Karrie and Maverick
Member Since 2010
Ok. I'm trying to wrap my head around this in time for my discussion with Maverick's vet tomorrow or Tuesday. I did decide to put my faith in her. She is a Lantus recommender and was fine with me home testing Maverick. So I know we are ahead of the game. His old vet caused me to have a lot of anxiety about vets, big time. So that unfortunately has spilled over. My questions to her tomorrow or Tuesday....whenever she calls...
My confusion stems from managing him initially to know how he handles insulin. He was diagnosed prediabetic in Dec/Jan and just managed with food. A couple weeks after changing his diet his urine was testing clear of glucose up until a month and a half/two months ago. So there is a chance he can get to honeymoon quickly. But how I will know confuses the heck out of me?
Here is my understanding and my questions.
1. We will be doing a glucose curve with no insulin on Monday. From one of the responses I gather this is to see if he is producing insulin on his own. How often would I test? This first week is going to be hell on his ears. He also eats more at night than in the daytime. How often should I test overnight? I can't be awake to observe him all night. He doesn't eat his food all in one sitting. An ounce or so at a time but he can eat four or five ounces overnight vs two or three in the daytime. This is of course since his diabetes came back. (I can weigh his food dish prior to testing so I know how much he's eaten between tests).
2. His appetite. I expect his appetite will diminish a lot once insulin starts in his system. How would I handle this? The large quantities he is eating unregulated may not continue once he is on insulin. I expect another curve will have to be done that reflects changes in eating patterns?
3. How exactly is a decrease in dosage decided on? Does a cat have to have multiple hypo's?
3. I am wishing the vet will start him on less than two units this time. I am worried about understanding the storage shed (keeping times consistent, that it has an overlapping effect, and the storage shed is drawn upon if needed by Maverick). You guys talk about not missing a dose, or delaying one or two hours to see if bg levels rise. In instructions though "There have been times when I knew a cat’s number was likely shootable, but I also knew that I could not be around to help if the shot resulted in low numbers later in the cycle. For safety’s sake, if I could not find someone else who would be available to support for the next several hours, I would most likely suggest that the shot be reduced or skipped." But when we are starting off - this is ultra confusing. I know you shouldn't dose or not dose based on one reading. But my vet wants me to skip a dose when in doubt and I can't reach her. How will this impact him? What is the concern with a missed dose?
4. What do you guys do when you can't be home some days. Thats rare for me, I work from home. But I do have a dog with health issues and we do have to make vet trips. Some unplanned.
I think this is it for now. I've learned so much from this forum. I'm glad we had time to read up on this before insulin was started. Still feeling awkward about last week. Once my vet sees my abilities and her confidence grows in our ability to manage Maverick, I can start having discussions with her about what we read here and asking her to look into things I hope. I really want a partner in Maverick's care and want to start things off on a better footing.
Thank you to all of you.
My confusion stems from managing him initially to know how he handles insulin. He was diagnosed prediabetic in Dec/Jan and just managed with food. A couple weeks after changing his diet his urine was testing clear of glucose up until a month and a half/two months ago. So there is a chance he can get to honeymoon quickly. But how I will know confuses the heck out of me?
Here is my understanding and my questions.
1. We will be doing a glucose curve with no insulin on Monday. From one of the responses I gather this is to see if he is producing insulin on his own. How often would I test? This first week is going to be hell on his ears. He also eats more at night than in the daytime. How often should I test overnight? I can't be awake to observe him all night. He doesn't eat his food all in one sitting. An ounce or so at a time but he can eat four or five ounces overnight vs two or three in the daytime. This is of course since his diabetes came back. (I can weigh his food dish prior to testing so I know how much he's eaten between tests).
2. His appetite. I expect his appetite will diminish a lot once insulin starts in his system. How would I handle this? The large quantities he is eating unregulated may not continue once he is on insulin. I expect another curve will have to be done that reflects changes in eating patterns?
3. How exactly is a decrease in dosage decided on? Does a cat have to have multiple hypo's?
3. I am wishing the vet will start him on less than two units this time. I am worried about understanding the storage shed (keeping times consistent, that it has an overlapping effect, and the storage shed is drawn upon if needed by Maverick). You guys talk about not missing a dose, or delaying one or two hours to see if bg levels rise. In instructions though "There have been times when I knew a cat’s number was likely shootable, but I also knew that I could not be around to help if the shot resulted in low numbers later in the cycle. For safety’s sake, if I could not find someone else who would be available to support for the next several hours, I would most likely suggest that the shot be reduced or skipped." But when we are starting off - this is ultra confusing. I know you shouldn't dose or not dose based on one reading. But my vet wants me to skip a dose when in doubt and I can't reach her. How will this impact him? What is the concern with a missed dose?
4. What do you guys do when you can't be home some days. Thats rare for me, I work from home. But I do have a dog with health issues and we do have to make vet trips. Some unplanned.
I think this is it for now. I've learned so much from this forum. I'm glad we had time to read up on this before insulin was started. Still feeling awkward about last week. Once my vet sees my abilities and her confidence grows in our ability to manage Maverick, I can start having discussions with her about what we read here and asking her to look into things I hope. I really want a partner in Maverick's care and want to start things off on a better footing.
Thank you to all of you.
