Newbie

Status
Not open for further replies.
Caryn and Powder

Caryn and Powder

Member
Hello. My name is Caryn and I am new to the world of feline diabetes. My 11 year old male cat named Powder was just diagnosed Tuesday 1/24/12. Needless to say I was completely overwhelmed. After I got home from the vet, I started reading everything I could on the internet which just made it worse. So many opinions so much advice. Which one is the right one to follow. I just want him to be better. Then I started to blame myself ....It seems as though I have been feeding him the wrong food all of these years....too many carbs! I do have another cat named Cricket who is not diabetic (yet anyway) and I do not want him to follow in the same shoes. Both of my cats have been on science diet both dry and canned for many years. Most recently mature adult. My vet has prescribed 2 units of Lantus twice daily and prescription diet w/d canned. I am supposed to feed him the moist food only twice a day and give his shots when he eats. If he does not eat...no shot. Do I just stop feeding both of them all dry food immediately? They were grazers.....I left the food out for them to nibble on all day. So they are having a hard time with this. Then after reading things on the internet, it seems as though prescription diet is really not the best food for them. But I have started shots so now I do not know exactly how to incorporate a drastic change in food without producing hypoglycemia. At least not by myself. I just went out and bought a glucose meter but have not yet started to use it. Another overwhelming thought - at least right now. I would appreciate any advise that anyone out there might have. I just want to do the best thing for him.. I read about the cats who got off of the insulin and regulated with food....this is what I would ultimately like to acheive but I really to not know if that is being unrealistic? Thanks!
 
Welcome


Great that you already have bought a glucose meter! The ear testers will help you further on with the testing methods.


W/D is the wrong food for diabetics. It is a very high carb food (ca 30 %) and that will affect the insulin dose needed and the blood glucose levels.

Look at Janet and Binky's food list, there you will find low carb food (<--- under 10 %)


What was Powder's blood glucose level at the vets blood test? Do you know?


When do you think you will make a first attempt to test Powder?
 
His blood glucose level was 583. I would like to start testing tonight but I am nervous and not so sure how. I will have to start reading up on this. What food should I get for him? I do not want to make him hypo.
 
Caryn said:
Hello. My name is Caryn and I am new to the world of feline diabetes. My 11 year old male cat named Powder was just diagnosed Tuesday 1/24/12. Needless to say I was completely overwhelmed. After I got home from the vet, I started reading everything I could on the internet which just made it worse. So many opinions so much advice. Which one is the right one to follow. I just want him to be better. Then I started to blame myself ....It seems as though I have been feeding him the wrong food all of these years....too many carbs! I do have another cat named Cricket who is not diabetic (yet anyway) and I do not want him to follow in the same shoes. Both of my cats have been on science diet both dry and canned for many years. Most recently mature adult. My vet has prescribed 2 units of Lantus twice daily and prescription diet w/d canned. I am supposed to feed him the moist food only twice a day and give his shots when he eats. If he does not eat...no shot. Do I just stop feeding both of them all dry food immediately? They were grazers.....I left the food out for them to nibble on all day. So they are having a hard time with this. Then after reading things on the internet, it seems as though prescription diet is really not the best food for them. But I have started shots so now I do not know exactly how to incorporate a drastic change in food without producing hypoglycemia. At least not by myself. I just went out and bought a glucose meter but have not yet started to use it. Another overwhelming thought - at least right now. I would appreciate any advise that anyone out there might have. I just want to do the best thing for him.. I read about the cats who got off of the insulin and regulated with food....this is what I would ultimately like to acheive but I really to not know if that is being unrealistic? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Welcome!

OK what meter did you get? I am so glad you are going to home test so that'll save you money so you don't need to get any curves done at the vet office. Don't worry about the pokes on the ear hurting; my cats have usually just slept through it. Poke yourself to get a feel of it. Using the lancet device is quicker and less painful than freehand testing but some people prefer it.

Next the insulin dose is likely too high, so starting at 1u am and pm would be safer. It's better to start out on a lower dose and work up because you may find your cat needs a dose of 1.5u.

There is no need to buy the expensive vet food and there are plenty of better foods and lower in carbs, so just take back what you bought and say the cat refuses to eat it now. Get some fancy feast or friskies pates, no gravies or grilled flavors, and you will be fine for food.

