New to Prozinc

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tina and Gracie (GA)

Tina and Gracie (GA)

Active Member
Hello,
Newely feline Dx with diabetes. First reading at the vet was 391. Vet said she wanted to recheck in 2 weeks, as I wanted to try to control with diet. I switched to wet food only (Nulo, some FF, and some of the Royal Cainin Glycobalance. Her next reading was 340. She didn't drop as much as I had hoped.

I initially brought her to vet, as I noticed she was losing weight. I was trying, but I didn't think I was trying hard enough. One day I picked her up and was just like--Wow she is pretty light.

Anyway, vet suggested I start Insulin. I was hesitant at first, but I want to do what I can for my feline.

She prescribed me Prozinc. 1u 2x daily as a starting dose. Then she wants me back in 2 weeks for a curve to reevaluate

One of the reasons I was hesitant to start insulin, as I know my work and school schedule aren't very friendly.

The problem: I will only be able to give 2 daily doses 4 days a week. The other 3 days I will only be able to give the first dose.
I have NOT started the insulin yet.
I can't move my school schedule around (Nursing student) and right now I can't move the hours at my job around either.
I live about 35 mins from home from my job site--so going home for a short break isn't an option.

I have no family in he area and my pet sitter isn't available on an on going basis like this.

My thought process: 1x a day is better than none.

Should I reconsider insulin? Or should I start and just do what I can.

The vet knows my schedule and her only words were "just try and if you can''t you can't".
 
Hi Tina, and welcome! Have you already bought the insulin? Can you tell us a little more about your schedule on the other three days of the week? On the four days when you can give both doses, what times will they be and how do those times compare to the three days you can only give one shot? For example, will you be able to give the AM dose at 5am every day, but only give the PM dose at 5pm four days or the week and 7pm the other three days? Or is it off even more than that? The more details you can share, the better we can try to help get this worked out. As much as we all want to do what is best for our cats, you do have to still be able to work and go to class so we'll try to do our best to help you work this out.
 
Hello! And thank you for the welcome.

I have already purchased it, but have not opened it/started it.

I arrive home from work at approximately 8:45am M-F. I would plan to give AM dose at 9am. BUT 2 weekends a month I have to leave my house by 7:20am and not back until 9pm (both Saturday and Sunday). 2 weekends a month I'm home all day.

I'm free to give an evening dose up until 9pm on TUE/THUR.

M,W, F I go into my shift early. I leave work at 3:30pm--as I commute about 45 minutes

It's so complicated.
 
Also, are you feeding the Nulo minced, shredded, or pate? And which type of Fancy Feast?
 
Prozinc is the most flexible of all the insulins. An yes, once a day is better than none. You can do a curve on one of your days home. One of the first things you can do is to pick up a glucose meter. You can buy one at Walmart if there is one nearby. Just remember, with school, your schedule will change for the next semester. The Wonder people here will help you work out something that will work for you and your kitty
 
I plan on buying a glucometer. Walmart is actually where I plan on purchasing it but my vet tech said not to use a human glucometer. Oh my Lord the supplies for the pet one are so expensive!!!!!!
 
I’m already a little frustrated that I spent $200 on Prozac and u40 syringes.

When I found that I could get both for about $150 from different sites.

My vet tech just had me scared because she was like well we don’t know where it’s been so you’re kind of taking a chance.
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
I plan on buying a glucometer. Walmart is actually where I plan on purchasing it but my vet tech said not to use a human glucometer. Oh my Lord the supplies for the pet one are so expensive!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Don't buy the pet one -it's way way way too expensive and our protocols are written for the human one anyway.
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
I’m already a little frustrated that I spent $200 on Prozac and u40 syringes.

When I found that I could get both for about $150 from different sites.

My vet tech just had me scared because she was like well we don’t know where it’s been so you’re kind of taking a chance.
Click to expand...

Yes, they like to scare us into all kinds of things. You'll find plenty of good info here to save you money going forward.
 
