Manon&Joy We're new and in need of assistance

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I think it's from eating. The +2 is often not much different from the preshots because they ate. That's why drips at that time are worrisome. I think you got the right reading and that the number you got is fine. Don't worry over this one! More than likely you'll see a lower number at +4.
 
Maybe food. And remember that meters have a + or - variance of 20% so those two numbers are virtually the same. I agree with Rachel; let's wait and see.
 
Oh thats so good to hear Rachel cuz im in tears right now
I'm so questioning if I did the right thing by treating him for diabetics....... He was doing oke 3 weeks ago, last year my vet said he will make it to 20+ he's amazing for a hyperthyroid and CKD cat........
I so hate to see him suffer, I promissed him I wouldn't make him suffer to keep him around longer.....
 
Manon, I really think it's going to be okay. I promise that the food spike at +2 is normal. Take a minute and look at some other SS....check out Baco's, and just anyone else on this forum. Most don't drop much at +2 and if they do, we get pretty concerned. So this is actually perfectly normal. I KNOW the guilt thing you feel. Heck, I feel it all the time with my cats (who aren't even diabetic). It's part of what makes you a good cat parent.

When you say he isn't feeling well, what do you mean? The walking? I think that will pass as you treat him. I know he seems like he was fine, but if you didn't treat, he would still be feeling bad...probably worse. Treating for diabetes is the right thing. It takes a bit for the treatment to really start to work well...but it will! Again, see Baco's SS...it was a pretty sudden thing when she dropped into good numbers!

You've been doing this for such a short time, and I remember how terrifying that feels. When y ou're new to the sugar dance, it's hard to believe you can handle it. But you CAN. And you aren't alone. We're all here rooting for you and more than willing to throw our 2 cents in. Give Joy some time. I really believe you'll see a difference soon.
 
I hope he will pull through, it feels like he's hanging by a thread, if I look had his little body now, he doesn't have more fat to lose...

Since an hour before PMPS he gets up and hides when I get up, then he lays on the floor all streched out (flat as...i dunno what, but then you see how thin he is) which he never does, he has 2 main spots his blanket on the couch and a chair, he just doesn't know what to do with himself and his pupils are a little enlarged.

Yeah, I need to see some other sheets, and I'm going to take your word for it that it will get better, thank you so much Rachel

.... I'm so going to be someone's support buddy if we get trough this, no one can go without a support team, this is way too much to handle without people who can relate and advise..

Oke, I just had my first forum meltdown, but I'm getting it together.
 
Good for you. Meltdowns happen here often and part of this sugar dance. Maybe one way to think of this is that you are doing the best you can for him right now. You are learning as fast as you can, and working to keep him safe, while giving him good food to eat and lots of love. He does have multiple issues and those combined with diabetes may be tiring for him. But, as long as he is eating and enjoying the attention you give him, I would give him (and you) time. Time to be together, love each other and treat his issues the best way you know how.

I do think rest is imperative (recently with my DH's medical crisis, my daughter reminded me, after many nights of less than 4 hours sleep, that sleep deprivation is literally, a torture technique and terrible for the human body). So grab some cat naps when you can and try to sleep enough at night. And, though it sounds silly, breathe deeply and often. It makes such a difference!

And know that he realizes you love him and are doing the most you can to make him feel better.
 
You're so right Sue, it's amazing how we are bonding even more as we already have over the past 18 years.... Thank you for pointing that out, that's huge, I didn't realise. I'm going to treasur that...

And the lack of sleep plays a huge part in in all of this...

Thank you Sue
 
Got his +4 reading it's about the same as his +2
If it has to do with food........he ate less yesterday, today he's been eating as he should about 95gr up till now...
I'm dreading the +8 +9 +10 etc hours now....
He's hasnt done the funny walk since PMPS
 
I don't understand these numbers. Raising the dose should have made a dent. We aren't that far from the one unit that gave you the low.

What else is going on? What medicines is he taking and have any of those doses changed? The food is the same but he is eating a little more? Any chance you gave a fur shot - didn't get the insulin in but instead it went on his fur?

@Robin&BB - any ideas?
 
Should I take away his food at some point?
He gets food in the morning then he eats about a third and he grazes during the day, at PMPS he gets fresh food and he does the same...
 
A fur shot is possible, its so hard to find some skin on him... I tried to feel the shot spot but i could not feel anything and he walked off...
 
Medicine havnt changed since monday, the time of his hyperthyroid meds has changed, its been set back 2 hours during his admission at the vets on wednesday
 
Manon&Joy said:
Should I take away his food at some point?
He gets food in the morning then he eats about a third and he grazes during the day, at PMPS he gets fresh food and he does the same...
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Prior to the AMPS and the PMPS, Joy needs to be without food for 2 hours. So if he is a grazer, take up the food 2 hour prior to the pre shot test for a more accurate reading.
 
