newly diagnosed diabetic cat

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

howdy

Member Since 2014
My sweet rag-doll cat Howdy was just diagnosed with diabetes over the Christmas holiday. He started insulin one week ago. He seems to be doing ok and has started to gain back some of the two pounds that he had lost. He is now on feline m/d food and is taking Glargine insulin 1.5 units twice daily. He likes the dry food better than the wet and since I have 5 other cats, it has been a challenge to feed them and not let him eat with them. The other cats have always just eaten dry food on demand. After reading some of the posts on this site, I see that dry food is not the best for cats. I think that I will switch to Friskies wet food for everyone. All my cats were stray ferrel kittens that just came to my house and most are between 11 and 13 years. One is about 5 years old. I just lost one of the older ones to a brain tumor. I am not having any trouble giving the insulin since Howdy is such a sweet boy. I just put him in his bed and pet him for a minute and then give the injection. So far the vet has not encouraged me to test at home. I have gone to the clinic several times for a check. I just watch him for symptoms of hypoglycemia. I have had some sleepless nights when we first started the insulin. He sleeps beside me so I can check him often. I don't know when to let him eat. He tells me when he wants to eat and I get his food out for him. I started measuring his dry food and let him eat on that amount all day. He always wants some about 4:30 am also. I hope that is ok. He goes back to the vet tomorrow for a check. I am going to try to get him to eat more of the wet food since it is lower in carbs. I will ask the vet about home testing. What glucometer should I get? I read that there is one that is better for cats.
 
Welcome to FDMB extra sweet Howdy and his mom or dad! Could we have your name too please? Where are you from? This helps us determine dose.

We strongly encourage home testing. If you are switching foods please start testing first. Cats BG can drop significantly when you change to lie carb wet. It's not safe to switch foods while on insulin unless testing at home so you know he won't go too low. I use the relion confirm since it doesn't require too much blood and is cheaper than others. Any relion meter is good. I don't know about others except that the alpha trak is extremely expensive and not necessary.

You'll need lancets, the strips, and the glucometer itself. You can use higher gauge lancets like 26 to help get blood until his ears learn to bleed.

I don't know anything about glargine (lantus) but plenty of people here do and will be happy to help. You're in the perfect place to get help for your kitty! Ask all the questions you want and we'll be happy to help!
 
My name is Mary and I live in Lubbock, Tx. Howdy has been eating a mixture of wet and dry food. He tends to just lick the wet food. I am familiar with diabetic testing on people, but have not tried this on a cat. I will ask the vet to show me how tomorrow when we go for a test.
 
Hi Mary and Howdy! Some vets don't know how to test using a human glucometer. There are links on this site that show you how. I learned from there and then taught my vets and techs. The Relion ones from Walmart seem to be the cheapest and ours was very consistent. If your vet discourages home testing, ask the reason. Some think the pet guardians will be too overwhelmed if they mention it, and some honestly just want you to pay for testing at the vets for either control or financial reasons. Or it's just what they've been taught. It is in your pet's best interest to test no less than twice a day before insulin injections and preferably midway sometimes too. Welcome!
 
Hi Mary!

You may look at the video's and think it is hard to do home testing but it really is simple. Yesterday I tested my Scooter over 12 times for a curve and he is still talking to me! It is a simple ear prick. I also just changed my meter to the Relion one from walmart that folks suggested. I was using a much more expensive accuchek one. The relion is MUCH better for Scooter as it requires only a tiny bit of blood on the strip. So if you are getting a new meter they sell them this week for about 9.99 here in MN. I got everything I needed for a month for less than 20.00. Not including insulin.

There is a bit of a learning curve but once the folks here guide you it is simple. Glad you found this site and welcome to you and Howdy. (I love that name!).

Linda
 
Heres a shopping list to get you started

Getting started shopping list
1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro.
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast

WEndy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top