Okay, here is a whole bunch of info. I hope I don't overwhelm you....

1. As donnalea said, Prozinc is flexible, but it isn't as long lasting as Lantus or Levemir. If your kitty is still on insulin when you're ready for a new vial you might want to consider switching to one of those to give at least slightly better coverage for the missed shots.

2. Glad to hear you'll start testing at home. As soon as you're up and running on that you can cancel the curve at the vet. It will save you money, is unnecessary if you're home testing, and will be more accurate at home since stress raises numbers and most cats are stressed at the vet.

3. Get a spreadsheet set up as soon as you can. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/ Let us know if you need any help with that part.

4. Start your signature with all of the key info: cat's name, age, weight, date of diagnosis, food, insulin type, meter type, any other health issues, anything you want us to know so we don't keep asking the same questions over and over (we have terrible memories :))

5. Yes, start insulin. And 1u bid is a good starting dose. Make sure you have your testing supplies so you can test just before each shot. The usual sequence is test, then feed, then shoot. You don't want to feed during the two hours prior to the shot as that can inflate the BG number and you can end up over dosing.

6. Mid-cycle tests whenever you can are really helpful so you can judge if the dose is working, too much, or too little. Nadir on Prozinc is usually somewhere around +4 to +7 hours after the shot is given, but every cat is different - mine has typically hit nadir around +3, I've seen a kitty here who usually hit around +9. And of course the nadir can move from day to day based on activity, food, stress, etc., although most cats will have a "typical" time at least.

7. Ketones - one more thing to buy while you're at WalMart - ketone test strips are around $15 - you stick it under your kitty's bum when he/she is peeing and catch a drop, then see if it changes colors. Ketones can develop quickly and are deadly if not caught right away. If your kitty won't let you in the room when using the litter box, we have some tricks we can teach you to get these tests done. Usually once/week is enough or if symptoms pop up.

8. Food - another way that vets mess with us. The Glycobalance is around 14% carbs which is too high for a diabetic cat, so I would recommend that you stop feeding that one. You can click on the blue "food list" words in my signature to check the Nulo and FF to make sure that the style and flavors you're feeding are low carb. The recommendation is under 10% carbs, but generally the lower the better.

Okay, that's probably more than enough for now. Please let us know what questions you have as this can be a bit overwhelming in the early days. I promise it gets easier. It will be as routine as brushing your teeth in no time, but the first couple of weeks are tough. We've all been there. We are here to help.
 
Last edited:
Tina Rubinstein said:
I’m already a little frustrated that I spent $200 on Prozac and u40 syringes.

When I found that I could get both for about $150 from different sites.

My vet tech just had me scared because she was like well we don’t know where it’s been so you’re kind of taking a chance.
Click to expand...

What?! You can buy Prozinc from reputable pharmacy sites, and you have no more concern over 'where it's been' than you do when you get it from the vet (who has to get it from somewhere). Lots of people use Allivet; I have gotten it from 1800PetMeds. You can get syringes from ADW for cheaper than I have seen them anywhere.
 
Djamila said:
Okay, here is a whole bunch of info. I hope I don't overwhelm you....

1. As donnalea said, Prozinc is flexible, but it isn't as long lasting as Lantus or Levemir. If your kitty is still on insulin when you're ready for a new vial you might want to consider switching to one of those to give at least slightly better coverage for the missed shots.

2. Glad to hear you'll start testing at home. As soon as you're up and running on that you can cancel the curve at the vet. It will save you money, is unnecessary if you're home testing, and will be more accurate at home since stress raises numbers and most cats are stressed at the vet.

3. Get a spreadsheet set up as soon as you can. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/ Let us know if you need any help with that part.

4. Start your signature with all of the key info: cat's name, age, weight, date of diagnosis, food, insulin type, meter type, any other health issues, anything you want us to know so we don't keep asking the same questions over and over (we have terrible memories :))

5. Yes, start insulin. And 1u bid is a good starting dose. Make sure you have your testing supplies so you can test just before each shot. The usual sequence is test, then feed, then shoot. You don't want to feed during the two hours prior to the shot as that can inflate the BG number and you can end up over dosing.

