? Newbie to my cat becoming diabetic

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Roel Lino Paz

Member Since 2017
Hello Everyone, I hope this message finds everyone and their pets in good health.

I have a question and I hope someone can give me some advice. I know I could take my pet to the vet. But since i became ill i have not worked for a few weeks and I'm fairly new to discovering that one of my Senior female cats is diabetic. I did take her to the vet, that's how I found out. But I'm embarrass to say but I still owe a balance to the vet and embarrassed to go back until I pay off my balance But as soon as I get back on my feet and in better health I will pay my balance because I know now that I really really need their help. And they are angels for seeing my cat.
Anyhow, Here is my big concern and question. Just a few days ago, I believe my cat had a Hypoglycemia Attack! She became lethargic, weak, frail, vomiting, and overall none responsive. Omg!! that was so horrible I thought that she was about to die until i called my best friend whom happens to be an animal Rescuer, i told her what was happening and she told me that I might have overdose her with insulin, so she informed me to gave her some Honey and Water and the next day she started coming back to life and in better spirits.
But I have not given her anymore insulin for fear of hurting her more. Please let me know any information that I can use to continue to help my old cat to better health. When should I start giving her the insulin again??
Roel
 
Welcome! That sounds really scary. I am glad she pulled through. It is very important that you test at home so that you will know when it is okay to give insulin and when her numbers are getting too low and you need to give her something with carbs to bring them up. You can use a human meter and strips so that it is less expensive, and you could even check out the Supply Closet forum to see if anyone is offering any free or cheap supplies.

Here are a couple things you may want to read so that you are more prepared if you find yourself dealing with a hypo episode again:
Hypo toolkit: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/
How to treat a hypo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/
 
Roel, I was just reading in “how to treat hypos” that cats can become sensitive to insulin after a hypo episode so I really think you should start bg monitoring at home. Hopefully you can use your friend’s monitor for the meantime until you can get one.
 
Ok I just finished reading a bunch a material about the blood meter and how to get blood from my poor Kitty. And I did and so the first reading I obtained says it is:

260

Is that a good number or too high and about how much insulin should I start again.

The initial doctor dose was 100 but obviously that was too much since her attack about 1 week and a half ago.
 
PS I want to thank each and everyone one that has shared some info and help. It truly means Alot to me and my precious aging cat. Thank you so much
 
Hi there,
there are a few few questions that anyone from here will ask that enable us to offer advise, can you please try to answer them all?:
1. what insulin is she is on?
2. what does she eats - how much, what brand and how often?
3. are there any other health issues diagnosed?
4. what type of glucometer do you use?

Knowing all of these details will help us to offer the best advise for your sweet girl.
 
I can't help you as I;'m new to all this myself with my own aged cat & so learning from all the amazing people here but I did want to say that I know how horrid this feels and to send you a hug coz it's scary.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Hi there,
there are a few few questions that anyone from here will ask that enable us to offer advise, can you please try to answer them all?:
1. what insulin is she is on?
2. what does she eats - how much, what brand and how often?
3. are there any other health issues diagnosed?
4. what type of glucometer do you use?

Knowing all of these details will help us to offer the best advise for your sweet girl.
Click to expand...
 
Roel Lino Paz said:
Ok I just finished reading a bunch a material about the blood meter and how to get blood from my poor Kitty. And I did and so the first reading I obtained says it is:

260

Is that a good number or too high and about how much insulin should I start again.

The initial doctor dose was 100 but obviously that was too much since her attack about 1 week and a half ago.
Click to expand...
What do you mean the dose was 100? Do you mean 1 unit?
 
B682909E-9989-427B-AB32-559B171A7E3A.jpeg
I am sure it will be ok with Roel if I answer what I can for him.
Queenie was prescribed Lantus Solostar 100 units/ml
She eats Rachael Ray Nutrish dry and 9 lives meaty favorites canned. I believe Roel told me he was starting to feed her twice daily rather than free feeding.
She does not have any other health issues, but did have a hypo episode about a week ago when she got an extra dose of insulin 3 hours after the morning dose.
The glucometer he has is a Contour next.
She is 10+ yrs old and is spayed.
She was at least a year old when Roel got her in 2007.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,

Holly Sellers

@Roel Lino Paz
 
hey.mikki said:
View attachment 32473 I am sure it will be ok with Roel if I answer what I can for him.
Queenie was prescribed Lantus Solostar 100 units/ml
She eats Rachael Ray Nutrish dry and 9 lives meaty favorites canned. I believe Roel told me he was starting to feed her twice daily rather than free feeding.
She does not have any other health issues, but did have a hypo episode about a week ago when she got an extra dose of insulin 3 hours after the morning dose.
The glucometer he has is a Contour next.
She is 10+ yrs old and is spayed.
She was at least a year old when Roel got her in 2007.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,

Holly Sellers

@Roel Lino Paz
Click to expand...
Yes it's a u100 insulin... But her dose is 1 unit twice a day which was the question. So she got an extra dose by accident and that's why she hypoed? That makes a lot of sense.

