Newbie with questions about food and timing of shots

[equine99]

Hello! So I have a recently diagnosed diabetic kitty, Snowflake. She and her sister are 14 and have been quite healthy up to this point, with the exception of her sister who has a very sensitive stomach (which I will get to in the second half of this post). I have been giving her 1/2 a unit twice a day of ProZinc and she seems to be doing a little better. I've been trying to keep as close to every 12 hours as possible, but have occasionally stretched it to 13.5 hours between, never going less than 12 in between. I feel horrible for even thinking this, but as a 25 year old single gal, I'm quite concerned that I will all too frequently have to choose between my social life and my cat (I've already had to leave a birthday party early and decide not to go to a friend's housewarming party because I was concerned that I wouldn't be home in time to give snowflake her insulin). So, how do you all time your shots? I've been debating on doing midnight and noon, as I can get home at lunch to give her a shot, and would like to have my evenings open so I can go out to dinner with friends/generally be social, but midnight is pushing it for me to be able to stay up on weekdays and on the weekends it's been really hard to make sure I'm home at noon. I gave her her shot around midnight last night but then lost track of time this afternoon and didn't give it to her until 1:30pm. Now it's almost midnight and I am fading fast, and don't want to get caught in a trap of giving her her shot later and later each night. Also, they don't eat much late at night, so I don't want her to have too much insulin in her system if she isn't going to be eating. My vet has told me he's started me on a dose that is probably too low for her, so can I give her a slightly lower dose now (after 10.5 hours instead of 12), or should I wait until her next dose tomorrow? What is the minimum amount of time than you can go in between shots? I've already decided to do at home testing (and have thankfully been given the okay to work from home for the occasional day to do a couple of curves), but the meter and strips haven't arrived yet (I got the freestyle lite). I would also really appreciate any advice on how to change shot schedules...

The second piece of my question is that I'm struggling with finding a food that works for both of my cats. Up to this point, they have been grazers on dry food, and (aside from the fact that snowflake developed diabetes) have done very well with it (maintained excellent body weight, no emotion attached to feedings, and excellent teeth). The only sticking point is that my other cat, midnight, has a very sensitive stomach and I think may be allergic to chicken. I had them on Natural Balance duck and pea dry food, but am working on switching over to high protein wet food (found some that are 12% protein and even one that is 18%). They both love the wet food, and snowflake has done very well with it, but each time I let midnight have anymore than just a little taste (two different types so far), she literally vomits up what must be the entire contents of her stomach and then dry heaves for like 5 minutes after. it's very very sad. Because they've always been grazers, I can't get them to eat enough at one time to be able to take away their food until the next feeding (they just eat a little bit at a time--just until they're no longer hungry), so I've been feeding snowflake as much wet food as she'll eat in the mornings, and then leaving out the duck and pea dry food until I get home. Does anyone have any advice on this? I've asked my vet but he will only recommend the hills prescription food, which I do not believe to be high enough quality.

 

[Terwilliger1]

I can understand the scheduling problem that treating a diabetic cat suddenly presents in your life. It's best to stay as close to the 12-hour schedule for insulin shots as possible, though. I do 5am and 5pm for my cat. Sometimes it's hard to get up at 5am on a Sunday, especially if you've had a late night, but the blood test, feeding and shot only takes me about 5 minutes now and then I can go back to bed. That might be easier then having to rush home at midnight. I'm older and married now, but it's hard for me to imagine having to do all this when I was in my 20's and not so settled. As for the food, you may have heard of Janet and Binky's list, http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html. There are many low carb varieties listed that you could try. My diabetic cat is the good eater and my 10 month-old civilian is the super-picky one. I took the food list to Petsmart/Petco/Supermarket with all appropriate low carb (under10%) food highlighted and just started trying a couple cans of different brands until I found something they would both eat. It took weeks to settle on 3 or 4 flavors, but eventually it worked out. My civie is still picky sometimes, and both cats still eat in small sessions like yours, but they are both at appropriate weights and we have a routine now. It takes time to transition, but finding the appropriate consistent food is a huge factor for treating diabetes. I think there are quite a few beef, duck, rabbit, etc varieties of canned food on binky's list that you could try. Having said that, I still give my civie a small handful of dry food on a high counter on his super-picky days. I think others have added Fortiflora to their cats canned food to help their tummy's transition from dry. I hope this helps a little. Perhaps someone else will chime in with some good food advice. I think I googled "cats who are picky eaters" and ended up with some good tips for my picky boy. Good luck.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Welcome!

This place is a great resource and support group. You are doing some great things already. Nice mild, long lasting insulin. Here is a document on PZI = how to use it, dose it etc. Way too long, but valuable in small doses. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=32799

You are exploring foods. The link Terilliger gave you to the food charts is perfect. I printed it off and would take it to the store and scour the aisles.

I do not agree with your vet that because you are giving a lower dose, you can consistently shoot earlier. PZI does not have a shed like other insulins, but there is overlap that varies with the cat. Unless you are testing before each shot and getting some mid cycle numbers, you don't really know how the insulin is working for Snowflake. We are very careful to test before we inject insulin (to make sure it is safe - that the number is high enough for the dose and that it is a rising number, not still falling.) Getting mid cycle numbers is difficult but busy people do it catch as catch can - an in the door test, an out the door test, before bed test with more tests on a weekend. IMO, it would be better to get some testing in and find out how the .5 dose is working and then increase it as needed, staying as close to a 12/12 schedule as possible. (Luckily PZi is a flexible insulin and 12/12 every day is not a necessity) Giving a low dose inconsistently isn't not going to be helpful in a possible move to remission for Snowflake. And remission is possible.

We have a PZI forum where everyone used/uses your insulin. You might come over and look at some of their spreadsheets to get an idea of how it is done. We have several people who test/give insulin at midnight! http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=24

It must be very hard to be young and have a diabetic cat. But some time spent early on might get your kitty regulated or into remission and give you your life back!

 

[kimouette]

I've never shared this with anyone, but I have a job that literally transformed my cat's treatment as a nightmare. One day I have to wake up at 4 in the morning the next day I have to work till midnight. For the 12 hour shot I was constantly trying to gain minutes and hours in order for me to be home when my cat needed her insulin. I know everyone is talking about being as rigorous as possible with that 12 hour delay, but in my case it was just impossible. I would wake up at 3:00am to feed and shoot then when back home even though I should have been giving her next shot at 3pm I would wait until 5 or 6 just so I could sleep a little more for my next day of work that finished at 7 or 8 pm. The next day was even worsea cuz I'd be trying to get back to a 3am shot. In one week there could be a difference of 5 hours, just never 5 hours between 2 shots. The worst aspect with that situation is not even the one or 2 hours late for the injection, but my cat was just unable to follow these messy schedules in terms of appetite. I would just be following her for an hour with her food trying to make it look like its some new irresistible food!

I don't think anyone here has to struggle that much with the injection/feeding schedule ! And I'm saying all this cuz I wanted to let you know that one or 2 times a week you could gradually change the schedule in order to come home later or wake up later. You just have to plan it in advance to adapt the whole thing. But be prepared for a cat that will either be very hungry or not hungry at all!

Thank god my cat is OTJ right now, my life and hours of sleep are already such a mess without that diabetes problem!