6. Mid-cycle tests whenever you can are really helpful so you can judge if the dose is working, too much, or too little. Nadir on Prozinc is usually somewhere around +4 to +7 hours after the shot is given, but every cat is different - mine has typically hit nadir around +3, I've seen a kitty here who usually hit around +9. And of course the nadir can move from day to day based on activity, food, stress, etc., although most cats will have a "typical" time at least.

7. Ketones - one more thing to buy while you're at WalMart - ketone test strips are around $15 - you stick it under your kitty's bum when he/she is peeing and catch a drop, then see if it changes colors. Ketones can develop quickly and are deadly if not caught right away. If your kitty won't let you in the room when using the litter box, we have some tricks we can teach you to get these tests done. Usually once/week is enough or if symptoms pop up.

8. Food - another way that vets mess with us. The Glycobalance is around 14% carbs which is too high for a diabetic cat, so I would recommend that you stop feeding that one. You can click on the blue "food list" words in my signature to check the Nulo and FF to make sure that the style and flavors you're feeding are low carb. The recommendation is under 10% carbs, but generally the lower the better.

Okay, that's probably more than enough for now. Please let us know what questions you have as this can be a bit overwhelming in the early days. I promise it gets easier. It will be as routine as brushing your teeth in no time, but the first couple of weeks are tough. We've all been there. We are here to help.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for all of your advice!

I created my signature.

My vet called me today. She suggested I increase to 2u's 1x a day on the days I can't do two. Then on the days I can do 2 shots to do 2u's 2x/daily. What are your thoughts? I had a breakdown in their office today--out of frustration. It just makes me feel bad that I can do two doses daily. But, all I can do is try my best.

I asked about the Curve again. She said the curve is needed to tell whether or not the insulin is working. She mentioned it helps them gauge whether they need to increase/decrease. But then I head they don't feed them during this time. Do you just provide the vet with your numbers?
Also, did your vet every question why you don't do curves in office? It is simple to me. I want my cat comfortable and in her own home. Not stressed. and it is expensive!

I just wasn't sure if that was a god enough leg to stand on.

Does your vet know you use a human meter? Not that it matters. I'm just curious.

Shouldn't vets be helping us find the most cost efficient way to help manage our pets health?
 
Oh wow...umm....no. Please don't double the dose on the days you can't do a second shot. That is dangerously bad advice! That's not quite how insulin works. Yes, a larger dose will also have a longer duration, but it can make the nadir drop way too low and send your cat into hypoglycemia. Let's see what some of the daily numbers are once you start testing at home and we can figure out the best plan from there.

Now onto better things: Great job getting your signature set up! My kitty doesn't have a known birthday either. Is Gracie a shelter rescue?

Please don't feel bad about the missed shots. You can only do what you can do. If you weren't working and preparing for your future career you wouldn't be able to take care of her at all. And many people either abandon or put down their pets when they get this diagnosis, so your willingness to do the best you can for her is already better than many kitties get. You'll both be okay. :bighug::bighug::bighug:

As for dosing, we have a protocol that we follow that helps us figure out dosing, and then as we get to know Gracie and how she responds we can give more specific dosing suggestions based on what the numbers show. So our vets don't tell us how much to dose. If you look at the beginning of the Prozinc forum there are some posts that have a yellow "sticky" marking. Read through those to start to get an idea of how all of this works. Then beyond what's in there, there is a bit of an art to dosing prozinc, but again, we can help with that part as you start to figure it all out.

My vet knows that I use a human meter and he's okay with it now (it took awhile to win him over on that). Some folks do have an AlphaTrak2 that they use occasionally in order to give numbers to their vet, and then they use a human meter the rest of the time. I'm too cheap for that, so I've just made my vet adjust ;). Most vets aren't used to people taking charge of their pet's care. They aren't used to owners who take the time to really learn about all of this and monitor it. But when they see how well it works, they usually start to trust that you know what you're doing, and even learn from you. It's okay to just hold your ground (politely) for now, and in time you'll win her over.

