Lulu was diagnosed a month ago, noticing changes in her behavior. HELP!

[Sammi Jo and Lulu]

Hi everyone,

I’m so glad that I have found this community. I’m hoping I can get some help. My sweet Lulu was diagnosed a little over a month ago. She’s been on 2 units of Lantus a day ever since. Her first BG curve was 4 days following her first dosage. The vet claimed it was a “beautiful” curve and she responded very well. She decided there would be no changes in dosage.

I’m not sure if this is common or not, but the vet never has mentioned anything about home curves or what her bg levels should be. Her only advice was administer after food and watch for signs of hypoglycemia. So far, she hasn’t had any adverse effects.

My concerns are that Lulu seems much more prone to stress since her 12 hour bg curve at the vets. In the first 4 days of insulin, she acted normal. But recently, she’s been so on edge. She always just seems on high alert. Here and there she has better days where she’s more calm, but very often she’s much more cautious and not as loving and trusting. She’s ok with me, but seems terrified of my boyfriend sometimes, who she’s lived with and loved for the past 2 years. Some days she will leave the bedroom for only brief periods. Just on Monday she spent the whole day in the living room with me, totally calm and just like her normal self. But today she’s back to being stressed.

She eats all her food, and doesn’t ever seem lethargic. In fact, her energy in the mornings lately has been quite high. Some days I can get her to play, others she seems too distracted.

It breaks my heart to see her so worked up, I miss my cuddly, loving cat! Can anyone offer up some advice? Thank you all so much!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome to you and Lulu to the forum!!
She is gorgeous!
Can I ask you a few questions?
What type of food are you feeding her? Is it low carb?
Are you feeding her before the shots and again during both the cycles?

Lantus is a great insulin for cats but 2 units is quite a large dose to start on. Are you using syringes or a pen to give the insulin.

I would recommend yon learn as much as you can about feline diabetes ... there is a lot of Information here on this site. Read other people’s condos as well. That will give you useful information.

I would also recommend you think about testing the BG at home. Vet surgeries stress cats out a lot.
If you test at home there will be no need to take her to the vet to be tested and you will also know exactly what her BG is doing and how she is responding day to day.
We recommend testing before every shot to see it is safe to give the insulin and again during the cycle to see how low the dose takes Lulu. By the time a cat is showing hypo symptoms they can be dangerously low.
You can buy a human test meter at Walmart called a ReliOn which is good. You will also need lancets... get size 26 or 28 gauge.
I will post a couple of useful links below
Bron

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

 

[Sammi Jo and Lulu]

Hi and welcome to you and Lulu to the forum!!
She is gorgeous!
Can I ask you a few questions?
What type of food are you feeding her? Is it low carb?
Are you feeding her before the shots and again during both the cycles?

Lantus is a great insulin for cats but 2 units is quite a large dose to start on. Are you using syringes or a pen to give the insulin.

I would recommend yon learn as much as you can about feline diabetes ... there is a lot of Information here on this site. Read other people’s condos as well. That will give you useful information.

I would also recommend you think about testing the BG at home. Vet surgeries stress cats out a lot.
If you test at home there will be no need to take her to the vet to be tested and you will also know exactly what her BG is doing and how she is responding day to day.
We recommend testing before every shot to see it is safe to give the insulin and again during the cycle to see how low the dose takes Lulu. By the time a cat is showing hypo symptoms they can be dangerously low.
You can buy a human test meter at Walmart called a ReliOn which is good. You will also need lancets... get size 26 or 28 gauge.
I will post a couple of useful links below
Bron

Hi there! Thank you for the response.

I was previously feeding her Halo pate but I discovered the carb percentage was a little high. I am currently doing friskies pate. (I always assumed things like friskies and fancy feast were junk food but they seem to be commonly used here in the community) I feed her 1/2 can before her shot, and make sure she eats a good amount of what’s in her bowl. She’s not the kind of cat to eat all her food at once. She usually returns multiple times to finish the whole thing. She typically will eat more after her shot.

