New member! Questions and concerns

Status
Not open for further replies.
Aito

Aito

Member Since 2021
[I'm sorry for any mistakes as English is not my first language and I'm writing this anxiously at 1 am]
Hi! My name is Aito and my little furbaby's name is Sica. She is a 12 year old black and white cat who has been diagnosed with diabetes 3 days ago. Today was her first day on insulin.
Her glucose level is 450 and the vet recommended 2 units of Lantus in the morning and at night. The first dose was given by the vet and the second dose was attempted by me at home. I'm saying attempted because I probably only managed to give her about 1 unit. I did my research and I didn't try to give her more because I was afraid of a way too high dose, although I know that 1u is the minimum dose.
Here are a few of my questions and concerns:
1. How do I know if she is feeling sick because of her high glucose?
2. What is a dangerous level of glucose? I've seen people discussing glucose levels of 500 and 600, a few even with higher ones.
3. Why is she getting sleepy after insulin? Is it because she's stressed and she gets tired?
4. How long does it take to stabilize her glucose in the beginning?
5. Is she in danger? While I'm figuring things out I'm blaming myself because she is sitting there with 400-500 glucose and I'm wondering if she is in danger while I try to learn all of these things and find the right insulin dose
6. How do I know if she is going into a coma? I ve been to 3 vets and they all kept repeating this word, "coma", without any warning signs or anything
7. Any advice? Things I should know as a newbie or tips on how to cope? This is very difficult for me as she has been my cat since I was 9 and I love her so much, she got me out of some really dark places. She was assigned to me as an emotional support animal when I was struggling with anorexia (yes at 9 yrs old ik I was young) and I wanna make sure I help her the best I can and always make her life beautiful.
 
Hi Aito :bighug: I'm sure others will be along but do you mind sharing where you are from? There are people on the board from all over the world so maybe we can help connect you with someone near you too.

The best way to help keep Sica safe is to monitor her glucose at home. Most of us use human glucometers - do you have one? If not, are you able to get one? Lantus is dosed on how low a kitty goes - we always test before giving insulin and then usually at least once more during the cycle. Doses are to be given 12-hours apart.

Hang in there :bighug::bighug::bighug: it's very clear how much you love and care for Sica and am sure you will find the right resources and guidance here on the board.
 
The answer to several of your questions is that cats tolerate high numbers much better than people do.

Cats are also very good at hiding the fact that they are sick so most have been diabetic for quite some time before we get them diagnosed. High numbers take time to do damage. It's the low ones that can kill quickly. (which is probably what your vets were talking about if they were using the word "coma").

Your best way to keep your kitty safe is to home test. Not only will you be able to see how she is responding to treatment, you will be able to keep her safe from going so low that she'd be in danger.

It can take months to get a cat regulated. It's not something that usually happens quickly but you can help by making sure she eats a low carb canned diet and again, home test.

Aito said:
3. Why is she getting sleepy after insulin? Is it because she's stressed and she gets tired?
Click to expand...

A normal healthy cat sleeps 20 out of 24 hours. You may just be paying more attention and think she's sleepier after insulin. Also, it's normal for a cat to eat, then groom, then sleep so if you feed her before her insulin, she's probably sleeping due just being fed, not because of the insulin.
 
JaxBenji said:
Hi Aito :bighug: I'm sure others will be along but do you mind sharing where you are from? There are people on the board from all over the world so maybe we can help connect you with someone near you too.

The best way to help keep Sica safe is to monitor her glucose at home. Most of us use human glucometers - do you have one? If not, are you able to get one? Lantus is dosed on how low a kitty goes - we always test before giving insulin and then usually at least once more during the cycle. Doses are to be given 12-hours apart.

Hang in there :bighug::bighug::bighug: it's very clear how much you love and care for Sica and am sure you will find the right resources and guidance here on the board.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind response! I am from Romania and yes I do have a glucometer! I used it this morning for the second time and I feel like I'm already a little better on not making her feel agitated when I stab her ear. She had 490 last night after we (me and my arguing parents) agitated her a lot honestly, we gave her one unit instead of two because that's all we managed and now in the morning she has 395 on an empty stomach so things are looking a little better. We were advised by her vet not to give her more insulin and to just give her this and wait.
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
The answer to several of your questions is that cats tolerate high numbers much better than people do.

A normal healthy cat sleeps 20 out of 24 hours. You may just be paying more attention and think she's sleepier after insulin. Also, it's normal for a cat to eat, then groom, then sleep so if you feed her before her insulin, she's probably sleeping due just being fed, not because of the insulin.
Click to expand...
That might be the case! We give her food after insulin, that's what the vets advised. But yeah on a second thought she hasn't changed her behaviour much. She just seems to be suspicious of me now that I pinched her ear twice haha
 
Aito said:
give her food after insulin, that's what the vets advised
Click to expand...
You test first, then feed, then give the insulin in that order. Try and get some tests in during the cycle to see how low the dose is taking your kitty.
I would stick with 1 unit twice a day for now and see how you go
 
Aito said:
I did my research and I didn't try to give her more because I was afraid of a way too high dose, although I know that 1u is the minimum dose.
Click to expand...
Don’t ever give a second dose of insulin, even if you know you missed. It’s too dangerous as some nearly always gets in.