There is an article around here somewhere (one of the research articles) that talks about home testing being more accurate because of the stress factor. I can see if I can find it if your vet gets pushy about it, but at least with my vet, when I said I wanted to do the curves at home he was okay with that. Saying you want your cat comfortable, not stressed, and save money should be perfectly acceptable reasons - especially since you won't really need the vet to determine dosing anyway once you get the glucometer.

As for vets helping to find cost effective ways to treat, that's tricky. On one hand yes, but on the other hand, they are a business and profit matters in a business. I think most vets are good and honest people, but they do have to balance being helpful with taking care of their businesses. And beyond that, they just simply aren't experts in feline diabetes. They are generalists who know a little bit about everything, but don't really have the time to figure out which website or store sells which things for the lowest prices. All we do around here is diabetes, so we have figured out lots of tricks along the way to save money.

Now back to the food --- my cats get bored easily too so I use a bunch of different foods, but do make sure you check the foods you're feeding on the food list. Pet foods are notorious for not being transparent about carbs in their foods. Just because it says Grain Free doesn't mean it's low enough carbs for our sugar cats. The food list has been put together by Dr. Lisa Pierson and a bunch of other folks around here who have contacted companies and poked and prodded them into sharing the actual carb content of their foods. The list is updated every year, so it's pretty accurate and provides information that you can't get by just looking at the labels. As you already know, getting on a low carb food is super important to getting Gracie's BG down into healthier numbers, so it's worth double checking to make sure the foods you're giving her are okay.
 
Excellent advice from Djamila. Once you've learned the basics (those yellow stickies are a great reference) we can help you adjust your kitty's treatment to fit your schedule - safely. :)
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
Opps! I meant Prozinc. Not Prozac!!!

Is sending in the Rx to Allivet and 1800PetMeds smooth?
Click to expand...

We knew what you meant, but it was a funny slip. :D

I have not used Allivet, so I cannot comment on that one. I am sure you could do a 'chat' with them on their site and find out. Someone from 1800PetMeds phoned my vet's office to verify that there was a prescription and get the info they needed, and they shipped the insulin out right away. I did not have to send in a prescription and wait for them to get it. (They will let you do that, if you want. You cannot fax/email one though.)
 
Oh gosh-that would be a horrible medication error though! Sounds like an easy verification process. I'm sure my vet will be tickled one they realize I have out sourced my medication. NOT.

Do you only use the AlphaTRAK2?
 
About curves... curves are a valuable tool in seeing how your baby is responding to an insulin dose so a decision can be made on whether to continue or change the dose. You always want to make sure she does not have food at least two hours before you do a pre-shot test. This is so that the pre-shot test result will not be impacted by food. The pre-shot tests are very important because you want to make sure the number is appropriate for the insulin to be given. So, you test, feed her, then give the insulin shot. That should always be the routine, and also on any day you are doing a curve. For a curve, you would then take another test every two hours after that. If you are doing the usual 12-hour curve, your last test of the curve would be the next pre-shot test. Food is not normally withheld during a curve. I feed as normal on days that I do a curve.

Your vet should not have a problem with you doing your own curve. I recommend that you review the AAHA guidelines, and maybe even share points from them with your vet. Here are a couple of excerpts related to home monitoring and curves (BGCs) : "Home monitoring of BG is ideal and strongly encouraged to obtain the most accurate interpretation of glucose relative to clinical signs. Most owners are able to learn to do this with a little encouragement, and interpretation of glucose results is much easier for the clinician" "In-clinic blood glucose curves (BGCs) are more likely to be affected by stress hyperglycemia than BGCs generated at home. Veterinarians should be cautious of high glucose results and subsequent overzealous increases in dose."
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
Do you only use the AlphaTRAK2?
Click to expand...
I do, yes, but most people here do not. I prefer the accuracy of the AlphaTrak, however, I encourage you to consider long-term costs. I pay roughly $1 per test strip. Take a peek at Mia's spreadsheet, and you will see how this could become quite expensive. You will not be doing as much testing as I do based on what you had shared about your situation, but still, it will add up. If cost is not a factor/issue for you at all, go for the AlphaTrak; otherwise, don't. Lots of people manage fine without one!
 
