? New diagnosis my heads in a spin

[lozza12]

Hiya folks looking for advice. Our Turkish rescue Diamaris has recently been diagnosed with diabetes. My head is truly in a spin just now. Our first visit to the vet was 5th Dec, and shortly after we learned how to give the injections and also had a Libreview monitor fitted, it lasted a week before it stopped working. Another one was fitted and lasted 24 hours before it fell off. Vet advised not to have another one fitted as he was stressed going back n forth to the vet. So continuing on with 2 units of Cansulin every 12 hours. We have 12 rescue cats here, and 1 vet advised not to bother changing to diabetic food for him due to the difficulty in feeding regime. Then it her vet asked if he was taking the diabetic food? Fast forward to today, and we go for a fructasmine blood test, the vet said that the levels wer sitting just under 500 and had not changed much since his first initial visit so insulin has been upped to 3 units.
But I have ordered new low carb high protein wet food and I'm wondering wen he switches to this will his I sulin need to be changed again. I don't have any way if monitoring his blood sugars, should i be doing this since he doesn't have the libreview any longer. I have so many questions I don't know where to start. Sorry

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I have no experience with the Libre system but you'll get more replies soon. When you asked "will his insulin need to be changed again?" do you mean he was on another type before Cansulin? Cansulin is an old insulin developed for dogs so in general you're better off with another type.
I know all about the stress of having rescues in the house and one thing you can do to save some money is by using Fancy Feast for a diabetic cat. It's not exactly top of the line but it's low carb and it works. You can also use a human meter, they're free in Canada.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome. Most people here use a human blood glucose meter to test our cat's blood sugars. We do have a few people using the Libre, but as you've found out, they don't always stay on for long. Some people put a covering on it, like a shirt or wrap around the neck, with moderate success.

If you are going to change his food to something lower in carbs, I would strongly suggest you learn how to test his blood sugars, as a cat's insulin needs can drop quickly and there is even a possibility of diabetic remission. Or danger of hypo if his blood sugar drops when his dose needs change. Lot of information and videos on home testing in this post: Hometesting Links and Tips

It's very common to have lots of questions when you start. There is a bit of a learning curve when you start. But we've all been there and love to help. We call it the best place you never wanted to be. Anyway, fire away with questions.

I'm going to change the 911 prefix to a "?", so people know there are questions.

 

[lozza12]

Hello and welcome. Most people here use a human blood glucose meter to test our cat's blood sugars. We do have a few people using the Libre, but as you've found out, they don't always stay on for long. Some people put a covering on it, like a shirt or wrap around the neck, with moderate success.

If you are going to change his food to something lower in carbs, I would strongly suggest you learn how to test his blood sugars, as a cat's insulin needs can drop quickly and there is even a possibility of diabetic remission. Or danger of hypo if his blood sugar drops when his dose needs change. Lot of information and videos on home testing in this post: Hometesting Links and Tips

It's very common to have lots of questions when you start. There is a bit of a learning curve when you start. But we've all been there and love to help. We call it the best place you never wanted to be. Anyway, fire away with questions.

I'm going to change the 911 prefix to a "?", so people know there are questions.

Hi sorry didn't know what heading to post under. 911 seems a bit dramatic now lol. So should I look at ordering blood glucose strips and monitor and take readings before I change his food?
Also can I take away the dry food that I leave for grazing and replace with some frozen wet food for all 12 cats to graze on during the day wen I am out.
We are due to go on holiday 21st Jan till 28th and my friend will be staying here, she's happy to give him his shots, but shud I just keep him on the food he in just now and change things wen we return?

 

[Erin Ethan]

Hi! I'm new here too and our kitty Ethan also received his diagnosis on December 5th.

Our vet put us on the Libre - we bought the Libre2 because it was what was available. It has been amazing but also flakey. Ethan doesn't manage to pull it off at all, but we've gone through three sensors in a month. Our all failed less the 14 days advertised. The real time monitoring is amazing, and the Libre2 also has configurable High/Lo/Signal Loss alarms which have been a huge help for peace of mind through the night. Just a heads up, Abbott does not provide any customer support if you mention it is for a cat (learned this the hard way...)

