New Member Bruce and Wicked.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bruce Blount

Bruce Blount

Member
Hello there. About one month into this. Two of my grands have diabetes, so I know just a little. I am not home testing, the vet prescribed a dose of two units - which I found strange. .But, he is the vet, and we are supposed to trust them, right? Looking for any information I can get - does my cat now have to switch to wet food? I was given very little information on how to give the shot - I think I am doing it correctly! Need to find out "diabetes 101" stuff! (BTW - we let our grandson name the cat - at that time he was into pro wrestling!)
 
@Bruce Blount
Welcome to the best group you could have joined
I see you are from New Jersey so am I :cat:
Some vets don't know what they are talking about when it comes to diabetes

Can you please set up your signature
Information we need about Kit
This is where you can set up what we call your signature, it's at the end of everyone's post in gray letters. Just tap on your name up top then tap on signature and add this information. You will link it to your spreadsheet

  • Add info we need to help you:
    • Caregiver & kitty's name
    • DX: Date
    • Name of Insulin (do not include dose or frequency)
    • Name of your meter
    • Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
    • Dosing: TR or SLGS or Custom (if applicable)
    • DKA or other recent health issue (if applicable)
    • Bexacat or Senvelgo (if applicable) and dates
    • Acro, IAA, or Cushings (if applicable)
    • Spreadsheet link. Please put the signature link on the bottom line of your signature information, on its own, so it is easy to find.
    • Please do not put any information about your location in the signature for security reasons. If you wish to add your country location, please add it to your profile.
Be sure to click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom. If you need help urgently it is important we know these things at a glance. We don’t want to waste valuable time finding out information.

Once you fill out your signature members can help you
 
Last edited:
@Bruce Blount
You need to be testing your kitty
Most of us human meters that's what our numbers are based on human meter
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart


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
c2b8079a-b471-4fa6-ac36-9ac1c8d6dcca-jpeg.57072
fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

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 10 or 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

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up
Here's a video one of our members did ignore where she had to code her meter because she is using a pet meter. With a human meter you don't have to
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

Here is the link to set up our spreadsheet, where you can track your cats BG numbers, it also explains how to use it. You can look at anyone's spreadsheet to see what it looks like
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/


Take a look at this Members spreadsheet to see what it looks like

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...l4ZtCY55EYA1oVyLSxuAPNO7jLuIdE6zkiyM9/pubhtml
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Hi Bruce and Wicked and welcome.
I would definitely recommend you think about hometesting the blood glucose. That way you will be able to see exactly what is happening and it will take all the guesswork out of it and it is much safer.
I would also swap to a low carb canned food if you haven’t already done so. BUT don’t do any swap of the food until you are testing the BG as the swap to low carb food can drop the BGs by 100 points and if you are not testing, you can miss low numbers and the possible need for a reduction in dose.

Can you tell us what type of insulin Wicked is getting please? Two units is a large starting dose. We recommend starting at 1/2 to 1 unit depending on what the cat is eating.

Here are the spots you can give an insulin dose. Best to swap and not give it in the same place all the time.
upload_2024-11-1_11-24-52.jpeg



Here is a link to our food chart. Look for canned food that is 10% or under foods. And remember don’t do the swap until you are testing the blood glucose (BG)

Keep asking questions.:)
 

Attachments

  • upload_2024-11-1_11-24-52.jpeg
    upload_2024-11-1_11-24-52.jpeg
    52.3 KB · Views: 145
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi Bruce and Wicked and welcome.
I would definitely recommend you think about hometesting the blood glucose. That way you will be able to see exactly what is happening and it will take all the guesswork out of it and it is much safer.
I would also swap to a low carb canned food if you haven’t already done so. BUT don’t do any swap of the food until you are testing the BG as the swap to low carb food can drop the BGs by 100 points and if you are not testing, you can miss low numbers and the possible need for a reduction in dose.

Can you tell us what type of insulin Wicked is getting please? Two units is a large starting dose. We recommend starting at 1/2 to 1 unit depending on what the cat is eating.

Here are the spots you can give an insulin dose. Best to swap and not give it in the same place all the time.
View attachment 71337


Here is a link to our food chart. Look for canned food that is 10% or under foods. And remember don’t do the swap until you are testing the blood glucose (BG)

Keep asking questions.:)
Click to expand...
 
Wicked is on ProZinc. He started on 2 units, but has been prescribed 3 units - and I believe that is not enough (He is still drinking LOTS of water). Shots are administered in the scruff. I asked a nurse there if she could recommend a good dry food - she told me to keep him on what he has been eating - they can always give him more insulin (!). Isn't the goal to get him off of insulin? Why would they give him more? Also - is $195 for a vial of insulin a bit expensive?
 
Bruce Blount said:
Also - is $195 for a vial of insulin a bit expensive?
Click to expand...
You can Google Prozinc and see if anyone has it cheaper
To be honest I don't think any members could give you any advice unless you set up your signature , I gave you the instructions above and any advice on the dose unless you start testing your kitty and set up our spreadsheet. I have you the link above on how to set up our spreadsheet
You might what to read about Prozinc here , read all the yellow stickys

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/prozinc-pzi.24/
 
Last edited:
Someone PLEASE help me - I am trying to update my info Is that the "signature"? How do I make a post? I am an old man, and things don't come easy to me - plus, I am a brain tumor survivor - thinking is not one of my strong points!
 
