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Jajsmom

Jajsmom

Member Since 2020
I'm Robyn. I have a 12 year old cat, Jasper, that over the past few months has gotten skinny, increased thirst, urinating, etc. This past weekend he vomited and then acted funny. I actually thought he was going to pass on me. I took him to the vet and had blood tests done. It turns out his GLU was in the high range. The vet prescribed Novolin at 2 units in the morning and at night. He showed me how to administer the insulin.
I took Jasper in Sunday 4 hrs after his morning dose to check his numbers. It appears they went up in the 300 range. The needle did bend a little and wasn't sure if it went in or not but didn't want to give too much. I mentioned it to the vet. The vet increased the dose to 2.5 units. I took Jasper in this morning again to check his levels. They rose to 469. I didn't get to speak to the vet as they were busy but they suggested I make an appt and recheck in a week stating it could be something else. I think I was told to increase to 3 units, but I stayed at 2.5 tonight. If it is something else, I don't think I can afford to do treatments, especially if cancer or something. I'm thinking of getting my own glucose monitor and just checking at home to save the cost and travel time. Should I get a pet monitor or a human monitor? Any reccomendations? This is all new to me so I will read the boards and see how to keep track and everything. Jasper is acting better, but still very thirsty and urinating a lot. Tends to go on the floor rather than litter box at times. Any suggestions? Thank you all.
 
It would be very beneficial to start home testing. This will save you vet costs and it is the best way to make sure that Jasper is safe. Going to the vet for testing is not ideal. The cost can add up, the numbers are usually inflated due to stress levels, and the testing is not done as much as it should be. You should test before each dose (morning and night) and you should also take some tests in between so that you know how well the insulin and the dose are working. There is no need to get a pet meter, the human meters work just as good. I hear a lot of people on here get the Relion meter from Walmart because the testing strips are not expensive. I got the Prodigy meter from Amazon and the testing strips are cheap as well (around $10 for 50). It is important to look at the cost of strips because you will be going through a lot of them, especially at first. It is also very helpful to record your test results (they have a WONDERFUL spreadsheet on here for recording). By recording your numbers you can better understand how the insulin is working for Jasper and people on this forum can easily see your numbers as well when they are giving advice. Look under the thread titled "Suggestions, Tech Support & Testing Area" for a breakdown on the spreadsheet.
 
Jajsmom said:
I'm Robyn. I have a 12 year old cat, Jasper, that over the past few months has gotten skinny, increased thirst, urinating, etc. This past weekend he vomited and then acted funny. I actually thought he was going to pass on me. I took him to the vet and had blood tests done. It turns out his GLU was in the high range. The vet prescribed Novolin at 2 units in the morning and at night. He showed me how to administer the insulin.
I took Jasper in Sunday 4 hrs after his morning dose to check his numbers. It appears they went up in the 300 range. The needle did bend a little and wasn't sure if it went in or not but didn't want to give too much. I mentioned it to the vet. The vet increased the dose to 2.5 units. I took Jasper in this morning again to check his levels. They rose to 469. I didn't get to speak to the vet as they were busy but they suggested I make an appt and recheck in a week stating it could be something else. I think I was told to increase to 3 units, but I stayed at 2.5 tonight. If it is something else, I don't think I can afford to do treatments, especially if cancer or something. I'm thinking of getting my own glucose monitor and just checking at home to save the cost and travel time. Should I get a pet monitor or a human monitor? Any reccomendations? This is all new to me so I will read the boards and see how to keep track and everything. Jasper is acting better, but still very thirsty and urinating a lot. Tends to go on the floor rather than litter box at times. Any suggestions? Thank you all.
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Hi Robyn and welcome!

I don’t know Novolin so I’ll let others who do comment, but I’m not so sure the fast increase in dosage is a good approach. We typically recommend increasing or decreasing by .25 at a time.

as for meters, most of us use human meters and they work great. No need to buy and expensive pet meter with expensive test strips. I’m currently using ReliOn from Walmart and it works great. You can get 100 test strips for about $17.99 so it’s a great deal and very economic. What makes testing expensive is not the price of the meter but the price of the testing strips since you’ll be going through a lot testing at least 2-3 times a day. Testing at home will definitely be more economical and less stressful for your cat as well. I never went back to the vet just to test glucose levels once I started testing at home. Most of us even do the curves at home and just sent the results to the vet. There are lots of tips here about testing as well. One trick that works for me with the shots too is to use a flashlight so you can really see the needle going in and out and you know the shot was successful. I got a small flashlight that I hold in my mouth and aim at the spot.

lots of resources here so I’m glad you found us and welcome again! :bighug:

Oh and here’s a link the info Heather mentioned including setting up your signature

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/
 
Can you also tell is what kind of food you’re feeding Jasper right now? We recommend transitioning to low carb wet food but not before you start testing because any food changes can affect the numbers and bring him too low too fast.
 
Thank you. I will order try to get ReliOn tomorrow and then set up a spreadsheet. I will also work on the signature tomorrow as it is late right now. I just found the board.


Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Hi Robyn and welcome!

