chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Now what? Any advice from those who have been there? Right now I am scared for her. confused_cat
My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabetes..
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Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Welcome to the FDMB, the best place you never expected to be. Before we dive into the specifics of food, testing, insulins, etc, Please read this first.
a message from your cat
We have many members here that can walk you through the paces of this sugardance. Take plenty of deep breaths and know we can help you with so many of the details.
Next, would you please tell me your name and your cats name? Where do you live so we can give you country specific advice?
Then we'll talk about food.
Welcome to the FDMB, the best place you never expected to be. Before we dive into the specifics of food, testing, insulins, etc, Please read this first.
a message from your cat
We have many members here that can walk you through the paces of this sugardance. Take plenty of deep breaths and know we can help you with so many of the details.
Next, would you please tell me your name and your cats name? Where do you live so we can give you country specific advice?
Then we'll talk about food.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
My cat's name is Libby, my name is Jo and we live in Illinois. Thanks for any advice you can give.
My cat's name is Libby, my name is Jo and we live in Illinois. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Hi Jo from Illinois. We have several members from the Land of Lincoln.
This is a very scary time. Will your cat be ok? maybe you are afraid of needles and don't know if you can give your cat a shot, so many questions. We'll help you all we can in your journey with your sugarkitty Libby.
Do you know what tests were done to determine the diabetes diagnosis? Blood glucose test? Urine glucose test? What clinical signs does your cat have that made your vet decide your cat has diabetes? P/U peeing a lot, P/D drinking a lot of water, excessive eating, walking funny on the back legs, rapid weight loss? If you know any of the test results, and could share them with us, we would appreciate it.
The 3 keys to treating diabetes are food, insulin, home testing.
Sometimes, changing the food to a low carb food can make a big difference. The BG's (blood glucose) levels can go down 100 points. Does your cat like wet food or dry food better or a mix of the two? We have food suggestions for both types of food. If you can change the food before you start your cat Libby on insulin, that would be best.
Would you please tell us what food you are feeding your cat Libby right now?
A lot of people here feed the canned Fancy Feast Classic Pates, Friskies pates and Wellness grain free or core varieties. We have a vet, Dr. Lisa Pierson who has put together a food chart of most of the canned foods available in the US. food chartWe recommend low carb being < 10% for the best results in changing the BG (blood glucose) numbers without insulin.
Let me know some of the answers to those questions I asked and we can go from there. We will get you through this difficult time.
Hi Jo from Illinois. We have several members from the Land of Lincoln.
This is a very scary time. Will your cat be ok? maybe you are afraid of needles and don't know if you can give your cat a shot, so many questions. We'll help you all we can in your journey with your sugarkitty Libby.
Do you know what tests were done to determine the diabetes diagnosis? Blood glucose test? Urine glucose test? What clinical signs does your cat have that made your vet decide your cat has diabetes? P/U peeing a lot, P/D drinking a lot of water, excessive eating, walking funny on the back legs, rapid weight loss? If you know any of the test results, and could share them with us, we would appreciate it.
The 3 keys to treating diabetes are food, insulin, home testing.
Sometimes, changing the food to a low carb food can make a big difference. The BG's (blood glucose) levels can go down 100 points. Does your cat like wet food or dry food better or a mix of the two? We have food suggestions for both types of food. If you can change the food before you start your cat Libby on insulin, that would be best.
Would you please tell us what food you are feeding your cat Libby right now?
A lot of people here feed the canned Fancy Feast Classic Pates, Friskies pates and Wellness grain free or core varieties. We have a vet, Dr. Lisa Pierson who has put together a food chart of most of the canned foods available in the US. food chartWe recommend low carb being < 10% for the best results in changing the BG (blood glucose) numbers without insulin.
Let me know some of the answers to those questions I asked and we can go from there. We will get you through this difficult time.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thanks everyone for the responses ... and for your support!!
Six months ago I switched my cats (I have a male (Chase) and my sugarkitty Libby from Science Diet Light Hairball food to Natural Balance chicken and green pea L.I.D. I was so happy with the results... their coats were shinier and they both lost a little weight, but Libby lost the most. I brought her in to be sure it was nothing else that was causing the weight loss and lo and behold she was diagnosed with diabetes. They say she is a 'virgin' diabetic because all other levels and tests are good - no ketones in the urine. They said this was good, but the sugar level was still high.
Originally they did a blood test and when the sugar level from the test proved to be high, they asked for a urine sample. From the urine sample they diagnosed the diabetes. I never noticed any changes in her behavior - peeing a lot, walking funny, excessive drinking... that's why everything seemed okay. What triggered my visit to the vet was that my male cat didn't lose as much as my female after changing the food.
My cats free feed on dry food and are very finicky about anything wet - for instance, they'll drink the tuna water but will leave the tuna! ?? The only thing they both ate was when I got a sample of Fancy Feast chicken and cheddar cheese - they both ate some of that.
I am waiting for the vet to call me back today to go over the specifics on maintenance, but do you know if she has to have insulin, is it forever or if we can get her sugar level down, can it be regulated with oral medications and diet? Do you have to draw blood every day like humans do to check the levels or is it done through the urine? Where do you administer the shots?
Ugh so many questions! Thanks for any help you can give.
Thanks everyone for the responses ... and for your support!!
Six months ago I switched my cats (I have a male (Chase) and my sugarkitty Libby from Science Diet Light Hairball food to Natural Balance chicken and green pea L.I.D. I was so happy with the results... their coats were shinier and they both lost a little weight, but Libby lost the most. I brought her in to be sure it was nothing else that was causing the weight loss and lo and behold she was diagnosed with diabetes. They say she is a 'virgin' diabetic because all other levels and tests are good - no ketones in the urine. They said this was good, but the sugar level was still high.
Originally they did a blood test and when the sugar level from the test proved to be high, they asked for a urine sample. From the urine sample they diagnosed the diabetes. I never noticed any changes in her behavior - peeing a lot, walking funny, excessive drinking... that's why everything seemed okay. What triggered my visit to the vet was that my male cat didn't lose as much as my female after changing the food.
My cats free feed on dry food and are very finicky about anything wet - for instance, they'll drink the tuna water but will leave the tuna! ?? The only thing they both ate was when I got a sample of Fancy Feast chicken and cheddar cheese - they both ate some of that.
I am waiting for the vet to call me back today to go over the specifics on maintenance, but do you know if she has to have insulin, is it forever or if we can get her sugar level down, can it be regulated with oral medications and diet? Do you have to draw blood every day like humans do to check the levels or is it done through the urine? Where do you administer the shots?
Ugh so many questions! Thanks for any help you can give.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
You want a low carb food ... and the prescription foods aren't. Canned or raw foods are preferred due to the greater moisture content. This helps protect the kidneys. for much more nutrition info from a vet go to Cat Info.