I wasn’t aware that 2 units is a large dose (1 unit in morning 1 unit at night) Maybe I phrased that wrong? It’s very interesting that the vet does not seem concerned at all with home testing. Why wouldn’t they want people to test at home? She’s going to the vet on Sunday for fructosamine blood work to see how she has responded. How hard is it getting the cat used to bg tests? Seems so overwhelming But of course I will do anything for her. A month ago the thought of injecting her twice a day was terrifying and now it’s routine so I know I would get used to it.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

One unit twice a day is a good starting dose.
A lot of vets don’t even know about home testing or some don’t like it....don’t really know why?? But you don’t need you vets permission to do home testing and it definitely benefits your kitty.
Most people are a bit anxious about home testing to start with but honestly, it is not hard and you and Lulu will get used to it very quickly. My Sheba would come running the minute she heard me at the test strips as she knew she would get a treat......a bit of bribery and corruption goes a long way! read the link I sent you about tips for home testing....they really work.
pick a suitable spot and always test there. Get her used to you rubbing her ears before you start testing.
If you have any concerns...post and ask for help.
Once you are home testing you won’t need to get any more fructosamine tests. They are just an average of the last couple of weeks...they don’t give any highs or lows. When you test at home, you will be getting up to the moment results.
Are you using a syringe or a pen to inject?

 

[Sammi Jo and Lulu]

One unit twice a day is a good starting dose.
A lot of vets don’t even know about home testing or some don’t like it....don’t really know why?? But you don’t need you vets permission to do home testing and it definitely benefits your kitty.
Most people are a bit anxious about home testing to start with but honestly, it is not hard and you and Lulu will get used to it very quickly. My Sheba would come running the minute she heard me at the test strips as she knew she would get a treat......a bit of bribery and corruption goes a long way! read the link I sent you about tips for home testing....they really work.
pick a suitable spot and always test there. Get her used to you rubbing her ears before you start testing.
If you have any concerns...post and ask for help.
Once you are home testing you won’t need to get any more fructosamine tests. They are just an average of the last couple of weeks...they don’t give any highs or lows. When you test at home, you will be getting up to the moment results.
Are you using a syringe or a pen to inject?

I watched the videos which were pretty encouraging... seems quite easy. From Lulu’s bg curve, she has a permanent notch in her ear from the tests they did. Is that normal? That must have been very painful for her. Seeing it done in those videos makes me think they did something wrong. I went ahead and just ordered a testing kit off Amazon... wish me luck!

I am currently using syringes to inject her.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I watched the videos which were pretty encouraging... seems quite easy. From Lulu’s bg curve, she has a permanent notch in her ear from the tests they did. Is that normal? That must have been very painful for her. Seeing it done in those videos makes me think they did something wrong. I went ahead and just ordered a testing kit off Amazon... wish me luck!
I am currently using syringes to inject her.

I tested Sheba in her ears for years and there were no visible signs that I was doing it apart from an occasional tiny bruise. It is not
normal to have a notch on the ear after testing. Are you sure it isn’t infected?
If you hold a cotton ball behind the ear to support it when you prick the ear and then gently hold the ear where it was pricked afterwards, that should stop any bruising.
Always give a treat, even when you fail........and most people fail a bit in the beginning so don’t worry if you do.
That’s good you are using syringes.

 

[Sammi Jo and Lulu]

I tested Sheba in her ears for years and there were no visible signs that I was doing it apart from an occasional tiny bruise. It is not
normal to have a notch on the ear after testing. Are you sure it isn’t infected?
If you hold a cotton ball behind the ear to support it when you prick the ear and then gently hold the ear where it was pricked afterwards, that should stop any bruising.
Always give a treat, even when you fail........and most people fail a bit in the beginning so don’t worry if you do.
That’s good you are using syringes.

New
Yes- no signs of infection. There was a scab for a few days and then it fell off. It’s completely healed though. Maybe this is something I should mention to the vet. I would be sad to think she’slost trust in us because of something traumatic atthe vet.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

New
Yes- no signs of infection. There was a scab for a few days and then it fell off. It’s completely healed though. Maybe this is something I should mention to the vet. I would be sad to think she’slost trust in us because of something traumatic atthe vet.

Oh poor girl.
With a fructosamine test they will do a blood draw not a prick, then you can do all the rest at home moving forward.
Do you have a hypo kit ready in case it is needed? Don’t leave it until it is needed because it could be in the middle of the night!
Hypo kit contents in the link in post 3 above.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

welcome Sammi(?) and Lulu,
Youre already getting great advice from one of our very best! I just thought I'd add this :

New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

Theres a ton of information here with good people to help you navigate it all. The only dumb question is the one not asked so ask away!

