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Gizzyshuman

Member Since 2022
Hello, my cat gizzy, make 3 was diagnosed yesterday with diabetes.
I am at a loss. Was told what to do by vet an sent home.
However this morning i let him eat then gave his first shot from me an ge immediately changed behavior, went under bed, threw up twice. Looked dazed. As for myself, of course im feeling like i did something wrong! He wasn't throwing up before an i just gave him something that is supposed to make him better but made worse.
What did i do wrong? Is this normal? Please help as his night food an shot coming soon an got voicemail when tried calling vet
 
Gizzyshuman said:
Hello, my cat gizzy, make 3 was diagnosed yesterday with diabetes.
I am at a loss. Was told what to do by vet an sent home.
However this morning i let him eat then gave his first shot from me an ge immediately changed behavior, went under bed, threw up twice. Looked dazed. As for myself, of course im feeling like i did something wrong! He wasn't throwing up before an i just gave him something that is supposed to make him better but made worse.
What did i do wrong? Is this normal? Please help as his night food an shot coming soon an got voicemail when tried calling vet
Click to expand...
What insulin is he on & what is the dose? What are you feeding him & are you home testing?
 
Chrispooky12 said:
What insulin is he on & what is the dose? What are you feeding him & are you home testing?
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Hello, 2 units vetsulin every 12hours after meal. They told me to jus continue feeding normal food because no difference in expensive stuff. Only not allowed to leave out all time now.
Regular food being Sheba wet, Purina indoor cat chow dry.
He is also on metronidazole 5ml once day and orbax 1.3ml once a day.
I am not monitoring. Am currently reading about online tho. Not to mention other ways to tell what i need to do to try an maintain his bs.
Its been 24 hours since i got home from the vet an my whole world is changed. Its only me an gizzy. Hes only 3 years old. Is it possible this could be a misdiagnosis? Will take pictures of blood work an post. Thank u for the help in advance. Im just scared im going to do something i don't know what im doing an make him worse. Especially after this morning. My cat never thrown up in his life before until i gave him that shot. Was the first time seeing my cat in distress. I took him to the vet because he drinks an pees alot an notice he was getting hot flashes, an had swollen bellybut skinny but. I thought worms or something but im just beside myself right now and i know i gotta get something going because if this is what he has i need to educated an confident on what to do an when.
 
Gizzyshuman said:
Hello, my cat gizzy, make 3 was diagnosed yesterday with diabetes.
I am at a loss. Was told what to do by vet an sent home.
However this morning i let him eat then gave his first shot from me an ge immediately changed behavior, went under bed, threw up twice. Looked dazed. As for myself, of course im feeling like i did something wrong! He wasn't throwing up before an i just gave him something that is supposed to make him better but made worse.
What did i do wrong? Is this normal? Please help as his night food an shot coming soon an got voicemail when tried calling vet
Click to expand...
First thing you need to do is to get a blood glucose meter. Walmart ReliOn Premier meter is a good, inexpensive meter -- many people here use it. I would not give any more insulin until I knew what his blood glucose reading was BEFORE I shot any insulin (and before eating any meal, too VERY IMPORTANT). If you don't know what his BG is, then you don't know if it's safe to shoot. What was his fructosamine test number at the vet?
 
Did the vet do a fructosamine test? It’s a 3 week average on the blood sugar level so you rule out it being a misread at the vet. I’d suggest looking into doing one and I’d also decrease to 1 unit. Starting at 2 units of any insulin is too much too fast. Once you start home testing, but not before, you should consider removing the dry food and feeding low carb wet food only. The Sheba is okay
 
Gizzyshuman said:
He is also on metronidazole 5ml once day and orbax 1.3ml once a day.
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What are the antibiotics for? Does he have an infection? Infection will raise a cat's blood glucose.

A diabetic cat needs to be on a low carb wet food diet. You probably should have changed his diet first (with no more of the dry food) and started home testing so you can track his BG, and NOT give any insulin at that time until you have an idea of what the diet change could do for him. There are some cats who only need a diet change to low carb food and do not need insulin. If you do plan to keep using the insulin, please reduce to 1 unit and please start home testing. We can help you with that. It's scary / hard at first (I cried a lot) but it soon became much easier and later on I could do it in my sleep almost.

Don't do a diet change and insulin at the same time. It could be dangerous because you will get lower BG from the diet change to low carb and you will get lower BG from the Vetsulin (which is a pretty harsh insulin for cats) so it could be a potentially dangerous situation.
 
Now, I do hope we haven't overwhelmed you at this point. Believe me, it is VERY overwhelming in the beginning. You are probably moving too fast. Remember, your kitty did not become diabetic overnight and you will not fix this overnight. I remember ow I felt in the beginning. I actually thought... oh, it's diabetes... no problem, we just give him a little insulin and he'll get all better. It's not like that. But anyway, there are many people here who can help you. I would not rush things too much in the beginning.
 
