Hello My name is Christie and the most amazing cat in the whole world is named Gambit. He is nine and until last week , was having the time of his life. On Sunday, he had labored breathing and I brought him to a vet. They said he seemed fine and ran blood tests and sent me home. They called me Tuesday with the results,everything looks great except Gambit is diabetic. His glucose was at 330. They basically wrote me a script for Lantus and told me to inject him in the fold of his neck 2x a day at 3iu. Tuesday he was acting very lethargic. I thought he was just angry from the vets . Then he let out a meow and began projectile vomiting. He fell on his side and continued to vomit bright yellow and began urinating on himself. I rushed him back to the same vet who said he needed fluid and hospitalization asap. The vet has now taken all my money (1000) and they call me Tuesday night ti come get him, not even holding him 24 hours . He comes home and wont eat, wont drink and wont move. He Just lays there in a catatonic state looking miserable . He then moved under the bed and refused to come out. I called the vet who just advised to keep an eye on him and call if he did not improve in 4 days. I began looking online and realize he has symptoms of DKA. I called the vet again to ask is there were ketones in his urine when they tested him during his hospitilizaatinm and they said they didn't testy his urine because I didn't ask them to. At this point IO realize that I made a horrible choice in Vets and now I have no money to help him. I found Banfield in a Petsmart and they offer a free exam. They took one look at him and look at me and say you have a very ill cat here. They are aware of my lack of finances and say that he needs immediate hospitalization and fluid therapy or he will die and they know I cannot afford it. They basically tell me that the best thing is to put him down. I lost it. I couldn't believe that last week I was chasing Gambit around the house and 5 days later I am being asked about to chose an urn for his ashes. By some grace of god, the vet took pity on me. She runs his blood and urine and confirms he has some ketones in his urine. I told her I had 200 dollars to my name. She figures out a way to get me discounts enough so that I can get him into the kitty ER and start a full day of IV and flushing. No guarantees she says. He is also walking on his hinds. I am just looking for some advice. the reports of DKAin cats online are very grim . There has to be success stories, tips and tricks to improve his recovery ...ANYTHING would be much appreciated. Gambit has been fighting his little heart out all week and it's clear he has no intention of giving up . PLEASE HELP!!! Thank you .
Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help!
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KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Yes! There are many DKA survivors on this board! The important thing is fluids and food, insulin, and antibiotics to kill whatever infection he may have that's causing this. My cat, Mikey, has never had DKA but many others have been through it and hopefully they'll start chiming in.
You can also check out Diabetic Cats in Need to see if they may be able to help or point you in the right direction financially. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone and we'll be able to help you!
Yes! There are many DKA survivors on this board! The important thing is fluids and food, insulin, and antibiotics to kill whatever infection he may have that's causing this. My cat, Mikey, has never had DKA but many others have been through it and hopefully they'll start chiming in.
You can also check out Diabetic Cats in Need to see if they may be able to help or point you in the right direction financially. I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone and we'll be able to help you!
Rachel
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
My cat was treated at Banfield too! Just so you know...the vet I had was great. Don't be put off because they are in a pet store.
My Gypsy never went DKA but she had eating problems. There ARE many DKA survivors. Don't give up! I'd contact DCIN like KPassa suggested. See if they can help. We CAN help.
My cat was treated at Banfield too! Just so you know...the vet I had was great. Don't be put off because they are in a pet store.
My Gypsy never went DKA but she had eating problems. There ARE many DKA survivors. Don't give up! I'd contact DCIN like KPassa suggested. See if they can help. We CAN help.
Dyana
Member Since 2009
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
J.D. is a DKA survivor. He had the same symptoms. He was critical when I took him to the ER.
He was hospitalized and came home with a feeding tube because he would not eat at the hospital. He was at a University School of Veterinary Medicine.
I had a line of credit account and was able to pay it off in about 6 months. The cost for his hospitalization was nothing compared to a human's bills in the same situation. That was 2005. If your cat is a fighter, keep thinking possitive thoughts. I was able to visit J.D. everyday. He went from barely holding up his head the first day, to laying with his head up the next, to bathing himself the third day and sitting up a little bit, and then on the 4th day crawling into my lap with tubes attached to each leg.
I have seen lots of cats make it from DKA in the years that I have been on this board. Food, Insulin, Fluids, and veterinary hospitalization if at all possible. Keep praying hard. I will keep Gambit and you in my prayers, too. Keep fighting Gambit.
