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ohbell

ohbell

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Hello to all!
WE are VERY NEW to this! My BEAN was sent home Monday with diabetes. WE need all of your help!
Some of our history: She is approx. 7 yrs old, weighed 11.2 in November, when I moved out of state and she started dropping weight... She had uti? infection in January... new vet... antibiotic... got better.... was weighing 9 lb at that time... vet did not test urine... just gave antibiotic.... we moved back to original state in late March... original vet..... we went for a visit due to weight loss... she is now 8 lb and diabetic... he gave me one short lesson on insulin, shot and information.... dont get me wrong... love my vet, but this is hard for me to get used to, as I am sure it is for every NEWBIE. We are doing 2 shots every 12 hrs with BCP PZI.. 100-U... SYRINGES are 3/10, 5/16", 30 gauge... she takes 1 mark/line at a time.... I am not for sure what that amount means????
I tried to pull up skin, and inject insulin in the "tent" but I believe I missed both attempts as the first time I could smell the medicine, and the second, the fur was wet... this is such a small amount... and I am sooo new at this - I did not attempt another dose! The last 3 tries... I pull up the skin, but inject in the "top" of the area that I am holding.... I guess I just want some feed back from here to see if that is correct.... She is usually eating her wet food on the counter while she is receiving her insulin.... but last nite and this AM... she started trying to get away from me... growling a bit while she is eating... so was not for sure if it is because of the way I am injecting.....
I have contacted the newbie kit site, and I hope to receive my little machine soon.... as I have NO idea what her readings are... we do have a trip to the vet on Wed... where she will visit for the day and have her sugars monitored by the vet... I guess I will attempt to try this at home, but she DOES NOT like the ears messed with.....

Thank you for listening/reading about BEAN and I...and ALL OF YOUR HELP! confused_cat
 
Hi and welcome to FDMB. We all understand how you feel, we all were there once also. But let me reassure you that feline diabetes is a very managable disease and it will not take long before you develop the routine that works best for you.

ohbell said:
We are doing 2 shots every 12 hrs with BCP PZI.. 100-U... SYRINGES are 3/10, 5/16", 30 gauge... she takes 1 mark/line at a time.... I am not for sure what that amount means????
Click to expand...

PZI is a good insulin and your dose is a very good starting dose. We usually recommend starting at 1 unit twice a day, which is exactly what your vet has prescribed. Each little mark on the syringe that is on the same side as the number is 1 unit. Some syringes also have 1/2 unit markings, which is a another mark on the opposite side of the marks you are using. If your insulin dose needs to be adjusted, we suggest by only increasing it by 1/2 unit at a time.

ohbell said:
I tried to pull up skin, and inject insulin in the "tent" but I believe I missed both attempts as the first time I could smell the medicine, and the second, the fur was wet... this is such a small amount... and I am sooo new at this - I did not attempt another dose! The last 3 tries... I pull up the skin, but inject in the "top" of the area that I am holding....
Click to expand...

It takes a little practice, but you are doing fine. Many of us find it easier to give the insulin towards the bottom of the tent. When you missed, that is what we refer to as a "fur shot". You guessed correctly, if you give a fur shot, do not give another one until your normal dosing time. It is better for a cat to be too high for a while then have it's blood glucose (BG) levels drop too low for even a moment.

If she is eating wet food that is great. Dry food is high in carbs and make it very difficult to regulate your cat's diabetes.

Start reading the info on this site, especially regarding diet, hypoglycemia and hometesting. When you get your kit, let us know and we can share with you some tricks to make hometesting easier.

If you have questions at any time, please ask them. There is usually someone online that may be able to answer them for you.
 