For steadfast dry food eaters, Evo Cat & Kitten, Wellness Core original in gold and tan bag, Young Again 0 Carb, or Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried (meant to be rehydrated, and may be a way to ease them into wet foods).
Inexpensive canned includes Friskies Pates, both regular and Special Diet versions.
Any food transitions should be gradual to reduce GI upsets like vomiting and diarrhea.
chasenlibby said:
You want a low carb food ... and the prescription foods aren't. Canned or raw foods are preferred due to the greater moisture content. This helps protect the kidneys. for much more nutrition info from a vet go to Cat Info.
For steadfast dry food eaters, Evo Cat & Kitten, Wellness Core original in gold and tan bag, Young Again 0 Carb, or Stella and Chewy's Freeze Dried (meant to be rehydrated, and may be a way to ease them into wet foods).
Inexpensive canned includes Friskies Pates, both regular and Special Diet versions.
Any food transitions should be gradual to reduce GI upsets like vomiting and diarrhea.
Larry and Kitties
Member Since 2009
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
but do you know if she has to have insulin, is it forever or if we can get her sugar level down,
Many cats no longer require insulin after a while, especially if you feed them a low-carb canned food
can it be regulated with oral medications and diet?
The oral ones almost never work in cats. Some will regulate on low-carb canned foods
Do you have to draw blood every day like humans do to check the levels
Most caretakers here test the blood before each insulin shots and sometime in between shots
or is it done through the urine?
A few test the urine for glucose. However, that only give average of BG and glucose only gets into the urine if the blood-glucose level is about a 160-240. Thus, if the urine show not glucose the actual BG could be too low.
Where do you administer the shots?
Around the neck (scruff) and on the side of the body
but do you know if she has to have insulin, is it forever or if we can get her sugar level down,
Many cats no longer require insulin after a while, especially if you feed them a low-carb canned food
can it be regulated with oral medications and diet?
The oral ones almost never work in cats. Some will regulate on low-carb canned foods
Do you have to draw blood every day like humans do to check the levels
Most caretakers here test the blood before each insulin shots and sometime in between shots
or is it done through the urine?
A few test the urine for glucose. However, that only give average of BG and glucose only gets into the urine if the blood-glucose level is about a 160-240. Thus, if the urine show not glucose the actual BG could be too low.
Where do you administer the shots?
Around the neck (scruff) and on the side of the body
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
hello and welcome to the board!
Ro answer some of your questions..
Oral medications for diabetes are bad for cats however - they stimulate the pancreas - which is a bad idea when its already damaged and stressed
We also test urine occasionally for ketones to make sure there is no diabetic ketoacidosis which is a dangerous condition. You can test the urine for sugar too but its not as accurate as testing the blood -because it depends so much on how much the cat drank, when he last peed etc.
Wendy
hello and welcome to the board!
Ro answer some of your questions..
Diet is key - the sooner you can get them onto a low carb canned (or dry) like BJ said, the more likely they can be diet controlled.
Oral medications for diabetes are bad for cats however - they stimulate the pancreas - which is a bad idea when its already damaged and stressed
Its a good idea to draw blood before every shot because you want to know if the cat is low and act accordingly. And then again a spot check during the day to see how low the cat is going and adjust insulin needs. But its fairly easy since we test their ears and they dont have many nerve endings there ( unlike your finger). Most cats get used to it and dont feel it.
We also test urine occasionally for ketones to make sure there is no diabetic ketoacidosis which is a dangerous condition. You can test the urine for sugar too but its not as accurate as testing the blood -because it depends so much on how much the cat drank, when he last peed etc.
There are a variety of spots you can shoot - see here: http://www.bd.com/ca/diabetes/english/page.aspx?cat=14501&id=14874
Wendy
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Insulin: Some cats can be successfully managed through diet change alone and do not require supplemental insulin. Hopefully that will be the case with your Libby. If not, there are three insulins that have been found to be most effective for cats: Lantus/glargine, Levemir/detemir, and PZI/ProZinc. You do not want any other insulin, so if the vet recommends Novolin or Vetsulin, refuse it and ask for one of the three I mentioned above. There are also Savings Discounts offered by the manufacturers of Lantus and Levemir that reduce the cost significantly, so if your vet prescribes either of those two insulins, ask for it in "pen" form. You will use it the same as you would a vial, but it's much cheaper going that route. So, depending on your state/country, you might also need a prescription for syringes.
You never want to give oral insulin medications to a cat as they've been shown to damage the pancreas further, usually permanently, making remission a lot less likely. Remission, or going "Off The Juice" (OTJ) means that your cat no longer requires insulin injections and is a "diet-controlled" diabetic, aka a "broken" diabetic. :lol: You have the highest chance of getting Libby into remission within the first 6 months of diagnosis, so that's what we're aiming for here first.
Diet: I agree with BJM that getting them switched to a low carb, wet food is your best bet. The catinfo.org website also has a nutritional information list on most of the commercial canned food available (you want anything less than 10% carbs, the lower the better).
Home Testing:
Yes, we test our cats much like human diabetics test themselves, except we use their ears (which are actually less sensitive than our own fingertips). We've taught many people how to test their cats and it becomes fairly routine and even easier than feeding them. When starting out, however, you might run into a few problems, so here's a great link on Ear Testing Tips to help get you started. The other great benefit of home testing is that you do not need to take Libby into the vet to get tested or for expensive curves since you can do it at home. My vet has only seen Michelangelo once since diagnosis and that was for his one-year checkup and not even diabetes related.
Most of us use human glucometers since they're so much less expensive for the test strips than the pet meters, but are just as accurate (with a difference akin to Celsius vs. Fahrenheit). If you're in the US, Walmart carries the ReliOn brand that has the cheapest strips around, which is where the cost can easily add up. Even though she's not yet on insulin, I would still highly recommend getting a meter so you can see how the diet change might be affecting her numbers and if she needs to go on insulin.
In order to figure out what numbers you're looking for, I simply reference Wikipedia's Blood Sugar Guidelines Chart. We'll also be able to help you interpret what the numbers mean as you go along, so let us know if you have any questions.
Getting Started Shopping List:
1. Glucometer (i.e. a Walmart ReliOn Confirm/Micro or Prime)
2. Matching Strips
3. Lancing device if you prefer
4. Matching lancets if you're using a lancing device. If not, then look for the "alternate testing site" lancets, which are great to use for when first starting out.
