's just his skin. I was going to start home testing last week after his first curve but my back injury has put that on hold because it still hurts a good amount when I force myself down to give him his shot. Even trying to reach for something still causes discomfort :( I was wondering if his BG levels are a little lower than usual and that is why he is being closer. His appetite has changed a little as well, he normally eats all his wet food meals pretty fast but past couple meals he leaves half of the half can to finish, or almost finish, a little later.

@JanetNJ Since I have not been able to do the curve yet, his dose is the same.
Always reassuring to know it's not just my boy :cat: Thanks everyone!
 
I always tested my kitty while sitting on the couch with him laying in front of me and facing away from me. Others, I've seen sitting in a comfortable chair and then placing their cat in their lap and testing. I have heard of others testing their cats on the counter, or on the bed. Would that be more comfortable for you? If so, I would pick a testing place, and start getting him used to getting special (non carb) treats in that place, and lots of pets and loves.
 
I always test Eleanor with her on my lap.
She has been feeling her shots too. It started a few months ago and I don't know why, or what to do about it! It's terrible. I feel so bad for her, plus it sometimes causes her to jump away and get a furshot. I started shooting in the flank instead of the shoulder area, that helped and she did not react at all the first few times but now she feels it there too.
 
I have notice that as Squallie's BG numbers have started to drop and he is feeling better, he objects more to the ear pokes and the shots. It started with him giving me a hard time with the ear pokes, and now he will run off at shot time if I don't get it in him immediately after setting down his food. Little stinker! But I'm glad he feels well enough to put up resistance, I guess.
 
Squalliesmom said:
I have notice that as Squallie's BG numbers have started to drop and he is feeling better, he objects more to the ear pokes and the shots. It started with him giving me a hard time with the ear pokes, and now he will run off at shot time if I don't get it in him immediately after setting down his food. Little stinker! But I'm glad he feels well enough to put up resistance, I guess.
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Squallie is so cute in that pic!
 
Yong said:
I was going to start home testing last week after his first curve but my back injury has put that on hold because it still hurts a good amount when I force myself down to give him his shot. Even trying to reach for something still causes discomfort :(
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Sorry to hear about your back problem, Yong. I hope that resolves very soon.

When you say that it hurts to 'force yourself down to give him his shot', does that mean that you think you have to test your cat's blood glucose while he's on the ground? That isn't so... Many of us find it easier to get the cat to pop up onto a worktop or desk. Testing at that height can make things a whole lot easier.

And it sounds like your cat has already had a curve done? How did that go?
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Eliz, no forcing myself to squat down to give him his insulin shots. The only curve he has had was his 2 week follow up after starting insulin but that vet only did a half butt one, tested his BG twice and called me to come pick him up after 3 hours because they said he was a complicated case. Needless to say, I am not going to that Vet anymore lol.
 
Yong said:
Once a week @Elizabeth and Bertie
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Okey dokey. That's great. Testing for ketones is really important at this point.

Yong, you've made some references to using 'Diastix'. I'm not sure if that was just a typo, but just in case it wasn't, are you aware that Diastix only test for urine glucose? To test for ketones you'll need Ketostix, Ketodiastix (which test for both urine glucose and ketones), or generic equivalent.
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They look like they'd be okay. Really, any of them that test for the presence of ketones in urine are okay, they don't have to have anything fancy about them.
 
Squalliesmom had me worrying that Maury might be more clingy and vocal because his BG numbers were lower so I just did my first pre-test and the lancet went through his ear :(. I thought I was staying calm but he was definitely scared when I held him in my lap and immediately jumped off after I had to squeeze another drop of blood out of his ear, he shook the first one that came out right away :banghead:. Gave him 1 treat and gave him his dinner and PM shot. His BG was not lower :(. This was week 4 of insulin and number still about the same. I am going to try and do this curve tomorrow :nailbiting:.
 
Yong said:
Squalliesmom had me worrying that Maury might be more clingy and vocal because his BG numbers were lower so I just did my first pre-test and the lancet went through his ear :(. I thought I was staying calm but he was definitely scared when I held him in my lap and immediately jumped off after I had to squeeze another drop of blood out of his ear, he shook the first one that came out right away :banghead:. Gave him 1 treat and gave him his dinner and PM shot. His BG was not lower :(. This was week 4 of insulin and number still about the same. I am going to try and do this curve tomorrow :nailbiting:.
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Sorry, Yong, I didn't mean to worry you! I'm glad to hear you've started home testing, though. Don't worry, you and Maury will get to be old pros at it soon. Just relax and don't let it fluster you if it doesn't go exactly as planned the first few times! It helps to have a favorite treat ready at hand to give as soon as the test is done. :)
 
It's ok @Squalliesmom ! I think I needed the extra push. I was just afraid of doing exactly what I did :( I am hurting a bit more though after just that few minutes of having him on my lap for the test. As much as I want to do the curve ASAP, I think I should wait. If I really hurt something then I risk not being able to give him his shots and food on time. Maybe get my spine and legs working a little better first. I don't want to come off as a bad fur mom :(
 
Yong said:
It's ok @Squalliesmom ! I think I needed the extra push. I was just afraid of doing exactly what I did :( I am hurting a bit more though after just that few minutes of having him on my lap for the test. As much as I want to do the curve ASAP, I think I should wait. If I really hurt something then I risk not being able to give him his shots and food on time. Maybe get my spine and legs working a little better first. I don't want to come off as a bad fur mom :(
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I think waiting a few more days or so to do your curve will be fine. :) Hope your back is better soon. :bighug:
 
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