Be sure to ask every question you have.
 
when I started out I got the blue buffalo grain free cans at Pet Smart or the bb spa selects is also good- everything else I found was to costly for me to get. But, I found them expensive to keep purchasing and didn't want to keep paying $1.70/can and still feeding my Sneakers shredded chicken to round her up to 8 ounces so looked around for homemade recipes and found out about Dr Lisa's here on this site.

I have made two batches of Dr. Lisa's homemade cat food- first time took about 4 hours from starting cooking to finish clean-up and was very, very messy and the second I shaved off an hour from experience of the second time and used a lot less dishes and less clean-up. The i-herb costs will be around $60 upfront, but some of those bottles will take you a year to use up if you do small batches at a time (I do 9lbs and it makes 21 days worth of food for 1 kitty.) Chicken thighs I buy if I see them on sale and freeze until time to make otherwise I buy them the day before or the day of making. I have had as many as 3 4-5lb packages in the freezer at one time and just take out enough to make up a batch that sorts into 3 lbs- the measuring basis for Dr. Lisa's recipe. I bought 16 ice cube trays and freeze the ground mixture as a cube equals 1 ounce and makes it easy to keep track of how much they are fed. Defrost in the micro add more water for moisture and stir it in well. Sneakers loves it!

Testing wasn't that difficult- if you can loves its ears rubbed that is the best way to start- first do one and then the other. have everything ready before you start- I rub the ears and get them warm, uncap a lancet, get out a test strip and snap the lid tight, pick up a cotton ball and place it under the ear and poke- Sneakers does squeak- KEEP HOLDING THE EAR as the cat wants to flick the blood away, pick up the meter and, making sure the strip is in and active, hold the end to the drop and the count-down should start.

It might take a few pokes to get enough blood- stop at three and give a treat. Mine loves shredded pizza cheese. Try again later or in the morning. We have it down to once a day. And if your meter gives you a code instead check out what it was- mine was stuck on E-3 (out of the box too long) for the first box- used 25 and got 2 readings. I've got another box and they are working fine.

Good luck!
 
I bought the relion meter. I am going to read up tonight. I am at work and needless to say worried to death abouth my Powder at home. ( As you can tell...since I am online.) I will stop and get some fancy feast on my way home. He used to eat that a while back and liked it. I am just so scared right now. Is it ok to lower his dose from 2 units to 1? I hope this gets easier.
 
It does gets easier. Yes, do lower his dose to 1 U if you get him some fancy feasts. Also pick up some dextrose or Karo syrup, to have and give him if he runs low.
 
Ok I will get some syrup. Thanks again. I am sure I will be back on here later with more questions. Actually one question that I have been wondering about since learning about the food being so important. Should I change my healthy cat to the low carb food gradually in hopes that he won't get diabetes too.
 
Hi and welcome to you both! You are doing a great job! We were all overwhelmed at first... I've only been here for a month and look, I'm already helping others out!! Soon you will be too :smile:

You will learn the routine very fast. Home testing seems intimidating at first. I don't like to sugar coat things, so I will tell it to you straight - hometesting is stressful and difficult at first. You and your kitty will probably both hate it, you will poke and poke and not get enough blood, your cat will fight you, and hide from you when it's poke time... you will cry and want to give up. But you can't. It gets better - and all of our kitties here who are healthy and safe are examples of that. Even my own. Scooter would fight me, howl and cry and hide from me - but now, a month later, he lays on the kitchen floor in our "poke spot" and calls ME to come test him :lol:

If you are ever struggling, stressed out, or feel like giving up - come talk to us. We've all been there too. We'll help you out.

Hills food is garbage, bottom line. Even the canned stuff is nothing but liver, by-products, and too high in carbs. It will make regulating your kitty difficult, and chances are, he will probably stop eating it. Cats don't like the taste of liver all too much. Check out Janet and Binky's list - look for low carb (less than 7-10%), low phosphorous foods. Fancy Feast classic pates are a great middle of the road food.

That being said, I wouldn't change his diet at all until you're home testing to see where his numbers are going. Lots of kitties drop drastically with diet change, and their insulin needs should be adjusted accordingly. If he can be diet controlled, injecting insulin could make him hypo. Scooter dropped around 200 points with a diet change alone.