J.D. is a DKA survivor. He had the same symptoms. He was critical when I took him to the ER.
He was hospitalized and came home with a feeding tube because he would not eat at the hospital. He was at a University School of Veterinary Medicine.
I had a line of credit account and was able to pay it off in about 6 months. The cost for his hospitalization was nothing compared to a human's bills in the same situation. That was 2005. If your cat is a fighter, keep thinking possitive thoughts. I was able to visit J.D. everyday. He went from barely holding up his head the first day, to laying with his head up the next, to bathing himself the third day and sitting up a little bit, and then on the 4th day crawling into my lap with tubes attached to each leg.
I have seen lots of cats make it from DKA in the years that I have been on this board. Food, Insulin, Fluids, and veterinary hospitalization if at all possible. Keep praying hard. I will keep Gambit and you in my prayers, too. Keep fighting Gambit.
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
My kitty is a DKA survivor. When she was first diagnosed, she had DKA, hepatic lipisosis, and pancreatitis. She was hospitalized on an ICU for 3 days. I had 2 vets tell me to be prepared for Gabby not pulling through. That was in May of 2009 and she is very much alive.
The good news is you know how to home test. That's important. You can buy Ketostix to test for urinary ketones at home. NovaMax makes a meter for testing blood ketones if that's easier for you.
Ketones develop when a cat isn't eating, isn't getting enough insulin and there's an infection present. What they will most likely be doing while Gambit is in the hospital is giving him fluids via an IV. (You can give subcutaneous fluids at home but that's the next step.) They are likely keeping him on a shorter acting insulin (e.g., Humulin R or Humulin N -- they also go by the name Novolin) so don't be surprised if they haven't been giving Lantus. The vets can administer a bolus of insulin to bring the numbers down in a hurry. They will also be checking Gambit's blood to make sure the electrolyte values are coming back to normal. If you ask about the electrolyte levels, if they say that they are stabilizing, it's a good sing. They are likely administering electrolytes in the IV if those values were off. Honestly, there's not much you can do other than visit with Gambit while he's in the hospital.
If his appetite isn't great at the hospital, you'll want to ask about an appetite stimulant when you bring Gambit home. Most folks here use either cyproheptadine or mirtazepine. They are prescription drugs. There's a good chance you'll need to continue giving Gambit an antibiotic. You may also want to ask if an anti-nausea medication is needed. Typically, ondansatron or Cerenia are used for nausea. You may also need to assist feed (i.e., syringe feed) if Gambit isn't wanting to eat. Food is absolutely critical. You may want to ask about a high calorie food or people here can make suggestions. You'll want a canned food. If you had been feeding dry food, donate it to a shelter. Dry food and diabetes don't work together. Fluids are also important. Add as much water to Gambit's food as he'll tolerate. Fluid helps to flush ketones out of his system.
Once this crisis is over, you may want to let people know what city you're in. We may be able to recommend a vet if you don't want to stick with the Banfield vets.
My kitty is a DKA survivor. When she was first diagnosed, she had DKA, hepatic lipisosis, and pancreatitis. She was hospitalized on an ICU for 3 days. I had 2 vets tell me to be prepared for Gabby not pulling through. That was in May of 2009 and she is very much alive.
The good news is you know how to home test. That's important. You can buy Ketostix to test for urinary ketones at home. NovaMax makes a meter for testing blood ketones if that's easier for you.
Ketones develop when a cat isn't eating, isn't getting enough insulin and there's an infection present. What they will most likely be doing while Gambit is in the hospital is giving him fluids via an IV. (You can give subcutaneous fluids at home but that's the next step.) They are likely keeping him on a shorter acting insulin (e.g., Humulin R or Humulin N -- they also go by the name Novolin) so don't be surprised if they haven't been giving Lantus. The vets can administer a bolus of insulin to bring the numbers down in a hurry. They will also be checking Gambit's blood to make sure the electrolyte values are coming back to normal. If you ask about the electrolyte levels, if they say that they are stabilizing, it's a good sing. They are likely administering electrolytes in the IV if those values were off. Honestly, there's not much you can do other than visit with Gambit while he's in the hospital.
