New Here & Shots

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mrk

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Hello everyone,

My cat was diagnosed as diabetic about six weeks ago. The biggest problem I have is being able to give her the insulin shots. My wife is excellent at giving the shots, and gives them most of the time, but there are times when I have to, and I am just not confident enough to do it. I am afraid of needles and have to pet the cat for a long time to try to get her to calm down - she is naturally nervous and can feel my nervous energy too.

Do you have any recommendations for us? Has anyone here had to pass off the insulin duties and feel the guilt? How much damage am I doing when I fail to give her a shot because my wife isn't available to do it?

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I am single and have had no choice but to muster up and give the shots. The entire first year I was ready to faint when time to give shots, and I also thought that Simba would become angered because it was painful and attack me. He has however handled the whole long a lot better than I have.

I've been doing this on my own now for 5 years and now I simply wouldn't be comfortable in handing the job over to another person.

About missing shots - I miss a lot of Simba's shots, but don't attempt to shoot him again if I do so, I let him be without insulin for 12 hrs until time for next shot. So far he seems to have been able to handle that well.
 
What type of insulin are you giving? If it's a u-100 insulin like Lantus or Levemir, what type of u-100 syringes are you using? I use 31g 3/10cc 5/16" Ultra Fine insulin syringes, and the needle is so small the cat can't even notice it. And you can just poke with it without really having to worry about placement in the tented fur, because it's so short it won't poke through the other side.

I also get Bandit's shot ready, then put his food down, and shoot while he's eating. He's so distracted by his food I don't think he's ever noticed that I've given him a shot once in 2 years.

Have you transitioned your cat over to a low-carb canned diet yet? Feeding dry food is one of the most common roadblocks to regulation and remission, and many vets do not inform their clients of this.
 
You can do it! I never had any problems with Cedric (he is off insulin now and is diet controlled) - I have more trouble with the blood sugar testing. I never shot him while he was eating, as i always shot him on his side abdomen area. Once or twice he wanted to play and kicked his foot at my hand, but other than that, he never felt a thing. Just be quick and accurate about it. Maybe you and your hunny can do it together until you feel comfortable to give the injection on your own?

Welcome to the FDMB!
 
Hi Mrk!
My hubby took a long time to get comfortable with the shots, too. I am a mean wifey and made him keep trying. He had no choice because I was pregnant and caring for a toddler when Charlie was diagnosed. Some mornings I was too sick to do it myself. He is a confident tester and shooter now! What helps us is we test him first. Then we set his food down and shoot while he eats. The food is a good distraction. I imagine that a fear of needles makes this easier said than done. Try doing some deep breathing before the shot. It may sound hippy-dippy but try to do some positive visualization throughout the day. Imagine yourself doing the shot and doing it really well! The syringe slides in easily, the insulin is injected smoothly and starts to make kitty feel better, your hand stays steady, your head stays calm and clear. I thought visualization was a bunch of hooey till I tried it with my 2nd birth (unmedicated). It really helped me stay calm and focused. Really try to relax, because you're right, kitties can feel our anxiety and it makes them anxious, too.

I have done my share of fur-shots. I never reshoot.

Wecome to the group!!
 
Mrk,
Omg, when Sugar Bean was first dx, I go to walmart to get the syringes, and the phar. lady brings out the box for us to look at, discuss, and make sure I get the right ones....I almost passed out! LOL
I told her I would have to come back in a min. as I felt very faint!

With time, my hands stopped shaking at just getting the insulin out of the frig, and of course finding my 'big girl panties', and putting them on helped! Unfortunately, I do not have anyone but me to help my Sugar baby with this situation (sure wish I did) :smile: ....

I too, would let Bean start eating, on the counter, pet a couple of times, love words to her and to calm mommy down..... I purchased the smallest gauge needle and a 5/16 lenght....she was fine with it and I did not worry about tenting because I tried 2 times and did a fur shot! EEEKS.

I am speaking in past tense as she is in remission!!!! Last shot 5/24. With the help of this site, and diet, she has done fine and no longer needs insulin. We still test about every 3-5 days.

Good luck, you can do this too and I believe Mommy could help you thru it! It really would be better for her to not miss the shot!
 
Thanks to all for your kind advice.

We have started to move her to a low-carb canned diet and it has helped a lot. She is much more forgiving after her meal and it has made the biggest difference in her overall happiness. She really hated the D/M dry food. Unfortunately my kitty likes to jump around when she eats - if she were a human at a dinner table, she would sit in every seat before the end of the meal just to see the plate from a different angle. If you try to pet her or hold her still or touch her at all, she will wait until you stop to continue to eat too.

