New here!

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

ShutterBug84x

Member Since 2013
Hi, I'm Liz, and my baby is Gin. He's 12 and was diagnosed with diabetes about 6 weeks ago. The first month or so I changed his diet...which helped a little. He started at a Glucose reading of 400, after a month of the diet it was down to 317. During this period I noticed some tremors in his front legs, not too severe, but still alarming. I researched it and saw that blood sugar level could cause the tremors, which made sense. For a while he really wasn't feeling well - spending a few days under the bed. Now he's on insulin, and has been for about 10 days now. He's on 3 units, twice a day of PZI (Normally between 9:15 and 10:15 each day, am and pm). I took him in yesterday and the reading was 201, which made me very happy. However, today and tonight I've noticed some tremors in his front legs - sometimes pretty strong, and now I'm all worried again. I've been pretty diligent about giving the shots every 12 hours...and I figured that maybe since there wasn't any food in the bowl when I got home from work that may have had something to do with it. About an hour after the shot (about an hour ago now) he was still having these tremors. Now I know it could just be his sugars/system balancing out, problem is I have no idea how long this would take. He's fine in every other sense, with a very healthy appetite. Is this normal? Should I worry/call the vet in the morning? I have an appointment in about 2 weeks to have another blood sugar curve conducted, is it something I can monitor until then? Thanks everybody...I've read some posts throughout this forum and I love how supportive everyone is, and I can't wait to get to know you all.
 
Hi Liz,

Just wanted to stop by and give you a welcome!! My sugar kitty Cleo, is now diet controlled, after being on insulin (Lantus) for four months :-D I have no experience with your insulin type, but someone will be by soon with some answers for you. No answers regarding tremors either, sorry!

Are you home testing at all? I would want to get a BG reading while Gin is experiencing the tremors. If you start home testing, you will not have to take Gin to the vet for the curve. (and you save money and kitty stress doing it yourself at home!)

We advocate home testing, and always testing before any insulin is given. This is for the safety of your kitty. Don't want to put them in a hypo situation.

Again, welcome, and a more experienced member (or two) will be along later!

Jane & Cleo
 
Hi Liz and sugarkitty Gin and welcome to the FDMB.

How is Gin doing besides the tremors? The 5 P's - peeing, pooping, purring, preening, playing plus the appetite give us a good idea of how he is doing.

Those tremors do sound a little scary. He could be dropping too low. You did say he had the tremors before you started him on insulin. Not sure what is going on there. I'd recommend a call to your vet to ask.

Can you tell us a little more about the tremors, when they happen, what they look like, etc.

What food are you feeding now?

You said Prozinc, 2U, started 10 days ago, so the tremors are not likely related to the insulin you are giving, since he had the tremors before this.

Home testing the blood is one option. There are also secondary monitoring tools. Here's a link to a list, from member BJM's signature. secondary monitoring tools
 
The 5 P's -
Peeing: Normal, still seeming a LITTLE excessive (multiple times, small amounts, though)
Pooping: Definitely normal, maybe once or twice a day
Purring: Normal, always on my lap, definitely have felt his "motor" a lot.
Preening: Normal, not excessive or non-existent
Playing: He's had a sharp decline in activity in the last few months. Starting in December, he's had fleas, jaundice (liver inflammation) and worms, now diabetes.

As for appetite, it has been fine but it could be my imagination that it's declined a little bit. For a while I had to practically chase him around the house to even get him to eat a few bites. Last week he was eating well and finishing everything I put out...now it seems like he's maybe not quite as hungry? That's what my instinct says, when I observe his appetite. I'm feeding him Hills Prescription Diet DM, vet recommended. I've fed him the wet food version too. And last night when presented with both, he went for the dry.

As for the tremors...I saw them morning and night, before the shot is given. Generally I always feed before I give the shot to make sure he actually eats. Last night they were pretty strong, which really made me worry. They look like when a muscle is tired and is either shaking or just about to give out. I am fairly confident it's blood sugar related - but that's what made me worry about him this time. I figured they'd be gone once on insulin. I have called my vet to see what's going on and am still waiting on a call back. I just wonder if its a side effect or if I'm giving too much insulin? I have no idea, as I feel as though I hardly know what's "normal" anymore. It seemed as though he was getting back to the kitty I always had/was used to but now it feels as though he may be having some kind of relapse. Anyway, thanks for your input and I'll post when the vet calls me back.

