New to Board - Jennifer and Maui

[j3nnz]

Hello,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I've looked over the forum and found some helpful tips. I found this page from a Facebook Group, which is also super super helpful. I've had Maui since he was a kitten (Blue Point Siamese), he'll be 10 years old on 4/20. Recently diagnosed on 2/23/23. (Hopefully my signature here works as I've added in all the info).

I've been using the spreadsheet basically since I did a curve last week. Before that, only tested twice as it was hard to do with two people, but now i've got it down by myself. Since I was doing a curve, I also removed high carb food. I plan on doing another this weekend with the change in food and the lowered insulin dose. When I sent the vet the curve results, they thought it went great and said no changes. But I did lower the insulin (you can see on the spreadsheet).

I am going on vacation in just under two weeks so I want to make sure he'll be ok while i'm gone. My sister will watch him and she's had a diabetic cat, but it was years ago and she didn't test him much like is recommended here, mostly just when he didn't look well. But the insulin shots and keeping an eye on him should be no problem for her. I am just looking for an automatic feeder for him for his 1 pm FF meal and 10 pm kibble.

My vet was pushing the RX food, which I bought, but it was dry food and he didn't get a ton of that. I didn't know better at the time. But Maui loved FF gravy lovers, and I've taken that away. Currently he's on FF grilled mixed with FF pate (he was a big gravy and chunk lover) at 6:30 am, 1 pm, 6:30 pm, and get's Dr Elsey's Dry Chicken at night. He doesn't get too much at night because otherwise he's not hungry in the morning at feeding/insulin time. Since I've made the change when I did the curve, his numbers seem better. Prior the vet was testing and his insulin kept increasing because he was always in the 500's. Now it looks like he's in the low 300's usually pre-shot. I'll get a better idea of how he's doing after a curve on 1.5 units and go from there. Plan on doing the SLGL method.

I don't want this post to get longer. Lol. If anyone has any tips or suggestions based on my spreadsheet, feel free to share. I'm super grateful for this group.

Thanks!!!

 

[Gus the Furminator]

Hey! Great to see you over here from FB (it’s Kim)

It would be really great if you could get a few mid cycle tests here and there on this new 1.5u dose so we can see how he’s doing on it. The curve will help with that but daily mid cycle test help us (and you) see what’s happening on the daily… not just one day (12-18hours) captured (I’m glad testing is getting easier )

Is he good with testing? I’d have your sister head over for a few practice runs before you head on vacation. Will she be staying with Maui while you’re gonna? A vacation dose might be something to consider if not

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Welcome to FDMB!

Thank you for getting a spreadsheet set up and putting your signature together! It's so helpful.

I have a couple of thoughts. It's great that Maui likes canned food. However, not all canned foods are low in carbs. The Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers is high in carb. (We consider low carb as less than 10% although most people feed their cats foods that are roughly in the 5% range.) In fact, we suggest using the Gravy Lovers as a means of raising low blood glucose (BG) numbers if a cats BG drops too low. Unfortunately, the grilled varieties of Fancy Feast are at least medium carb (10 - 15% carb). This is a link to a food chart that contains information about the carbs and other nutritional information so you can select low carb food(s) for Maui. Many people use Fancy Feast Classic.

When testing, we encourage members to get a minimum of 4 tests per day. You're already testing at pre-shot times. With Lantus, dosing is based on the lowest number in the cycle. Ideally, the lowest point in the cycle (i.e., the nadir) falls somewhere around +6. That said, the nadir can and does vary and not all cats follow the rules. (Mine didn't. She had an early nadir.) As Kim mentioned above, you will want to get at least one additional test during the AM and PM cycles. I often recommend getting a "before bed" test every night so you can comfortably go to sleep knowing Maui is in safe numbers (or you can get extra tests). In addition, without the additional tests, we have no idea whether Maui needs a dose reduction.

We have lots of recommendations for when you're on vacation. If you remind us a few days prior to your travel, we can provide a run down of suggestions. One immediate thought is to see if your sister would want to post here if she has questions while you're away.

Please let us know if you have questions. We're here to help.

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

Hi and welcome to the group!

omg Maui is gorgeous! We have two Blue Points, a Lilac Point and a solid brown Siamese along with our 3 rescues.

I used Basaglar and it worked great on Hendrick, and he is now in diabetic remission! You found the right place to get Maui the most help possible.

 

[j3nnz]

Hey! Great to see you over here from FB (it’s Kim)

It would be really great if you could get a few mid cycle tests here and there on this new 1.5u dose so we can see how he’s doing on it. The curve will help with that but daily mid cycle test help us (and you) see what’s happening on the daily… not just one day (12-18hours) captured (I’m glad testing is getting easier )

Is he good with testing? I’d have your sister head over for a few practice runs before you head on vacation. Will she be staying with Maui while you’re gonna? A vacation dose might be something to consider if not

Hello! I'll aim to get more checks during the week. I can do that in the evenings. If I'm awake around the +6 evening mark, I'll get one. I'm at work during the day and come home basically an hour to a half hour before his evening shot is due. Weekends I can do checks during the day.

At first I had my dad helping by holding him down, but now I can do it myself. But he still fights it.

Maui will be staying at my sister's house, so unfamiliar territory. My sis will also be starting her last month of pregnancy while she has Maui and she's currently working evenings until she can't anymore. Her husband will give Maui the insulin and feed him mornings and evening. I am looking for an automatic feeder for 1pm meals. At the minimum, I can rely on him being cared for, fed, and given shots. I'll ask if they can try to test him for sure. I will be dropping Maui off at her house on 4/26 and pick him up on 5/5.

