New here

Status
Not open for further replies.
Zinda

Zinda

Member
Hello, just needed to introduce myself.
Unfortunately, I'm very quiet so don't usually say too much on forums. But...
I have a very sweet diabetic cat that I didn't think I could do anything for. Can't afford my own supplies. (I'm diabetic myself) I've been doing the best I knew, but am learning much more from here. I never knew there was anything like this.
Anyways, Splitzie was my mom's cat for 13 years. My mom also has a 3 year old pug that is quite jealous, so we acquired Splitzie last summer. She started losing a lot of weight, she used to be affectionately known as "bowling ball with legs" So in October she went into the vets. They told me she was diabetic, and had 75% renal failure. She would have to stay for at least one full day, if not the night as well for them to test her and figure out where her sugars were. But, with the renal failure, they didn't even know how long she would make it. She is still with us, and doing pretty well considering. Now that I know she will be with us for most likely a long time to come, I want to make her more comfortable and keep her healthy. Started looking things up, and found this site. There's a lot of info on here, and everyone seems great.
So, hello everyone. :smile:
 
Welcome to the FDMB family,

Looking forward to hearing more from you and of course learning more about your extra sweet Splitzie!

Some of the questions that 'm sure others will be asking...so that we know how to best help you help Splitzie.

First of do you know what insulin you will be using and what the starting dose will be? We usually recommend that a newly dxed cat be started on no more than 1u twice a day. Depending on what insulin you use (if you are on insulin) there might be a chance that you and her can share. (Lantus and Levermir are both human insulins that work extremely well for kitties). You can also use your meter and test strips to test Splitzie at home, thus, saving you money, while insuring that she is safe to give insulin too (I'm sure being diabetic yourself you realize how critical it is to check your blood sugar before injections, same for kitties) We use the edge of their ears to test our cats, and it is very easy once you get the hang of it, and many cats learn to look forward to testing time as it means extra cuddles and treats.

Also what is Splitzie eating right now, we again recommend a low carb/high protein canned diet, and you don't need the expensive prescription stuff. I personally have 11 cats with only one diabetic, they all eat what my diabetic does, just good old fashioned Friskies pate flavors. On this diet and a couple of weeks on insulin my guy went into remission and has been there 7 months so far.

I'm sure others will be chiming in shortly with a ton of links for you to read through, but I just wanted to pop in and welcome you to the best place you never wanted to be but will be so blessed to have found.

Mel, Max and The Fur Gang
 
Hi Zinda, and, of course, you too, sweet Splitzie,

This was my first message board experience, too... I'm constantly amazed they still let me post! ;o)

Can you tell us a few things about Splitzie? Like what insulin and dose she is on/getting? Also what she eats? Are you home testing her? Your general location (no specifics necessary) in case one of us lives near you?

Since you're a diabetic yourself, you certainly know the drill and have access to some supplies. And, please trust me, Zinda, I understand money issues, okay? Have you checked the newbie kit link on kind of the top of the Health Forum page? I'm guessing you probably don't want to share your meter with Splitzie in order to keep track of your BG readings. So, it might be helpful to have two meters going... I believe it will only cost you the postage to get Splitzie set up.

As for her CRF (which I believe is now called CKD, chronic kidney disease), are you able to give her fluids? You can check out the Supply Closet Forum here as maybe someone is offering supplies Splitzie might need. You can also start a new post regarding her CRF/CKD issues as there are people here who deal or have dealt with both that and diabetes who could give you some insights and share their experiences. They can also give you the link to the CRF group/forum which I think is on Yahoo, but I'm not sure...

There is a lot of information here, to be sure! Just keep reading and remember to breathe. You are not alone, Zinda...

Welcome to the place you never wanted to be; but, will be blessed for having found.

Love and encouraging hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
 
Hi Zinda!

For diet, you want something that is both low in carbs (for the diabetes) and phosphorus (for the renal failure). I'm going to recommend some food to you depending on what you can afford. The first ones are better since Splitzie's kidneys will have to work less better quality meat, but the less expensive ones are fine too if that's what you can manage!

The more expensive foods are canned EVO 95% Venison, EVO 95% Beef, and Wellness grain-free turkey.

The less expensive foods are canned Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets and Friskies Special Diet Salmon .
 
ok, well, here goes... lol

I live in Clarkston, MI. Hopefully there's someone else out there close by even to get together for lunch and talk sometime.