Dear Lisa & Witn...
ty for the reply and to know that it is ok to inject the top! I have 2 other girls and we have always grazed dry food all day... I am SLOWLY going to change that... I dont think Bean is eating all that much dry food now that she is getting wet food 2 times a day.Right now I am using about 2 tablespoons of Friskes indoor and mix that with about 1 -2 tablespoons of potted meat, which as no carb but very high in salt! I think I will try mixing it w/ tuna or canned chicken today after reading the salt on tuna and chicken can. I did not want to take her completely off carbs real quick............... her water intake I THINK is slowing down some... as with the litter box! I was at work most of the week, today being the only time I can really check out what she does.... She has developed this "thing" where she hangs out on the bathroom sink, and wants me to turn on the water for her to drink..... eeeks.... finally, I pick her up and carry her out of the bathroom!

I was told by the vet that this was probably onset by the resent move stress... hoping once we all get use to our new surroundings that she will return to "Normal" and we wont have to do this anymore! Has anyone had this experience??

I am also trying to find some folks in my area that are on here... EULESS TEXAS..... anyone plz let me know as I could use some support!

If I see some folks online, can I chat with them??? sorry for the dumb questions but I am new to this site and any help will do!

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL DAY!

Must start my hunt for syringes as I will be out in a few days~~~~
 
If you have a walmart nearby. You can get a box of 100 syringes for about $13.

You may need to get a script from the vet. that's fine, just have them call it in. Make sure to tell the vet to write 1/2 unit markings, as this will come in handy for you over time. Also, you have a choice of long or short needles. I prefer the short needle, as it doesn't look as intimidating as the longer ones and I think makes it easier to shoot insulin with. You can ask the pharmacist to show you both and decide. Or take my word for it and go for short.

did the vet talk with you about home testing the BG (blood glucose level)? If not, then this is something that you do want to learn, as you don't want to shoot insulin blindly and not know how it will affect Bean.

Here is a link for more about home testing: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287

If you click on the health links tab, you will find tons of additional information to help as well.
 
Just wanted to say hello and welcome. I'm sure you're already figuring out that you've come to the best place for help with your diabetic cat. I knew next to nothing at first and was overwhelmed and stressed. This forum and following the great advice/protocol really helped me turn Max's health around.

You'll probably hear this from others and it's because it can make a huge difference...diet. A wet low carb food diet is best for a diabetic kitty. My cat Max was a die hard dry eater before he was diagnosed. After he was diagnosed, the vet recommended a low carb dry food. It wasn't until I found this site that I learned about low carb wet food. Even on the low carb dry, Max's #'s were high on more and more insulin. He really turned a corner though when I switched him to the low carb wet food. You are doing the right thing by transitioning Bean to low carb wet food and you're right that you want to transition and not go "cold turkey" to wet until you can test BG #'s at home. The diet change can really affect #'s so you want to test. Here is Janet and Binky's list that shows the carb content for a lot of the cat foods, http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html . You want something with 8% or less carbs, Friskies pate flavors or Fancy Feast Classic are examples, but there are a lot of different options.

Read all you can, take things a step at a time, and ask questions. Soon you'll be a pro at all this. I never thought my cat Max would let me give him shots or prick his ears for home testing, but with a little practice we (he and I) are doing it. Low carb treats really help (like fresh, canned, or freeze dried chicken)!

I'm not sure stress from moving can make a cat diabetic but maybe it could contribute. It is possible for some cats to go into remission, but it really depends on the cat. There are different factors that affect this, but diet and getting your cat regulated (good BG #'s) are two.
 
