Hi,
My Maine Coon Cat, Mr. T, was diagnosed with diabetes on Februray 5. When I brought him to the animal hospital his medical record note said:
MM: pink
CRT: <2 sec
HR: 224
R/R 80
Temp 100.3
weight 13.5 lbs
BG 455
Urine dipstick 2000 mg
drs notes:
EENT: mm pink, moist, CRT =2 seconds. Nose/ears/eyes NSF. PLN/INTEG: NSF. GI/UG: NSF on palpation, urinary bladder is large and soft. MS/NS: Ambulatory x 4, plantagrade stance in pelvic limbs, no ambnormalities palpated. Mentally bright/alert. CV/RESP: Auscults NSF, pulses strong and synchronous.
Assessment: PU/PD, plantigrade stance; r/o diabetes mellitus
Plan: BG =455, urine diptstick = 2000 mg/dl glucose.
The dr discussed insulin options with me, glargine vs other. The glargine seemed like a very expensive process and there was an increased risk of hypoglycemia so I elected to to start Mr. T on a low dose of Humulin N at 1.5 units q 12 h. If he doesn't do well with this insulin we would try another. She said it was better for him to be a little too high for a while than too low. She said the change in diet would also help his blood sugar (I was only feeing him dry Iams before). She said it woud take some time for before his limb function would improve. She also submitted a urine test and ordered a fructosamine level.
They showed me how to give Mr. T the shot, they gave him his first shot of insulin, gave me a box of needles, a supply of canned and dry Purina DM, and a perscription for the insulin and suggested that I return in 5 days.
Discharge intructions were to feed Mr. T the canned food in meals with his insulin shot, twice daily and give him a small amount of dry food as a snack if needed during the day.
I give Mr.T his shot at 7 am and 7 pm.
On Feb 6 they called me with his test results - GLU was 477 (the ref range is 64-170). His Furctosam result was 535 micromoles (ref range is 142-450).
<500 is good regulation, 500-614 is fair and >614 is poor
On Feb 10 we returned to the vet.
Mr. T was 13.97 lbs - a gain of .47 lbs.
He was eating and urinating less but neuropathy still present.
Glu was 301 mg
Dr said to continue with 1.5 units q 12 h
On Feb 23 I started to take his BGs. At 6:13 pm his BG was 258 (gave him his 1.5 units) and at 8:33 pm it was down to 200.
On Feb 24 at 7 am I gave him his shot and at 9 am at his vet appointment his BG was 318. At 5:42 pm his BG was 369 before his 7 pm shot.
The dr called with the results of Mr. T's fructosam result which was still in the fair range and suggested that I go up to 2 units.
On Feb 25 at 6:30 pm I started Mr. T on 2 units. At 10:07 pm his BG was 148.
On Feb 26 at 7:22 am his BG was 361 before his shot. At 5:26 pm his BG was 266.
On Feb 27 at 7:35 am his BG was 325 before his shot and at 12:44 pm his BG was 200.
I am very worried about the neuropathy in his legs. The dr said he's only seen the back legs affected and not the front and he didn't think it was from the diabetes, he thought Mr. T had torn his tendons. The dr had a discussion with other vets and they said that they didn't think the neuropathy was just from the diabetes. The drs think that the diabetes caused the tendons to become weak. He said they could do surgery on the tendons but that the cat would then walk stiff legged. He said as long as the cat wasn't in pain he could live with the neuropathy.
I read about the B12 methylcobalamin and have been adding the crushed pills to Mr. T's wet food. The dr expressed concern about the quality of the B12 I bought from the health food store. He said that he could inject the vitamin instead.
Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Teri
My Maine Coon Cat, Mr. T, was diagnosed with diabetes on Februray 5. When I brought him to the animal hospital his medical record note said:
MM: pink
CRT: <2 sec
HR: 224
R/R 80
Temp 100.3
weight 13.5 lbs
BG 455
Urine dipstick 2000 mg
drs notes:
EENT: mm pink, moist, CRT =2 seconds. Nose/ears/eyes NSF. PLN/INTEG: NSF. GI/UG: NSF on palpation, urinary bladder is large and soft. MS/NS: Ambulatory x 4, plantagrade stance in pelvic limbs, no ambnormalities palpated. Mentally bright/alert. CV/RESP: Auscults NSF, pulses strong and synchronous.
Assessment: PU/PD, plantigrade stance; r/o diabetes mellitus
Plan: BG =455, urine diptstick = 2000 mg/dl glucose.
The dr discussed insulin options with me, glargine vs other. The glargine seemed like a very expensive process and there was an increased risk of hypoglycemia so I elected to to start Mr. T on a low dose of Humulin N at 1.5 units q 12 h. If he doesn't do well with this insulin we would try another. She said it was better for him to be a little too high for a while than too low. She said the change in diet would also help his blood sugar (I was only feeing him dry Iams before). She said it woud take some time for before his limb function would improve. She also submitted a urine test and ordered a fructosamine level.
They showed me how to give Mr. T the shot, they gave him his first shot of insulin, gave me a box of needles, a supply of canned and dry Purina DM, and a perscription for the insulin and suggested that I return in 5 days.
Discharge intructions were to feed Mr. T the canned food in meals with his insulin shot, twice daily and give him a small amount of dry food as a snack if needed during the day.
I give Mr.T his shot at 7 am and 7 pm.
On Feb 6 they called me with his test results - GLU was 477 (the ref range is 64-170). His Furctosam result was 535 micromoles (ref range is 142-450).
<500 is good regulation, 500-614 is fair and >614 is poor
On Feb 10 we returned to the vet.
Mr. T was 13.97 lbs - a gain of .47 lbs.
He was eating and urinating less but neuropathy still present.
Glu was 301 mg
Dr said to continue with 1.5 units q 12 h
On Feb 23 I started to take his BGs. At 6:13 pm his BG was 258 (gave him his 1.5 units) and at 8:33 pm it was down to 200.
On Feb 24 at 7 am I gave him his shot and at 9 am at his vet appointment his BG was 318. At 5:42 pm his BG was 369 before his 7 pm shot.
The dr called with the results of Mr. T's fructosam result which was still in the fair range and suggested that I go up to 2 units.
On Feb 25 at 6:30 pm I started Mr. T on 2 units. At 10:07 pm his BG was 148.
On Feb 26 at 7:22 am his BG was 361 before his shot. At 5:26 pm his BG was 266.
On Feb 27 at 7:35 am his BG was 325 before his shot and at 12:44 pm his BG was 200.
I am very worried about the neuropathy in his legs. The dr said he's only seen the back legs affected and not the front and he didn't think it was from the diabetes, he thought Mr. T had torn his tendons. The dr had a discussion with other vets and they said that they didn't think the neuropathy was just from the diabetes. The drs think that the diabetes caused the tendons to become weak. He said they could do surgery on the tendons but that the cat would then walk stiff legged. He said as long as the cat wasn't in pain he could live with the neuropathy.
I read about the B12 methylcobalamin and have been adding the crushed pills to Mr. T's wet food. The dr expressed concern about the quality of the B12 I bought from the health food store. He said that he could inject the vitamin instead.
Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
Teri