I am just starting on hometesting. I do have a couple meters around as for a while i was getting any free ones I found online. So, she will have her own meter. And I was recently put on a pump, so only using Humilog now. No more Lantus and have a full bottle in the fridge all for her. :-) ...Too bad they don't make kitty pumps yet, huh? :idea:
As far as food, I have bought EVO, Wellness, there were a few more as my mom is a licensed, not practicing, vet tech, so that has been a huge help. We've been trying to help with diet as the vet said she would not last more than a couple weeks or a month. I just love when I can prove them wrong on things like that. She's a very strong-willed cat. Definitely not ready to go yet. For a while she was doing good on the canned, but lately hasn't wanted to eat it. She's getting those looks like I know I get when my sugar's high. Looking at food like you want it, but feeling sick just looking. I knew it was past time to try something else, which was when I started doing diabetic search on Facebook, honestly for recipes, and found so much more in FDMB. I also have a Ninja, so can take meats and make cat food for her. She's definitely stubborn, I have to buy the pate as she will lick the gravy from around any with chunks, and leave the chunks. lol
I have 3 other cats besides her that have done well on the food I've been buying, and everytime I switch, they eat it for a while, then quit. But, she stays mostly to my room. Yeah, she's ruler in there. lol So it wouldn't be hard to keep the dry away from her.
I do want to take her back in for more blood work. At the time when they found out all of the issues she also had a bladder infection, was put on antibiotics and is doing good now. I know sometimes infections mess with blood work, and am hoping it may have as far as the renal failure. I know most likely not with the diabetes, although it may have made it higher then.
Well, I hope I answered everyone's questions. If not, ask away. :-) It gets me talking. lol
 
One thing that might help her with the food is to add some warm water and mix it up. It makes the pate seem a little more like the gravy flavors.
 
Also you can switch everyone over to the canned diet, for some reason they will eat the same thing day after day when on dry food, but when I switched all 11 of mine, yeah you read that right there really are ELEVEN cats here...they got bored quickly of the same flavors of canned cat food so I feed about 6-7 flavors a week so no one gets bored with the same old same old. And I have to tell you, I have never had more beautiful cats than I have now that we switched over to an all canned diet. Even my non-diabetics have stunning coats, more energy andare just generally more healthy. Knowing what I know now I would never feed another cat so much as a mouthful of dry. I have two kittens here that just turned a year old and have never even tasted dry food and they look fabulous they are the sleekest and softest cats anywhere, they could give some of those show cats a run for their money in the coat department.

Other things to try to make her food more appealing...Sprinkling it with Parmesan cheese. Heating it up in the microwave for a few seconds, adding a little catnip if she is a nip lover. Anything to make it really stinky. Cats won't eat what they can't smell, but it is very important to get her eating

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
 
Never thought of the catnip. She seems to be getting bored of ALL of the canned foods now. :-( Will try the catnip.
Thanks. :-)
 
I live in Clarkston, MI. Hopefully there's someone else out there close by even to get together for lunch and talk sometime.
Click to expand...

Lucky you, Hope & Baby live near you. Couldn't get a better mentor than Hope. I'm sure she'll PM you soon.
 
Zinda,

Welcome to the Board you never wanted to join!

Like you I recently moved to a pump. I am still getting some Lantus (by prescription) as a backup in case the pump isn't working. What insulin did they give you as a backup?

My Lantus comes in handy since I am shooting 5 of my seven diabetics.

And, Hope is a marvelous resource (but doesn't use Lantus), so you are lucky.

Good luck,

Claudia
 
I get Novolog in vials and fill my pump from them, so that's pretty much my backup. lol I just get a shot from that. I also have a refill left on my Lantus which my insurance covers, so will go ahead and get that for Splitzie. At least that's the one I got taken off of and it can be used for cats. That's going to help a LOT.
Great, so there's one person at least in my area. Can't wait to hear from her.
And thanks to everyone. Has been an awesome welcome. :-)
 
Zinda said:
I get Novolog in vials and fill my pump from them, so that's pretty much my backup. lol I just get a shot from that. I also have a refill left on my Lantus which my insurance covers, so will go ahead and get that for Splitzie. At least that's the one I got taken off of and it can be used for cats. That's going to help a LOT.
Great, so there's one person at least in my area. Can't wait to hear from her.
And thanks to everyone. Has been an awesome welcome. :-)
Click to expand...

If you can possibly get the Lantus cartridges or pens, it will be much cheaper in the long
run. The cartridges come as a package of 5 3ml cartridges. You open only one at a time for your kitty.

You could be throwing away 80-90% of the 10ml Lantus vial, because once opened it is 'good' for
only 2-3 months (28 days per mfg). Kitties don't use it up before it goes bad.

The cartridges will be more economical. You still use U-100 insulin syringes to draw the insulin out,
so don't get the pen-needles, just the SoloStar pens.
 
Unfortunately, once this prescription runs out, I won't be able to get another one since my dr took me off of it. So, will just have to wait until I run out to get the next refill. The script is good for quite a while. So don't have to get it right now. Once this is up will be looking for discount places. But, for now it will work. And will definitely look into the pens.
 
Hi again, dear Zinda, and, of course, you too, sweet Splitzie,

Work with the scrip until it runs out. Then definitely look into the pens...

You sound better already! It's always great having a parent ready to dance with their sugar cat...

Love and continued encouraging hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
 
Zinda,

A suggestion. Check with your MD. If your pump needs to be replaced, the short acting insulin won't cover you for 24 hours. Insurance should cover you for Lantus for back up. Just be sure you get the SolaStar pens/cartridges. I'm able to get a five pack every 90 days.

Joslin in Boston prefers NPH, but since I was on Lantus like you were, they are writing the scrip for Lantus.

Good luck to a fellow pumper with a diabetic cat!

Claudia
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top