newbie trying home testing-advice please

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kathpj

kathpj

Member Since 2012
Hi,
Thanks for your advice last week.
Before diagnosis Red was drinking loads and peeing loads. Following diagnosis last week I changed him straight away from dry food to canned low cab. Within 24 hours he was drinking normally and the swimming pool liter tray had gone back to normal.
I got Red an Accu-Chek Performa and have started testing him. First time couldn't get enough blood. Since using a warm rice sock it is easier! (great advice).
I would really love to get his levels down with diet alone. I am a student and the cost of getting him initially regulated in New Zealand is huge. The readings I have so far are: yesterday 2.30pm (1 hour after feeding) 17.9
yesterday 6pm (before food) 20.8
today 9am (2hours after food) 17.1
just taken 12 oclock (took 5 attempts, kept getting errors, so Red & I prob a bit stressed) 22.1
Does anyone think it is possible to get these numbers down with diet alone or will it take some insulin? Hopefully not for ever.
How long should I try with new diet and monitoring before making a decision?
Thanks, Kath & Red
 
I am NO WAY an expert but it does look like he might need some insulin to get those numbers down. At any rate dont take my advice as gospel. This will bump your thread up for more experienced eyes.
jeanne
 
First of all, congrats on the hometesting. You're doing a fantastic job. Well done! You're doing the best you possibly can for your cat.

I don't know how long it takes for BG levels to change after switching to a low carb diet. But...if he's been on low carb for a week my guess is (and it is only a guess at this stage - I have no experience with the effects of diet switching) he will need insulin.

It might be worth checking the ingredients list on the food you are using. Although it may appear low carb does it contain something called 'vegetable protein extract'? Some cats - like mine - are sensitive to foods containing this (and Felix 'As good as it looks' sends his BG through the roof). If your cat food does contain that ingredient it might be worth switching to one that doesn't.

Although insulin seems very expensive initially a bottle can last a long time. Probably months. My cat's been diabetic for five and a half years and all of the 3 insulins I've tried have lasted way longer than I thought they would. My last bottle of Hypurin bovine lasted nearly 9 months and when I finished the bottle it was still as effective as the day I opened it (but I know insulin viability varies according to type).

It may also be that he needs insulin permanently. Not all cats get 'off the juice'. But try not to jump ahead too far. Remember that the future only comes along a day at a time. And remember to breathe....

As to how long you should try the change of diet before using insulin, my question would be - what is your cat's general health like? Is he happy? Does he seem physically comfortable? What is his weight like? And his coat condition? If his over all health is poor then I'd suggest you start insulin very soon. If his health is good then maybe try diet for another week or so....? That's just my view. I'm sure others here may have very different points of view.

Elizabeth
 
Hi Kath, it's me again...

I've just read your previous posts and see that your vet wants to hospitalize your cat for 4 days when starting insulin? Yikes! Now I better understand your concerns about the costs...

If the vet won't change his view then you certainly need to see another one! (Incidentally the first vet I saw suggested I have my cat put to sleep. I looked online and found this forum, then got another vet and...the rest is history. The second vet wasn't great, but was much more amenable than the first. And I think I've trained him pretty well over the years! ;-) )

I did have to agree to have Bertie stay at the vets for the first day of his insulin treatment. The vet also wanted him to go back to the clinic for regular curves, but instead I did them at home and sent him the results! Over time he gained confidence in me because it was obvious that my cat was coming to no harm by my doing this.

Is is 'normal' for cats in NZ to be hospitalized for 4 days? Can you negotiate that time down? Especially given that you can now home test?
 
Hi Elizabeth,

Great to hear your advice. We have been in NZ for 3 years, prevoiusly from Brighton!

I was told if I couldn't afford the 4 days I should have him put down!

I think Red's general condition is better than 5 days ago hen he was diagnosed. Haven't been able to weigh him but he doesn't look like hes still loosing weight. He is certainly drinking and peeing less and although complaining that he doesn't really like the change in food seems ok. He is asking to go outside, we are not letting him, don't want him eating elsewhere!
I don't want to be doing him any harm or for him to be suffering.
I am feeding him Whiskers beef and chicken casserole. No veg protien extract. Have not managed to speak to anyone in NZ about recommended canned foods. Both vets I have spoken to suggest their prescription foods.
Prehaps I do his bloods for another couple of days?

When testing blood glucose before starting on insulin should I be testing befre or after food? I feel I should be consistant.

Thanks, Kath
 
I don't think you need to have Red hospitalized at all, let alone 4 days. If you're home testing, you'll probably be able to check him more frequently than they will at the vets anyway. He's more likely to eat normally and will have more consistent blood sugar readings than at the vet if he is under stress from being caged and being around other animals. And if you have a problem you can ring them or bring him in. I hope you can convince your vet or find one who will let you treat at home unless there is a serious problem.

