newly diagnosed and need to vent!

[ellie]

Hi everyone.
I have a newly diagnosed 14 year old cat named Ollie. I am trying desperately to get a handle on treating his diabetes and feel like I'm failing. I'm going to use bullet points to go through his history:
-FOOD:
Ollie was originally on Hill's prescription wet food and wouldn't touch it. And of course, I couldn't give him his insulin (6 units) unless he ate.
-Ollie has always been a grazer and we're both trying to adapt to new feedings.
-new vet recommended EVO duck and venison (those flavors in particular to help with a possible food allergy) and he gobbled up the duck at first and now barely wants to eat it. And I just learned from the vet that he is supposed to eat HALF A CAN in the am and at night. I can barely get him to eat a 1/4 can. UGH. Yesterday, I started sprinkling turkey on top and that seemed to get him interested, but not enough to eat the full portion.
-Just started using AlphaTrak and when I went in for my demo, the tech at the vet told me his numbers were in the 20's and kept him there all day to monitor him. He was alert and purring which they saw as a good sign. (At this point is when I learned I wasn't feeding him enough and had to start giving him half a can!)
-He hasn't had insulin in a day and a half now as his numbers haven't gone above 240.
-I am going to try EVO chicken and turkey tonight. Fingers crossed!

GLUCOSE TESTING:
-It's miserable. I can't get a drop out of that ear. I've watched videos and keep trying and now Ollie wants nothing to do with it which of course makes it even harder. Because I couldn't get a reading off of him this am, I had to lug him to the vet so they could do it.
-Thinking about ditching the alpha track lancet machine and just using the lancet as the sound of the machine makes us both jumpy!

OLLIE'S BROTHER FRANCIS:
-And on top of it all, Ollie's brother Francis is supposed to eat Hill's k/d wet food. Francis and Ollie have always eaten wet food in the am and pm and grazed on dry food. Now, I can't leave dry food out to graze anymore and Francis isn't supposed to touch Ollie's EVO.

Basically, I'm just venting here. It's really hard. It's trying. I'm doing the best I can, but feel like I'm failing. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!!!! -ellie, francis & ollie

 

[BJM]

The fact that you're even trying means you are succeeding. Many folks opt to euthanize.

I free hand to test as the lancet pens seemed to get in the way for me and make it harder to see.

While you work on the home glucose testing, check out my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for other assessments you can make to evaluate your cat's health.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Warming the ears is key to help getting the blood to flow.

Out of curiosity, what insulin is Ollie on? 6 units is a high dose to start out with. I hope the vet lowered the dose after Ollie got into the 20's. Depending on which insulin you are using, more smaller meals may be better than two larger ones. Some cats are grazers and it's hard to get them to eat a large meal at once.

You might want to check out this web site on Feline Nutrition. We have several kitties here that have kidney issues as well as being diabetic. And even some with allergy issues. Serving low carb and low phosphorus food is key. There is a food chart that lists carbs and phosphorus of most manufactured wet foods in North America. You want something with carbs less than 10% for the diabetic.

 

[BJM]

Unless you are glucose testing at home successfully, keep the food the same as changing the food to lower carb can drop the glucose 100-200 mg/dL and drop the insulin dose by 1-2 units. Or maybe drop the insulin by 2 units if you change the food.

 

[monty_dweezil (GA)]

I couldn't get a single drop of blood out of Dweezil's ear either for weeks, and then suddenly i just tried again and aimed straight for the vein with a freehand lancet (at first i assumed i'd prefer the pen, but no) and there was BLOOD!!!

So please keep trying. You can do it. We are all here together in the same sugar boat!