I don’t know Novolin so I’ll let others who do comment, but I’m not so sure the fast increase in dosage is a good approach. We typically recommend increasing or decreasing by .25 at a time.

as for meters, most of us use human meters and they work great. No need to buy and expensive pet meter with expensive test strips. I’m currently using ReliOn from Walmart and it works great. You can get 100 test strips for about $17.99 so it’s a great deal and very economic. What makes testing expensive is not the price of the meter but the price of the testing strips since you’ll be going through a lot testing at least 2-3 times a day. Testing at home will definitely be more economical and less stressful for your cat as well. I never went back to the vet just to test glucose levels once I started testing at home. Most of us even do the curves at home and just sent the results to the vet. There are lots of tips here about testing as well. One trick that works for me with the shots too is to use a flashlight so you can really see the needle going in and out and you know the shot was successful. I got a small flashlight that I hold in my mouth and aim at the spot.

lots of resources here so I’m glad you found us and welcome again! :bighug:

Oh and here’s a link the info Heather mentioned including setting up your signature

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/[/
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Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Can you also tell is what kind of food you’re feeding Jasper right now? We recommend transitioning to low carb wet food but not before you start testing because any food changes can affect the numbers and bring him too low too fast.
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He was on dry food, but about a month ago, I switched him to 9 Lives canned trying to get him to gain some weight. I didn't know his sugars were high. He's been getting canned meat in the morning and dry food left throughout day and night. I will switch him to Fancy Feast as I see this is what many give their cats.
 
Jajsmom said:
He was on dry food, but about a month ago, I switched him to 9 Lives canned trying to get him to gain some weight. I didn't know his sugars were high. He's been getting canned meat in the morning and dry food left throughout day and night. I will switch him to Fancy Feast as I see this is what many give their cats.
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Sounds like a plan but please wait till you start home testing and have gathered some info on his levels in the current insulin and dosage. Removing the dry food could drop him low and you want to make sure you can monitor that by testing :)
 
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Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Also key is warming up the ear so it bleeds easily. It does take a few days for the ear to “learn to bleed” as it build more capilares so don’t be discouraged. What lancet gauge size did you get?
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26 Guage. I failed this morning and couldn't do it. He was moving too much and couldn't get him to stay in place. I was late with the insulin and feedeing.
 
It’s okay. It takes practice and trial and error. You may need to find a place where he’s more comfortable in the house. I also hum to Minnie and me actually so I’m less stressed and she’s gotten so used to it when she hears the song she plops down and knows what’s happening. Sometimes though she still moves her ear and it’s a struggle. I’d try again today away from shot time so you don’t feel you need to rush. Remember to always give a threat even after a failed attempt so they build a positive association with it.
 
Have you seen this?
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Just curious, how much is Lantus cost approx? If its too much,my husband rather I stay with Novolin. At least give it a chance since we just got it this week.
 
Jajsmom said:
Just curious, how much is Lantus cost approx?
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If you order from Canada, you can get 5 pens of Lantus for $164.99 plus $25 shipping

You could save some by getting Basaglar (which is also Glargine insulin just like Lantus) which is $125 plus $25 shipping.

Those 5 pens of either will give you 1500 units of insulin which is enough to last most cats at least a year and some up to 2 years! That makes it very affordable!!

Here's the Info on buying Lantus or Basaglar from Canada. Mark's really is fantastic and they remember the meaning of customer service too!

It will take about a week to get to you once you send them a script. You can snail mail it, fax it, have your vet fax it or take a picture of it and attach it to an email/order form.

Another nice thing about ordering from Marks is once they have a script, you won't have to get a new one every year like you do in the US. All you have to do is request a refill for however long you need it.
 
Hi! Welcome to the board :) I just wanted to say that your story sounds a lot like how mine started - and things are starting to look much better. We were using Caninsulin for the first three weeks and switched just over a week ago to Lantus - it's like night and day when you get the right insulin. We also managed a transition to wet food in there because his numbers were always so high. Testing at home was key; is poor ears looked bruised during the worst of it, but that was a small price to see him back to being perky, having an appetite and not losing control of his bladder everywhere. Hang in there! There are no magic bullets, but with time, patience, and the helpful experience of other people it will get better.
 
Laura and Sam said:
Hi! Welcome to the board :) I just wanted to say that your story sounds a lot like how mine started - and things are starting to look much better. We were using Caninsulin for the first three weeks and switched just over a week ago to Lantus - it's like night and day when you get the right insulin. We also managed a transition to wet food in there because his numbers were always so high. Testing at home was key; is poor ears looked bruised during the worst of it, but that was a small price to see him back to being perky, having an appetite and not losing control of his bladder everywhere. Hang in there! There are no magic bullets, but with time, patience, and the helpful experience of other people it will get better.
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Happy news!!! :bighug::bighug::bighug:

It’s a marathon not a print ;)
 
Got his SS started today. All over the place. Giving his night insulin soon and will test before bed. Think I'm getting the hang of things. Just not sure how to adjust dosage, but did print a page on it. Was going to test my other cat to compare, but I couldn't him to stay put at all. He's a big cat.
 
jayla-n-Drevon said:
My boy prefers only 1 of his ears to test-for some reason he objects to the other even after 4 years. Your doing great and in the right place, lots of wisdom here...Welcome aboard!
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Teal'c is the same way. Prefers the right ear over the left. Right ear no reaction, left ear he reaches his right paw out in front of him. Not sure why.
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
You don’t have a lot of data yet since you just started and if you’re switching to another insulin, it may be better to wait to change the dose, but let’s see what others here like @Bron and Sheba (GA) think :cat:
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I'm going to keep him on Novolin and maybe switch when I run out. Tried canceling my appointment and she had me on hold 5 min. I hung up. Gonna check out another vet. He's supposed to be on 3 units, but not going that high. At least for now. Next check in 20.
 
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