If his appetite isn't great at the hospital, you'll want to ask about an appetite stimulant when you bring Gambit home. Most folks here use either cyproheptadine or mirtazepine. They are prescription drugs. There's a good chance you'll need to continue giving Gambit an antibiotic. You may also want to ask if an anti-nausea medication is needed. Typically, ondansatron or Cerenia are used for nausea. You may also need to assist feed (i.e., syringe feed) if Gambit isn't wanting to eat. Food is absolutely critical. You may want to ask about a high calorie food or people here can make suggestions. You'll want a canned food. If you had been feeding dry food, donate it to a shelter. Dry food and diabetes don't work together. Fluids are also important. Add as much water to Gambit's food as he'll tolerate. Fluid helps to flush ketones out of his system.
Once this crisis is over, you may want to let people know what city you're in. We may be able to recommend a vet if you don't want to stick with the Banfield vets.
Taintedhalo
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
My cat Patches is a DKA Survivor. The vet kept her 2 nights and honestly from the surprise I have seen at their office since her recovery I don't think they thought she was going to make it long after coming home. They did warn us that she was in gaurded only condition but they had done all they could without it being a couple of thousand dollars. I just didn't have that. She could barely walk without stopping and resting. She couldn't even jump up on the couch. She wouldn't eat we had to syringe feed her and she even got so weak once that she peed on the bed cause she didn't have the energy to climb down. The first couple of weeks I wasn't sure if she would make it myself her numbers were always 500 and even too high for the monitor to register. Basically I was doing all I could to help her but preparing myself that it might not be enough. But slowly she has gotten better she has gained 2lbs and is back to her old self. She even plays more now that she did before. I don't think her brothers enjoy that she is strong enough to whoop up on them though. :lol: Her numbers aren't ideal yet but they are a far cry from what they were a few weeks ago. This is all since December 4th. A couple of hints if you have to syringe feed I can tell you that Friskies does not go through a 20 ml syringe. It clogs and makes a mess. Thank goodness my vet sent home some wet food from there that was smoother. She does get friskies, fancy feast and 9 lives now though. Read the stickies and ask questions on here cause these are a great group of people.
My cat Patches is a DKA Survivor. The vet kept her 2 nights and honestly from the surprise I have seen at their office since her recovery I don't think they thought she was going to make it long after coming home. They did warn us that she was in gaurded only condition but they had done all they could without it being a couple of thousand dollars. I just didn't have that. She could barely walk without stopping and resting. She couldn't even jump up on the couch. She wouldn't eat we had to syringe feed her and she even got so weak once that she peed on the bed cause she didn't have the energy to climb down. The first couple of weeks I wasn't sure if she would make it myself her numbers were always 500 and even too high for the monitor to register. Basically I was doing all I could to help her but preparing myself that it might not be enough. But slowly she has gotten better she has gained 2lbs and is back to her old self. She even plays more now that she did before. I don't think her brothers enjoy that she is strong enough to whoop up on them though. :lol: Her numbers aren't ideal yet but they are a far cry from what they were a few weeks ago. This is all since December 4th. A couple of hints if you have to syringe feed I can tell you that Friskies does not go through a 20 ml syringe. It clogs and makes a mess. Thank goodness my vet sent home some wet food from there that was smoother. She does get friskies, fancy feast and 9 lives now though. Read the stickies and ask questions on here cause these are a great group of people.
Chris & China (GA)
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Christie, my heart goes out to you and your best buddy Gambit
You might want to ask the vet clinic where he's at now if they take Care Credit. You need to make sure you can afford to pay them back within the 6 months (I understand the interest can be pretty high after that) but it's an option you might want to look into so you aren't forced into a decision based on finances alone.
DCIN is definitely worth getting in touch with. Lots of people here are willing to help when we know there's a kitty in crisis.
Here's the link to Care Credit for you to check out.
Our prayers are with you
Christie, my heart goes out to you and your best buddy Gambit
You might want to ask the vet clinic where he's at now if they take Care Credit. You need to make sure you can afford to pay them back within the 6 months (I understand the interest can be pretty high after that) but it's an option you might want to look into so you aren't forced into a decision based on finances alone.
DCIN is definitely worth getting in touch with. Lots of people here are willing to help when we know there's a kitty in crisis.
Here's the link to Care Credit for you to check out.