5. Ketostix for testing the urine for ketones (a potentially dangerous condition that can develop from hyperglycemia)
6. Freeze-dried meat treats (essential when first starting out testing)
The AAHA Guidelines for Diabetes is a great resource for much of the information I provided above and is worth a read-through and perhaps even passing along to your vet. And please let us know how the follow-up vet visit goes!
chasenlibby said:
Insulin: Some cats can be successfully managed through diet change alone and do not require supplemental insulin. Hopefully that will be the case with your Libby. If not, there are three insulins that have been found to be most effective for cats: Lantus/glargine, Levemir/detemir, and PZI/ProZinc. You do not want any other insulin, so if the vet recommends Novolin or Vetsulin, refuse it and ask for one of the three I mentioned above. There are also Savings Discounts offered by the manufacturers of Lantus and Levemir that reduce the cost significantly, so if your vet prescribes either of those two insulins, ask for it in "pen" form. You will use it the same as you would a vial, but it's much cheaper going that route. So, depending on your state/country, you might also need a prescription for syringes.
You never want to give oral insulin medications to a cat as they've been shown to damage the pancreas further, usually permanently, making remission a lot less likely. Remission, or going "Off The Juice" (OTJ) means that your cat no longer requires insulin injections and is a "diet-controlled" diabetic, aka a "broken" diabetic. :lol: You have the highest chance of getting Libby into remission within the first 6 months of diagnosis, so that's what we're aiming for here first.
Diet: I agree with BJM that getting them switched to a low carb, wet food is your best bet. The catinfo.org website also has a nutritional information list on most of the commercial canned food available (you want anything less than 10% carbs, the lower the better).
Home Testing:
Yes, we test our cats much like human diabetics test themselves, except we use their ears (which are actually less sensitive than our own fingertips). We've taught many people how to test their cats and it becomes fairly routine and even easier than feeding them. When starting out, however, you might run into a few problems, so here's a great link on Ear Testing Tips to help get you started. The other great benefit of home testing is that you do not need to take Libby into the vet to get tested or for expensive curves since you can do it at home. My vet has only seen Michelangelo once since diagnosis and that was for his one-year checkup and not even diabetes related.
Most of us use human glucometers since they're so much less expensive for the test strips than the pet meters, but are just as accurate (with a difference akin to Celsius vs. Fahrenheit). If you're in the US, Walmart carries the ReliOn brand that has the cheapest strips around, which is where the cost can easily add up. Even though she's not yet on insulin, I would still highly recommend getting a meter so you can see how the diet change might be affecting her numbers and if she needs to go on insulin.
In order to figure out what numbers you're looking for, I simply reference Wikipedia's Blood Sugar Guidelines Chart. We'll also be able to help you interpret what the numbers mean as you go along, so let us know if you have any questions.
Getting Started Shopping List:
1. Glucometer (i.e. a Walmart ReliOn Confirm/Micro or Prime)
2. Matching Strips
3. Lancing device if you prefer
4. Matching lancets if you're using a lancing device. If not, then look for the "alternate testing site" lancets, which are great to use for when first starting out.
5. Ketostix for testing the urine for ketones (a potentially dangerous condition that can develop from hyperglycemia)
6. Freeze-dried meat treats (essential when first starting out testing)
The AAHA Guidelines for Diabetes is a great resource for much of the information I provided above and is worth a read-through and perhaps even passing along to your vet. And please let us know how the follow-up vet visit goes!
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
How is the blood tested? Do you have to prick their paw? I can see how this would grow to be an aversion for her after doing it once or twice. It's good to hear that it may be able to be controlled strictly through a low carb diet. What are some of the canned foods that you would recommend? On another note, what is the average cost for the insulin and supplies? Any idea?
We had some pretty nasty storms here in Illinois last night, so the vet has been closed for half the day - still waiting for a reply from the message received last night as to next steps.
How is the blood tested? Do you have to prick their paw? I can see how this would grow to be an aversion for her after doing it once or twice. It's good to hear that it may be able to be controlled strictly through a low carb diet. What are some of the canned foods that you would recommend? On another note, what is the average cost for the insulin and supplies? Any idea?
We had some pretty nasty storms here in Illinois last night, so the vet has been closed for half the day - still waiting for a reply from the message received last night as to next steps.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thanks Kpassa, this really helps me prepare on what to speak to my vet about. I appreciate the "experienced" advice, especially about the insulin and the checklist of items I'll need.
Thanks Kpassa, this really helps me prepare on what to speak to my vet about. I appreciate the "experienced" advice, especially about the insulin and the checklist of items I'll need.
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Cost-wise, I'm not going to lie as it is expensive starting out:
As to daily costs, here is an example:
Total cost: ~$5 per day or ~$150 per month.
Of course, there are even cheaper ways of doing things, but I figured it might help to get a rough estimate of what its daily cost is vs. the up front cost.
Cost-wise, I'm not going to lie as it is expensive starting out:
- Insulin, depending on what you're using. If you pick Lantus or Levemir, the pens will last till expiration date if not used. If used, they should last anywhere from 3-6 months refrigerated and some people have reported they can last even longer (they simply lose potency over time). With the Lantus Savings Card, you pay only $25 per pen for up to 6 pens. With the Levemir FlexPen coupon, you can also save quite a bit of money.
- Blood glucose testing equipment: ketostix are fairly inexpensive. Glucometers run about $10-15 and are sometimes given out for free with purchase of test strips. Test strips is where they make their money. There are some cheap options, like the ReliOn Prime glucometer test strips which run about $9 for 50 strips. Also buying online is always cheapest. Lancets for a lancet pen are usually more costly than learning how to test with just a lancet (however, they're easier to re-use). Some people feel more comfortable allowing the lancet pen to do the penetrating while other people like the control of using the lancet free-hand, so it's up to you with which you prefer to use.
- Syringes are fairly cheap since you only need to use two a day. (I think they run ~$20 for a box of 100 IIRC?) You do NOT want to buy the pen syringes for the insulin pens but actual regular insulin syringes, with half-unit markings is best.
As to daily costs, here is an example:
- Daily insulin for two shots a day, depending on how much your kitty might need per shot and when it expires, is fairly cheap. I first purchased the vial at about $120 for 10mL of Lantus (I didn't know about the pens), which equates to about $20 a month for 6 months (before it expired), or about .66 cents a day or .33 cents a shot. I purchased the pen for $25 for 3mL of Lantus, which lasted me till the last drop at a little over 2 months giving 2.5u BID (for newly diagnosed, you will usually start with just 1u BID). Or, about $12.50 a month, .42 cents a day, or .21 cents a shot.
- Syringes for two shots a day at about $12 a month or .40 cents a day or .20 cents a syringe
- Low Carb, Wet food under 10% carbs: Friskies being the cheapest at ~.50 cents per 5.5oz can. Most cats will eat two cans or more a day, depending on size. So, this is about a $1 a day per cat.
