Jacked up week for Jackson

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Sabrina&Jackson

Sabrina&Jackson

Member Since 2018
Hi everyone, I just want to say thank you for coming together like this. Your experiences have helped me and Jackson so much you have no idea.
If you dont mind I'd like to tell you all what's gone down this week so that maybe someone can help me out a little. Jackson is about 12/13 years old and most of his life he has been the big cat in the neighborhood at 15lbs. Fast forward to this passed Monday.. Jackson was visibly sick. He wasn't drinking, he wasnt eating (his whole life he ate dry lots and lots of dry food), he was peeing everywhere but his box and most of all he was barely moving. My cat loves me and will wait for me at the door, we chirp at each other all the time, hes with me always. All of a sudden he wont even look up when I call to him let alone move. Immediately I'm a mess. We recently put my uncles cat down overnight for kidney failure and he had no clue so my mind went for the worst.
(this is a long post....)
Take him to the vet and, of course, they tell me he's diabetic. Glucose at 400 and down to barely 11lbs. I felt/feel so guilty you guys its eating me up. How did I let this happen?
(I'll try to cut to the chase)
Vet gave me m/d dry food, told me to get him to gain weight with 5/8 cup twice a day before insulin. Hes on ProZinc 2u every 12 hours.
4pm Wednesday to 4am Friday Jack only ate about half a cup of food TOTAL. then I said eff it I'm giving him what you all recommend (friskies/fancyfeast wet food)
This morning he ate alllll his wet food and this evening alllll his wet food in one sitting like dang. I also bought a glucose monitor today to keep track bc ya'll mentioned that glucose can drop drastically in other threads.
Now my issue is even after a couple wins, he is still so lethargic. Before meals today he was super energetic ready for food but after the injection he went back to sleepy/sad ANC disinterested.
Should I be worried here?? Does it take a week for this to fully make him feel better? I am so messed up I dont know if I'm crazy.
Also he is really hungry between meals/injection times -- would you all say he could have a little wet food in between or no? I asked my vet but honestly this group has helped me so much already.

thank you all! I'm sorry for such a long post I could go on forever.
 
Sabrina, I read your post and I sure understand how you are feeling. Unfortunately I am neither knowledgeable or experienced. I can only recommend you get into the Prozinc forum and read the info and stickies. I have learned that LOW carb wet food is recommended for our sugar cats.Are you home testing? Take a few minutes and read the Health Links/FAQs about Feline Diabetes forum. It's really an important part of taking good care of your kitty and keeping him safe. There is no time line, ECID every cat is different. Learn all you can. Hopefully someone will be along that can help more. Hang in there.
 
Sabrina, I woke up thinking about your post. I am wondering about your description of lethargy and disinterest between injections. All that occurred to me is that possibly his blood glucose is falling too low. Changing diet from dry to all wet can lower BG, and if you are not testing preshot, inbetween shots, and preshot again, you aren't going to know it until it is, or could be serious, possibly critical. It's called a hypoglycemic event and you should learn about it before anything else. Go to the Health Links/FAQs about Feline Diabetes forum. Read How To Treat Hypos sticky (yellow tag at the top of forum). I'm not saying this IS what is happening, I'm saying it MIGHT be what is happening. Better safe than sorry.
 
I am testing preshot but not after. Yesterday he was 387, this morning he was 271 before his feeding and injection.
Should I start checking like 2 - 3 hours after his shot too?? I feel like I'm poking him a lot already but if it'll keep him safe I'll do it.
 
I think it would be a good idea for you to go to the Prozinc Forum, and read that beginners guide to Prozinc. Get your signature and spreadsheet set up. The signature block contains pertinent info on Jackson ( see my signature on light grey type at the end of my post), the spreadsheet will allow other members to see BG levels and make better recommendations. I would test Jackson at different times of day, you need to see how low he is going, did you read about hypos, what the take action number is for your meter?
 
Always a good idea to get some tests in the middle of his cycle to see how low he goes. Or if he's bouncing. Depending on what insulin your using that could vary. Read up on when your I sulin peaks and try to get a spot test or two around that time. That will give you some numbers and you can possibly adjust his dose of needed.
 
Just got my spreadsheet and everything up -- thank you, everyone!
Now I'm feeling a little... guilty about sticking him so many times for testing. Ugghhh he doesn't like me all up on his ears in the first place and now I'm poking little holes everywhere.
I move around and try not to hit the same place twice but am I hurting him? I see that some of you check multiple times a day between doses haha am I being silly? Please tell me.
 
Anyone mention antibiotic with pain relief oinment? You can use tiny amount on ears for help with healing and it also creates a little barrie so that the blood beads making it easier. If you look at my ss you can see I'm a testaholic. But phoebe just sits and purrs waiting for her treat. They do get used to it and you will become proficient at it. Hang in there momma bean.
 
I too want to test him all the time! I'm not opposed to using an ointment if it'll help him heal faster, thank you so much!
 
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