New to this and meter recommendations

[Becmom45]

This is all new to me and I am a mess of tears. My boy, Moo, was diagnosed a month ago. We have not started the insulin yet because of my own health issues we were not able to get it. I filled the prescription yesterday. The vet who diagnosed him didn't say anything about home testing. She said to give him 2 units twice a day for two weeks and then bring him for a glucose curve. Then I started reading on here that I should check his numbers before giving insulin. Now I am even more stressed. I've read the reviews of meters but have a question as to if these are human meters, how do I convert to a number that I know is right for a cat? And which meter should I get? I need to do something quickly--he is definitely not feeling well and it is breaking my heart. I also read that feeding changes can affect dosage. We have changed his food from dry to Fancy Feast Classic mixed with a protein dry food. Now I am scared to start his insulin for fear that the dosage isn't correct. I also read I need to rotate injection sites but she only told me to give it to him in the scruff of his neck. I am so afraid of overdosing him or messing up where it goes. He is super clingy the last 3 days...needs to be wherever I am in the house and just lays around unless it is time to eat. He is only 8 and I love him and his sister Sadie so much. I wonder if I am being selfish making him go through this instead of letting him be at peace, but I am not sure I can end his life either.
(I had originally posted this somewhere else and it was recommended that I post here. Since my original post, I called a vet closer to where we live that only sees cats. I am taking Moo in tomorrow afternoon to see if she has anything different to say or at least is in favor of home testing.)

Moo's mom--Becky

 

[Sharon14]

Hi Becky and Moo, welcome. Becky take a deep breath, it will get better. Feline diabetes is very treatable and we will help you and Moo along the way. Home testing is a very important part of Moos treatment. It is the only way to keep Moo safe and to see how the insulin is working. Most of us use human meters that can be picked up at any pharmacy. Look for one that uses a small amount of blood and check the price of the test strips, because you will be using a lot of them! The Relion confirm or Micro from Walmart are both very popular around here. There is no need to convert the numbers as all protocols here are set using human meters. 2units is a high starting dose. What insulin are you using?

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Hi Becky!! Thanks for posting over here....Here's the link to your Introduction post

First of all...diabetes is a very treatable disease!! We recently started our 4th year since diagnosis and we have many cats here that have been healthy and happy much longer! There is hope so don't give up!

I understand you are using Lantus....that's an excellent insulin so you're already ahead of the game!! 2 units is a pretty high starting dose though. We usually start out at around 1 unit and then go up in dose slowly (in .25 unit increments) so we find a good dose without risking hypoglycemia.

Home testing is the only way to keep Moo safe and really know what's going on inside his body. I know it sounds daunting, but even the most fractious of cats can usually learn to accept it....and most learn to come when you get the supplies out! (Yes!....sounds crazy but believe it!!)

The Relion Confirm and Micro are both very popular here, and as I said in the other post, all our protocols are written with human meters in mind...what's important is being able to afford the strips for the meter you use! You can spend a fortune getting a "pet only" meter, but if you can't afford the strips for it (which are about $1 each), it doesn't do you or Moo any good at all!!

Food is very important...it's important to get Moo onto a low carb canned or raw diet....dry food is all too high in carbs for a diabetic cat....BUT since you're not testing yet and Moo is still getting some dry, you want to go very slowly if you remove the dry. Just like human diabetics, carbs are important...humans can't eat potato chips all day and expect their blood glucose to go down and it's the same with our sugarcats. We want them eating a diet of less than 10% carbs (and the Fancy Feast Classics are perfect!!...Friskies pates and 9-Lives ground are also good, cheap choices)

If the vet tries to get you to buy a fancy "prescription" food, just say NO....it's all too high in carbs (and if they try to tell you there's a difference in the "type" of carbs, that's wrong too....it doesn't matter if that human is eating potato chips or crackers...carbs are carbs!)

I don't want to overwhelm you too much, so do you have any questions so far?

Please let the people here help you! They have years of real life experience dealing with this disease and they know what they're talking about!

 

[Becmom45]

Hi Becky and Moo, welcome. Becky take a deep breath, it will get better. Feline diabetes is very treatable and we will help you and Moo along the way. Home testing is a very important part of Moos treatment. It is the only way to keep Moo safe and to see how the insulin is working. Most of us use human meters that can be picked up at any pharmacy. Look for one that uses a small amount of blood and check the price of the test strips, because you will be using a lot of them! The Relion confirm or Micro from Walmart are both very popular around here. There is no need to convert the numbers as all protocols here are set using human meters. 2units is a high starting dose. What insulin are you using?