- Test strips: At minumum, you want to test before each shot and at the peak/nadir (for Lantus, it's around 6 hours after the first shot). Using the ReliOn Prime at about .18 cents a strip, this means at the very least, you'll be spending ~.72 cents a day. For me, I test a lot and still only use up about 10-15 strips a day, averaging out to about $2/day. Even if you tested every hour for 24 hours straight, you'd still end up spending only $4.32 (not counting any failed tests).
Total cost: ~$5 per day or ~$150 per month.
Of course, there are even cheaper ways of doing things, but I figured it might help to get a rough estimate of what its daily cost is vs. the up front cost.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
If you compare the costs that Kpassa gave you and break out the amounts for home testing, lancets, meter (one time), test strips and compare that to the cost of a single vet curve done at the vet clinic, $100-200, you will quickly understand why we think home testing is the way to go.
If you compare the costs that Kpassa gave you and break out the amounts for home testing, lancets, meter (one time), test strips and compare that to the cost of a single vet curve done at the vet clinic, $100-200, you will quickly understand why we think home testing is the way to go.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thanks Deb, Wink and Kpassa.. it is so great to know there are people out there who can give sound advice. I've been watching the instructional videos online to see how to do the testing and administering the insulin and I don't find myself as freaked out as I was yesterday. Due to the flooding in our area today, my vet was closed, so I was unable to get in today. I am still waiting for the call back. I will keep you all informed of the progress. It's still hard to believe that my kitty is sick... she played so much with her toys today and looks so good it's mind boggling to think of anything being wrong with her.
Thanks again! :RAHCAT
Thanks Deb, Wink and Kpassa.. it is so great to know there are people out there who can give sound advice. I've been watching the instructional videos online to see how to do the testing and administering the insulin and I don't find myself as freaked out as I was yesterday. Due to the flooding in our area today, my vet was closed, so I was unable to get in today. I am still waiting for the call back. I will keep you all informed of the progress. It's still hard to believe that my kitty is sick... she played so much with her toys today and looks so good it's mind boggling to think of anything being wrong with her.
Thanks again! :RAHCAT
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thats good she isnt showing signs, she is in the early stages and has a better chance of getting regulated fast or remission. Remission is a 40% chance within the first 6 months if you:
1. Move onto a low carb canned food like fancy feast pates or friskies pates
2. choose a good insulin ie lantus, levemir or prozinc
3. home test enough to see trends and dose effectiveness ie 4 times a day
Wendy
Thats good she isnt showing signs, she is in the early stages and has a better chance of getting regulated fast or remission. Remission is a 40% chance within the first 6 months if you:
1. Move onto a low carb canned food like fancy feast pates or friskies pates
2. choose a good insulin ie lantus, levemir or prozinc
3. home test enough to see trends and dose effectiveness ie 4 times a day
Wendy
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
You may have noticed that vets will ask you how your cat is eating and drinking when you go in for regular visits. Those are just some of the Secondary Monitoring Tools listed in my signature link.
Urine ketone testing is very important any time the cat is not eating, is ill, or is not regulated. Ketones are a by-product of fat breakdown for calories. Too many may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal, expensive to treat (requires hospitalization), complication of diabetes.
You may have noticed that vets will ask you how your cat is eating and drinking when you go in for regular visits. Those are just some of the Secondary Monitoring Tools listed in my signature link.
Urine ketone testing is very important any time the cat is not eating, is ill, or is not regulated. Ketones are a by-product of fat breakdown for calories. Too many may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal, expensive to treat (requires hospitalization), complication of diabetes.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
I have an appointment tomorrow and they will give me all the necessary info. My vet did mention the same insulin brands as you have, so that is a good thing. I'll keep you all posted on the results of the visit. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she has a good chance at remission - that would be awesome. :smile:
I have an appointment tomorrow and they will give me all the necessary info. My vet did mention the same insulin brands as you have, so that is a good thing. I'll keep you all posted on the results of the visit. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she has a good chance at remission - that would be awesome. :smile:
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
After your vet appointment, I hope you will come back and let us know what your vet said. What insulin he prescribed and what diet.
Let us know how else we can help. You've only started to see the tip of the iceberg in the wide range of experience of people on this board for the day to day management of feline diabetes.
Let us know what questions you have at the vet. We hope he is supportive of home testing because that is one of the most important actions we can take to help our diabetic cats.
When you have a moment, adding some information to your signature would be helpful. This is strictly voluntary but it will help us to help you better.
I realize you don't know what meter yet or what insulin, but you can add that data later. Please consider doing this signature update so we can help you better. Thanks.
After your vet appointment, I hope you will come back and let us know what your vet said. What insulin he prescribed and what diet.
Let us know how else we can help. You've only started to see the tip of the iceberg in the wide range of experience of people on this board for the day to day management of feline diabetes.
Let us know what questions you have at the vet. We hope he is supportive of home testing because that is one of the most important actions we can take to help our diabetic cats.
When you have a moment, adding some information to your signature would be helpful. This is strictly voluntary but it will help us to help you better.
The google doc profile can wait a bit until you have some time. The signature information only takes a couple of minutes.
I realize you don't know what meter yet or what insulin, but you can add that data later. Please consider doing this signature update so we can help you better. Thanks.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Hi everyone,
Well, today is day 2 of administering the insulin. The vet has her on ProZinc... one cc in the am and 1 cc in the pm. So far so good. Libby doesn't even realize I'm giving her the shot... she loves to be cuddled, so while I'm doing the cuddling, I pinch her side and in it goes. No flinching or anything. Phew! As for food, she (and my other male cat/not diabetic) were eating Natural Balance Green Pea and Chicken LID kibble. I have picked up a few cans of Fancy Feast chicken (those without gravy) and so far Libby is good eating canned food, but my male cat turns up his nose. But that's okay, since he's not the sugar kitty! My vet said not to switch foods right away, but to gradually introduce the wet food. Again, so far so good. They ordered my testing kit for me and it should be in next week - hopefully before the 4th of July holiday. That's it for now... not much else to report. It's hard to tell if there is any real change yet... I think the urine output may be a little less but I am trying to be diligent about scooping the box every couple of hours to see. Thanks again for your support and I'll look into filling out the profile. Stay tuned for further updates!
(And hi Karen - nice to know there's a neighbor close by!)
Hi everyone,
Well, today is day 2 of administering the insulin. The vet has her on ProZinc... one cc in the am and 1 cc in the pm. So far so good. Libby doesn't even realize I'm giving her the shot... she loves to be cuddled, so while I'm doing the cuddling, I pinch her side and in it goes. No flinching or anything. Phew! As for food, she (and my other male cat/not diabetic) were eating Natural Balance Green Pea and Chicken LID kibble. I have picked up a few cans of Fancy Feast chicken (those without gravy) and so far Libby is good eating canned food, but my male cat turns up his nose. But that's okay, since he's not the sugar kitty! My vet said not to switch foods right away, but to gradually introduce the wet food. Again, so far so good. They ordered my testing kit for me and it should be in next week - hopefully before the 4th of July holiday. That's it for now... not much else to report. It's hard to tell if there is any real change yet... I think the urine output may be a little less but I am trying to be diligent about scooping the box every couple of hours to see. Thanks again for your support and I'll look into filling out the profile. Stay tuned for further updates!
