Newly diagnosed Gremlin

Status
Not open for further replies.
Laura and Gremlin said:
Thank you!
We are from central Victoria. I hope it will make our transition easier. I'm already terribly worried about my Gremlin, it's only been a day and a half but he's still so lethargic.
Click to expand...
Hi Laura. I live in Victoria too. I know how stressful the diagnosis is at first. Hang in there and Gremlin will be just fine. I will send you a personal message.
 
Laura and Gremlin said:
I can't do this! I just wasted a full thing of lances, two needles and two test strips all for nothing. Gremlin's ears have been stabbed multiple times. I still don't have a BSL reading and he hates me. I have one test strip left. I yelled at my son, stressed the cat and now I'm on the kitchen floor in tears.
Click to expand...
I understand how you feel because I remember laying on the floor and just crying as I couldn't do the tests and didn't know how I would ever do them. But with time, patience and practice, I am amazed at how easy it is now. Hugs. :bighug:
 
I know people don't like the freestyle lite glucometer but I changed to using it from the freestyle optium when I was first testing. The reason being that I was having difficulty getting a big enough blood sample to use the optium glucometer and it was very stressful so I changed to the freestyle lite and it was great as I was able to do a test every time. The freestyle lite can do tests using a smaller blood sample than the optium. I have recently changed back to the optium glucometer but I sometimes use the freestyle lite too. The freestyle lite reads lower at higher BG levels but is about the same at the lower BG levels and if someone is really struggling at first it might be useful to use the freestyle lite rather than not do any tests.
 
I have managed to find someone here that used to have a diabetic cat. She has supplies still that I can have and she is going to come over and help me to test him tomorrow night. Thank goodness!
He still got a treat, dinner and insulin but is now in hiding. I will start rubbing his ears and touching them and giving him treats when I do.
I'm still quite upset but I will try again tomorrow. It has to get easier!
 
That is good news. I am really pleased you have found someone. Just take it slowly and it will work out in the end.
He will not hold it against you..and he will come to accept it as normal. Sheba comes and sits and waits for me to do the test when she hears the noises she has come to associate with it. She knows she will get a treat.......bribery and corruption :)
Did you get the message from Voula? Look in the top right hand corner of your page...to inbox. She might be able to help too.
 
Laura I absolutely understand what you're going through, that was us less than a month ago. My hubby had the same experience as you with the testing - he found it really difficult and it was setting off his anxiety issues because he felt like a failure if he couldn't do it exactly right on the first go every time. I find the testing cinch, but struggle with the injections still. It *does* get easier, because Gremlin will get used to routine that is new for all of you. My Ivana is the fussiest cat around and even she will sit still (most of the time) when it comes to tests and shots. As long as there's a treat involved, she's ok with it. And if you're anything like us, there will unfortunately be quite a few wasted test strips until you get to know how much blood you need. Gremlin will be the same, I have no doubt. His ears will get easier to bleed in a couple of weeks. He just doesn't know what's going on right now and because you're stressed he's picking up on it. Please don't give up, Gremlin needs you :bighug:
 
Laura, regardless of how you feel right now, you are doing great!! You are learning and trying, which we all did in the beginning, but it is much more than most people who get this diagnosis do. Many aren't willing to treat and opt to PTS.

I had my meltdowns in the beginning as well. We all did. Give yourself a big :bighug:, and don't forget to
 
Last edited:
You are doing great Laura and know that most of us had the same feelings of being overwhelmed at first. I shed many a tear over testing, but it does get easier, much quicker than you would think! I prefer to free hand the pricking, it's easier to see where you are pricking and there is no click to scare your kitty. I always rub a little vasoline on the ear before pricking, the blood beads up instead of spreading on the fur. Gremlin is a beautiful cat and he is lucky to be so loved! Hang in there, you are doing great! :bighug:
 
Understanding the spreadsheet/grid:

The colored headings at the top are the ranges of glucose values. They are color-coded to clue you in as to meaning.