Hi Bruce. Don’t worry we can help you. I know it can be hard when we are older!
I’m going to ask @Bandit's Mom to help you get set up with the Ss and signature. She will contact you.

Do you think you could do hometesting of the blood glucose?. It sounds hard but isn’t. It’s just a matter of getting sorted and hanging in there for a few days while you and Wicked get used to it. I taught my husband to hometest…something I thought I would never be able to get him to do and he became an old pro at it.

Re the food…yes you do need to get Wicked onto low carb canned food ,but not until we can see what is happening with the blood glucose. So just keep doing what you are doing at the moment until we can get you sorted.
Do you have some honey or Karo at home to gum on his gums incase of a hypo?
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi Bruce. Don’t worry we can help you. I know it can be hard when we are older!
I’m going to ask @Bandit's Mom to help you get set up with the Ss and signature. She will contact you.

Do you think you could do hometesting of the blood glucose?. It sounds hard but isn’t. It’s just a matter of getting sorted and hanging in there for a few days while you and Wicked get used to it. I taught my husband to hometest…something I thought I would never be able to get him to do and he became an old pro at it.

Re the food…yes you do need to get Wicked onto low carb canned food ,but not until we can see what is happening with the blood glucose. So just keep doing what you are doing at the moment until we can get you sorted.
Do you have some honey or Karo at home to gum on his gums incase of a hypo?
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for your help. Two of my grand kids are type 1 diabetic (both are grown now), so I do have SOME knowledge of this disease. Yes, I will be able to hometest, and yes, I have honey for in case... As I guess, the results of the blood test determine the amount of insulin to be administered?
 
Bruce Blount said:
As I guess, the results of the blood test determine the amount of insulin to be administered?
Click to expand...
Once we can see some blood glucose (BG) data we will be able to help you with dosing. We have dosing methods you can follow and it will be much safer than just giving a dose blindly and hoping for the best.
Do you need help with getting a glucose meter? I would get a human meter not a pet meter. They are cheaper to run and our dosing methods are based on the human meter.
 
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart


Hypo kit if needed
Med and High Carb food and have honey in your house



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs Edit This is wrong on our food chart , It's actually 14%

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Chicken Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Turkey Feast in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Chicken and Beef in Gravy 15% Med Carbs

Good idea to mark the cans with magic marker how many carbs

Or any on the food chart. Doesn't have to be Fancy Feast just an example about the med and high carb foods



https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-

10% and under is low carb
11% -15 is medium carbs.

16- 24 is high carb.

@Bruce Blount

As Bron said do not switch what you are feeding Wicked until you start testing him.
When the time is right to switch to low carb wet food most feed Fancy Feast Classic Pates
 
Last edited:
Diane Tyler's Mom GA said:
@Bruce Blount
You need to be testing your kitty
Most of us human meters that's what our numbers are based on human meter
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart


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
c2b8079a-b471-4fa6-ac36-9ac1c8d6dcca-jpeg.57072
fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

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 10 or 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

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up
Here's a video one of our members did ignore where she had to code her meter because she is using a pet meter. With a human meter you don't have to
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

Here is the link to set up our spreadsheet, where you can track your cats BG numbers, it also explains how to use it. You can look at anyone's spreadsheet to see what it looks like
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/


Take a look at this Members spreadsheet to see what it looks like

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...l4ZtCY55EYA1oVyLSxuAPNO7jLuIdE6zkiyM9/pubhtml
Click to expand...
Do I need to get a Lancette (to prick his ear for a drop of blood?
 
Welcome to FDMB!

All of this is going to seem overwhelming at first. That's completely normal and we've all been there! Having some familiarity with diabetes will help a lot. It also sounds like Wicked is easy going so that will help as well.

We are very numbers driven. Once you get started with home testing, we'll be able to help you with dosing and better managing Wicked's diabetes. If you want to do a bit of reading on Prozinc, this is a link to our Prozinc forum. There are "sticky notes" at the top of the page that contain information about Prozinc, dosing, etc.

I'm also linking information on home testing. The post contains information on tips along with videos to help you master the process. You may want to pick up some low carbohydrate treats. Many members use a freeze dried protein (e.g., freeze dried chicken) or cooked chicken or any other protein that your cat likes. Treats help most cats get used to having their ear pricked -- they associate the poke with a reward.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom GA said:
@Bruce Blount
You need to be testing your kitty
Most of us human meters that's what our numbers are based on human meter
Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart


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
c2b8079a-b471-4fa6-ac36-9ac1c8d6dcca-jpeg.57072
fec17d29-5ab4-44a8-912b-3a91944c3954-jpeg.57073

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 10 or 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

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up
Here's a video one of our members did ignore where she had to code her meter because she is using a pet meter. With a human meter you don't have to
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

Here is the link to set up our spreadsheet, where you can track your cats BG numbers, it also explains how to use it. You can look at anyone's spreadsheet to see what it looks like
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/


Take a look at this Members spreadsheet to see what it looks like

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...l4ZtCY55EYA1oVyLSxuAPNO7jLuIdE6zkiyM9/pubhtml
Click to expand...
I cannot prick his ear for blood. I try to hold his ear, while shining a flashlight from behind, while he is fighting, wiggling and trying to get away. It just does not work. I have tried many times, but gotten no blood, Is there another location? Then, what numbers am I looking for - what is his target range? Ho much food should I give a 17 pound cat> (Someone said 1 1/2 cans) Should he still get the amount of insulin his doctor wants?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top