Miss Moon and her owner need help!

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CarrieK

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Hi Everyone!

I am THRILLED to have found this site. THANK YOU in advance for any help you can give me!

Miss Moon is my 10 year old cat, she was diagnosed with diabetes about 1.5 years ago. Until the last few days (and this forum), she has been on D/M dry (and some wet mixed in twice a day) and 1.5 units of Lantus twice a day. She has always been a "petite" cat, topping out at only 9 lbs!

She was pretty well regulated (albeit, not as happy mood-wise as I've seen her in previous years) until about 6 weeks ago when I broke my neck and we moved in with my parents, who have 2 other non-diabetic cats. She started eating the other cats' food and also her food (free grazers), and started dropping weight - of course. Being that she's already a lightweight gal, she is a bit skinny now. I was compelled to try to get her off the insulin and get her to gain some weight.

After reading Dr Lisa Pierson's article, and all of the info on this board, I started the switch 2 days ago, with no insulin per Dr Pierson's article, from D/M to Fancy Feast Classic Chicken or Turkey wet food. She made the switch quite easily on her own because now, 2 days in, she won't touch anything that has the D/M in it, and she absolutely gobbles up the Fancy Feast. In fact, I've never seen her eat so much, several times a day. She loves it. Who knew!!! It almost scares me that she is eating so well. Her behavior is vastly different, too. She's running around and much more active and slept with me all night last night for the first time in years. I couldn't be happier.

I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I think we are on the right path. I would like to start home testing at 5-7 days, so that I can see if her new food regimen has had an effect on her levels, and then give insulin only if necessary. I've never home tested, but I'm not too concerned after reading on here.

Any advice for us? My ultimate goal is to get her OTJ. Of course, that will depend on her levels. I love my kitty and will do anything for her.

Thank you!
Miss Moon and her owner, Carrie
 
Welcome Carrie and Miss Moon.

It sounds like you have already done a wonderful job with the diet switch and are seeing some positive results. I would be nervous waiting to home test however. When we switched Oliver over from dry to wet, his bg levels dropped 100 points overnight. If we had given him his usual dose, he would have hypoed. If you get similiar results from Miss Moon's diet change, you could be shooting into pretty low numbers.

Can we help you learn how now? You can pick up the supplies at WalMart inexpensively and start testing today.
 
Welcome to the board! Seems like you are headed in the right direction with the diet. Now on to the home testing. I don't think you need to wait on it. If you can go ahead and do it you will have a clearer understanding of how sweet Miss moon is doing. I am glad she seems to be doing better and hope you have a speedy recovery yourself!
 
Thanks so much!

I took her off the insulin because I know how drastically her levels can be affected by the low carb food switch. So, she is not currently getting any insulin with her new low-carb Fancy Food food switch. When she first got diagnosed, we had her on a high dose of Vetsulin and she hypo'd, so I am very cognizant of the ups and downs and am very careful now...

After reading the article, I thought it was saying to take them off insulin and let the food switch take effect and then to start testing. However, I'll probably go ahead and start doing it so I can make sure she's ok.

She is pretty awful with the vet and having her blood taken, and I know she's going to be awful with me. Hissing, scratching, biting... So, does the urine testing work ok? My vet just asked me which one I was thinking about doing and I wanted to get everyone's opinions.

Thank you!!!
 
Urine testing will only give you a sugar level after it has made it all the way through the cat's body - long after you want to give a shot. Testing before each shot is the only way to really keep her safe.

We have had several kitties here who were hard to test but they and their owners survived. :-D You can wrap her up in a kitty burrito or use the clothespin trick to immobilize her like her mommy cat did when she was a kitten. You can also post your city and state - maybe we have someone who lives nearby and could come by to help.

I would suggest that you start playing with her ears - rub them, talk to her, give her treats. See if she will let you mess around with her ears. If she will, make a rice sack and warm it up to heat up her ears. If she won't stand for that, you can also try her paws. Some people paw test.

Hopefully you will be surprised that she acts much better with you than the vet. Fingers and paws crossed here!
 
I don't know if this will help, but I found it at least ten times easier to test Noxin's blood glucose levels (even with several ear pricks a sitting when I can't get blood, or when Noxin shakes his head and sends that perfect drop flying), than to cut his nails.

In fact, for the past week I have tried to sit him still to cut even a few nails, and have failed miserably, but have had no issues with any of his daily ear pricks. In fact, he's usually in his ear prick spot waiting for me, because he knows he is going to get his treats!
 
beggargirl said:
I don't know if this will help, but I found it at least ten times easier to test Noxin's blood glucose levels (even with several ear pricks a sitting when I can't get blood, or when Noxin shakes his head and sends that perfect drop flying), than to cut his nails.
Click to expand...

Or a BATH! Bandit hates baths so much that he pees the moment he thinks he's getting one. I used to use this to my advantage when I needed a urine sample to test for ketones. :lol:

Seriously, though, hometesting is far easier than you might think. I found it to be soooo much easier than urine testing. I might get my urine sample, but more than half the time I would also be covered in urine and scratches. Once Bandit figured out he got a low carb treat after each test, he would come running when he heard the meter, and sit patiently through it.
 
Fantastic! Thank you all so much! I will start home testing and see how she does with the ear prick.

I'm just so happy, she is eating a ton now, it's wonderful to see her so happy!

Can someone help me with the clothespin trick? I don't know that one!

Thanks again!!!

Carrie
 
You took her off of insulin? Well, I'm not certain that was a good idea even though I know you did it to be cautious.

If so, you need to do two things
1. test for ketones on a daily basis via urine testing
2. start blood glucose testing asap not in 5-7 days. The diet change may be enough to bring levels down but if it isn't you are losing momentum and could be putting her at risk

Jen
 
I did, but only because the Doc's article said to while switching to the new food. I will start testing, but before giving any insulin :) She isn't asking for any water at all now, which is great (she only drinks out of the bathtub faucet or sink faucet)! Peeing a lot less - of course, that's part because of food being wet and part low carb!
Will start testing immediately, thanks :)
 
Here's the clothespin trick: Clothespin trick Most people use have to use it for a little while and soon, with a treat after each poke, the cat decides she will need to get this done in order to get a treat, so she sits still and lets it happen.
 
I had success in the beginning with a basket and a blanket. This was suggested to me by my vet and it worked great. You get a basket or a container just a little bigger than your cat, and line it with blankets so it's comfy. You put the cat in the basket and tuck him in like a burrito. That just leaves his head sticking out and you can get your prick, and always feed a low carb treat after. After a few weeks Bandit started associating the basket with positive things, and now it's his favorite place to hang out, even though we don't test that much now that he's off insulin.

And it was mentioned already, but testing for ketones is very important if you're removing insulin.
 
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