1.When the vet diagnosed him 2 weeks ago, his BG was 461, so she thought 2 units of PZI twice a day would be a low starting dosage. What do you guys think about this? Is there a different type of Insulin that he should be on?
PZI and Prozinc are good insulins for a cat. Starting dose is at least partially based on your cats weight.
How much does your cat weigh?
2. I am thinking I need to get him on a regular feeding schedule before I start testing his blood and changing his PZ dosage. Any thoughts?
Some cats do well on free feeding. Some do well on meal feeding. We always like to suggest that you spread the meals out into mini-meals, at least 4 a day. That is so that all that food at one time does not put too much of a load on the pancreas and the insulin available. It's more up to you and your cat's eating style. ECID Every Cat is Different. The only reason I meal feed, is my 2 civies (non-diabetic cats), are food hogs and would gobble up food in minutes. You work with what goes on in your home and what would work with your life responsibilities and schedule.
3. Once I do start testing I know I need to do a curve. I read somewhere on this message board that I could do the test over a longer period of time. For example, right before feeding one day. The next day, 2 hours after feeding, etc. Is this an OK way to do it? Also, how many times and what time period do I test over?
A full curve is testing every 2 hours, from the pre-shot test until the next pre-shot test, over a 1 hour cycle. It only gives you a snapshot for that day. That is why, some random testing on different days can be helpful, to fill in the blanks on the spreadsheet and tell us how
your cat is reacting to the insulin.
The first test, the pre-shot test, should be done without any food for 2 hours before. That way, you know the pre-shot test is a more accurate, non-food influenced number and giving you a truer picture of what is going on.
4. I am dreading getting the blood from him. He is not going to let me do it, I am going to have to wrap him up in towels and restrain him, he also does not tolerate other people near him. I am worried that trying to get blood from him 6 times in one day to do a curve is going to stress him out so much it will throw off my results. The vets have to sedate him to get near him, so I try to avoid vet visits (the sedation) as much as possible.
Start slow. Take this one step at a time. Start by touching his ears, many times a day so he gets used to that. Give him a treat like freeze dried chicken or a tiny piece of cooked chicken. Those treats (or bribes) can get cats to accept the testing process better.
Next, add in a pretend poke with a lancet. Touch the rim of the ear quickly, with like the tip of a pencil. Give a treat.
Some people talk to their cat during this testing process, walking through all the steps and explaining what they are doing.
Be sure that you are calm, cool and collected. This may take an Oscar winning performance on your part, but eventually you will be calmer when poking. Deep breathing exercises will help you to destress. If you are calm, kitty will be calmer.
Is he ok with getting his paws touched? You may want to consider paw testing if he hates his ears being touched.
Reading this on
ear testing psychology may help you to get your cat to accept the testing process.
Three tries at getting blood, and stop to give a treat. Yes, some cats may need to be burrito wrapped at first. But try some of the other ideas in this document and work on the steps even before you get the testing supplies.