Yes, Gracie is a shelter rescue. The only way to go. I woud LOVE a Bengal, but there are far to many rescues out there at need a good loving home.

I like the food chart in your signature by the way. Vet's should be showing all of their diabetic patients that.

My vet had a animal dietitian "expert". When I told her the Hill's Science Diet M/D was loaded with carbs...she just argued with me. She told me to stay off the message boards, or the internet--it was ridiculous.

It just confused me--as I know that when humans are diabetes-- less carbs is better!!!! It was almost as equivalent as my doctor saying--I know you are a diabetic, but it's okay to eat ice cream 2x a day.

I'm hoping to get some BG levels this weekend of early next week and start the chart (couldn't remember the name at the top of my head).
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
She told me to stay off the message boards, or the internet--it was ridiculous.
Click to expand...
catinfo.org (where the food list comes from) is by Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM. So, that info is NOT from just some random person. The better vets (meaning with a little more feline diabetes knowledge) are sometimes already aware of her work with feline nutrition.
 
Ha. Sounds like all of the people at my vet. Like-what are they scared? A vet that has more knowledge.

The ladies up front who check me out are great though. I remember when my vet suggested I buy the Science Diet from Hills's--D/M and I saw the price tag and I was like let me do some research. They were all for it and said that is what they would do before purchasing.
 
Is it OK to give my cats chicken? Sometimes I buy the rotisserie chicken from Costco and I'm wondering if I should give my cat more of that.

One time I even bought liver and gave her that (after I cooked it). It was years ago when my other cat was showing signs of being anemic. My other cat refused to eat, but Gracie sure ate it.
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
Is it OK to give my cats chicken? Sometimes I buy the rotisserie chicken from Costco and I'm wondering if I should give my cat more of that.

One time I even bought liver and gave her that (after I cooked it). It was years ago when my other cat was showing signs of being anemic. My other cat refused to eat, but Gracie sure ate it.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can give it as a treat - probably best to remove the skin in case they add seasonings to it that aren't good for cats. It wouldn't work as a meal replacement, though, because it lacks some important vitamins and minerals cats need - eg. taurine.
 
If you're interested in making food at home, there are a few of us who do that. I use the supplement pack at www.foodfurlife.com, then just cut up some raw meat, mix it together with a little water and - done! If you want to go completely from scratch and buy all of the supplements and do it yourself there is a recipe at catinfo.org, along with a TON of information about how to make it work for you and your kitties. Oh, and liver is good for them, so if she wants it as a treat sometimes it's fine to give it to her - cooked or not.
 
Tina Rubinstein said:
Of course. I would remove skin.
How do you like your Freestyle meter?
Click to expand...
I like my Freestyle Lite meter. Its strips need only a tiny blood drop and it gives a reading quickly. I'm in Canada so the Walmart ReliOn models with cheap strips aren't available. All test strips are expensive here.
 
I use the recipe from catinfo.org (I'm very new at all this food making though). I've found that grinding the meat is the hardest part but my cats prefer pate styled foods so it's best for me to grind rather than cutting up the meat. I do know several people who use the same premix that Djamila mentioned and they say it's very simple and great for cats! I'm considering going that route at some point.
 
Attached below you will find the email from my vet. She originally started my cat on 1u, but then decided to go up to 2u. When I called and left a message and asked her to reply via email- this is what she said.

Thoughts? I really prefer to leave her food out--I don't leave a crazy amount out, but I leave enough that if while I'm gone and she is hungry she can eat. Sometimes I am gone overnights due to my job (medical field).


