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gingersnap

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Greetings everyone. I am new here, and I am I not used to posting on a board. I have been reading so much helpful information, and I am grateful to all the cat caregivers here.
My cat will be 16 years old this year, and she was diagnosed with diabetes in April, 2012. We have a really good Dr. who works with us emotionally, medically, and cares about our finances as well. I do have lots of questions, but my main one right now is how do I go about creating a spreadsheet? I can't seem to figure out what I need to do. Also, I am computer challanged. I apologize if I'm not posting this in the right place. Thank you to everyone who replies. :smile:
 
Welcome! I just noticed your post and wanted to jump in and welcome you and your extra sweet baby. I don't have time to answer but someone will shortly. I'll check later to be sure someone helped you...
 
Welcome!

You're in the right place to start.

Please share with us about you (name, etc) and about what you are doing to manage your kitty's diabetes (insulin, dose, food).
 
Well I'm back,and after hours of trying to figure out how to get the spreadsheet up for viewing I gave up. I don't think it's going to happen. But I will try to tell you about my kitty.
Ginger is a 16 year old grey tabby Manx, and never had anything serious like diabetes before. I adopted her when she was a baby from the animal shelter in Gulfport,MS. She has a very different personality from her Persian sister, and she has grown to like her Pomeranian brother, too. I had taken Ginger to the vet in April,2012 because of a "rash" on her head and ears,and she was given a steroid injection. She's had a couple of those over the years for arthritis. The rash cleared, and in the meantime she had minor surgery to remove a "balloon cyst" from the right side of her face. We all made it through that ok, E-collar and all. Then I noticed that during the time she was healing from surgery that she was was really eating and drinking a lot--way more than usual, and seemed to be losing weight. But when we had weighed her for her previous appts. at the vet's office she did weigh less,which I thought was good since she needed to lose a few lbs. That's when testing was done,and we found out she was diabetic. Her blood glucose was 345. I think that she had been displaying signs of diabetes before, but I had not connected the dots. I believe the steroid shot she got just pushed her over the edge into full-blown diabetes.
In April we began the "start low,go slow" approach with 1cc Lantus Bid. May 3rd I began giving 2U bid. The vet had told me in the beginning that Ginger would probably need 5U-6U total per day. I had told the vet that I could not come back in for testing in 2 weeks due to how much I had already spent, and she always tries to work with us. I learned a lot about feline diabetes from this site and others, which has helped tremendously. Beginning on May 5th and through the last week of May, Ginger started to acting different, like she was not feeling well, and then had a hypo episode May 31. Gave her some food, and she recovered well. I had already been decreasing and skipping some doses of Lantus that week. I finally bought a Relion Micro on June 2nd, and have been using it all this week. I didn't realize that I could really manage to do ear sticks.
She's only had 4 readings over 100, and I am testing every 4 hours, and only had to give insulin a total of 4 times this past week. I really tried to get my spreadsheet up for viewing to get feedback from you all. Anyway I will be taking Ginger to the vet tomorrow with her readings to find out what course to take now.
Ginger is on all low carb as possible wet foods: FF Classic, the LC Great Choice from PetSmart, Evo 95% beef (found at Petland for .80 cents a can closeout, I bought the last 24 cans), and really whatever LC wet foods out there I can find. She likes the Wellness :smile: brand Purebites for treats. She's not crazy about some of the canned foods. We've tried tons of them. You all know how that goes! Before she got sick, she had been on dry foods all her life with some wet now and then. That's some information about us, and thank you for reading this. I appreciate and welcome all the feedback. It helps so much to share this with others who understand and know what this experience is like. :smile:
 
What is your CURRENT dose of insulin? If you are skipping shots, that dose may be too high and when you give it, he may be going too low.
Until you get a spreadsheet, would you please report the most recent day like this:
AM preshot test (AMPS)
any additional tests are listed with a '+' sign and the number of hours since insulin was given
+1 = 1 hour after
+2 = 2 hours after
+3
... etc
PM preshot test (PMPS)

*********************************************************************************************************
Now, about that spreadsheet - where are you having difficulty?

Checklist for spreadsheet:

1) you have a Google Docs account and can sign in and sign out

If yes, next check:
2) A) You were able to find the Google Docs Template
OR B) you were able to download the Excel spreadsheet template to your PC

If yes, next check:
3) A) you were able to save the Google Docs Template in your own account and rename it
OR B) you were able to upload AND convert the Excel spreadsheet into your own account as a Google spreadsheet

If yes, next check:
4) You were able to publish the spreadsheet to the web

If yes, next checks:
5) You were able to locate the spreadsheet link
6) you were able to locate your profile at FDMB
7) you were able to copy the spreadsheet link into your profile's signature block
 
gingersnap said:
Well I'm back,and after hours of trying to figure out how to get the spreadsheet up for viewing I gave up. I don't think it's going to happen.
Click to expand...

