Newbie Kit Arrived! Now what?

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RenaRF

RenaRF

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Hey everyone. Just to update about Clide, his interim treatment plan, etc.

1. Clide is a 15 year old male tuxedo DSH. Diabetic and has stomatitis.
2. Clide had a glucose curve on Wednesday 12/28. Stayed at about 300 all day.
3. Agreed with vet to eliminate dry food from diet. Currently feeding mixture of Purina DM and Merrick Cowboy Cookout. Gets Fancy Feast Turkey & Giblets classic as a snack.
4. Will re-test in approximately two weeks with vet.

So my questions:

1. Is it advisable that I move him exclusively to Merrick Cowboy Cookout and eliminate the Purina DM entirely? Would like to have him on a stable diet by the time he goes for recheck, one I won't have to change.
2. What should I do with the Newbie Kit? Be specific. I don't know what I'm doing with the exception that testing should be on the ear. I don't really know how to do it or how often. I have the spreadsheet provided by the board - but how often should I test? When should I start if recheck is in two weeks? I'm clueless.

Thanks in advance!

Rena & Clide (And Rufus, Feats, Meaball & Bella)
 
RenaRF said:
1. Is it advisable that I move him exclusively to Merrick Cowboy Cookout and eliminate the Purina DM entirely? Would like to have him on a stable diet by the time he goes for recheck, one I won't have to change.
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Is it the dry DM? If so, I would not completely change the diet just yet. Doing so can have a big impact on blood glucose levels and insulin need. You can feed small amounts of the Merrick for now. Once you are comfotable with hometesting, you can slowly change the diet over.


2. What should I do with the Newbie Kit? Be specific. I don't know what I'm doing with the exception that testing should be on the ear. I don't really know how to do it or how often. I have the spreadsheet provided by the board - but how often should I test? When should I start if recheck is in two weeks? I'm clueless.
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Hometesting tips and videos: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287

By checking the blood glucose levels daily, you can see how the insulin and dose are working for your cat and, based on the numbers you get, you can determine with the help of your vet and members here if the insulin dose needs to be adjusted.

The newbie kit contains a blood glucose meter and all the supplies you need to use (lancets, test strips, the meter itself, a lancet device) plus extras like toys for your cat and other things. The meter stuff should have an instruction booklet of how to set it up and how to use it.

Always test blood gluocse levels before giving the insulin shot. So twice a day every single day. This way you know if it is safe to give insulin or not. Newbies shold not give any insulin if the blood glucose level is under 200 mg/dl. This prevents a possible hypo from happening. Your cat will be fine with one missed insulin shot :smile: Do a few random blood glucose level checks daily if you can. One or two a day is plenty if you can do that. This gives you a general idea of how the insulin and dose is working. The blood glucose meter keeps track of all the levels so you can input them into your Google preadsheet at whatever time is convenient for you.
 
Great - thanks. The Purina DM is the canned. If the data I saw is correct, it's about 14% calories from carbs compared to the 5% calories from carbs with the Merrick Cowboy Cookout. Clide is NOT yet taking insulin shots. The vet knew that I was going to remove the dry from his diet (he's adjusted beautifully) and go exclusively low-carb wet and then we would re-check in two weeks (from yesterday). I've given him the Merrick tonight because of all the feedback I've seen on how crappy the Purina DM wet is nutritionally speaking. Plus it's not lower in carbs than many other high quality, muscle-meat commercial brands.

I have the lancets but no pen? I suppose I should go get the OneTouch 2 pen to match the lancets I received? The Newbie Kit is a Godsend - I'll check the links and hopefully Clide will tolerate this. I'll start getting him used to the idea and then I believe I'll home test daily for the week before he goes back to the vet for comparison purposes.

Rena
 
RenaRF said:
Great - thanks. The Purina DM is the canned. If the data I saw is correct, it's about 14% calories from carbs compared to the 5% calories from carbs with the Merrick Cowboy Cookout. Clide is NOT yet taking insulin shots.
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In that case, you can go ahead with the diet change :smile: Go slow so your cat doesn't get an upset tummy.

I have the lancets but no pen? I suppose I should go get the OneTouch 2 pen to match the lancets I received?
Click to expand...

You can freehand the lancet. Many people here do that. Just give the ear a quick poke. If the thought of that makes you squeamish, then go buy the matching lancet device. Most pharmacies will have them. Or try this: call OneTouch customer service and ask if they can send you a replacement lancet device. Do not tell them that you are using their products on a cat because they will not help you. Just say that you are using their products on a family member and lost/broke the lancet device. They may send you one in the mail for free.
 
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