 

[j3nnz]

Welcome to FDMB!

Thank you for getting a spreadsheet set up and putting your signature together! It's so helpful.

I have a couple of thoughts. It's great that Maui likes canned food. However, not all canned foods are low in carbs. The Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers is high in carb. (We consider low carb as less than 10% although most people feed their cats foods that are roughly in the 5% range.) In fact, we suggest using the Gravy Lovers as a means of raising low blood glucose (BG) numbers if a cats BG drops too low. Unfortunately, the grilled varieties of Fancy Feast are at least medium carb (10 - 15% carb). This is a link to a food chart that contains information about the carbs and other nutritional information so you can select low carb food(s) for Maui. Many people use Fancy Feast Classic.

When testing, we encourage members to get a minimum of 4 tests per day. You're already testing at pre-shot times. With Lantus, dosing is based on the lowest number in the cycle. Ideally, the lowest point in the cycle (i.e., the nadir) falls somewhere around +6. That said, the nadir can and does vary and not all cats follow the rules. (Mine didn't. She had an early nadir.) As Kim mentioned above, you will want to get at least one additional test during the AM and PM cycles. I often recommend getting a "before bed" test every night so you can comfortably go to sleep knowing Maui is in safe numbers (or you can get extra tests). In addition, without the additional tests, we have no idea whether Maui needs a dose reduction.

We have lots of recommendations for when you're on vacation. If you remind us a few days prior to your travel, we can provide a run down of suggestions. One immediate thought is to see if your sister would want to post here if she has questions while you're away.

Please let us know if you have questions. We're here to help.

Hello! You know for some reason I had it in my head that the FF grilled was better than the FF gravy lovers. I don't know why. And I even looked at that chart before. That's why I used it to mix with the pate. But starting with tonight's evening meal, I'll remove the FF grilled. I have the FF classic pate. If he won't eat the pate alone, I'm going to go grab some Tiki Cat to mix in. Years ago he didn't care for the Tiki Cat, but I'm going to try again. Thanks for bringing that up!

I'll test more. I'm gone during the day and come home right before his evening dose on weekdays. But I'll get some evening numbers. I do stay up sometimes around the +6 mark, so if I'm up, I'll try to get it then. My commute to work takes some time, at some point I'll have to consider something else, it's wearing on me after 2 years and also doesn't benefit Maui's situation right now.

I'll drop off Maui at my sister's house on 4/26 so I a little bit of time. I'll ask her if she can test him. I'm not sure how receptive she'll be to that but I'll see. I'll def let her know about this board, I'll give her my login info.

Thank you for your help!

 

[j3nnz]

Hi and welcome to the group!

omg Maui is gorgeous! We have two Blue Points, a Lilac Point and a solid brown Siamese along with our 3 rescues.

I used Basaglar and it worked great on Hendrick, and he is now in diabetic remission! You found the right place to get Maui the most help possible.

After my last siamese passed, I couldn't help but get another. She was a seal point and it seems Maui was born at the right time, because when I was looking for another Siamese after Sassy passed, there was Maui for me.
How long did it take for Hendrick to get into remission? Also congrats on that! Glad to hear he's doing well! If that's him in the picture, he's adorable!

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

After my last siamese passed, I couldn't help but get another. She was a seal point and it seems Maui was born at the right time, because when I was looking for another Siamese after Sassy passed, there was Maui for me.
How long did it take for Hendrick to get into remission? Also congrats on that! Glad to hear he's doing well! If that's him in the picture, he's adorable!

yes that is my beautiful boy Hendrick in the photo. It took about six months of following the Tight Regulation protocol, feeding a low carb diet, and listening to guidance from the experts here.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

But starting with tonight's evening meal, I'll remove the FF grilled. I have the FF classic pate.

@j3nnz
Hi Jennifer you can try these Fancy Feast flavors also
roasted/flaked/chunky varieties are okay for diabetic
Take a look at the food chart
I know the Fancy Feast Chicken Feast Roasted is 6% carbs
I did a search on our site and found this posted from one of our members
On the food chart take a look at Fancy Feast Roasted/Flaked /Chunky
They are not pates, some are 4, 5, or 6 % carbs
Chunky Chicken Feast - is 4% carbs.
I know the Fancy Feast Chicken Feast Roasted is 6% carbs pic of the texture below

 

[j3nnz]

Hi Jennifer you can try these Fancy Feast flavors also
roasted/flaked/chunky varieties are okay for diabetic
Take a look at the food chart
I know the Fancy Feast Chicken Feast Roasted is 6% carbs
I did a search on our site and found this posted from one of our members
On the food chart take a look at Fancy Feast Roasted/Flaked /Chunky
They are not pates, some are 4, 5, or 6 % carbs
Chunky Chicken Feast - is 4% carbs.
I know the Fancy Feast Chicken Feast Roasted is 6% carbs

Yes! I need to look for these again! Thank you for reminding me. I couldn't find them last time. Maybe that's why I thought the grilled were ok, I got the two confused. These would be great cuz Maui wasn't a fan of pates alone before.
Thank you!!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Yes! I need to look for these again! Thank you for reminding me. I couldn't find them last time. Maybe that's why I thought the grilled were ok, I got the two confused. These would be great cuz Maui wasn't a fan of pates alone before.
Thank you!!

You're welcome