So you were able to get a copy of the spreadsheet to use for your cat and it is in your Google Documents? And you're just having trouble putting the link to the spreadsheet in your signature? That is part B of the spreadsheet instructions, the one that says B. Publishing your SS, aka Attaching to signature (directions by Squeem3): http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207 There are screenshots of what to click on circled in red.

Feel free to post on the Tech board for more help :smile:

She's only had 4 readings over 100, and I am testing every 4 hours, and only had to give insulin a total of 4 times this past week. I really tried to get my spreadsheet up for viewing to get feedback from you all. Anyway I will be taking Ginger to the vet tomorrow with her readings to find out what course to take now.
Click to expand...

It sounds like your cat might be on her way to possible remission but without numbers for the past week or so it's hard to say. A spreadsheet for FDMB members to look at would be helpful but until you can get that done, you can just post the recent numbers.
 
Hi and welcome!

It sounds like you might well be on your way to remission.

I never could get the hang of a spreadsheet either, so i will tell you what I did . I hope I am not advising you to do anything incorrect.There are pkenty here to set you straight if I am.

I got a notebook and recorded all her readings.this is when I tested.
First, before her first meal of the day and her shot
3 hours after eating and shot

3 hours later, before she got her second meal of the day (she eats 3 times a day)

3 hours after eating the second meal.
Finally, 3 hours later before her third meal and secon shot of the day.
so essentially, she was tested at these times- 8:00a,11:00am 3:00pm, 6:00pm and 10:00pm


I did this each day for 2 weeks. The only food she got was Friskies Classic Pate and for treats she gets freeze dried shrimp, chicken or fish.

She has not had a shot since the morning of the secondday I started this. It's been 11 months! I test her about once a month.

when her brother was diagnosed, we immediately bgan the same regime, and he too is controlled by diet.

There are lots of knowledgeable people here that will get you and your baby in a routine that works for you ! :smile:
 
If you are still having trouble with the ss, send me a private message (small pm button in the LH side of my post) I will be glad to set one up for you.
 
Remission?

:?: I finally have a chance to post again. Still don't know how to get the SS out, but I can get to it and put information on it. I am going to try again, and if I keep failing I will send you a pm Sue and Oliver.Thank you. And also to Becky56, I have been testing Ginger on a schedule very similar to your suggestion. Her BGs have been under 100 all but 2 times since 6/5/2012, and those readings were 100 and 106. All the others have been in the 50s to 90s. I took Ginger to the Dr. last Friday 6/8, and she said readings were good and to check Ginger twice a week now and for symptoms, and report to Dr. I hope Ginger's reaching her new "normal". She is only eating wet foods now, and since she started eating only wet foods she seems to be in a more balanced state of health. I just don't want to "jinx" us and hope too quickly.
Right now she is eating Evo 95% beef with FF Classic mixed in. She seemed to tire of Petsmart Great Choice, and doesn't eat the Friskies very well. Doesn't really care for the Evo by itself, but I bought lots of it on sale. Do you think the Meow Mix Filet Mignon mixed in with the Evo would be too bad for her sugar? I read on ingredients that it does have dried sweet potato,and wheat gluten. She doesn't like most of the better premium canned foods, and I sure can't afford to keep wasting it. My other other cat will only eat the Natural Balance Duck and Green Pea, when she will accept canned foods. I appreciate everyone's help. :smile:
 
Part 1 for sharing it:
In the upper right corner of your displayed spreadsheet, there is a button which says "Share"
Click on that.
A dialog box comes up which displays the link for sharing, and there are options as to who may see it.
Mark "Anyone who has the link can view"
Highlight and copy the link to someplace you can copy it again - like Word or Notepad
Click Done

Also, under the File Menu is an option for Share, and an option for Publish

Part 2
You can paste the link into your posts anywhere you want.
If you want it in your signature, go to the top of the screen here.
If your browser will do it, right-click on user control panel and tell it to open in a new tab or window, so you can switch back to these instructions.
Click on the Profile tab
Scroll down about 1/3 to where it says "Edit Signature" and click on that.
Paste the link in there, then highlight it and click on the URL
Add anything else you want to note.
At the bottom, you can choose to Preview it and check for things you want to edit
Click on Submit when you're happy with it.
 
And great work with Ginger!!

After 2 weeks of no insulin, you can have an OTJ party!
 
PetSmart and PetCo should take back any unopened food. Just say your cat won't eat it. (not like they haven't heard that before...). If they don't like the expensive stuff, you can always go for Fancy Feast or Friskies. Lots of us feed those. I figure they have by products, but then so do mice. :-D
 
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