Just Introducing Us

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erinmller

Member Since 2014
Hi everyone, my name is Erin and my sweet boy Sam became my Sugar Kitty about three weeks ago. He is seven years old and I adopted him from the local Humane Society when he was three. About once a year since adopting him I was having to take him to the vet with pancreatic inflammation, so I've kind of being waiting for the diabetes gauntlet to be dropped and it finally was three weeks ago.

Ever since we began insulin injections he has improved so much! He's still suffering from neuropathy in his back legs, but I ordered some Zobaline for him and it arrived in the mail today (yay!) so I'm planning to give him his first dose tonight. Hoping it'll work as quickly as I've heard because I hate seeing him be all wobbly in his back legs.

We were released for at-home testing from the vet last week. Last night I went and bought a ReliOn glucometer and test strips and opened it all up this morning preparing to give him his first ear prick and realized that the lancelets weren't included (hey, I'm a newbie remember?). So when my fiancé gets off work tonight we're trekking back to Walmart to look for these and then re-try that whole ear pricking thing tomorrow. Luckily my vet is extremely supportive of at-home testing. I've heard from some people that their vets don't want it done or try to make them buy the really expensive pet-specific ones, but my vet was great and supportive of it all.

Anyway, I just wanted to introduce us and say I'm so grateful this community is here so I'll have somewhere to turn if I need immediate assistance!
 
Welcome Erin and Sam!

While you are waiting for the lancets (hope he is getting the larger ones to use at first - 25-27 gague often work the best) get Sam ready for this adventure:

First pick a place where you want to test. Some people use the kitchen counter, a blanket on the floor, between your legs while sitting – whatever works for you. Take the kitty there and give him/her lots of praise while you play with his ears. Give a treat and release. Next time, add the rice sack (thin sock filled with raw rice, heated in the microwave until very warm but not hot) or a prescription pill bottle filled with very warm water. Lots of praise, treat and release. Finally add the lancet so he will get used to the noise. The hope is that when you finally poke, they will be used to the process and know a treat is coming!

What kind of insulin? What dose? What food? (All important parts of the successful protocol we have our sugar cats on)
 
Thank you Sue!!

And thank you for the gauge suggestion. I hadn't heard this yet, so I'm very appreciative of it and will know what to get when I go buy them! I love the advice on prepping him for his first prick. I had read somewhere about going on and doing the clicking near their ear so they get used to the sound, but it makes perfect sense to go on and get him used to the spot and rice and sock, etc. He's done so well with everything else (even the vet said he did better than any cat she's ever tested when she did his pricking) so I'm hoping he'll transition into the home testing as smoothly as he has everything else. He has such an easy going, laid back personality, so I think that is working to everyone (including his) favor during this time of adjustment.

Right now the vet has him on 3.5 units of VetSulin twice daily. I've heard that this brand may not be the best for cats, but he has responded extremely well while on it. We made the switch to all wet food upon diagnosis, whereas before he was getting a mix of kibble and wet. No complaints from him though, he LOVES his Fancy Feast! We're doing the Fancy Feast classics and grilled. Nothing with sauce or gravy as I read those are full of sugar and aren't good for diabetics. But several websites said Fancy Feast (non gravy our sauced), and I think it was Friskies, were the best 'over the counter' canned foods.
 
It will be good when you can keep track of his numbers before every shot and see how the Vetsulin is working. No, it isn't favored here, but your testing will tell you if it is going to work for Sam. Too often it has a fast sharp onset and then doesn't last long enough. The dose is pretty agressive so we'll be glad when you get some home numbers (numbers are often inflated at the vet. Almost every cat is stressed there with strange animals, people and noises and stress can raise levels by 100 points or more.)

Fancy Feast and Friskies pates are the lowest carb foods. Have you seen this food chart by a vet?

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88162
 
welcome erin, and....did u say the kitty's name? i have a very short memory! glad u found the fdmb. sue, and lots of others, r very helpful, and supportive, and someone is always here for u. good luck on the journey. :)
 
Welcome Erin and extra sweet Sam! Let us know how the home testing goes. We'll be happy to help if you need!
 
If you look at that food chart that Sue and Oliver pointed out to you, you'll see that those Fancy Feast grilled style foods are a bit high in carbs (13 to 17 %). You might want to set those aside for now and stick to the lower carb options, <10% carbs like with the pate style or the flaked or chunky styles of the Fancy Feast are all nice low carb options.

You could save the grilled Fancy Feast for if you get a low BG (blood glucose) reading and need to bring your cats sugar levels higher.
 
Welcome Erin & Sam! You've arrived at one of the most helpful places you could hope for! Be sure to ask about anything you're wondering about.

Lu-Ann
 
Thank you everyone!

I'll keep all these suggestions in mind when we go grocery shopping tomorrow!

Just out of curiosity….what are the insulin brands you all have found to work best?
 
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