260 is above normal but not extremely high. The dry food you are feeding is not diabetic friendly. If it were my cat I would feed just the 9 lives pate foods (you can feed several meals a day just no food 2 hours prior to the preshot test) and cut out the dry. Do this and test for the next two days and see what the numbers are like.
If still elevated start with a low dose of the lantus.
It is possible that 1 unit may be too much and you only need to start with a half unit.
 
Hi and welcome!!

They've already given you a lot of very good advice, the first one and most important is to test at home and always test before you give insulin this will keep her safe and give you peace of mind.

Changing her to all wet low carbohidrates food (no dry) will also help lower her numbers this is the list most of us use http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf, you could search for one that she likes ( is very important that she eats) and that suits you , as long as is 10% or less carbs it would be ok, you could consider changing her to a low carb food before starting insulin.

Since she is on Lantus you may want to start reading this information regarding Lantus and the protocol we use to dose and control our kitties, this is the link

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...the-basics-new-to-the-group-start-here.18139/
 
I’m not sure that Roel has been on here to see all of this helpful advice provided today, but he will. I do know that Queenie prefers dry kibble, but will, at times eat canned food. Neither of us knows a lot about FD, but we are trying. When you say “If still elevated, start with a low dose of Lantus”...What defines elevated? It seems that different people, posts, publications, etc, say different ranges. I think what we are not understanding is: what variables account for the different answers to this question? Also, what is considered a low dose of Lantus? 1/2 of a unit (since her vet prescribed dose is 1 unit?)
I told Roel that I was reading that the amount of insulin she needs may have changed, now that she had a hypo episode, and to be careful how much how much he starts with, just in case this is the case.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Hi there,
there are a few few questions that anyone from here will ask that enable us to offer advise, can you please try to answer them all?:
1. what insulin is she is on?
2. what does she eats - how much, what brand and how often?
3. are there any other health issues diagnosed?
4. what type of glucometer do you use?

Knowing all of these details will help us to offer the best advise for your sweet girl.

Ok yes I so Happy for your help and reply and Happ to answer any questions.


She is on the following:

1. She is on "Glargine" injections. The Dr initially ordered her to take
100ml every 12 hours. But he never mentioned when to start watching out for signs of and health conditions or concerns. Anyhow sorry I digress..
2. She eats two times a day and I preferably give her her meal when I used to give her the other Meal which is 12 hours apart and I try to always put dry food as well as wet food and always have her fresh water with some ice.
Before I discovered she was diabetic she would only eat dry food I try to give her wet food but she wouldn't eat it but once I started her with the injections that's when she started eating wet food and more frequently actually.
The brand of food of dry food is Purina Cat Chow the green bag the indoor formula. But now I changed it to the Rachael Ray grain-free healthy choice Green Bag she doesn't seem to want to eat that much of that but she will sometimes.
The wet food I'll alternate through nine lives pate to friskys pate. Oh and she only seems to like the pate versus the chunks.

3. No other health concerns just a diabetic but recently it seems she getting some type of ear infection on her right ear at the tip of her ear so I don't take blood samples from that side I go on the other ear.

4. The type of meter that I use is the Contour Next it's a blue box and the actual device itself is black with gray buttons.
Click to expand...
 
hey.mikki said:
I’m not sure that Roel has been on here to see all of this helpful advice provided today, but he will. I do know that Queenie prefers dry kibble, but will, at times eat canned food. Neither of us knows a lot about FD, but we are trying. When you say “If still elevated, start with a low dose of Lantus”...What defines elevated? It seems that different people, posts, publications, etc, say different ranges. I think what we are not understanding is: what variables account for the different answers to this question? Also, what is considered a low dose of Lantus? 1/2 of a unit (since her vet prescribed dose is 1 unit?)
I told Roel that I was reading that the amount of insulin she needs may have changed, now that she had a hypo episode, and to be careful how much how much he starts with, just in case this is the case.
Click to expand...

Very Good Questions Holly, I truly am blessed to have such wonderful friend like you whom happens to love animals very dearly.
And yes thanks God for all of you who show your love as well in reading and interacting with us.
 
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