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY
jeanne

Youve landed in a safe place.
Here is a tool thats going to help ALL of us help you!
FDMB SPREADSHEET INSTRUCTIONS

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

As you test the ears they will grow more cappilaries and testing will become easier
Aim for the sweet spot , You might want to purchase 26 or 28 gauge lancets and do it free hand on a 45 degree angle, eventually more capillaries will grow and it becomes easier
Start to rub his ears to get him used to it, warm them up first, if need be put some rice in a sock and warm it in the microwave and put it on his ears, make sure its not to hot. You don't want to aim for the vein

Diabetic Cat Care Home Testing Your Cat’s BG

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Sammie how is everything going? We care.

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

I just want to agree that yes, she’s a beauty!!

I’m not sure which kit you ordered from Amazon, but human meters work really well and most of us use them here. Pet meters can get pricey because the strips are so much more expensive and you’ll go through 100 fast. I use Walmart’s ReliOn which a lot of us use, and it’s accurate, reliable and has the most affordable test strips at $17 for 100. You can always return the Amazon one and go this route.

another tip for testing is to always warm up the ear so the blood comes out easily. We use an old sock filled with rice that you can nuke for a few second in the microwave and then gently press against the ear for 20-30 seconds to get it warm to the touch.

let us know how it’s going!

 

[Sergei]

I’m also learning the ropes with home testing so I wanted to send you lots of support and encouragement. It may take some extra time and patience — it certainly requires both with my Sergei. I try to visualuze how it is going to go in advance and always make sure not to leave Sergei feeling ambushed or surprised by the process. In fact we get him to come to us each time. He is getting to know the ritual and he loves getting a treat and lots of snuggles, even if we do not succeed in getting our sample. Getting to know what lancet size works is helpful. I just realized that my 27g lancets are a bit large and I may have better luck with a 30g. I have also learned to fold my cotton pad in half so that is thicker and hold it against the inside of the earmopposite the side I’m pricking. A deeper pad means less chance of sticking myself with the lancet. Visualizing the 45 degree angle, shallow but firm stick helps too; otherwise kitty may get a pierced ear—though that happens and it is no big deal. In my case kitty is the easy part. I find getting through the hesitation and overcoming self-doubt the real challenge.

Good luck!

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I’m also learning the ropes with home testing so I wanted to send you lots of support and encouragement. It may take some extra time and patience — it certainly requires both with my Sergei. I try to visualuze how it is going to go in advance and always make sure not to leave Sergei feeling ambushed or surprised by the process. In fact we get him to come to us each time. He is getting to know the ritual and he loves getting a treat and lots of snuggles, even if we do not succeed in getting our sample. Getting to know what lancet size works is helpful. I just realized that my 27g lancets are a bit large and I may have better luck with a 30g. I have also learned to fold my cotton pad in half so that is thicker and hold it against the inside of the earmopposite the side I’m pricking. A deeper pad means less chance of sticking myself with the lancet. Visualizing the 45 degree angle, shallow but firm stick helps too; otherwise kitty may get a pierced ear—though that happens and it is no big deal. In my case kitty is the easy part. I find getting through the hesitation and overcoming self-doubt the real challenge.

Good luck!

THANKS SCOTT! its always helpful when a new member helps another new member. THANK YOU!
Hope Sergei is well and happy

 

[Gill & Mac (UK)]

. A deeper pad means less chance of sticking myself with the lancet.

That is almost a rite of passage for learning to ear test - just be sure to test kitty's blood drop not your own!!

 

[Gill & Mac (UK)]

An alternative I use is to soak a wad of kitchen paper with fairly hot tap water then put it in a food hag (so the ear does not get wet) and hold that against the ear. Mac seems to be quite getting to like having his ear warmed up - must be these cooler days.
A tip that @Critter Mom gave me that works well for Mac (as he is a very reluctant BG tester) is to roll the top of his ear over my first finger then use my second finger and thumb to hold it taut while pricking it and to hold on to whilst getting the blood to the strip.

 

[Sammi Jo and Lulu]

Sammie how is everything going? We care.

Lulu has actually had a pretty good day today! Doesn’t seem so stressed. I got off early and ordered her some new toys and treats which seemed to excite her a little bit. I got her to play and she came out from under the bed when I showed that I had her favorite treats. I know physically she is feeling ok... just need to get her out of this rut!

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

sending rutless positives