Also, don't give up hope if the canned food alone isn't lowering his numbers. Some cats need a short course of insulin to give their pancreas a bit of a kickstart. Of course other cats will be on insulin for life. But if I were you I'd get him on insulin soon, start slow, home test, and try to find a low dose that will keep him reasonably regulated.

Best of luck,
Lori
 
kathpj said:
I am feeding him Whiskers beef and chicken casserole.
Click to expand...

Kath that one is no good, none of the casserole varieties are. I can't remember off the top of my head what's in them (if you list the ingredients I will be able to identify the problem for you) but there are Whiskas varieties that are low carb - they are the loaf varieties.

If you check out Vyktor's profile it lists all the foods I feed him you may be able to buy similar in NZ.

Those numbers are pretty high. Most people on the board won't understand them unless you multiply what you're getting by 18 to get the American version. So, for the Americans, the numbers you're seeing are ranging between around 320 and almost 400). I don't mean to frighten you but at those levels organs are being damaged and there is the risk of Red developing diabetic ketoacidosis.

I would be really suprised if a change in diet alone is going to work in this case since you have already reduced the carbs heaps by ditching dry food - that was a more significant reduction than you will get switching to the Whiskas loaf varieties. I think Red needs insulin sooner rather than later. Agree with the others that there's no need for Red to be hospitalised for 4 days to go on insulin since you're able to test yourself (well done you have learnt that very quickly :smile: ). If that vet refuses to give you insulin without the hospitalisation ring around and find one that will.

I would recommend that you insist on Lantus Glargine - using this type of insulin and the tight regulation protocol provides the greatest chance of remission. There is an insulin support group on the board that can help you with all your dosing requirements so that really all you will need from the vet in respect of the diabetes is the insulin - in Australia it is much cheaper to get a prescription from the vet and buy the insulin from the chemist not sure if the same would apply in NZ?

Here is the link to the 'Lantus Land' support group http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=9 In particular read through the 'stickies' at the top of the 'topics' section (under the annnouncements) you will find a lot of invaluable information there. You will also want to print out the information on handling low numbers to stick on the fridge so you have the instructions there if you need them.

You will want to monitor him particularly closely for the first three days so if I was you I would read as much as I could and start insulin as soon as you can manage a few days in a row at home.

Here is the link to help you set up a spreadsheet for Red's test results. You want the world version. You will be able to enter your results in the world page and the numbers will automatically be converted and populated into the US page http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=50130
 
Hi again, Kath and Red, :)

I hope all is going OK with you two.

Re your question about blood glucose testing at this stage (before going on insulin), ie, before or after feeding; I'd suggest that both might be useful! I know the test results you posted initially are only from a few tests (and so may not be representative), but it seemed that the test results after feeding were lower than the test results before feeding....? If it is the case that Red's blood glucose results do drop an hour or so after feeding then that could indicate that his pancreas is still producing some insulin... That could be a good sign in terms of getting him into 'remission'.

Another poster mentioned risk of diabetic ketoacidosis to you. You can buy 'ketostix' from a pharmacy and test Red's urine for ketones. The trick is to catch some urine in the first place! I used to put just a small amount of cat litter in a tray and dip the ketostix strip quickly before it absorbed. Also used fine gravel from time to time (can be handier because it doesn''t absorb liquid...if your cat will use it...). There is also some special non absorbent litter you can buy. And some folks here have been known to catch their cat's urine in a large spoon!!! (I never fancied that, and I think my crouching behind him would have put my cat off his stroke!).

Re insulin, well, there are a number of different types, and what people use depends on a number of factors; ie, what's available in their area (choice may be limited); what the cost is; how easy it is to use; what works best for their cat (the insulin you start on may not be the insulin you come to like best), etc, etc, etc... There are a number of insulins that work well for cats. And each of those insulins has it's fans. There are also different approaches to using insulin - in terms of dosage (fixed dosing or 'sliding scale') and how often shots are given (...twice a day ('BID'); three times a day ('TID'), or 'whenever the cat's blood glucose warrants it'..). There is a lot of information on this site about all this, but it can be confusing. If you need clarification on anything, please shout out! You can get an idea of the insulins that people are using by looking on the Insulin Support Groups forums. As to starting out on insulin, many people here favour a 'start low and go slow' approach. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=61800

An insulin that vets often want to prescribe is 'Caninsulin'. As the name suggests this was developed for dogs. Most folks find that this is NOT a good insulin for cats (though I expect there are some notable exceptions! And I think some people use it because it's all that's available in their area).

How is the home testing going by the way? Is Red getting to accept it a little more?

Elizabeth

PS. I'm sure Brighton is missing ya! :)
 
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