Dear Tina Rubinstein,
The best control for Gracie will be achieved with twice daily dosing, the ideal dosing is 12 hours, but going 8-10 hrs is okay. If you are only able to dose gracie once daily then I would recommend giving her 2 units once a day. To be consitent on day that you can give insulin twice a day i would give 2 units twice a day. This will not results in the best control, but hopefully if will be enough to decrease gracie clinical signs. I would recommend that you feed gracie which ever food she like better wet or dry before giving her the insulin. As long as she eats some of her food then i would give her the whole does of insulin. If she does not eat any of her food then I would give 1/2 the dose of insulin so 1 unit. If gracie does not eat her food for more than 2 days i would recheck.
I would recommend you feed her in meals instead of leaving food out, that will both help her to be hungrier when you do feed her and will also stop her from having glucose spikes in the middle of the day.
If you have any more question feel free to email or call back and leave a message,
Sincerely,
Dr. Brianna Benedetto
 
Kris & Teasel said:
I like my Freestyle Lite meter. Its strips need only a tiny blood drop and it gives a reading quickly. I'm in Canada so the Walmart ReliOn models with cheap strips aren't available. All test strips are expensive here.
Click to expand...
Djamila said:
If you're interested in making food at home, there are a few of us who do that. I use the supplement pack at www.foodfurlife.com, then just cut up some raw meat, mix it together with a little water and - done! If you want to go completely from scratch and buy all of the supplements and do it yourself there is a recipe at catinfo.org, along with a TON of information about how to make it work for you and your kitties. Oh, and liver is good for them, so if she wants it as a treat sometimes it's fine to give it to her - cooked or not.
Click to expand...

I think making food at home is my long term goal. I might look into the site you provided. Is that all your cat gets? Or do you supplement with wet canned food? Also--do you change the raw meat? Or do you keep using the same kind of meat.
 
Hi Tina! Have you started testing? Have you starting giving insulin? How is it going?

I have two cats. My non-diabetic (Atticus) eats all raw food. I made a big batch of chicken with the foodfurlife, and then I also feed commercial raw (Primal and Rad Cat) pork, rabbit, and turkey. My diabetic cat (Sam) eats about a 50/50 mix of canned food and raw food, and he rotates eating the homemade and the commercial raw depending on what I put out that day. He won't eat Rad Cat at all, but he likes Primal and homemade. So basically I run a kitty restaurant over here. :rolleyes: When the chicken starts to run out, I'll choose the next protein by whatever is on sale that week at the grocery. :D I want to keep them on some commercial in case I decide I'm just too lazy to keep up with the homemade. So far it's been super easy though.

Both of my cats are shelter rescues, and Atticus is half bengal. He pretty much just looks like a domestic short hair, but he's crazy athletic and his body shape is a little sleeker than a typical DSH since he has that bit of bengal in him. You might not find a pure bred at a shelter, but you can occasionally find their illegitimate offspring ;)

Can't wait to hear how things are going for you and Gracie!
 
I think you're fine to leave the food out. Many of us do that. You do want to try to take it up 2 hours prior to testing to make sure your preshot isn't food influenced, but having food out for her to eat when she wants isn't usually an issue around here.
 
Wow. You do have quit the kitchen over there. I like your methods though! Buying whatever is on sale at the grocery store is the way to go! Besides it gives kitty some variety. I'll get there eventually. Since switched to wet food only-- cat won't even touch dry food. I'm glad she has adapted to this, but in a pinch it would be nice.

I am very familiar with Bengal's. They are a beautiful. So big though. I want one, but they are close to 2-5k from a reputable breeder. Sounds like you got lucky. Is the half Bengal the one in the photo?

I'm ashamed to admit, but I have not started testing yet. I ended up having to work last weekend--which was not expected. But I have off this weekend and I am making it a priority to start this weekend.

I have someone on here helping create the spreadsheet. Its all coming together. Slowly--but surely.
 
