Just getting started on this adventure...

[Commando_Botanist]

Hello, all! I'm Michelle, and my newly-diagnosed sugarbeast is Storm, my ~14yo tortoiseshell Manx.

Stormy started losing weight a year or so ago and was diagnosed as hyperthyroid about six months ago. Her peak weight was around 13lbs, and when she was diagnosed hyperthyroid, she was 7lb 2oz. After a couple months on methimazole for the thyroid problem, she gained a pound, and her thyroid levels were good. But then she started losing weight again, in spite of the fact that she eats like a horse and had become very dog-like in her habits of hanging around directly behind your ankles in the kitchen, hoping for bits of food to drop. On her last monthly visit to check her thyroid levels, she was down to 6lbs, so my vet had them run her glucose numbers and based on those results told me she was almost certainly diabetic. He verified it a few days ago when they did a glucose curve on her. When I took her in two days after the diabetes diagnosis to learn how to give the injections, etc., she weighed in at 5lbs 12oz. This is the cat I used to call my "Basketball Cat" due to her stocky Manx build and her rotundity. One very good thing, possibly due to her scrawniness, is that her chemistry showed no signs of DKA.

So now we're kitted out with Lantus, giving 1U BID. I've got an AlphaTRAK2 monitor, though I haven't used it yet. I've read through all the pamphlets and paperwork and what seems like at least a hundred websites. This was the first place I found that gave an actual numerical answer to what I thought was a simple google search of "how much do I feed my diabetic cat?" I'm pretty stoked to find this message board.

I was giving Stormy about 1/4 can of Trader Joe's Tuna for Cats twice a day because crushing her methimazole pill into that has proven the most effective method of getting her to take it. But after a bunch of reading, I was already planning to switch her to a poultry-based diet, due to the relatively high iodine content of fish (not so great for thyroid issues). Tonight I gave her 1/2 a can of TJ's Turkey & Giblets, and she absolutely went to town on it -- gobbled it up, so to speak. She's never been a picky eater! I'm hoping switching her diet so soon after starting the insulin won't be too disturbing. She's snoozing and purring right behind my head on the couch as I'm writing this. So far, so good.

The biggest monkey wrench in this whole process is the fact that I'm out of town for work a lot. I walked my husband through the whole process when I did her first injection last night, told him about the signs of hypoglycemia, etc. He's a little squeamish, but I think he'll step up to the plate. Fortunately, we've got a friend living in the granny flat in our backyard who is diabetic, has a very flexible schedule, and has enthusiastically volunteered to do her injections and keep an eye on her while I'm gone. I'm leaving tomorrow for a week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I printed out a spreadsheet this morning and stuck it on the refrigerator with instructions that it's to be filled out after every injection.

The rest of my collection of loveable feline goofballs consists of Mira (Siamese), Ariel (tortoiseshell), and Iris (tortoiseshell/Siamese/ragdoll/who knows?). I have a very soft spot for torties, as I've had them since I was five years old. All the cats except Mira are rescues. The aforementioned friend who lives on our property also has a lovely dog, Lou, who is a rescue from Hurricane Ike. We lost both of our dogs to various typical old-age afflictions about a year ago, so it's nice to have a dog to hang out with, without having the responsibility for it. I call her my "loaner dog".

I'm glad to have discovered this venue, and I look forward to sharing and learning!

Cheers,

Michelle

 

[phlika29]

Hi Michelle

Welcome to the forum. I don't have much time at the moment but will pop back on in a couple of hours and give you a few links that might be good to read through.

In essence in order to keep Storm safe and to fine tune her dosage it is important to test her blood glucose before each shot of insulin. The recommendation is to remove food 2 hours before the next shot is due, to take a reading about 15 minutes before the next injection, as long as the reading isn't too low to then fed storm and then inject.

It's quite important to try to get at least another reading during each 12 hour cycle to see how the lantus has affected the glucose levels. Most people try to get a reading 1 or 2 hours after the insulin shot. This can help tell you where storm is heading and if need be allow you to start closer monitoring.

Have you managed to get any blood glucose readings yet? This link has great tips to get you started. I heat my cats ear with a rice sock and then always give a low carb treat afterwards.

I also find it better to spread the food out over the course of the day especially in the first part of the cycle. This can ease the burden on the pancreas and manage the blood glucose drop after the injection.

I would print out the hypo sheet that is linked here. When it comes to it you need to have it in front of you so you don't have to wonder what to do. I would also remind you partner that sometimes cats don't have any symptoms at all.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1122

Don't wait until it happens make sure that you have all the right equipment at home

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2354

Best wishes

Sarah

 

[BJM]

Because you are now giving insulin, is vital to check the blood glucose and get testing down.

Once you have testing going OK, you may want to consider adjusting the diet for all of the cats to low carb, canned or raw foods. Cat Info is our "bible" on feline nutrition and the web site author, veterinarian Dr Pierson, has compiled a list of foods and the percent of calories from protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Anything with less than % calories (not weight) from carbohydrates is OK for routine feeding. Pick up a couple of cans of high carb, gravied foods, plus a small bottle of Karo syrup, to have on hand in case there are any unusually low glucose levels (hypoglycemia).

Also, see my signature link Glucometer Notes for some info on what the readings can mean, plus the link Secondary Monitoring Tools for additional assessments you may wish to make. In particular, note urine ketone testing tips. Ketones form as a by-product of fat breakdown. Too many ketones may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal complication of diabetes.