Hello, thank u all for helping. Im trying to get my computer up an running so i can upload photos of the tests an paperwork they gave me.
What is the abbreviation for the fructose on the bloodwork under
 
I don't know what infection, but ge had a temp when i took him. The clinic was so busy the doctor only came out to bring him back, but when we got him back the tech brought him. Told me what to do an times an that was it.
I have learned more research online an on here.
Because i don't know if i meantioned before, but my cat was losing weight, yes only 11 pounds.
An i understand stress too plays a part with the glucose number. Well that was my second thing mentioned to the vet how my cat has an is a Ball of nerves so bad but was never replied on when was diagnosed an said comeback in a week
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Now, I do hope we haven't overwhelmed you at this point. Believe me, it is VERY overwhelming in the beginning. You are probably moving too fast. Remember, your kitty did not become diabetic overnight and you will not fix this overnight. I remember ow I felt in the beginning. I actually thought... oh, it's diabetes... no problem, we just give him a little insulin and he'll get all better. It's not like that. But anyway, there are many people here who can help you. I would not rush things too much in the beginning.
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Yes overwhelmed, but relaxing a little.
I tried copying an pasting his paperwork but it says security problem.
I gave him his dinner like usual. I didn't give him a shot this evening. I will be going to Walmart tomorrow an getting a glucometer first before anymore.
Also, is there any recommendations about food.?
 
Gizzyshuman said:
Yes overwhelmed, but relaxing a little.
I tried copying an pasting his paperwork but it says security problem.
I gave him his dinner like usual. I didn't give him a shot this evening. I will be going to Walmart tomorrow an getting a glucometer first before anymore.
Also, is there any recommendations about food.?
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The Sheba pates are low carb. Fancy Feast Classic Pates (not the gravies) are all fine. Does he like eating wet food? If so, this will be a good thing.
 
@Diane Tyler's Mom can you help me out here? I need to go out - and then make some dinner and feed cats and kittens! Can you help by providing information on what should be in the hypo kit, the photo of the sweet spot on the ear, how to set up your signature and how to get a spreadsheet going (we can tag Bhooma if we need to) and all the rest. The good old : how to help us help you document would be great right now, too!
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
@Diane Tyler's Mom can you help me out here? I need to go out - and then make some dinner and feed cats and kittens! Can you help by providing information on what should be in the hypo kit, the photo of the sweet spot on the ear, how to set up your signature and how to get a spreadsheet going (we can tag Bhooma if we need to) and all the rest. The good old : how to help us help you document would be great right now, too!
Click to expand...
Hypo kit
For your hypo kit you want some
Med and High Carb food and some honey



Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Gourmet Beef Feast in Gravy 20% High Carbs

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.
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/

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
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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 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
Take a look at the lancets ,you will see one side points up, that's the side you want to poke with
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
You can also put a thin layer of vaseline on the ear ,to help the blood bead up
A video one of our members posted
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


To set up your signature which you will see is at the end of everyone's post in gray, click on your name up top and then tap on the word signature and add this information
  • 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)
    • 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.

Take a look at mine
Here is the link to set up our spreadsheet where we record our cats BG it will also explain how it works
If you need help just ask we have a member who will help you
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/

Edit with Vetsulin you need to feed first wait 30 minutes then give Vetsulin
 
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I am going to venture off to the store this afternoon, first time i will be leaving him since all this has happened. I have the glucometer an some pate foods, of course i gotta get litter cause hes always in his box.
But if there are any other recommendations to grab while im going id be grateful knowing.
 
So yesterday when i signed up idk why i assumed to put cats sex instead of mine with birthday. So to clarify im a female 41, gizzy is my male cat 3.
I have tried a few times upload photo of gizzy on profile but always says too big
But regardless jus wanted to take a minute to say thank you for everyone that has been there for me an at least not making me feel like im battling this alone.
 
To answer your question about dry food, there are very few dry foods that are low in carbs. The ones that are low in carbs are expensive. Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein and Young Again Zero Carb are the two dry foods that are acceptable for a diabetic. However, there are air or freeze dried raw foods that have a bit of a crunch that your cat may like.

You're not battling your cat's diabetes alone! This is an incredibly supportive community that will provide you with a wealth of information (probably overload you with information in the beginning!). We've all been in your shoes.

If you can get Ketostix while your shopping that would be helpful. These are strips that you dip in your cat's urine to make sure there aren't ketones present. Ketones can be a major health threat so a bit of prevention is good.
 
I have found that on my phone I can just touch the photo and then copy it and go to my thread and paste it into the thread.
You should be able to change the information about yourself in your profile. Let us know if you can’t.
 