Each day is 1 row. Each column stores different data for the day.

From left to right, you enter
the Date in the first column
the AMPS (morning, pre-shot, test) in the 2nd column
the Units given (turquoise column)

Then, there are 11 columns labeled +1 through +11
If you test at +5 (5 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +5 column
If you test at +7 (7 hours after the shot), you enter the test number in the +7 column
and so on.

Halfway across the page is the column for PMPS (evening, pre-shot, test)
To the right is another turquoise column for Units given at the evening shot.

There is second set of columns labeled +1 through +11
If you snag a before bed test at +3, you enter the test number in the +3 column.

We separate day and night numbers like that because many cats go lower at night.

The nadir is the lowest glucose between shots. There is a general period when it will happen which is specific to the insulin being used and testing then helps make sure your cat doesn't go too low.

It is merely a grid for storing the info; no math required.
 
Update: we were unsuccessful again but we were a lot closer. One teensy bit more blood and we would have had it. As soon as I get more test strips we'll try again. The lance was much better! I don't feel so bad about it all now. Grem still hates his ears being touched but I'll continue to touch them and give him treats. Fingers crossed I'll have a successful test on Wednesday!
 
It takes a couple of weeks for the ears to learn to bleed. Sounds crazy but it is true. The ears produce more capillaries and bleed more easily. I know it is frustrating when not enough blood comes out. I still have that happen occasionally, especially if Sheba's ears are cold.
Did your friend come over to show you?
I am glad you are finding it easier with the lancet. I do too. And I am so pleased you feel better about it all today.
Gremlin will get used to having his ears touched, especially if he knows there are treats attached.
Anyway.....well done for getting this far!
I think you have made great strides and you sound more confident and happier today. I am so pleased.
Please keep us up to date with how you are going, and ask lots of questions!
Looking forward to hearing the update.:)
ETA you could go through the motions of clicking the lancet on his ear...without a needle in it and pretending to get blood over the next few days while you wait for the strips. It will be practise for you and conditioning for Gremlin. If you put a cotton ball behind the ear as you click the lancet it might help....and you can dab the left over blood afterwards.
 
Fantastic! You're doing awesomely, you'll have it next time I bet. It took us a little while to look at a drop of blood and know it would be enough or if we should keep 'milking' - like anything, it's just practice (for you with poking, and for Gremlin with sitting still!) Let us know how you go on Wednesday :-)
 
Yes, the girl I met through Facebook came and helped me. That's why I feel so much better about it all now! We warmed his ear first and almost got it! The blood spread through the hair too which didn't help. She said she will come and help me again which is great.
 
Did you try the petroleum jelly trick yet? Just wipe a little on with a Qtip, you don't want too much, might give a false reading or error. Some use clear antibiotic cream with pain relief, Neosporin is one brand. Same instructions as the petroleum jelly. Either of these will help the blood to bead up as opposed to spreading into the fur. I also use the cotton ball, it supports the ear, less chance of pricking myself and it cleans up the blood bead when all done. Best of luck, you are doing great!
 
I use a folded tissue to support the ear and then stop the bleeding. I was just thinking this morning I might try using petroleum jelly to make the blood bead. Thanks :)

I picked Grem up and put him where I have been attempting to do his tests. I started playing with his ears and he was not struggling but so not happy either. I then gave him a treat and put him down. Happy boy!
 
There you go! He will be ok with the tests in no time! :D It is really frustrating and scary at first, I was the same way and shed some tears over it too. You will get this, just try not to get too upset if things don't go well, just breathe and remember, practice makes purrfect!
 
Gremlins is still getting somewhat sleepy but still alert after his 2 x meals and injections. Could his insulin be too high? I really need to get a BSL reading :banghead: He does perk up again after a while and then he's his normal self (almost) a few hours before the next meal/shot. I know he is still underweight and not feeling well so that wouldn't help his mood at all.
 