(And hi Karen - nice to know there's a neighbor close by!)
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
How are the 5 P's (purring, preening, playing, peeing, pooping) and her appetite? Doing well?
I think you may mean 1 unit?
Yeah! A cooperating cat. Do you need to bribe her with treats so she doesn't notice or she just loves the cuddling?
How are the 5 P's (purring, preening, playing, peeing, pooping) and her appetite? Doing well?
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Yes! Units... sorry, just learning all the acronyms!
The 5 P's are Purrfect.... The only symptom I had with Libby was the weight loss and she was peeing a lot more. Other than that, she seemed perfectly normal. She played, peed, pooped, purrs like a truck on steroids! :lol: and her coat is soft and shiny (I thought that was due to the change to Natural Balance from Science Diet). She is a true girly girl... always making sure she is preened to perfection. Libby is a rescue cat that I got when the mother of the litter died at birth. She was hand fed from day one, so she is very used to being held and handled... a good thing for me right now! No need for treats, she just loves the cuddling. I just have to be aware of my male cat so that he doesn't get jealous from all the attention that Libby is getting.
Yes! Units... sorry, just learning all the acronyms!
The 5 P's are Purrfect.... The only symptom I had with Libby was the weight loss and she was peeing a lot more. Other than that, she seemed perfectly normal. She played, peed, pooped, purrs like a truck on steroids! :lol: and her coat is soft and shiny (I thought that was due to the change to Natural Balance from Science Diet). She is a true girly girl... always making sure she is preened to perfection. Libby is a rescue cat that I got when the mother of the litter died at birth. She was hand fed from day one, so she is very used to being held and handled... a good thing for me right now! No need for treats, she just loves the cuddling. I just have to be aware of my male cat so that he doesn't get jealous from all the attention that Libby is getting.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
We've got lots of acronyms and a glossary to help you. are you new and confused about our jargon? read our glossary right here in Feline Health, up in the Announcements section.
Just wanted to double check on how much you were giving. ;-)
It's always nice when the 'treat' for getting the shot and testing can be cuddling or brushing or something. Doesn't always have to be food.
I know your test kit isn't here yet, but you could setup a spreadsheet now to start to track the units you give, how much Libby is eating and add test numbers later.
For those people home testing or planning on it, we have a wonderful way to keep track of the test data and shots. There is a google spreadsheet template you can use so you don’t have to start from scratch and figure out what you want it to look like.
We have instructions on how to set one up. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207The color coding is helpful to see trends over time in how the insulin is working. We even help set them up for people that may be technology challenged. Please ask if you need help.
Having a SS set up and linked to your signature is a great way to get some suggestions from the experienced people on FDMB. You can even share the spreadsheet with your vet, by email. It's totally optional but it can get you some great advice on how to manage your cat with his BG numbers.
What do you think? You can look at Wink's SS in my signature to see what one looks like. I found it invaluable.
We've got lots of acronyms and a glossary to help you. are you new and confused about our jargon? read our glossary right here in Feline Health, up in the Announcements section.
Just wanted to double check on how much you were giving. ;-)
It's always nice when the 'treat' for getting the shot and testing can be cuddling or brushing or something. Doesn't always have to be food.
I know your test kit isn't here yet, but you could setup a spreadsheet now to start to track the units you give, how much Libby is eating and add test numbers later.
For those people home testing or planning on it, we have a wonderful way to keep track of the test data and shots. There is a google spreadsheet template you can use so you don’t have to start from scratch and figure out what you want it to look like.
We have instructions on how to set one up. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207The color coding is helpful to see trends over time in how the insulin is working. We even help set them up for people that may be technology challenged. Please ask if you need help.
Having a SS set up and linked to your signature is a great way to get some suggestions from the experienced people on FDMB. You can even share the spreadsheet with your vet, by email. It's totally optional but it can get you some great advice on how to manage your cat with his BG numbers.
What do you think? You can look at Wink's SS in my signature to see what one looks like. I found it invaluable.
What's your male cats name? Is that Chase? Or is that your name?
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Chase is the name of my male cat. He's another rescue that came into my home when he was almost 2. He's a Norwegian Forest Cat - big feet, big boy! These two cats are inseparable... amazing. I had Chase for about 2 years before I got Libby as a kitten. It took about 1 hour for them to bond... seriously. He licked her all over and she fell asleep in his ruff... that was it. I was very lucky to have found these two furbabies!
With Libby, when I administer her shot, I basically put her horizontally in front of me, wrap my arms around her, pinch the skin on her side or belly and we're done. She purrs the whole time. Only once did she flinch. I do find that the syringes are very touchy and it is easy to accidentally touch the plunger and release the insulin before injection. Ugh! But I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
I am already writing down the dose, food intake, water intake, etc. on a form that the vet gave to me. I am anxious to get the test kit to see what's what. I do seem to see a little improvement in her water and food intake. Not as many clumps in the box!
I'll take a look at the form you recommend, too. Sounds like it has more places for more information.Thanks again for the support!!
Chase is the name of my male cat. He's another rescue that came into my home when he was almost 2. He's a Norwegian Forest Cat - big feet, big boy! These two cats are inseparable... amazing. I had Chase for about 2 years before I got Libby as a kitten. It took about 1 hour for them to bond... seriously. He licked her all over and she fell asleep in his ruff... that was it. I was very lucky to have found these two furbabies!
With Libby, when I administer her shot, I basically put her horizontally in front of me, wrap my arms around her, pinch the skin on her side or belly and we're done. She purrs the whole time. Only once did she flinch. I do find that the syringes are very touchy and it is easy to accidentally touch the plunger and release the insulin before injection. Ugh! But I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
I am already writing down the dose, food intake, water intake, etc. on a form that the vet gave to me. I am anxious to get the test kit to see what's what. I do seem to see a little improvement in her water and food intake. Not as many clumps in the box!
I'll take a look at the form you recommend, too. Sounds like it has more places for more information.Thanks again for the support!!
Hillary & Maui (GA)
Member Since 2009
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
That's great you are writing it down. But we can do you one better. Here is a link to set up a google spreadsheet so you can track your doses and BG testing. There is also a section for notes that you can include anything else you like.
If you need help setting up, understanding the spreadsheet, let us know. WE have plenty of tech savvy folks here.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207
That's great you are writing it down. But we can do you one better. Here is a link to set up a google spreadsheet so you can track your doses and BG testing. There is also a section for notes that you can include anything else you like.