You don't need to feed only twice a day. For an unregulated diabetic that is like torture! Your cat will be hungry, because his body can't process what he's eating properly. Small meals throughout the day will help him recover. Just avoid giving food 2-3 hours before each insulin shot so you can get a pre-shot blood glucose test that isn't influenced by food.

Since you're not testing yet, I believe it would be more safe to start at 1u. You can work your way back up to 2u if he needs that much. Being in higher numbers for a little while longer is better than being hypoglycemic!

And yes, converting your civilian cat will make your life easier. Then you won't be stressing about Powder sneaking into dry food when you're not home.

Let us know if you have any more questions :)
 
All I can say is I am so glad that you are all out thre. I am sure that you are right about this getting easier. Thanks and I will be back I am sure.

Caryn
 
Hi Caryn!! I can totally relate to how scared you're feeling. I remember it like it was yesterday, but it was actually March of last year!! First let me say that hometesting is the most important thing you can do for your kitty. You wouldn't give yourself insulin without testing yourself first so you MUST test Powder. I shook so badly the first few days I tested, but within three days, you'll be a champ at it and Powder will sit right through it without a problem. It will take a while to "teach" the ear to bleed well. Once you've been poking for a while, the ear just bleeds so much easier. Just make sure you warm the ear up first. You can do this by rubbing it, which is what I do. I scratch the top of his head with one hand and rub his ear with the other. I use the Relion Confirm and you actually have quite a bit of time to get your blood drop from the time you stick the strip in the meter. So....put the strip in the meter, have the lancet in your right hand (if your right-handed) and a cotton ball in the left, rub Powder's ear, put the cotton ball behind his ear and poke him with the lancet, the closer to the edge of his ear, the better. I've found that if you pull the "hole" apart rather than squeezing, it bleeds better. You'll have to just give it a try and see what works for you. Touch the strip to the blood drop and then put the cotton ball over the "hole" and press for a few seconds. This will reduce any bruising. If you have Neosporin ointment with pain relief, you can put this on, but make sure you wipe it off before testing again.

As for food, Fancy Feast classics are the low carb flavors you want to get. Try to keep seafood flavors to a minimum because it can mess with their urinary systems and you don't need another set of problems. The Fancy Feast chunky chicken, chunky turkey, and chunky chopped grill is also low carb. Also get some cans of the Fancy Feast gravy lovers. This are 18% carbs (which is considered high carb) and can be used if his numbers drop low. It will bring him up to safe numbers and he'll love being able to have some gravy!!

It is better to start Powder off at 1 unit twice a day. You need to make sure you space the shots as close to 12 hours apart as possible, no more than 15 minutes earlier or later. Lantus works best with consistency so you'll need to hold the dose for at least a week to see how he does. There are a lot of "stickies" in the lantus forum that can help you understand how lantus works and what you need to do to keep Powder safe and help him get healthy. You will probably want to set up a spreadsheet to keep track of his blood glucose numbers. It will help you see how he's doing at a glance and it will help people help you because they'll be able to see all his numbers in one place. There's a link for the spreadsheet in one of the stickies, but I just can't remember where. I know there are a lot of people here who can walk you right through setting one up.

I know this is difficult and scary, but you can do it!!! And you have everyone here who is ready, willing, and able to help you in any way possible. Let us know if we can help you with anything at all!!
 
Hi and welcome to the FDMB family, Caryn, Powder and Cricket, too! cat_pet_icon

I love the name Powder! Reminds me of a movie by the same name. :-D

I know how it feels, to be so overwhelmed, finding out about food choices, thinking of home testing, and just everything! It seems like too much to take on at once, doesn't it? It's ok. :-D One of the best suggestions I've received here....breathe. :-D It's going to be ok. Powder didn't become a diabetic in one day, so you don't have to know all the answers in one day. :-D

One of the hardest hurdles is knowing what to do, and how much to rely on your vet. Keep in mind most vets don't deal with diabetes on a day in and day out basis. The super friendly folks here do! They are so knowledgeable and freely share their experience. It's fantastic! So while your vet may be the best of the best, it's possible they may not be up on all the latest for feline diabetes. This could be an educational experience for your vet, as well as for you. And that's ok! :-D

Take this one step at a time. :smile: The vet has you giving insulin. The Lantus folks will advise you on a good starting amount to avoid problems (so no need to fret while you're at work). So far, so good. :smile:

Food. Any wet, canned low carb food is good for our diabetic kitties. There's a link in my signature for Janet and Binky's list. We aim for <10, or even <7, carbs. As you can see, there's plenty of choices to fit any budget. :smile: (Note: don't switch food until you can test!)