I do get readings now, my meter only goes up to 430 and all the 430 numbers were actually higher, i just don't know how high
 
Manon&Joy said:
He did eat before PMPS! And before +2 and +4!!
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That could explain the numbers not budging. I realize it is hard when you have a cat that is a grazer. Try to pull up the food 2 hours prior to the pre shoot test as they are the most important one because the dose is based on them.
 
He's underweight so I wouldn't want you to withhold food. How would he eat if you gave him just 3 meals daily - one with each shot and one in the middle of the cycle? Bobbi is right - no food two hours before the preshot tests so you have a true number to base your dose on.

What I can't understand is the one unit gave you a normal looking cycle with lower numbers that you are getting now. 0.6 is not that much lower than one.
 
But the vets gave him 1.5 the first day, at least that is all the info i have, i dont know if they gave him an earlier shot...
 
But if I have to take away his food 2 hours before AMPS at 9.00 Im doing an allnighter...
But then again, im not sure i will sleep at all.... It depends on how he is doing..
 
I'll be here for a bit...but probably not for 6 hours. That's 2 AM for me.

I gotta say, I really wonder if this wasn't just a fur shot. It just seems so odd that he is surfing in these high numbers.

Are you home during the day tomorrow to monitor?
 
I do desperately want to get him down, I just have no experience with him with the extra carb food i bought to avoid a hypo.......
 
I'm not saying you should give him one unit. I am wondering out loud what the difference is in the two cycles.

You have to let this cycle play out. You'll have us for a couple more hours and maybe his numbers will start to be more logical.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Maybe. But I just don't understand the big difference.....
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Rachel said:
I gotta say, I really wonder if this wasn't just a fur shot.
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Hi, All - I have just now been reading through this thread. Although it's possible there may have been a fur-shot, I tend to believe that the feeding
@ +2, +4, etc probably has way more to do with this. (Don't worry, Manon, I am not going to advocate starving Joy...;)) More in a minute, wanted to get this posted so you know that I'm trying to work out a solution ...
 
Robin&BB said:
Hi, All - I have just now been reading through this thread. Although it's possible there may have been a fur-shot, I tend to believe that the feeding
@ +2, +4, etc probably has way more to do with this. (Don't worry, Manon, I am not going to advocate starving Joy...;)) More in a minute, wanted to get this posted so you know that I'm trying to work out a solution ...
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree, the feeding within 2 hours of testing is not yielding an accurate number.
 
I really think that what you need to do is hold this dose next cycle, but do the following:

1) Divide the total amount you normally feed Joy over 24 hours into 4 meals per day - no snacks in between (this would only happen should he drop too low and in that case you would, of course, steer with a little food). Make the pre-shot amounts a little more than the mid-cycle meals, so that he's getting a little more food at the time he's having his dose*.
2) The meals would happen at AMPS, around mid-cycle (feed right after the nadir, his lowest point in the cycle), and PMPS. For the nighttime cycle, when you need to get a halfway decent night's sleep, the mid-cycle snack could even be given a little earlier.

What we need to be able to see clearly: How Joy is processing this insulin. It is harder to do this when you allow any snacking/grazing, etc. when you're first starting out on the insulin, so it's best to avoid that. It is totally normal, when diabetes is as yet not well-controlled, for a kitty to act like he's really starving all the time (and it is especially worrisome when your kitty is underweight - I know because I went through this the first time with Bat).

Does this make sense to you?

*To give you an example of feeding like this: Bat-Bat gets 5/8 can of FF turkey giblets at AMPS; she gets 1/2 can of the same after her nadir (her mid-cycle low point); then we do the same thing for the PM cycle. It works great, and I never give her any snacks unless she needs to be steered out of a low #.:)
 
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Glad to see you, Robin!

Manon, I'm with Robin. This plan would tell you for sure if the food is affecting those numbers (as it probably is). If needed, you could get an auto feeder to help with those nighttime meals too.
 
Manon, I am going to try to do some research on the Royal Canin Renal kidney-formula food and scout around for some answers as regards to feeding a diabetic kitty who also has kidney disease and a heart problem. (Can you explain a little further about the "irregular heart" noted in your signature? That would be helpful info for me to have.) I will be back, have to test & feed (and maybe shoot) Bat-Bat right now ...
 
I think it's a great plan! It might take a day or 2 for Joy to get the hang of this. Im to put a schedule down... Please see if i get this right...
 
Oh and how much grams does bat-bat eat?

Joy is an under eater, always has been, he eats only what he feels he needs, i mean he used to, thats his nature.

So I feed right after AMPS 1st cycle meal (he will eat 33% of a 85gr pouch or can) but I will give him 70%

At +3 i feed his 2nd meal at 15%

At +6 i feed his 3rd meal at 15%

Do i understand correctly?
 
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You're missing the PMPS in there Manon. How much does Joy eat per day (sorry if you already answered that).

I don't know for sure, but I think he'll learn to eat it all if you start leaving it for a certain length of time. :)
 
Manon, how about if you go sleep for awhile and we'll see what we can figure out. He is not going to drop too low so it's a good time for you to rest.
 
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