If you need help setting up, understanding the spreadsheet, let us know. WE have plenty of tech savvy folks here.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207
edie zumwalt
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
I have a 7 year old female cat just diagnosed, Dodie. I am not sure how to post questions. Are there any retail stores that sell diabetic supplies?
I have a 7 year old female cat just diagnosed, Dodie. I am not sure how to post questions. Are there any retail stores that sell diabetic supplies?
Hillary & Maui (GA)
Member Since 2009
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Edie - You may want to start your own post that you can follow easily. To do that, on the top left of page, click new topic and then write your questions and check off the last box, above submit that says Notify me when a reply is posted This way you will get an email notification, when people reply to you.
To help you get started, I'm going to cut/paste your question into a new post and then you just need to hit reply, type in a message and click the notify me button so you get the email notifications.
Make sense?
Edie - You may want to start your own post that you can follow easily. To do that, on the top left of page, click new topic and then write your questions and check off the last box, above submit that says Notify me when a reply is posted This way you will get an email notification, when people reply to you.
To help you get started, I'm going to cut/paste your question into a new post and then you just need to hit reply, type in a message and click the notify me button so you get the email notifications.
Make sense?
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
One thing - the natural balance is a little high in carbs for a diabetic cat at 13% calories from carbs. The fancy feast classic pates are much better and will give you a much better chance for regulation and possible remission!
Wendy
One thing - the natural balance is a little high in carbs for a diabetic cat at 13% calories from carbs. The fancy feast classic pates are much better and will give you a much better chance for regulation and possible remission!
Wendy
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thanks Wendy,
I am slowly weening them off of the Natural Balance, but the vet wants to do this slowly. I have already introduced the wet food to them both with the Fancy Feast pates. So far so good.
Thanks Wendy,
I am slowly weening them off of the Natural Balance, but the vet wants to do this slowly. I have already introduced the wet food to them both with the Fancy Feast pates. So far so good.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Do it as fast as you can. That was the food that caused my Tiggy to fall out of remission a year ago and now I dont think he will ever get back in. You only have a short remission window..
Do it as fast as you can. That was the food that caused my Tiggy to fall out of remission a year ago and now I dont think he will ever get back in. You only have a short remission window..
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Hi Jo, How are things going with Libby and her roomie Chase?
I looked back and you said the test kit was supposed to come this week. I wanted to point you to these 2 excellent documents about home testing. I suggest reading them over and then coming back to ask any questions you might have, even before that test kit arrives.
The how to's of home testing. how to home test tips and videos
The how to make your cat more accepting of the process testing psychology Written by member Kpassa.
I highly recommend bribes of freeze dried chicken. My Wink adores those. ;-)
p.s. Would you be willing to update your signature with your name and your cats names?
Hi Jo, How are things going with Libby and her roomie Chase?
I looked back and you said the test kit was supposed to come this week. I wanted to point you to these 2 excellent documents about home testing. I suggest reading them over and then coming back to ask any questions you might have, even before that test kit arrives.
The how to's of home testing. how to home test tips and videos
The how to make your cat more accepting of the process testing psychology Written by member Kpassa.
I highly recommend bribes of freeze dried chicken. My Wink adores those. ;-)
p.s. Would you be willing to update your signature with your name and your cats names?
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Libby has been on the ProZinc insulin now for two weeks. I did a check with the glucometer yesterday and it is still a little over 300. How long does it take before the insulin starts to work? I have a call in to the vet to ask but thought someone out there may know what I should be expecting in the first two weeks. I've been successful at slowly switching her to the canned food with 4 or less carbs (fancy feast). Thanks!
Libby has been on the ProZinc insulin now for two weeks. I did a check with the glucometer yesterday and it is still a little over 300. How long does it take before the insulin starts to work? I have a call in to the vet to ask but thought someone out there may know what I should be expecting in the first two weeks. I've been successful at slowly switching her to the canned food with 4 or less carbs (fancy feast). Thanks!
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
When are you testing in relation to the shot?
What is the current dose?
What meter are you using for testing?
We could help you more if we could see some BG numbers.
When are you testing in relation to the shot?
What is the current dose?
What meter are you using for testing?
We could help you more if we could see some BG numbers.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
The effect of insulin on glucose level often makes a smile shape when graphed.
The glucose is almost always higher at shot time and almost always lower at nadir - about +4 to +6 hours after getting ProZinc - barring dose, diet (ex getting into high carb foods), or other health conditions (ex vomiting).
The effect of insulin on glucose level often makes a smile shape when graphed.
The glucose is almost always higher at shot time and almost always lower at nadir - about +4 to +6 hours after getting ProZinc - barring dose, diet (ex getting into high carb foods), or other health conditions (ex vomiting).
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
So is she totally off the natural balance now?
How often are you testing ? We recommend a test before every shot as well as a test mid cycle ( 5-7 hours after shot) and one before bed. That way you can get a much better picture of whats going on. You might not see anything with just an occasional test. And the before shot test is critical so you dont shoot when too low. Thats where teh spreasheet is very very useful for you, your vet and us!!
Wendy
So is she totally off the natural balance now?
How often are you testing ? We recommend a test before every shot as well as a test mid cycle ( 5-7 hours after shot) and one before bed. That way you can get a much better picture of whats going on. You might not see anything with just an occasional test. And the before shot test is critical so you dont shoot when too low. Thats where teh spreasheet is very very useful for you, your vet and us!!
Wendy
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Over a month now.. up to 3.5 u of ProZinc (fro original 1 unit) .. counts still high (about 328 mid day). Totally off of the Natural Balance and only eating Fancy Feast with the lowest carb rating from the list for the last month. Pretty discouraged that the numbers aren't lower. She takes the shots really well, but the ear prick is horrible. I've tried everything (rubbing her ears, warming her ears, etc.) and can never get enough blood the first prick. Her little ears get sore after doing a curve for a day. I won't do the paw - don't need an infection if she sticks her foot into the litter pan. Just wanted to throw out an update for those interested.
Over a month now.. up to 3.5 u of ProZinc (fro original 1 unit) .. counts still high (about 328 mid day). Totally off of the Natural Balance and only eating Fancy Feast with the lowest carb rating from the list for the last month. Pretty discouraged that the numbers aren't lower. She takes the shots really well, but the ear prick is horrible. I've tried everything (rubbing her ears, warming her ears, etc.) and can never get enough blood the first prick. Her little ears get sore after doing a curve for a day. I won't do the paw - don't need an infection if she sticks her foot into the litter pan. Just wanted to throw out an update for those interested.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thats great she is only on the low carb foods now. I have some questions which might give us more info into why she isnt coming down lower
First, do you test her midday every day or every few days? Do you have any readings from the PM cycle? I would like to see some readings from the last week if poss...
