New Member Help in Southern New Jersey

[Lisa and Eddy]

Hello, my name is Lisa and I am a new member with a newly diagnosed cat, Eddy. I am currently in the midst of first week panic mode and am looking for support locally (in addition to this site). I will soon share my story as well as the spreadsheet but right now I'm just hoping to connect with someone, preferably by phone. Referrals for pet sitters, caretakers, etc. that know how to manage and help with this. Anyone local out there, please reach out on a private message. Looking for some help managing this first part of the journey. Sorry to vent here but I have been extremely disappointed with my current vet as I was basically given the diagnosis on Wednesday 12/8, told to go get Lantus and begin injections, and shown how to do that with the follow-up plan being "we will call you on Monday and at some point do a glucose curve test". No education provided on DKA, hypoglycemia, diet, care plan, and no comprehensive physical exam. I was told not to do any home monitoring (today is his 5th day on Lantus...I have since gotten a meter and taken matters into my own hands) and no one even mentioned getting some Karo syrup or what to do in the event of suspected hypoglycemia. When asked about diet (he has hx of urinary crystals) I was told I was between a rock and a hard place and to just "google cat foods for urinary and diabetes". I am learning a tremendous amount just reading information on this site and realize that there is so much more that I need from my veterinarian. Anyway, I have an appointment tonight to take Eddy to a cat specialty clinic for a second opinion with the hope that I can get more education and find a veterinary group that will truly partner with me on this journey. Will share more soon and look forward to participating on this site, just wanted to see about a local connection first...

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome.
It can be hard finding a vet who knows a lot about feline diabetes.
Reading all the information here on this site will help you get educated.
I would look at feeding a raw diet for the urinary crystals…it’s a wet diet which is what you need.
Also you need a low carb diet with carbs 10% or less carbs.
That’s great you are Hometesting. make sure your kitty is eating well and offer snacks during the first half of all cycles as well as the preshot meals.
Lots of reading and information in this link HERE
Keep asking questions.I can’t help with anyone in your area.
Bron

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I'm not in South Jersey but the reality is that you'll get all the advice you need here! A lot of us don't go back to our vet once we get the diagnosis and just listen to the people here. (I was one of them).

Once I got my script for Lantus and got it filled in Canada (where it's 1/3 to 1/2 the price), I never took my cat back to a vet for her diabetes. If she needed to go for a checkup/bloodwork, dental work or a URI, I'd start the conversation with "She's on X units of Lantus and her blood glucose runs between Y and Z, but today we're here for (fill in the blank)" and that was usually the end of the conversation. If she did feel the need to give me advice (usually about "prescription" food), I'd smile, nod my head and say "I'll think about that".....and come right back here!

Hope your 2nd opinion appointment vet is more helpful! It is nice to have a vet that will work with you (or at least learn along with you)

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

I'm in Jersey City, so not exactly south Jersey but I will tell you that my kitty has seen about a dozen vets for her various ailments including diabetes, and none of them have been as adept at managing her diabetes as well as the members of the FDMB. I do take Ruby to see a holistic vet who is more progressive in her approach, but so far, after having been to regular local vets, board certified internal medicine doctors at Blue Pearl and AMC in Manhattan, none of them have supported me and taught me as much as I needed to know as this message board has. If I see a new doctor, I show them Ruby's spreadsheet, tell them how I dose and test, and once they see how much I understand, they leave it to me and are ok with writing prescriptions for insulin.

It is SUPERBLY overwhelming at the beginning. I was a nervous wreck about everything, but once you get the hang of the kinds of food you need to have on hand, getting your cat accustomed to testing and the shots, everything becomes second nature after a while. You don't need a vet to hold your hand. We're here to help when you need it. Once you have a spreadsheet set up, you should mosey on over to the Lantus forum. Lots of great people there.