Our prayers are with you
julie & punkin (ga)
Member Since 2011
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
i don't have personal experience with DKA but there are many people here who do. Be encouraged! Cats can survive it!
when you get Gambit home we can give you help to learn how to manage his diabetes so it doesn't happen again. most of us posting here are on the Lantus Tight Regulation insulin support group. There is a ton of experience here with every aspect of feline diabetes. If you have any questions come up, just ask.
You're not alone, Christie. :YMHUG:
i don't have personal experience with DKA but there are many people here who do. Be encouraged! Cats can survive it!
when you get Gambit home we can give you help to learn how to manage his diabetes so it doesn't happen again. most of us posting here are on the Lantus Tight Regulation insulin support group. There is a ton of experience here with every aspect of feline diabetes. If you have any questions come up, just ask.
You're not alone, Christie. :YMHUG:
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Thank you so much for your replies! I would like to first say that Banfield is AMAZING! If not for their caring team , Gambit would have been put down that night . He stayed 2 days at Banfield getting the IV treatments and such. I have him home now. They told me that all his numbers were at critical levels the first day they got him and they have no idea why he was still alive. He is eating and drinking and using the kitty box, but other than that he is just laying down and not moving . Is this normal? He already seems to be walking on his hind legs less, but again, he is barely walking. Today , he suddenly has a horrible cold, sneezing uncontrollably . I feel so sad for him. I need to get a different meter because the one I got requires way too much blood, but I am so broke after this week. 1500 dollars spent ...money loaned from my grandparents and all I had in the bank.Unfortunately I cannot qualify for the Care Credit . The vet said I need to focus on getting his insulin regulated first and foremost . How often am I supposed to test his blood and when ? are there any human meters that are inexpensive and do not require a huge blood drop to read? Is his lethargy normal ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. OHH....we live in Costa Mesa, California. And we thank you again for the support. I haven't slept in a week and I just stare at him all day...I have no idea what to do and I'm terrified I am going to overlook symptoms again and hurt him further
(.
Thank you so much for your replies! I would like to first say that Banfield is AMAZING! If not for their caring team , Gambit would have been put down that night . He stayed 2 days at Banfield getting the IV treatments and such. I have him home now. They told me that all his numbers were at critical levels the first day they got him and they have no idea why he was still alive. He is eating and drinking and using the kitty box, but other than that he is just laying down and not moving . Is this normal? He already seems to be walking on his hind legs less, but again, he is barely walking. Today , he suddenly has a horrible cold, sneezing uncontrollably . I feel so sad for him. I need to get a different meter because the one I got requires way too much blood, but I am so broke after this week. 1500 dollars spent ...money loaned from my grandparents and all I had in the bank.Unfortunately I cannot qualify for the Care Credit . The vet said I need to focus on getting his insulin regulated first and foremost . How often am I supposed to test his blood and when ? are there any human meters that are inexpensive and do not require a huge blood drop to read? Is his lethargy normal ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. OHH....we live in Costa Mesa, California. And we thank you again for the support. I haven't slept in a week and I just stare at him all day...I have no idea what to do and I'm terrified I am going to overlook symptoms again and hurt him further
(.
Michele&Errol
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Praying for little Gambit and you... :YMHUG: Hang in there little fella.
Praying for little Gambit and you... :YMHUG: Hang in there little fella.
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
I am down in OC, too! Whereabouts are you at in CM? I'd be willing to stop by one of these nights to help you with testing or anything else you may need. PM me if you'd like.
As to meters, the ReliOn brand from Walmart is a favorite around here because the strips are so cheap. The ReliOn Primes are the cheapest but do require a bit more blood than the ReliOn Micro/Confirm that requires the least amount of blood. I usually go to the Walmart Neighboorhood Grocery on Beach and Atlanta for my feline diabetic needs. They sell the insulin I use (Lantus) one pen at a time and they honor the Lantus savings card (works out to $25 a pen up to 5 pens; 15mLs for $125).
I also shop at Centinela pets because they're the only place that sells the Friskies Special Diet in bulk around here. And they're local. ;-)
I am down in OC, too! Whereabouts are you at in CM? I'd be willing to stop by one of these nights to help you with testing or anything else you may need. PM me if you'd like.
As to meters, the ReliOn brand from Walmart is a favorite around here because the strips are so cheap. The ReliOn Primes are the cheapest but do require a bit more blood than the ReliOn Micro/Confirm that requires the least amount of blood. I usually go to the Walmart Neighboorhood Grocery on Beach and Atlanta for my feline diabetic needs. They sell the insulin I use (Lantus) one pen at a time and they honor the Lantus savings card (works out to $25 a pen up to 5 pens; 15mLs for $125).