For testing - we might be able to tweak that to help you more
1. what type of meter are you using?
2. Are you using the lancets freehand or the tool?
3. what size lancets are you using?
Let me know as I might have more tips for you.
Wendy
Thats great she is only on the low carb foods now. I have some questions which might give us more info into why she isnt coming down lower
First, do you test her midday every day or every few days? Do you have any readings from the PM cycle? I would like to see some readings from the last week if poss...
For testing - we might be able to tweak that to help you more
1. what type of meter are you using?
2. Are you using the lancets freehand or the tool?
3. what size lancets are you using?
Let me know as I might have more tips for you.
Wendy
buggyshaggy
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
hmm very detail articleKPassa said:chasenlibby said:
Insulin: Some cats can be successfully managed through diet change alone and do not require supplemental insulin. Hopefully that will be the case with your Libby. If not, there are three insulins that have been found to be most effective for cats: Lantus/glargine, Levemir/detemir, and PZI/ProZinc. You do not want any other insulin, so if the vet recommends Novolin or Vetsulin, refuse it and ask for one of the three I mentioned above. There are also Savings Discounts offered by the manufacturers of Lantus and Levemir that reduce the cost significantly, so if your vet prescribes either of those two insulins, ask for it in "pen" form. You will use it the same as you would a vial, but it's much cheaper going that route. So, depending on your state/country, you might also need a prescription for syringes.
You never want to give oral insulin medications to a cat as they've been shown to damage the pancreas further, usually permanently, making remission a lot less likely. Remission, or going "Off The Juice" (OTJ) means that your cat no longer requires insulin injections and is a "diet-controlled" diabetic, aka a "broken" diabetic. :lol: You have the highest chance of getting Libby into remission within the first 6 months of diagnosis, so that's what we're aiming for here first.
Diet: I agree with BJM that getting them switched to a low carb, wet food is your best bet. The catinfo.org website also has a nutritional information list on most of the commercial canned food available (you want anything less than 10% carbs, the lower the better).Diabetes symptoms
Home Testing:
Yes, we test our cats much like human diabetics test themselves, except we use their ears (which are actually less sensitive than our own fingertips). We've taught many people how to test their cats and it becomes fairly routine and even easier than feeding them. When starting out, however, you might run into a few problems, so here's a great link on ).Diabetes
to help get you started. The other great benefit of home testing is that you do not need to take Libby into the vet to get tested or for expensive curves since you can do it at home. My vet has only seen Michelangelo once since diagnosis and that was for his one-year checkup and not even diabetes related.
Most of us use human glucometers since they're so much less expensive for the test strips than the pet meters, but are just as accurate (with a difference akin to Celsius vs. Fahrenheit). If you're in the US, Walmart carries the ReliOn brand that has the cheapest strips around, which is where the cost can easily add up. Even though she's not yet on insulin, I would still highly recommend getting a meter so you can see how the diet change might be affecting her numbers and if she needs to go on insulin.
In order to figure out what numbers you're looking for, I simply reference Wikipedia's Diabetes causes Chart. We'll also be able to help you interpret what the numbers mean as you go along, so let us know if you have any questions.
Getting Started Shopping List:
1. Glucometer (i.e. a Walmart ReliOn Confirm/Micro or Prime)
2. Matching Strips
3. Lancing device if you prefer
4. Matching lancets if you're using a lancing device. If not, then look for the "alternate testing site" lancets, which are great to use for when first starting out.
5. Ketostix for testing the urine for ketones (a potentially dangerous condition that can develop from hyperglycemia)
6. Freeze-dried meat treats (essential when first starting out testing)
The ).Diabetes treatment is a great resource for much of the information I provided above and is worth a read-through and perhaps even passing along to your vet. And please let us know how the follow-up vet visit goes!
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Hello KPassa,
Thanks for the info. I finally got all of the items I need to do the testing. The tool for the lancets is awesome. I was having one heck of a time trying to do it without one. Good thing Libby is so patient! She's been great through all of this. She takes the shots without any hesitation and now that I can do the testing easier, we're good! I have weened both of my cats off of the dry food and have been giving them Fancy Feast with the lowest carb count, however, I am noticing that my male cat (non-diabetic) is gaining weight! Ugh! So I looked at the fat and calorie content and realized it is kind of high in Fancy Feast. I am going to try BFF (Best Friends Feline) food since, according to the list, has the least amount of calories, higher protein and less fat. Hopefully they will both like this food. It's hard to give one of them a different type of food than the other, since they are both curious as to what's in the others bowl! LOL We are currently using ProZinc and its been almost two months. Her numbers range between low 200's and low 300's. She is taking 4 units now. Have a follow up visit next week. I will do a curve for a few days before the visit. Maybe the new food will help, too. Not sure. Anyway, the Ketostix are the only thing I still need to buy. Can I get them from a drugstore or do I have to get it through the vet? Anyway, that's the latest... thanks for all the info!
Hello KPassa,
Thanks for the info. I finally got all of the items I need to do the testing. The tool for the lancets is awesome. I was having one heck of a time trying to do it without one. Good thing Libby is so patient! She's been great through all of this. She takes the shots without any hesitation and now that I can do the testing easier, we're good! I have weened both of my cats off of the dry food and have been giving them Fancy Feast with the lowest carb count, however, I am noticing that my male cat (non-diabetic) is gaining weight! Ugh! So I looked at the fat and calorie content and realized it is kind of high in Fancy Feast. I am going to try BFF (Best Friends Feline) food since, according to the list, has the least amount of calories, higher protein and less fat. Hopefully they will both like this food. It's hard to give one of them a different type of food than the other, since they are both curious as to what's in the others bowl! LOL We are currently using ProZinc and its been almost two months. Her numbers range between low 200's and low 300's. She is taking 4 units now. Have a follow up visit next week. I will do a curve for a few days before the visit. Maybe the new food will help, too. Not sure. Anyway, the Ketostix are the only thing I still need to buy. Can I get them from a drugstore or do I have to get it through the vet? Anyway, that's the latest... thanks for all the info!
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Ketostik or the generic equivalent should be available at any drug store. Sometimes, you need to ask because they are kept behind the counter.
Ketostik or the generic equivalent should be available at any drug store. Sometimes, you need to ask because they are kept behind the counter.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
The 200-300s are preshot numbers? When you do the curve I would get a few spot checks too for 2-3days in a row just to be sure there is no bouncing going on ie
Preshot tests before each shot
Mid cycle test 5-7 hours after morning shot
Before bed test (many cats drop low at night so if this is lower than the evening preshot test you might want some tests later in the cycle)
Wendy
The 200-300s are preshot numbers? When you do the curve I would get a few spot checks too for 2-3days in a row just to be sure there is no bouncing going on ie
Preshot tests before each shot
Mid cycle test 5-7 hours after morning shot
Before bed test (many cats drop low at night so if this is lower than the evening preshot test you might want some tests later in the cycle)
Wendy
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Thanks Kpassa for the info on the ketostix.