Home testing. An absolute must! I can't stress that enough. Especially if you switch your kitties to low carb. Sometimes this will lower their blood glucose enough to where insulin is no longer needed. Sometimes our kitties still need insulin. It's very important to be able to test to see what Powder will need. :smile: The Relion meter you have is reliable, so you're all set there. Now to get to doing the pokey pokes. :-D Keep in mind, not only is it new to you, it's new to Powder. He may not like all the new stuff until he learns first hand it's ok. Low carb treats help, too! (I use something Poopy never, ever gets other than at pokey time - raw chicken. Ewwww!)

We are all here to help our kitties, and to help each other. Let us know how we can help you help Powder. :mrgreen:
 
Hi, Caryn and welcome to FDMB -- the best place you never wanted to be.

People have been providing good information. Dr. Lisa's site is a wealth of information about feline nutrition as well as diabetes and other medical conditions. She sometimes posts here so don't be surprised if you see her pop up. In addition to Janet & Binky's food charts which several people have provided, there's an additional chart with some of the newer cat food varieties.

Congrats on getting a meter and being ready to home test. You may find that a wider gauge lancet will help make home testing easier. Lancets that are 28 gauge (the lower the # the wider the lancet) will make testing go more smoothly at first. As both you and Powder get used to testing you can switch to a 30 gauge. The other "secret" to testing is treats. Most of us use freeze dried chicken or salmon or jerky-style treats. Anything that is a pure protein with no carbs added is fine for a diabetic. Providing Powder with a reward for putting up with testing pays big dividends. He gets a treat no matter if the test is successful or not. Food, praise, pets, cuddles -- all of that helps to make this a positive experience and cements the association between testing and a treat. Before you know it, Powder will let you know when it's test time.

If you are planning on switching Powder to a low carb diet, I would strongly encourage you to lower his dose to no more than 1.0u. Even 0.5u may be appropriate. With a food like W/D, the carbs were balancing out the amount of insulin you were giving. Reducing the amount of carbs in Powder's food means that his insulin needs are likely to be far less. It's much less anxiety provoking for you if you have to raise Powder's dose than finding out that he's sitting in low numbers.

With Lantus, you adjust dose based on the lowest point in the cycle, the nadir. As a result, you want to test before you give a shot in order to make sure it's safe to give insulin. With someone who's new at this, we generally recommend that you don't shoot if numbers are under 200. You'll gradually be able to work your way down to shooting lower numbers but in the beginning, especially if you're new at testing, 200 is a good "no shot" number. You also want to try to get at least one test in during both the morning and evening cycles. That will let you know if Powder's numbers are coming down and how he's doing on a particular dose of insulin.

With Lantus, you don't have to have food on board in advance. If Powder is a picky eater, that may be a consideration. However, unlike many of the shorter acting types of insulin, you generally don't see Lantus effecting numbers for about 2 hours from when you give a shot. You have time to get Powder to eat.

Also, it will take 5 - 7 days for your initial dose(s) of Lantus to stabilize. Lantus is a depot-type of medication and needs to build up in Powder's system. This first period will take some patience. You don't want to raise the dose too fast.

Much of this information is in the starred sticky notes at the top of the Lantus board. You can read at your leisure!

Please let us know if you have questions or how we can help.
 
You've received a lot of great input...
so we'll just say WELCOME- CARYN, POWDER, & CRICKET!!!

And add this...
If it weren't for the guidance, support, caring (and humor) we found in this most generous place...
my boy would not be with me today. He was deathly ill when we stumbled onto this site...
and is now in remission and acts like a goofy little kitten!