I also shop at Centinela pets because they're the only place that sells the Friskies Special Diet in bulk around here. And they're local. ;-)
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Gambit is still just sitting and looking miserable . I don't know what to do, starting to REALLY freak out . Is this "normal" for cats coming out of DKA ? They have me giving Novolin 4iu 2 times. I know Lantus is what is suggested, but it is 250 and I cannot afford it . From what I have been reading , Novolin is a bad choice for kitties coming out of DKA .Was able to get a blood reading with the last strip on my cheap meter at 141. Did I mention I'm totally FREAKING OUT? And I'm quite certain Gambit wants me to get the @4#% out of his face, he's been glaring at me like I've never seen from him . I was worried he would begin hating me from all the poking and prodding and such . This is so much more complicated than I had anticipated.
nailbite_smile nailbite_smile nailbite_smile nailbite_smile
Gambit is still just sitting and looking miserable . I don't know what to do, starting to REALLY freak out . Is this "normal" for cats coming out of DKA ? They have me giving Novolin 4iu 2 times. I know Lantus is what is suggested, but it is 250 and I cannot afford it . From what I have been reading , Novolin is a bad choice for kitties coming out of DKA .Was able to get a blood reading with the last strip on my cheap meter at 141. Did I mention I'm totally FREAKING OUT? And I'm quite certain Gambit wants me to get the @4#% out of his face, he's been glaring at me like I've never seen from him . I was worried he would begin hating me from all the poking and prodding and such . This is so much more complicated than I had anticipated.
nailbite_smile nailbite_smile nailbite_smile nailbite_smile
Hillary & Maui (GA)
Member Since 2009
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
If you need financial assistance, you can contact Diabetic Cats in Need - they may be able to help you
If you are willing, which is sounds like you are to follow their rules, then apply and they may be able to help you.
http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/p/education.html
DCIN provides diabetes-related financial assistance to shelters and rescues (and their foster homes) and low-income individuals caring for diabetic cats. The nature and amount of assistance depends on the caregivers' needs and Diabetic Cats in Need's resources. To apply for the program, you must email the requested information to Jennifer@dcin.info or Venita@dcin.info. Individual caregivers are usually brought into the program on a probationary basis. DCIN may adjust assistance levels at any time. Non-compliance with program requirements will result in a caregiver's termination from the program.
See also this page for links to other financial assistance sites.
To qualify for financial assistance, a home-based caregiver must be willing to appropriately treat the cat's diabetes. Appropriate treatment includes:
- Blood glucose hometesting--preshots (before every insulin shot), frequent mid-cycle spot checks, and occasional full cycle curves--and, if Internet access is available, public posting of those blood glucose readings.
- Low-carbohydrate wet or raw food--unless other medical conditions require a different diet.
Insulin injections.
- Veterinary attention to infections or other situations that cause physical stress.
- If Internet access is available, active membership on the Feline Diabetes Message Board or the Forums on Diabetic Cat Help or Diabetic Cat Care.
The five bullets above are DCIN's primary requirements for its Financial Assistance Program. If you are not willing to comply with those requirements, you and the Financial Assistance Program will not be a good fit and you should not apply. Your application should discuss whether you are willing to comply with those requirements, and include your user name if you are registered for one of the Internet groups for diabetic cat caregivers.
DCIN's Financial Assistance Program does not finance past costs, and it usually does not cover veterinary costs. It especially does not pay veterinary costs for glucose curves (which caregivers usually can perform at home) or fructosamine tests except in unusual situations. It does not pay for a cat's food or litter. The costs it normally covers are for insulin (which must be prescribed by a veterinarian) and hometesting equipment. And depending on a client's financial situation, DCIN may only cover a portion of those costs and may ask a client to reimburse part or all of the postage for shipping supplies.
All caregivers requesting financial assistance must provide complete contact information and appropriate information about why they have a financial need. Appropriate information about financial need may be a narrative explanation or a financial report of estimated and actual income and expenses. DCIN does not require significant detail; it is trying to get a general idea of need to determine how to best place its limited resources. The caregiver also must explain her/his attempts to obtain financial assistance for treatment costs elsewhere, with the results. (**See Coordination with Other Charity Groups below.)