The lowest was 214 midday - the highest 321 an hour after the first shot.
I plan on doing a curve tomorrow - is this supposed to be done every two hours or only three times a day?
Thanks Kpassa for the info on the ketostix.
The lowest was 214 midday - the highest 321 an hour after the first shot.
I plan on doing a curve tomorrow - is this supposed to be done every two hours or only three times a day?
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Because of bounces ( below), I prefer 4 + tests per day over a few days as opposed to a curve. But a curve can also be useful in addition to that - every 2 or 3 hours its up to you.
Bounces - what are they and is my cat doing them?
When a cat is first diagnosed, the blood glucose has probably been high for a while. As the insulin starts to take effect and numbers start to come down, the liver has to learn to adjust to the lower numbers. We call this "liver training school". But before it relearns that low numbers are ok, when the BG drops to a number lower than the liver is accustomed, or if BGs drop low, or if the BG drops suddenly, the liver”panics” and reacts by releasing counterregulatory hormones and glucagon. This drives the BG back up. This is what we call a "bounce". Bounces can take up to 72 hours to clear so we are generally careful about increasing doses during the bounce. Once the bounce clears, then you can see the "real" numbers and determine if the dose needs to go up or down.
Because of bounces ( below), I prefer 4 + tests per day over a few days as opposed to a curve. But a curve can also be useful in addition to that - every 2 or 3 hours its up to you.
Bounces - what are they and is my cat doing them?
When a cat is first diagnosed, the blood glucose has probably been high for a while. As the insulin starts to take effect and numbers start to come down, the liver has to learn to adjust to the lower numbers. We call this "liver training school". But before it relearns that low numbers are ok, when the BG drops to a number lower than the liver is accustomed, or if BGs drop low, or if the BG drops suddenly, the liver”panics” and reacts by releasing counterregulatory hormones and glucagon. This drives the BG back up. This is what we call a "bounce". Bounces can take up to 72 hours to clear so we are generally careful about increasing doses during the bounce. Once the bounce clears, then you can see the "real" numbers and determine if the dose needs to go up or down.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
OK now you have really confused me... a bounce???
How do you know it's a bounce and not the real numbers? We're going on two months now - how long does it take to "retrain the liver?" This is the first I'm hearing about this phenomenon! Ugh! Why is this so complicated??? It's easier with people!
OK now you have really confused me... a bounce???
How do you know it's a bounce and not the real numbers? We're going on two months now - how long does it take to "retrain the liver?" This is the first I'm hearing about this phenomenon! Ugh! Why is this so complicated??? It's easier with people!
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Sorry to confuse you. Bouncing is very common which is why infrequent curves can be inaccurate as you could be looking at a bounce day.
Many cats bounce for a long time, months, longer.. It depends on the cat. And then one day they stop bouncing and maybe go into remission. The only way you know if they are bouncing is with testing and a spreadsheet to see what's going on.
Its fairly easy to see. Usually you get a green or blue followed by high flat yellow pink or red numbers for a day or longer which doesn't correlate with the usual lantus action (gentle curve.. high at preshot, low around 5-7hours and a climb back to high numbers at the next preshot)
Wendy
Sorry to confuse you. Bouncing is very common which is why infrequent curves can be inaccurate as you could be looking at a bounce day.
Many cats bounce for a long time, months, longer.. It depends on the cat. And then one day they stop bouncing and maybe go into remission. The only way you know if they are bouncing is with testing and a spreadsheet to see what's going on.
Its fairly easy to see. Usually you get a green or blue followed by high flat yellow pink or red numbers for a day or longer which doesn't correlate with the usual lantus action (gentle curve.. high at preshot, low around 5-7hours and a climb back to high numbers at the next preshot)
Wendy
edie zumwalt
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
My name is Edie. I live in Briarcliff, Texas, a suburb of Austin. Dodie is my black female cat who was diagnosed the first of June. She was not eating and losing weight. I have three other cats and they all eat Iams dry food. After Dodie was diagnosed I read a lot on nutrition and how important it was to change them to wet food because of the carbs. I have slowly changed her to wet and still keep Prurina DM out for all the cats. She doesn't eat much dry and she really likes the wet. So changing her over was not to hard. We started out with 1 unit of Lantus. She is up to 4 now. I had one of those Frut??? blood test done the last part of July and her sugar was still running high. That is when her vet increased her insulin to 4 units. I don't notice her drinking so much water now since she is on the wet food but she still wants to eat all the time and she is gaining weight. I worry I am feeding her to much but she begs
((( Any help for advice would be greatly appreciated. I still have a lot to learn. Edie
My name is Edie. I live in Briarcliff, Texas, a suburb of Austin. Dodie is my black female cat who was diagnosed the first of June. She was not eating and losing weight. I have three other cats and they all eat Iams dry food. After Dodie was diagnosed I read a lot on nutrition and how important it was to change them to wet food because of the carbs. I have slowly changed her to wet and still keep Prurina DM out for all the cats. She doesn't eat much dry and she really likes the wet. So changing her over was not to hard. We started out with 1 unit of Lantus. She is up to 4 now. I had one of those Frut??? blood test done the last part of July and her sugar was still running high. That is when her vet increased her insulin to 4 units. I don't notice her drinking so much water now since she is on the wet food but she still wants to eat all the time and she is gaining weight. I worry I am feeding her to much but she begs
((( Any help for advice would be greatly appreciated. I still have a lot to learn. Edie
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Hi Edie,
If you start your own post, we can address your specific concerns in your post.
Just click on the NewTopic box and ask your questions.
Hi Edie,
If you start your own post, we can address your specific concerns in your post.
Just click on the NewTopic box and ask your questions.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Anybody know the carb content in Fussie Cat canned food? I have been feeding my cats BFF (Best Felne Friends) because it was the lowest in carbs AND fat - so less calories. But someone recommended Fussie Cat - I can't find any information on this food.
Anybody know the carb content in Fussie Cat canned food? I have been feeding my cats BFF (Best Felne Friends) because it was the lowest in carbs AND fat - so less calories. But someone recommended Fussie Cat - I can't find any information on this food.
chasenlibby
Member Since 2013
Re: My female 6 year old cat was just diagnosed with diabete
Updated my signature and attached a spreadsheet. The Excel sheet was too complicated, so hopefully this Word doc gives enough info.
Updated my signature and attached a spreadsheet. The Excel sheet was too complicated, so hopefully this Word doc gives enough info.
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