She prescribed Lantus. We haven't started yet. We see a new vet today so hopefully we can get Moo feeling better.

 

[Becmom45]

Hi Becky!! Thanks for posting over here....Here's the link to your Introduction post

First of all...diabetes is a very treatable disease!! We recently started our 4th year since diagnosis and we have many cats here that have been healthy and happy much longer! There is hope so don't give up!

I understand you are using Lantus....that's an excellent insulin so you're already ahead of the game!! 2 units is a pretty high starting dose though. We usually start out at around 1 unit and then go up in dose slowly (in .25 unit increments) so we find a good dose without risking hypoglycemia.

Home testing is the only way to keep Moo safe and really know what's going on inside his body. I know it sounds daunting, but even the most fractious of cats can usually learn to accept it....and most learn to come when you get the supplies out! (Yes!....sounds crazy but believe it!!)

The Relion Confirm and Micro are both very popular here, and as I said in the other post, all our protocols are written with human meters in mind...what's important is being able to afford the strips for the meter you use! You can spend a fortune getting a "pet only" meter, but if you can't afford the strips for it (which are about $1 each), it doesn't do you or Moo any good at all!!

Food is very important...it's important to get Moo onto a low carb canned or raw diet....dry food is all too high in carbs for a diabetic cat....BUT since you're not testing yet and Moo is still getting some dry, you want to go very slowly if you remove the dry. Just like human diabetics, carbs are important...humans can't eat potato chips all day and expect their blood glucose to go down and it's the same with our sugarcats. We want them eating a diet of less than 10% carbs (and the Fancy Feast Classics are perfect!!...Friskies pates and 9-Lives ground are also good, cheap choices)

If the vet tries to get you to buy a fancy "prescription" food, just say NO....it's all too high in carbs (and if they try to tell you there's a difference in the "type" of carbs, that's wrong too....it doesn't matter if that human is eating potato chips or crackers...carbs are carbs!)

I don't want to overwhelm you too much, so do you have any questions so far?

Please let the people here help you! They have years of real life experience dealing with this disease and they know what they're talking about!

Thank you. The dry I am mixing is a high protein dry. Raw Instinct I think it's called. It has bits of freeze dried raw food in it. If he still needs carbs, though, should I still be mixing in his old food (Purina Indoor Cat)? And I am sure this is on here somewhere but I honestly don't have the energy to find it...my emotions are wreaking havoc on me right now. Kind of feeling like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. Anyway, when I do test him, what number am I supposed to be looking for? Maybe the new vet will tell me all of this, but I thought I'd ask here too just in case she doesn't. It's so scary to think that if I make a mistake, I could kill my baby.

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Thank you. The dry I am mixing is a high protein dry. Raw Instinct I think it's called. It has bits of freeze dried raw food in it. If he still needs carbs, though, should I still be mixing in his old food (Purina Indoor Cat)? And I am sure this is on here somewhere but I honestly don't have the energy to find it...my emotions are wreaking havoc on me right now. Kind of feeling like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. Anyway, when I do test him, what number am I supposed to be looking for? Maybe the new vet will tell me all of this, but I thought I'd ask here too just in case she doesn't. It's so scary to think that if I make a mistake, I could kill my baby.

its overwhelming, i know. i'm still learning, myself. i totally relate to how you feel, being exhausted and worried.

from what i've read, dry food in general, no matter what brand, is a big no-no for diabetic cats. the carbs and the 'dry' nature are not good for diabetics. (and then there's the argument that no cat, diabetic or not, should eat dry food, but thats another story!)

we started on lantus as well, at 2 units. my cat weighs 14 pounds and his BG at the time of diagnosis was in the 500's. dosing depends on weight, for one thing. i'll be curious to see what your new vet this afternoon says. my original vet said to shoot in scruff, but another vet in the same practice said the flank or the shoulders are better for absorption. another good thing for you to talk to your new vet about. write a list of questions, thats what i do, otherwise my mind goes blank as i get overwhelmed.

i use a pet glucometer but am also looking to buy a human one.

let us know how you do this afternoon at the cat vet!