No, my half-bengal is my non-diabetic. His mom was DSH and his dad was a Bengal.

Glad to hear someone is helping get the SS set up for you. When you're ready to start testing, let us know what comes up and we can help with lots of tips and suggestions. To get ready for it, I'd suggest getting larger sized lancets - like a 26 or 28 instead of the little 30's or 33's that often come with the meters. You'll also want cotton balls or cosmetic squares (I prefer those) to back up the ear so you don't poke yourself if the lancet goes through the ear (that's pretty common). And if you have some uncooked rice, you can put it in the toe of a small sock or wrap it up in some felt or fleece to make a little pouch. Heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds or so (depends on the microwave) and hold it gently against the ear to get the blood flowing.

Also, establish a place for testing even today. Put Gracie there, rub her ears, and give her a treat. It will start to establish that as a positive place, and having her ears touched as a positive thing. Then when you start testing she'll already be in a more cooperative mood. Getting started on that right now will really help for when you're ready to do your first real test. Do that fake testing routine several times today and tomorrow to get her ready.
 
Teenuh said:
Opps! I meant Prozinc. Not Prozac!!!

Is sending in the Rx to Allivet and 1800PetMeds smooth?
Click to expand...
lol. Yes, I often confuse the two as well. When you order online, you give them the name and phone number of your vet and the pharmacy will take care of the rest. Be prepared to pay about $30 extra for mailing in a cold pack. The insulin must be kept cool.
Don't feel so bad about the money. I paid a lot more for Prozinc at the vet because she had just gotten diagnosed. I'm sure I also paid for a curve before I found this website. The Prozinc lasts for about 6 months, and especially at 1 unit, it will last a long time. Just keep it in the fridge. I think I ordered my last vial from 1-800-pet meds because they had a deal for $30 off your first order. I get my syringes at ADW, too. Make sure you order the ones with half-unit markings. Many people use the Relion meter from Walmart that only costs about $10.
 
Djamila said:
No, my half-bengal is my non-diabetic. His mom was DSH and his dad was a Bengal.

Glad to hear someone is helping get the SS set up for you. When you're ready to start testing, let us know what comes up and we can help with lots of tips and suggestions. To get ready for it, I'd suggest getting larger sized lancets - like a 26 or 28 instead of the little 30's or 33's that often come with the meters. You'll also want cotton balls or cosmetic squares (I prefer those) to back up the ear so you don't poke yourself if the lancet goes through the ear (that's pretty common). And if you have some uncooked rice, you can put it in the toe of a small sock or wrap it up in some felt or fleece to make a little pouch. Heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds or so (depends on the microwave) and hold it gently against the ear to get the blood flowing.
srk4cats said:
lol. Yes, I often confuse the two as well. When you order online, you give them the name and phone number of your vet and the pharmacy will take care of the rest. Be prepared to pay about $30 extra for mailing in a cold pack. The insulin must be kept cool.
Don't feel so bad about the money. I paid a lot more for Prozinc at the vet because she had just gotten diagnosed. I'm sure I also paid for a curve before I found this website. The Prozinc lasts for about 6 months, and especially at 1 unit, it will last a long time. Just keep it in the fridge. I think I ordered my last vial from 1-800-pet meds because they had a deal for $30 off your first order. I get my syringes at ADW, too. Make sure you order the ones with half-unit markings. Many people use the Relion meter from Walmart that only costs about $10.
Click to expand...

Also, establish a place for testing even today. Put Gracie there, rub her ears, and give her a treat. It will start to establish that as a positive place, and having her ears touched as a positive thing. Then when you start testing she'll already be in a more cooperative mood. Getting started on that right now will really help for when you're ready to do your first real test. Do that fake testing routine several times today and tomorrow to get her ready.
Click to expand...

I will be sure to let you guys know as soon as I test. I just looked and it seems I ordered the 26 gauge lancets for the human meter. My pet meter is 28 gauge lancets. I ordered both kinds.