Aito said:
I use the human meter spreadsheet or the pet meter? I have a human glucometer if that's what it's referring to
Click to expand...
You use the human meter spreadsheet. If you measure in mmol/l you use the world spreadsheet but if you measure in the mg/dL then you use the US spreadsheet.I am going to ask @Bandit's Mom to look in to help you get sorted
 
Aito, Royal Canin dry and wrt food are too high in carbs for a diabetic cat. Do you think you can gradually change her to a low carb wet food?

This is a list of low carb wet and dry foods available in the UK and EU.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J5JpMe6TDXrHq_aTl9hUtHy6Gs9oRBqlz4nPGKxtySA/pubhtml

I am not sure which of these will be available in Romania. I see that Zooplus is there in Romania (https://www.zooplus.ro/). I am told that Zooplus Germany (https://www.zooplus.de/) has more cat food options. They may ship to Romania.

Note: A change to a low carb diet can significantly impact a cat's blood sugar and greatly reduce the need for insulin. So any transition in diet when the cat is already on insulin, has to be made gradually and with careful monitoring of the BG (with home testing) and insulin requirements. You want to be able to catch how low she is going on the dose and reduce it, if necessary. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Aito, Royal Canin dry and wrt food are too high in carbs for a diabetic cat. Do you think you can gradually change her to a low carb wet food?

This is a list of low carb wet and dry foods available in the UK and EU.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J5JpMe6TDXrHq_aTl9hUtHy6Gs9oRBqlz4nPGKxtySA/pubhtml

I am not sure which of these will be available in Romania. I see that Zooplus is there in Romania (https://www.zooplus.ro/). I am told that Zooplus Germany (https://www.zooplus.de/) has more cat food options. They may ship to Romania.

Note: A change to a low carb diet can significantly impact a cat's blood sugar and greatly reduce the need for insulin. So any transition in diet when the cat is already on insulin, has to be made gradually and with careful monitoring of the BG (with home testing) and insulin requirements. You want to be able to catch how low she is going on the dose and reduce it, if necessary. We have had cats that have gone off insulin with just a change from high carb kibble to a low carb canned diet.
Click to expand...
Thank you!!! I will look into it as soon as possible.
Quick question, what is a dangerously high level of glucose? The kitty is doing fine, I'm just asking for future tests.
 
Aito said:
Quick question, what is a dangerously high level of glucose? The kitty is doing fine, I'm just asking for future tests.
Click to expand...
There is no dangerously high level of glucose. Low levels of glucose (hypoglycemia) are more dangerous than high levels of glucose (hyperglycemia). That having been said, high gluose with cats prone to ketones can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Higher blood sugar also puts a strain on the kidneys which have to work harder to flush the glucose out with urine.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
There is no dangerously high level of glucose. Low levels of glucose (hypoglycemia) are more dangerous than high levels of glucose (hyperglycemia). That having been said, high gluose with cats prone to ketones can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Higher blood sugar also puts a strain on the kidneys which have to work harder to flush the glucose out with urine.
Click to expand...
I understand, thank you!
 
Salut Aito :) welcome to the board, there is nothing you could have done more than follow the protocols recommended on this site and read as much as possible the information provided by the forum. The people though are the forums biggest asset, because they will always give the needed guidance :bighug:

i remember how overwhelmed we felt when we found out our Chico was diabetic, but it gets much easier very quickly :bighug: its important for your mental health to understand that high glucose is bad from a long term point of view (as a lot of messages above already mentioned) but low glucose is why we are testing like crazy o_O

I am not located in romania, therefore i don’t know local diabetes related products, but i will gladly help you with anything else if needed / spune daca te pot ajuta cu ceva :)
 
Marina & Chico said:
Salut Aito :) welcome to the board, there is nothing you could have done more than follow the protocols recommended on this site and read as much as possible the information provided by the forum. The people though are the forums biggest asset, because they will always give the needed guidance :bighug:

i remember how overwhelmed we felt when we found out our Chico was diabetic, but it gets much easier very quickly :bighug: its important for your mental health to understand that high glucose is bad from a long term point of view (as a lot of messages above already mentioned) but low glucose is why we are testing like crazy o_O

I am not located in romania, therefore i don’t know local diabetes related products, but i will gladly help you with anything else if needed / spune daca te pot ajuta cu ceva :)
Click to expand...
Thank you I appreciate it!! And yeah I've been really anxious about the high results because I guess it's a natural response but I'm feeling better after the support I've received on this forum. I love how fast replies are and how welcoming and eager to help everyone is. All the responses have honestly made a huge difference for someone who barely had any idea how human diabetes works, let alone cat diabetes
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top