This is a magical place :-D

Celi & Binks
 
I really can't tell all of you how glad I am that you are here. I have been a nervous wreck. I can't stand the thought of leaving him to go to work after his shot. I wait about 1 hour but then I have to leave. It breaks my heart everday. I want to be there in case something happens. I mixed some of Powders science diet with some fancy feast last night and this morning as not to drop his carbs too fast and gave him 1 unit of lantus. I was having a very difficult time with the meter. I kept getting an E 3 message on it when I tried testing myself...so I have not tested Powder yet. I am definitely going to work on that again tonight. The book said I might have faulty test strips. I find myself watching him so closely that I am becoming paranoid about the littlest thing. I have to stop doing this. It just seems to me that about 5 minutes after the shot his eyes seem to dialate and he gets very drowsy. Just kinda lays around. Now he was not the most active cat before all this but I am still worried. I could just be paranoid, but I just don't know. I know that this is why I need to start home testing ASAP.
 
That post could not be more true. I am so sorry about your kittie dying a year later. But at least he had that extra year because of your help.
 
Hi Caryn,
You've gotten some great advice so far - that's what this board is all about. You mentioned
But I have started shots so now I do not know exactly how to incorporate a drastic change in food without producing hypoglycemia. At least not by myself.
Click to expand...
and I want you to know you are NOT by yourself on this anymore.

As you are reading we have a very dedicated group of fellow caregivers here. While we aren't vets, none of us would tell you anything that could harm your pet, we operate on peer review and someone will caution if they read potentially harmful advice. We also have all been where you're at right now - scared, confused and not sure what to do.

The main thing I'd like to mention is that it's better to have food available to diabetic cats at least at certain times of the day rather than only at shot times. You can do that with canned food if you will be gone throughout the day via a timed feeder. Food is the only thing a cat has to combat low blood glucose and if it happens, some cats will feel the need to eat, so they need food available. But please don't leave dry food out. Most dry food is too high in carbohydrates to give a diabetic, and you can transition your other cat to canned at the same time.

Good going on getting the home testing kit. We can help with tips on that as well. Just keep asking questions and you and Powder will be fine.
 
I was wondering about leaving canned food out during the day. I will find myself a feeder. I did not know they had them for moist food. Great idea.
 
If Powder and Cricket are grazers (eat a little at a time, come back later for a few more bites, etc.) you won't need a timed feeder. If either one are hoovers (sucks it all up as soon as they can) then a timed feeder is best. :smile:

Don't forget to breathe, too. :-D
 
Caryn

Time for you to chill just a little. While there is no way to know for sure, chances are you are not going to overdose your cat while you are learning to test at home. Ok? You'd be amazed at how some cats live for years on high doses, dry food and no testing. I got Squeak off of insulin inspite of myself...ie I didn't test for a couple of months I think, and then he went off insulin quite quickly. Now, that's obviously not the ideal, but my point is that your cat took awhile to become diabetic, it will take time to respond to insulin, and you are starting at a very conservative dose. So, try to give yourself a break. :-D

Jen
 
I am starting to calm down a bit. I just tested Powder for the first time. It was 343. He is not due to eat and have his shot for another 3 hours. I think he will sleep most of the time untl then. He was 538 when he was doagnosed 3 days ago.
 
:RAHCAT :RAHCAT :RAHCAT

Hurray! Welcome to the Vampire Club! (secret decoder ring will arrive in the mail :mrgreen: )

You will be amazed at the way the numbers will help you feel more in control. Just knowing what his numbers are and that he is in safe numbers is a huge help.
 
Nice job! 2 pokes isn't bad at all, sometimes I have to poke Scooter twice too ;-)

You're lucky you have grazers, I have a hoover - he inhales all his food like he hasn't eaten in a week and pukes it up 5 minutes later. I will be getting an auto feeder very soon :lol:
 
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they noticed any symptoms or side effects after your cat gets his shot of Lantus. I have been noticing that Powder seems to get dialted eyes not too long after his shot and he seems bothered and weak. I am giving him 1 unit. He just doesn't seem normal for a while after the shot and he still wants to eat more. Is it ok to feed him? It has been about an hour since his shot.. I should try to check his sugar again, but he doesn't want to be bothered right now. He is hiding under the bed.
 
regardless of whether we've seen it or not, we can hazard a guess as to what the cause might be. 1-2 hours post shot is when you would expect the insulin to be starting to kick in, so it could be a reaction, perhaps his blood glucose levels going low. What was his number before shot? And while I know you don't want to bother him, the meter allows you to bother him in order to treat him safely and there may be times where he looks 'off' and you test and you'll be glad you did.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top