In addition to the Libre that our vet recommended, am also just now starting to learn how to do prick tests as a) the sensor $$$ really starts to add up over the long haul especially with how fast they've been flaking b) I don't want it to die at a critical time- its so stressful when it suddenly stops working to not know what's going on and c) they are more accurate.

 

[lozza12]

I have no experience with the Libre system but you'll get more replies soon. When you asked "will his insulin need to be changed again?" do you mean he was on another type before Cansulin? Cansulin is an old insulin developed for dogs so in general you're better off with another type.
I know all about the stress of having rescues in the house and one thing you can do to save some money is by using Fancy Feast for a diabetic cat. It's not exactly top of the line but it's low carb and it works. You can also use a human meter, they're free in Canada.

Hi, thanks for replying. No sorry, I meant would his I sulin dosage need to be changed once he changes to low carb food. Is this a UK site?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

This site is worldwide, though hosted in the US. I am in Canada, but we have people from all around the world on here. Most speak English. Some posts that might help you if you are in the UK, to find out good blood glucose meters and appropriate foods.

• UK Diabetic Cat Food Info (includes some supplies) and UK Cat Food List

But as you said, probably best to keep him on his current food, until you can start testing and get an idea how he's doing on that dose of insulin.

 

[lozza12]

Hi! I'm new here too and our kitty Ethan also received his diagnosis on December 5th.

Our vet put us on the Libre - we bought the Libre2 because it was what was available. It has been amazing but also flakey. Ethan doesn't manage to pull it off at all, but we've gone through three sensors in a month. Our all failed less the 14 days advertised. The real time monitoring is amazing, and the Libre2 also has configurable High/Lo/Signal Loss alarms which have been a huge help for peace of mind through the night. Just a heads up, Abbott does not provide any customer support if you mention it is for a cat (learned this the hard way...)

In addition to the Libre that our vet recommended, am also just now starting to learn how to do prick tests as a) the sensor $$$ really starts to add up over the long haul especially with how fast they've been flaking b) I don't want it to die at a critical time- its so stressful when it suddenly stops working to not know what's going on and c) they are more accurate.

Hiya yes the same happened qith our Libreview. Are u learning on your own how to do the prick tests or is your vet showing you. I think that I will need to order a kit and get started. Can I ask wot wet food u feed Ethan.

 

[lozza12]

This site is worldwide, though hosted in the US. I am in Canada, but we have people from all around the world on here. Most speak English. Some posts that might help you if you are in the UK, to find out good blood glucose meters and appropriate foods.

• UK Diabetic Cat Food Info (includes some supplies) and UK Cat Food List

But as you said, probably best to keep him on his current food, until you can start testing and get an idea how he's doing on that dose of insulin.

Oh thanks so.much this is really helpful. Yeh will just keep him on his normal food for now. They all eat applaws, but I don't think it's a complete food. Do u think its ok for him?

 

[Erin Ethan]

Hiya yes the same happened qith our Libreview. Are u learning on your own how to do the prick tests or is your vet showing you. I think that I will need to order a kit and get started. Can I ask wot wet food u feed Ethan.

I am informing myself with help from users on this forum (in my intro post they shared some awesome info and a video about how its done and what supplies are needed). I will talk with my vet about it, but I suspect it might take some convincing to gain her support (in the past she told me the only option other than the Libre was to do an in-clinic glucose curve...which would be super stressful for Ethan).

Ethan is on the prescription Purina DM Pate currently as recommended by my vet- but again looking into other options as it is $$$ and to be honest it is not that much different carb-wise vs. Ethan's old Friskies pate.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I would read all bout caninsulin here
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/beginners-guide-to-caninsulin-vetsulin.231587/
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

A video one of our members posted, she is using a pet meter ,strips too expensive plus you have to code it
A human meter is just fine, most of us use human meters ,that's what our numbers are based on
When you get your meter can you add the name of it to your signature and spreadsheet


VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

Here is another link to read
This is a link to one of our posts on home testing.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

They all eat applaws, but I don't think it's a complete food. Do u think its ok for him?

It's OK as a part of his meal, but I'd primarily feed a complete meal. I think I remember seeing Applaws has a new line now that is a complete meal.