Newbie feeling a little scared...

[the_editrix]

Hi everyone,

Really glad I found this site. My cat Ellen (10-year-old spayed female ragdoll mix) was just diagnosed with diabetes on Wednesday. She went to the vet on Monday after I noticed she had been drinking and urinating MUCH more than usual. Turns out her blood glucose was 400! :sad: All of her other bloodwork was normal and there was no glucose in her urine, so the vet said her kidneys are functioning properly and everything else is okay at the moment.

He has put her on two units of Lantus twice daily, which I just picked up today due to a pharmacy disaster! :evil:

Anyway, I think I'm just looking for a little encouragement. I'm feeling scared to give her that first shot! I have watched a few videos and my partner knows how to give the shot (she had a diabetic dog in the family a long time ago), but I am still feeling overwhelmed about all of this.

Also, is is true that for Lantus, you do NOT roll the bottle prior to injecting?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Hello and welcome to the board!

I am a little concerned that her bloodwork was normal and there was no sugar in her urine but they are still saying she is diabetic. How did they test for the 400? Was it an on the spot test or did they send that blood to the lab? Many times an on the spot test only shows the cats blood sugar is high because of stress... You might want to confirm this before shooting..

You keep the lantus in the fridge and it will last six months. You don't roll or shake it.

What weight is she? 2 units is also a high starting dose.. Let me know and we can work out a safer dose.

How do you feel about home testing her blood? It will help keep her safe and give you a better picture of what's going on or if she goes into remission which is common with cats..


Wendy

 

[the_editrix]

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for the quick response.

Her bloodwork was tested as part of a complete panel that was sent to the lab. It was a combo full screen and urinalysis.

She was about 13.5 pounds at the latest vet visit. The breed that she is primarily tend to be large-boned cats, so she's not overweight for that breed. The vet didn't discuss dietary issues with me at all, which I found a little strange. She is a very picky cat and will only eat dry food. Right now, she is free-fed Taste of the Wild, which is grain-free and high in protein.

We plan to give her shots at 7am and 7pm.

I don't even know when the vet wants her to come in for a recheck! I need to give him a call on Monday. I felt like he was a little rushed on the phone when we spoke, as was I since I was late for a work meeting. I wish I had the time to ask a few more questions.

I will consider testing at home if it's recommended, but for now, I'd like to just start getting a basic familiarity with the injections.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Ok cool.. Better to be safe than sorry.

It really depends on your goals, if you are looking to have her well regulated or even go Into remission like many cats do, then a low carb wet canned food is ideal, and home testing is a must! With a low carb canned food (or low carb dry- grain free doesn't mean low carb) you may find even after a few weeks she won't need insulin at all but you would need to home test to know this. Studies show 84% cats can go into remission with a low carb food, good insulin and home testing.

If you arent aiming for remission and you are ok with her being on higher levels of insulin her whole life then the dry food is ok (although we can recommend some low carb ones if your cat really won't eat wet despite you trying our tips.. http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf )

I personally wouldn't shoot without testing because of the remission risk. Shooting without testing is like playing Russian roulette with a hypo gun.

Anyway for now since she is getting a high carb dry then you should be ok maybe to shoot but I would start at 1.5 based on her weight.

Also since you aren't home testing please read this and make sure you have syrup in the house and know where the nearest emergency vet is... http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15887

 

[Deb & Wink]

Hi momtoEllen and sugarkitty Ellen and welcome to the FDMB. Lots of experience here to help you with your diabetic cat.

Would you please introduce yourself? First name would be nice.

 

[Dyana]

Hello, and welcome ;-)
I would definitely learn how to home test, if you are up to it at all. Mainly I'm concerned because she showed no glucose in her urine and starting with 2 units is a little high I think, and the fact that no glucose in the urine tells me that she did not have high BGs sometime in the hours before she went to the vet. Vet stress and other conditions can cause a temporary rise in BGs and the cat may not be diabetic. I guess the vet did not do a fructosamine? That would tell what her average BGs were in the past few weeks while in her home environment.

 

[the_editrix]

My name is Angie.

No, she did not have a fructosamine test.

She had only been displaying the heavy drinking and urinating behavior for a few weeks before I brought her in for a checkup. The vet thinks that we caught it early enough and that's why it wasn't showing up in her urine.

I will do home testing if it's something that will benefit her, like I said...I just want to get her used to the shots a little bit first. I'm honestly a little surprised that I didn't get more information from the vet about this. I've been seeing him for years and really like him. To be honest, I'm somewhat disappointed.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Ok I am very concerned then. I think dyana would agree we don't know for sure she is diabetic as the vet didnt do the required tests and those she did weren't conclusive.. Like the urine sugar being negative

If she is diabetic at all, her blood glucose isn't that high and 2units could overdose. I think you are going to have to home test to be sure and keep her safe. Good thing is that her blood glucose isn't that high so waiting a few days till you get the kit shouldn't harm her.

Did you change anything recently when you saw the symtpoms? Food? Or did she get a steroid shot or anything recently?

Some vets are out of date with feline diabetes.. They have so many conditions to look for and learn about that they can't do it all. Fortunately you have lots of people who do know about it here.

Wendy

 

[the_editrix]

So 400 isn't a high reading? To me it sounds quite high, but since I'm brand-new, I don't know a lot of information!

There have been no changes in the house whatsoever. She has been on her current food for about a year and a half. I initially thought that she might have been just drinking more because of the heat, but I do leave the air conditioning on at 78 or 79 even when I'm not home, and her favorite room has a fan on. So it isn't excessively hot.

It sounds like I'll need to call the vet and try to get some more information.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

A BG of 400 is high. However, there should also have been glucose in the urine with a BG that high. BG can be raised by vet stress but typically not to 400. I myself would monitor BG before each shot and between shot especially in your case.

 

[BJM]

Stress from being at the vet may account for 100 - 180 mg/dL of that 400. To me, that suggests she may be borderline. Treating any infection and feeding her low carb food may get her to a diet controlled state.

Pop over to Cat Info to read up on feline nutrition and print yourself a copy of the food chart. Select foods with less than 10 % calories from carbohydrates, such as Friskies. Pates or Fqncy afeast Classic Pates.