I can't give dose advice, but it doesn't sound like there is anything to be alarmed about. You won't know if his insulin dose is too high or too low, till you can get some readings. He is not regulated yet, so he is not going to feel at his best. He will put the weight back on, just give it some time. Hang in there, I know it is so scary at first, but you are doing terrific and it will get better for you and him! :bighug:
 
I need to pick up a friend from the train station at the same time I would usually do Gremlin's insulin. I'm wondering if it would be okay to do his dinner and shot ten minutes early of if I should let my friend know I'll be fairly late?
Thanks!
I'll post tonight results of BSL test attempt number three.
 
As far as I know (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong), Lantus gives you a 30min window on either side of the exact shot time - so you can shoot up to 30min early or 30min late without affecting Gremlin's schedule. Though obviously the closer you can get to the actual time, the better.

Good luck for the test!
 
Failed testing again twice! But only by a little tiny bit. Vaseline helped heaps but still didn't quite get enough blood out. Will try again tomorrow. In the morning if my son is up early enough to help. Poor bugger, his ears are pin cushions!
 
I think you are doing a great job. You are almost there. I know it is very frustrating.
After you prick the ear, try milking it gently up towards the prick from the bottom a few times. I do that a lot if it is not beading up.
Gremlin will get very used to it in a short time I promise. When I was showing Tara how to test, she was not sure Ivana would comply....but within a very few days she posted a photo of Ivana waiting by the testing kit for her treat!!!
 
I did milk it but it wasn't enough. Practice makes perfect and we're getting better everytime. Gremlin is coping okay, I think it's me worrying about his poor little ears more. It doesn't seem to bother him much. He was very happy today!! And he's perkier tonight than any other night so far. :) Do their ears heal faster and bruise less as time goes by?
 
I often test ten or more times during the day if Sheba is dropping low and fast and you would never know to look at her ears that she had any tests at all.
To help stop the bruising hold a cotton ball or tissue against the prick and gently hold both sides of the ear for a minute.
This whole disease always hurts us more than the kitties.
I'm glad Gremlin is happier and perkier.
 
Bron and Sheba said:
When I was showing Tara how to test, she was not sure Ivana would comply....but within a very few days she posted a photo of Ivana waiting by the testing kit for her treat!!!
Click to expand...
2015-09-13 21.53.37.jpg
 
Glad Gremlin is feeling good! Don't worry, you'll get there with the tests. I actually enjoy doing them now because it shows me something solid about how Ivana's body is actually coping, rather than just observing her (because she doesn't do much other than sleep these days, so it's hard to tell from just watching her). Keep trying, it will be so exciting for you when you get it :-)
 
I can't wait to get it! He hasn't been tested in five days :nailbiting: and I want to see if there is any change now he's on insulin. I also want to start adjusting his diet. Keeping my fingers crossed one day we can diet control without insulin! I'm extremely happy that he is finally starting to feel better, he has put on a tiny bit of weight too. I'm letting him eat as per usual so he can build up to a healthy weight again now he has his appetite back properly.
 
Laura and Gremlin said:
I still need someone to hold him but he does love the treat afterwards!
Click to expand...
When we started testing Ivana, we gave her two treats per test - one before, and one after. The one before seemed to hold her interest enough to want to hang around and see if there were any more treats to come, so it worked well. We don't give the before treat anymore though now that she's in the routine.
 
Laura and Gremlin said:
That's fantastic! We're not even close to that yet. I still need someone to hold him but he does love the treat afterwards!
Click to expand...
I don't hold Sheba at all when testing. I kneel on the floor and half sit on my lower legs and Sheba comes and sits inbetween my knees. I can then lean forward to get to her ear and I have control of her without restraining her. I do it beside the kitchen bench so I just have to reach up to get the testing equipment and then the treat. I put the treat down and test immediately as she is eating/ drinking it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top