In addition, a 501(c)(3) organization must provide evidence of its tax-exempt status and a copy of its latest annual filing with the Internal Revenue Service (Form 990 series). A municipal shelter/animal control facility must provide a copy of its appropriated budget for the current fiscal year.
For the application, DCIN also needs:
Complete contact information for the cat's diagnosing or treating veterinarian if requesting assistance with vetting or insulin costs. We also need a copy of a current (written within the last year) script for insulin.
A statement of the cat's condition--including how it was diagnosed with diabetes, any other known or suspected acute or chronic conditions, and all current treatment protocols for diabetes and other medical and behavioral conditions. This statement should include a copy of the results of the cat's most recent blood work, urinalysis, and other lab or imaging procedures done within the past six months, and vaccination and FIV/FeLV status.
The name of the Internet caregiver group you have chosen and your user name.
A current full body and facial picture of the cat.
Your agreement that DCIN can post the nature of its assistance for the cat on its blog, Yahoo group, Facebook page, and other Internet sites used for DCIN fundraising. If an individual caregiver (not a rescue/shelter) is uneasy about this requirement, DCIN can keep the real names and location of the caregiver and cat confidential by the use of pseudonyms.
Please email the requested information to Venita@DCIN.info or Jennifer@DCIN.info.
If you need financial assistance, you can contact Diabetic Cats in Need - they may be able to help you
If you are willing, which is sounds like you are to follow their rules, then apply and they may be able to help you.
http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/p/education.html
DCIN provides diabetes-related financial assistance to shelters and rescues (and their foster homes) and low-income individuals caring for diabetic cats. The nature and amount of assistance depends on the caregivers' needs and Diabetic Cats in Need's resources. To apply for the program, you must email the requested information to Jennifer@dcin.info or Venita@dcin.info. Individual caregivers are usually brought into the program on a probationary basis. DCIN may adjust assistance levels at any time. Non-compliance with program requirements will result in a caregiver's termination from the program.
See also this page for links to other financial assistance sites.
To qualify for financial assistance, a home-based caregiver must be willing to appropriately treat the cat's diabetes. Appropriate treatment includes:
- Blood glucose hometesting--preshots (before every insulin shot), frequent mid-cycle spot checks, and occasional full cycle curves--and, if Internet access is available, public posting of those blood glucose readings.
- Low-carbohydrate wet or raw food--unless other medical conditions require a different diet.
Insulin injections.
- Veterinary attention to infections or other situations that cause physical stress.
- If Internet access is available, active membership on the Feline Diabetes Message Board or the Forums on Diabetic Cat Help or Diabetic Cat Care.
The five bullets above are DCIN's primary requirements for its Financial Assistance Program. If you are not willing to comply with those requirements, you and the Financial Assistance Program will not be a good fit and you should not apply. Your application should discuss whether you are willing to comply with those requirements, and include your user name if you are registered for one of the Internet groups for diabetic cat caregivers.
DCIN's Financial Assistance Program does not finance past costs, and it usually does not cover veterinary costs. It especially does not pay veterinary costs for glucose curves (which caregivers usually can perform at home) or fructosamine tests except in unusual situations. It does not pay for a cat's food or litter. The costs it normally covers are for insulin (which must be prescribed by a veterinarian) and hometesting equipment. And depending on a client's financial situation, DCIN may only cover a portion of those costs and may ask a client to reimburse part or all of the postage for shipping supplies.
All caregivers requesting financial assistance must provide complete contact information and appropriate information about why they have a financial need. Appropriate information about financial need may be a narrative explanation or a financial report of estimated and actual income and expenses. DCIN does not require significant detail; it is trying to get a general idea of need to determine how to best place its limited resources. The caregiver also must explain her/his attempts to obtain financial assistance for treatment costs elsewhere, with the results. (**See Coordination with Other Charity Groups below.)
In addition, a 501(c)(3) organization must provide evidence of its tax-exempt status and a copy of its latest annual filing with the Internal Revenue Service (Form 990 series). A municipal shelter/animal control facility must provide a copy of its appropriated budget for the current fiscal year.
For the application, DCIN also needs:
Complete contact information for the cat's diagnosing or treating veterinarian if requesting assistance with vetting or insulin costs. We also need a copy of a current (written within the last year) script for insulin.