I picked up cotton balls today as well after reading this. Thanks to your tip!

I didn't even think about the extra cost for keeping it cold. I did a mock shopping cart. In that instance is was $10 more than my vet. I think the fact that it needs to be kept cold plays a factor. I'm going to check back frequently and the second I see a sale I'm going to buy it.

I'm sure I can at least find the syringes and sharp container cheaper though--that was over $50 at the vet.

I have plenty of extra rice around here.

You are awesome!! Thank you so much for the tips!
 
I just checked. The syringes are much cheaper there!!! Still have to keep an eye out for the ProZinc. It's higher online than at my vet right now--due to shipping needs.

I picked up a human ReliOn Meter and a Pet Meter.
 
Djamila said:
Did we already share this link with you? It's info and photos and videos on how to test. For the record, my cat has never just laid there and let me test him like the cats in the videos, but he did (after a while) at least decide to sit relatively still and only occasionally growl at me. ;)

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
Click to expand...
Ha! That seems a bit odd for a cat to be that calm. Mine was certainly not that calm. She didn't hiss or growl, but you could tell you was irritated.

I tested with my pet meter a few minutes ago. I wanted to do a random test. She was at 214 (a little on the high side). She received her insulin today. I do leave food out to free eat. She could have ate prior to testing. I was reading the set up guide.
Original Dx she was at 391-then 341 two weeks later. So maybe it's coming down--slowly though.
 
Great job getting started with testing! Do you have your spreadsheet set up too? It's great that the numbers are lower than at the vet. Often the stress of the vet's office can make their numbers go much higher - so the lower numbers could be some improvement, could be from the insulin, or could be because she's more relaxed at home. How many hours after the insulin was that test done?
 
The SS is still being worked on. I originally stated that I would primarily be testing on a human meter--that has since changed. The lady working on it may have to do a little more adjusting.
I liked the Pet meter much more. The ReliOn irritated me and it kept giving me problems. Going to return it. Since I won't be able to test daily right now the cost shouldn't phase me much right now. And if it gets to that point--I will try again.
I did do a stock order and ordered an additional 50 test strips and lancets. I found the lancets for $21.95 for 100. The test strips is where it hurts the bank.

I gave her first shot at 7:15a I tested 9hours post insulin. The plan is I can test 2 weekends a month (usually) and 2-3 days a week 1-2x.
What times are the best to test?
 
Teenuh said:
What times are the best to test?
Click to expand...

So just to clarify from your post - and this may be what you meant to say and I am misunderstanding - but you do need to test daily. You'll give a test before each shot to make sure that the number is high enough to safely shoot. At the beginning we generally say to not inject if they are under 200, especially since you'll be gone the whole cycle. As you collect data and we learn what is safe for Gracie, that "no shot" number can be lowered.

Then you'll also get mid-cycle tests on the days/nights when you can. Prozinc usually reaches nadir sometime around +4-+7 (four to seven hours after the injection), but every cat is different so it takes some extra tests to figure out if Gracie usually reaches nadir earlier, at a normal time, or later in the cycle.

Regarding supplies, if you're using the lancet device, you'll need to order the ones that go with your brand, but if you're just using the little lancet itself and free-hand poking, you can save some money here: https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/1207/advocate-glucose-lancets All of this gets expensive, so every little bit helps. :)
 
Ok, you are making more sense. Ok-let me clarify AGAIN. Just so I can ensure I get this. Bare with me. :-)

I will test prior to injection. IF she is under 200 then don't inject. I'm guessing I hold off on food until after test? What about the days that I can't give the second shot and test? Should I inject to be safe?

I can test mid cycle a couple days a week. It'll vary each week though, but it is something I will work in on the days I am home longer. I'll plan on testing at +4, +5, +6 ,+7 for the first few weeks just to help you and myself and others see when she reaches nadir.

I free hand poked yesterday. I guess it'll vary. I'll go ahead and order those too though. MUCH cheaper!!!

PS: SS is up. Still learning input stuff.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top