Hilary & Maui!
thanks for the advise! Wanted to say CONGRATES TO MAUI'S OTJ!!! HOW WONDERFUL IS THAT!!!!!! (had to look up the lango) LOL!
I went to w.mart... got syringes... 1 box just like the ones i have and 1 bag of the 1/2..... the lady there was WONDERFUL AND EARNED HER PAY PLUS SOME AFTER DEALING WITH A NEW SUGAR MOM!!!!.......printed the food lists and took it along as well... also got us some honey & kyro (just in case)....went to pet store and got some 100% natural treats. AND mommy did not forget Ms. Bean might feel like playing again and bought her a few toys!
I have got in touch with emerg. vet, introduced myself... told them I NEVER WANT A FACE TO FACE MEETING! (LOL)....programed the # in my phone and address in my GPS, again, just in case... that is the last thing she needs is for me to need to get her imediately to doc and dont know where one is!
The vet did lightly discuss home testing - not really yes or no, but said alot of times folks have over tested ... that was about all he said. I did speak with Lori today, and my newbie kit will be here very soon. I WILL want to test (if i can get Ms. Bean to cooperate). I do not like the idea of BLINDLY injecting something that could HYPO her ( I am learning the lango). However, RIGHT NOW, just sticking her for insulin makes me shake, and want to throw up!!!! Man, will that ever go away??? I hate needles. Thank you again for your help, ears and heart!!!!! I will be posting as this is the BEST PLACE!
 
If she isn't keen on having her ears fiddled with, maybe you and she could begin practising while waiting for your test kit to arrive. Decide where you're going to test (on your lap, bathroom counter, couch?), take her there, warm her ears perhaps with a wet facecloth in a plastic baggie, rub once or twice, and give her a treat. You might also want to hold a flashlight behind her ear so that you can see the little vein that runs along the outside edge. When you get the kit you'll be all ready.
 
Holly & Maxim!
thanks for the welcome and yes, I do feel welcome and alot more informed since Monday! A bit overwhelmed, but more informed......
I have 2 other babies (14 & 15 yrs old) that I am going to try to change to wet food... one will do great and the other is a pain in the butt... Bean is getting 2 feedings while we are doing the injections, but I have not picked up the dry just yet... will do slowly but she is enjoying the new food and I am adding a little tuna, can chicken and potted meat with it... printed the food list, went shopping for canned food and treats today. WE ALL WILL START CHANGING SLOWLY.
It is encouraging to hear that with practice you are able to test at home, as I KNOW Bean will not like this and it will be a struggle (at least at first, right??). Once I receive my supplies from Lori, I will be posting to get help! lol! I want to know if I am to test before injection?? I would think so, but the way we have been doing this is her food get set in front of her on the counter, we already have injection ready, (mommmy SHAKES & wants to throw up, she gathers herself and tries with all she has to do it right!) this is all going on while she is eating. When am I suppost to test? All your help is appreciated! I really want to go slow with the diet change until I can get the testing done and done right.
I guess the move might not have made her diabetic, but she was doing just fine before so yes, mommy is feeling really bad about that!
Wish me luck as 530 -6 comes early for our injection time!
thanks to all,
Beans mom!
 
You might find this hard to believe, but in a few weeks you will be posting here about how hard and scary it was and now its a piece of cake. It happens to all of us - because we care so much for them we want to do the very best and not hurt. You are doing great - you want to test which is a huge bonus. You are giving shots although it gives you the heebies. And you are reading and learning. You probably already know more about the day-to-day management of a diabetic cat than most vets.

To answer your question, the general routine is test, feed and shoot. By testing right b4 the shot, you are sure that it is safe to give insulin then. As you gather data about how your kitty's body uses the insulin, you'll know her lowest bg and when she starts to rise. The lowest is usually around the +6 point, but some cats are earlier and some later. This is important to know when you need to adjust the dose. The experts in the insulin support group will help you with this.

For now, welcome, breathe, and so glad you got some toys!
 
just-as-appy - thanks for advice! we went to a chair, offered new special treat on the floor, then only in mommys lap. she was fine for a bit, did not do too much ear fiddling, just a bit, lots of talking & petting.... went ok - i guess. she was done with it pretty quickly, jumped down, and i did not offer her the treat unless she would at least jump back into my lap... that worked once. After that, she would not cooperate... to heck w/ treat or not! BUT, that is progress as progress is!... sorry about the typing but one of the other girls is REQUIRING her turn for attention. Have a great evening!
Ms. Bean, ok and Gumpy and Slappy's MOM
 
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