We are using an ultra-fine needle, 30g 3/10cc, it is 1/2" long. She notices the needle unless she's nearly asleep or you get the tent just right. When my wife gives them, she is able to go quickly enough that it is over before Deuce can really react but I have to be very deliberate.

I think another factor at work was that once she was first diagnosed, we had previously planned out-of-town trips disrupt her new schedule. She was boarded every other week for about five weeks. It was comforting to have professionals giving the shots and I felt very relieved not having to do it, but all the change probably messed with her little kitty brain. Hopefully now that we're home for a while establishing routine will be easier for her.
 
Mrk,
They do make a smaller needle length that I used. I did not have to worry so much about tenting with the smaller length. And Bean seemed not to be bothered as much...Maybe that will help???
I yes, I believe my Sugar Beans' diabetes was onset by stress (and the vet said so too)... I moved out of state and back in 6 months...from her home all her life.... Maybe with the home testing, low carb, no stress atmosphere, she too will go into remission!!!
Wishing good luck to you and to Deuce!

When are you doing the low carb transition? Be carfeful with BG, as low carb food can drastically reduce that number. Maybe going into remission before you are aware...You home testing yet?

Keep up the good work!
 
mrk said:
Thanks to all for your kind advice.

We have started to move her to a low-carb canned diet and it has helped a lot. She is much more forgiving after her meal and it has made the biggest difference in her overall happiness. She really hated the D/M dry food. Unfortunately my kitty likes to jump around when she eats - if she were a human at a dinner table, she would sit in every seat before the end of the meal just to see the plate from a different angle. If you try to pet her or hold her still or touch her at all, she will wait until you stop to continue to eat too.

We are using an ultra-fine needle, 30g 3/10cc, it is 1/2" long. She notices the needle unless she's nearly asleep or you get the tent just right. When my wife gives them, she is able to go quickly enough that it is over before Deuce can really react but I have to be very deliberate.

I think another factor at work was that once she was first diagnosed, we had previously planned out-of-town trips disrupt her new schedule. She was boarded every other week for about five weeks. It was comforting to have professionals giving the shots and I felt very relieved not having to do it, but all the change probably messed with her little kitty brain. Hopefully now that we're home for a while establishing routine will be easier for her.
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I believe the needles I suggested are shorter than the one's you're using, because yours are the same length as my old ones. I believe I still have some of my old ones left over--when I get home tonight I'll post a picture so that you can see the difference.

Is there a place you can feed her so she can't move around as much while she's eating? I feed Bandit in the corner of my kitchen, so that he can't move around his dish while I'm trying to give him his shot.
 
Ok, I dug out an old syringe so I could I could show you the difference. My old syringes (the one on the right) are 3/10ml, 29g, 1/2" long (the same length as your current ones). My new syringes are 3/10 ml, 31g, 5/16" long. Here's a picture:
IMG_0121.jpg

I think you'll have an easier time with the shorter needle.
 
Wow - that's awesome. Thank you, Julia. I will be getting those shorter needles for sure - I feel better just looking at the picture.

I am not home testing yet - I was hoping that the shot routine would get easier before we added that. Deuce is currently eating some dry food and some wet food each day (I don't remember the exact brands and I'm not home to check right now).
 
Thank you to all for your help. The last three times I've had to give the shot, it has been much easier with the shorter needles and she's been distracted by the food now that she's used to the canned low-carb food.
 
mrk said:
Thank you to all for your help. The last three times I've had to give the shot, it has been much easier with the shorter needles and she's been distracted by the food now that she's used to the canned low-carb food.
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ALRIGHT! I too was terrified of needles - fainting and all...but I HAD to do this so borrowed ohbell's 'big girl panties' and did it. KT has his own spot on top of a short bookcase for testing and shots so don't give while he's eating...he's waiting on treats instead. Sometimes when I test only, he sits there for a while waiting for me to go get his shot....'cos he wants more treats. I began with those short needles so never had to face that LOOOONG one - yuck!
 
LOL to Squeaky & KT! Yes, sometimes doning those Big Girl Panties makes all the difference! Heck, I thought I could put them up then I came here and learned how important it was to home test. I had to immediately pull them out and use them again ;-) ! Has made all the difference in the world cuz as I have said MY BEAN GIRL IS IN REMISSION!!!!
Lets all say a prayer that mrk will find those and start that home testing!!!!!
Mrk: are you still feeding some dry food?? Would strongly suggest the home testing but for sure if you are not feeding dry anymore. Bean dropped over 100 bg once the dry was gone....took a few days, but I was suprised it happened sooooo fast.
Goood luck with the new needles, those are alot better to Deuce and for you~ lol
 
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