New and in need of advice

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XSheeX

Member Since 2014
I'm a kitty momma of a 11 year old tortie named Sabrina. Sabrina was diagnosed in July with diabetes. After two nights in the hospital and a costly vet bill, we were sent home with ProZinc insulin and Hills perscription M/D food. Starting out we were on 4 units twice a day and then dropped down to 3 units twice a day when her sugar levels lowered.

Recently, we have been having some issues. On October the 12th she started vomiting and wouldn't stop. We ended up at the vet ER where they gave her antibiotic, anti-acid, and anti-nausea and told me to follow up with my normal vet. We also were put onto the bland diet of boiled chicken and rice. They didn't do extensive testing because I didn't have the $400 for a blood analysis. When we followed up with our vet, her sugar was in normal range because of her diet and was taken off the insulin for a week while we worked out getting her switched back to her normal diet which she was put on 1 unit twice a day once we returned to her insulin. She was on the insulin for about a week before we had another bout of vomiting. This time it wasn't to the extent of the first time. I immediately stopped insulin and kept her off of it for a few days. While off of the insulin, we didn't have any vomiting issues and seemed back to her normal self. I started her back on her insulin today (November 4th) since she was eating and drinking properly. She started vomiting again hours after the insulin.

I need some advice because I'm starting to believe she's having a reaction to the insulin because it seems to be a problem when she has her insulin. We have an appointment on Friday to see the vet for her usual glucose test and to talk about the issue we are having with the vomiting.

To end the long story, could her insulin be making her sick like this? There definitely seems to be a pattern. Also, I would love to get away from insulin in general because the vet bills are starting to add up.
 
Although uncommon, it is possible to be allergic to an insulin.

We strongly recommend home testing to help you keep your cat safe.
Pick up an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm, Confirm Micro, or Prime, matching test strips, and 26-28 gauge lancets.
Read over the instructions, then practice on yourself or an apple to get a feel for it.
Pick a place where you want to test; I used a half bathroom for Spitzer so the other cats wouldn't interfere.
Massage the ear you plan to test.
Between the vein along the edge of the ear and the ear edge itself is where you will draw your sample.
You can snag the droplet on a clean fingernail if your cat is squirmy.
Apply direct pressure for a minute or so after getting the test; this reduces bruising and scabbing.
 
Are you still feeding the Hill's?

That could also play in the "pattern".
Many of the cats here might eat it for a little while, but there are much better canned foods. It's expensive .
We can explain more if you want to know all the negatives about it.

Rice is a carb so you shouldn't be giving that, it can raise blood sugar.
 
You could also try switching to low carb canned food like fancy feast or friskies. The prescription diet could be part of the problem too.
 
While not familiar with the insulin you are using. My girl, also a tortie, is on Levemir

She could be dropping too low or too fast early in the cycle (the period of time between one shot to the next) and that rapid decent is causing her to vomit. Sort of like being on a roller coaster ride where the bottom drops out very quickly.

Having a meter and testing her at home could give you the answer. If she isn't falling fast early then its the insulin, if she is then reducing the dose might help

Mel and The Fur Gang
 
Hello Sabrina and what was your name? Welcome to FDMB. I know you are getting a lot of information thrown at you but it is all needed to help out Sabrina. One more thing to add to the list is to create a spreadsheet. If you will note that most of us has our kitty's spreadsheet attached to our signature. This will help all that help you when trying to figure out a trend, dose, sickness, etc. So here is the link (found in the technical section) to help you create one. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207

So first thing is to pick up an inexpensive human test meter as suggested before like the Relion Confirm or Micro (found at Walmart for $14), test strips (100 test strips for $35) and 28 gauge lancets (usually found in packages of 100 for $12). Also pick up a package of ketostix (package of 50 for$14) to test the urine for ketones. Then I would set up the spreadsheet.

While you are at Walmart, you can pick up Fancy Feast Classic. Be sure to get the Fancy Feast Classic like Turkey and Giblets. I think that has 3 carbs. Most of us do not feed any kind of dry food at all. It will dehydrate your kitty and most are high in carbs. You can also buy Friskies pate such as turkey/giblets say at Petsmart, etc. We have a large list of wet can food to choose from that are all 5 carbs and under. Many of us will also add water to the wet can food to keep the kitty hydrated.
 
Sorry for skipping out on my name in the original post. My name is Sheena.

Sabrina has been switched off of the Hills diet and is currently eating the Friskies classic pates. She has been off of the insulin since the original post and we haven't made it to the vets for an "official" glucose test. I have noticed she hasn't been drinking as much water and she's not urinating frequently. I have just obtained the monitor, lancets and testing strips to monitor her diabetes while at home but I still have to get the ketones urine strips. I have yet to successfully use it because I always end up with an angry cat. (She's never liked her ears messed with.) However, I will start a spreadsheet with her levels when I figure out what works on her with obtaining a blood sample.
 
Start getting Sabrina used to the testing one step at a time.

Pet Sabrina and praise her.
Touch her ears and praise her and give her a treat, like freeze dried chicken.
Touch ears, rub ears a bit or warm with the rice sock, praise her "What a good girl you are Sabrina!" Give her a treat.
Warm ear, praise her touch ear with your finger like you are going to poke, praise, give her a treat.
Touch ear, warm ear, praise, treat, click lancet pen near ear to get her used to the sound, treat, praise.
Eventually, you will have all the steps together and get those "poke" tests in.

This article has lots of tips on testing, the How To's of Testing really. Top Testing Tips

You may find this article by member Kpassa useful in getting Sabrina used to the testing process.Ear Testing Psychology

Just keep adding steps every time you sit with her and she will get used to the process.

Some people also find their cat accepts paw pad testing a bit easier.
 
Hey guys. So it's been a while since I had the ability to sit down and check the forums out.

I wanted to thank everyone for their advice. It means a lot that this community exists for kitty parents with diabetes.

Unfortunately, Sabrina grew her wings tonight. Diabetes wasn't her only illness. As I stated in the original post, she started throwing up for no reason. I contributed it to the diabetes/insulin. This wasn't the case. As time went on my 23 pound kitty shrank down to 16 pounds (Although she was eating). Eventually both ends started working every time she had a little nibble and finally she stopped eating. We visited the vet again, where he finally found a lump in her stomach. An x-ray confirmed she had a mass in her stomach... nearly the size of her stomach. I had to make the toughest decision of my life tonight looking out for the best interest for her.

Thank you so much,
Sheena
 
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