Good evening, so i went an i got the relyon machine from Walmart an stuff to go with it.
I was able to check his blood last night before i fed him dinner, which wasn't easy but after 3 attempts poking him an not getting blood, an yes i feel like a terrible person at that point, i got some from the ear where i seen recommended on here. His blood sugar was 285. So i fed him his dinner after, gave him his 2 oral medications an kept an eye on him.
I still don't know what he is getting the orbax an metronidazole for, other than his symptoms he has for taking it.
His fever seems to be coming down but still get hot flashes sometimes. He was 103.5 on Friday when took to vet. But regardless there is still alot of questions that were not answered by vet, like his poop they sent out, im still waiting to hear about. Speaking of, he still has mush poop. No solid or formed for week 3 now. These are the reasons I took him an the belly bloat, i thought he had worm or parasite an to walk out with so much to do but not alot of answer of why or what im treating. Im really trying to focus on one thing, but then with the other too.... It get confusing especially with feeding right now because if he has some kind of infection or whatever is causing the fever, should i still be cutting his food off or should i jus cut back an try deal battle one thi6at a time, like this fever an infection or idk what ever it is, but hes hungry, especially at night, but i have had him on the 2x a day feed right now while battling this diabetes thing too. But damn at night he begs for a treat an when i give him a few pieces he acts like hes starving an inhales them practically.
I have the keytone strips coming tomorrow amazon an also new high protein low carb food. Of course i gotta ween him with that too.
Gonna test his blood sugar here in the next few. I haven't gave him insulin since i had that scare Saturday morning an am still myself not over but i know if it gets too where i need to i have to do it. I just wonder still why the skinny but bloat belly stinky poop symptoms still having.
So i will probably be taking him next week to his original vet although over a hour away since moved e month ago for a second opinion.
 
Hendrick Cuddleclaw said:
the upload feature is broken on this website, you have to drag and drop the image instead. Much easier on an actual computer than on a mobile phone
Click to expand...
That what gizzy kinda looks like the cat u have on ur profile pic. Only gas white feet an mustache.
Everytime i get a pic to drop it won't send says too big
 
Well, I now understand why he's getting the antibiotics. The vet doesn't know the source, the he has a fever so that indicates possible infection. That's the Orbax. The Metronidazole is for the diarrhea/soft stool. How many days has he been on the Metronidazole and has it helped at all with his poop?
 
As to "cutting off his food." No. You don't want to cut off his food. We talked about doing a transition to a low carb wet diet before starting the insulin, but at this point he needs to eat. Eating is paramount. I would NOT stick to the advice (the vet's?) to only feed him twice a day. In fact, if he has an infection -- or a suspected infection based on the fever -- you could be putting him into a dangerous situation without enough food. If you can start testing more frequently (good job, by the way, getting started on this!!) then we should be able to help you with a starting dose for him. I would let him eat and not withhold food EXCEPT for two hours before an insulin injection. We need Gizzy to not have eaten for two hours prior to the blood glucose test that is taken before shooting insulin (what we call the AMPS and PMPS, which is A.M. Preshot and P.M. Preshot.) The reason for this (which I hope I haven't explained before) is that you need to know if it is safe to give insulin and the only way to know that is to have a BG reading on your meter that has not been inflated by food. Food will make the number go up and you might think it's okay to shoot because of that number, but it may be too low to shoot if there hadn't been any food eaten to elevate the number.. I hope this makes sense. Otherwise, I would let Gizzy eat. Diabetic cats have usually lost weight by the time they are diagnosed because their bodies have a very hard time making use of the food that they are eating.

If you can get ketone readings, it would be really great to know. Some decisions as to how much insulin, whether to restart insulin first or do the diet change first, would be based on whether or not he's producing ketones.
 
Good late evening, first his WBC was 19.99. im actually going to list all the ones that are red on the paper. So u have the WBC 19.99 , NEU 14.09, MONO 0.72, PCT 1.06%, GLU 544, GLOB 5.4, CHOL 235, LIPA 2775
not sure what the PCT means but that one looks off the charts on the graph.
Yes, the vets office was the one who said only feed 2x daily. 30 min after each meal 2 units of insulin, meals 12 hours apart, bring back in a week.
That was it.
An yes his poop still mush an stinky. Tonight at 5 gave him both his oral medicine then his wet at 8pm. I tested him tonight at 830 an his number was 296. I still haven't gave him any insulin since Saturday morning. But he still got bloated belly going on an gasy.
I honestly wish they would have taken a x-ray.
I don't know if i meantioned already that im just not comfortable going back to where her went.
Still haven't gotten ahold of them for the fecal test the said they sent out. I got charged so i expect results. These are the details i would never have to feel like im chasing down at his original vets office in port Charlotte Florida. I moved to ft Myers which is about a hour from my place to his vet up there an figured I didn't want to put him through that ride an to find someone local. Im sure there is alot of great vets in my bew area, however i don't have the luxury, an gizzy don't really either to be hit or miss attempts.
In the meantime, i have some new food coming tomorrow to start weaning in his dry, its high protein an low carb. His keyton sticks come an also, should i try to give him a test in the morning before his breakfast? Would that be a good time to do a bm number?
 
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