Thanks again,

Liz & Gin
 
Hello and welcome to the board

The tremors could be neuropathy - a result of high blood sugar impacting his nerves. This should heal once his diabetes is controlled but it can help to also give Methylocobalamin B12 pills - you can get them at most health food stores (just dont buy ones with sugar or xylitol in them since its toxic) or you can buy the cat version called zobaline online. They take 4-6 weeks to work but also work better once the diabetes is better controlled.

To help regulate him I do have some suggestions

1. home test his blood - it saves on expensive vet visits and gives you a better picture of whats going on through the day - especially since vet stress can spike his blood sugar. It also keeps him safe which you will need if you do #2

2. Change his food to solely a low carb wet. many cats can go into remission with this diet change. DM wet is fine but many cats also get sick of that so we feed here mostly Friskies pates, fancy feast pates or wellness canned grain free since they are low carb. But since a change to low carb can cause a drop in blood sugar and so a drop in insulin needs, its important to test his blood.

We can help advise on home testing..
Wendy
 
Thank you for your input. I heard from the vet and the tremors are more than likely caused by his blood sugar being too high. So he wants me to increase the dosage to 5 units instead of 3. As for home testing - I really do intend on starting...but now I'm just too overwhelmed, trying to get everything under control. Also, right now he doesn't have that much interest in wet - so Im sticking with dry. But I will keep that in mind that wet is generally better for him. Thanks again. :)
 
The vet is making an assumption without any tests. If he is wrong, you may kill your cat following his advice.

At a minimum, please pick up urine testing strips - KetoDiaStix (or generic) - to test for glucose in the urine to make sure that is the problem before you increase. If you find glucose in the urine, then increase a little at a time. Cats are much smaller than we are and 0.25 to 0.5 units is a big increase to them. Going from 3 units to 5 is an increase of 66%!

See my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for tips on that and other assessments you may wish to make. As the insulin starts working, you may see some drop in hunger because he is now able to use the food he eatsn Before, without enough insulin, he was unable to do that and kept eating because he was still hungry.
 
I've had a crazy day - so in my scatter brain state (and poor phrasing) I left out that my vet HAS been testing my kitty's blood sugar today from 10am-6:30pm (Every 1-3 hours I believe...). I didn't get to speak to him tonight, but he did say the numbers were consistently high. And his poor paws were seriously shaking last night, so I do believe the message he left about being weak. But at the minimum I will find a place that has urine test strips. And I will check out the link, thanks.
 
Be cautious with increasing the dose.
If you give us actual numbers, we can give feedback.
 
I will, I'll have more of a solid story/picture tomorrow. I'm just trying to not freak out and get used to this situation. I will be cautious, I do trust you guys and the vet, and I'm definitely an obsessive cat owner. I don't just follow directions and let it be. :) I knew I needed to join this forum because I know no one that has dealt with this. It does mean a lot to have an army of experienced cat givers behind me now.
 
ShutterBug84x said:
I will, I'll have more of a solid story/picture tomorrow. I'm just trying to not freak out and get used to this situation. I will be cautious, I do trust you guys and the vet, and I'm definitely an obsessive cat owner. I don't just follow directions and let it be. :) I knew I needed to join this forum because I know no one that has dealt with this. It does mean a lot to have an army of experienced cat givers behind me now.
Click to expand...

Not freaking out or being overwhelmed can be the hardest parts at the beginning of this process!

Just to give you another newly diagnosed sugar kittys caretakers view on everything going on, it DOES get less stressful as you increase your knowledge of what is going on with your own sugar kitty! Little bits here and there that you'll be given in the forums will add up over time to get you through the rough spots.

I will add that home testing was the key to my own lowered stress levels. It gave me direct information in real time about what was going on with my Trinity. Consider this option if you want to take the best care of your sugar kitty possible. :-D

The habits are formed quickly in both human and cat. Check my SS in the signature, and look at the timeline. I've only been testing on a regular basis for about 10 days now, and it's only been 7 weeks since the original diagnosis!

Wishing you and your kitty the best!
 
What has the vet been feeding him while he is there? Dry food will also keep him high. I suggest you go get a nice low carb canned like Friskies pates, Fancy feast pates or wellness grain gree canned or even the prescription DM wet ( if he will eat it) and ask the vet to see what happens when he is given that for a day or two.

Wendy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top