A statement of the cat's condition--including how it was diagnosed with diabetes, any other known or suspected acute or chronic conditions, and all current treatment protocols for diabetes and other medical and behavioral conditions. This statement should include a copy of the results of the cat's most recent blood work, urinalysis, and other lab or imaging procedures done within the past six months, and vaccination and FIV/FeLV status.
The name of the Internet caregiver group you have chosen and your user name.
A current full body and facial picture of the cat.
Your agreement that DCIN can post the nature of its assistance for the cat on its blog, Yahoo group, Facebook page, and other Internet sites used for DCIN fundraising. If an individual caregiver (not a rescue/shelter) is uneasy about this requirement, DCIN can keep the real names and location of the caregiver and cat confidential by the use of pseudonyms.
Please email the requested information to Venita@DCIN.info or Jennifer@DCIN.info.
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Thank you for the information DKIN. I intend to apply ASAP, I am just scared for Gambit now. Since he was totally healthy the past 9 years and suddenly on deaths door last week, I'm terrified it will happen again. He looks miserable. I just feel so bad, sad and mad. This sucks. And it just started....I just know that him laying on the floor for the past 2 days like this cannot be good and the Vet can't do anything without testing which costs money . Thanks again for all the help . I am going to get started on the DKIN application right now.
Thank you for the information DKIN. I intend to apply ASAP, I am just scared for Gambit now. Since he was totally healthy the past 9 years and suddenly on deaths door last week, I'm terrified it will happen again. He looks miserable. I just feel so bad, sad and mad. This sucks. And it just started....I just know that him laying on the floor for the past 2 days like this cannot be good and the Vet can't do anything without testing which costs money . Thanks again for all the help . I am going to get started on the DKIN application right now.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
While you apply to DCIN, here are some things you can do now.
Home testing with an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm. The test strips are very reasonable and require a tiny drop of blood. If you don't like WalMart, the Arkray Glucocard 01 is the same thing and may be purchased at American Diabetes Warehouse online.
In my signature links are some Secondary Monitoring Tools. These will help you asses how he is doing. Testing urine for ketones, observing eating, drinking, peeing, poohing, weight, and dehydration are some of the important ones.
N type insulins such as Novolin last about 6 to 8 hours in the cat. Always feed before you shoot so there is food on board for the insulin to work with. When the dose wears off, the glucose tends to skyrocket. Either a) pick up the food 6 hours after the shot or b) you may get better control shooting every 8 hours (TID). To do this, you take the total daily dose, divide by 3, and give 1/3 of that total every 8 hours. With the current dose of 8 units per day and rounding down, that would be 2.5 units every 8 hours.
Here is a primer on Humulin/Novolin N insulin.
While you apply to DCIN, here are some things you can do now.
Home testing with an inexpensive human glucometer such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm. The test strips are very reasonable and require a tiny drop of blood. If you don't like WalMart, the Arkray Glucocard 01 is the same thing and may be purchased at American Diabetes Warehouse online.
In my signature links are some Secondary Monitoring Tools. These will help you asses how he is doing. Testing urine for ketones, observing eating, drinking, peeing, poohing, weight, and dehydration are some of the important ones.
N type insulins such as Novolin last about 6 to 8 hours in the cat. Always feed before you shoot so there is food on board for the insulin to work with. When the dose wears off, the glucose tends to skyrocket. Either a) pick up the food 6 hours after the shot or b) you may get better control shooting every 8 hours (TID). To do this, you take the total daily dose, divide by 3, and give 1/3 of that total every 8 hours. With the current dose of 8 units per day and rounding down, that would be 2.5 units every 8 hours.
Here is a primer on Humulin/Novolin N insulin.
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
THANK YOU SOO MUCH !!!!!
So, he's got some major head cold...sneezing wet snot everywhere (mostly in my face) it's drippin out of his nose and his eyes are perma tears. I am staring at the lil man and he looks soooo miserable and sad. So skinny and with all the shaved patches from the Hospital. Now, his snot and tears.... I find myself uncontrollably laughing one minute then crying the next. I lost it at the Vets office today as well. Went to pick up Clavamox for the latest ailment (which CLEARLY says Amoxicillin on the package) and it was 60 bucks for a 2 week supply! I screamed an onslaught of expletives in the Middle of PetsMart. AMOXIcILLIN is 4 bucks for 30 !!!!!! As thankful as I am to Benfield , i AM STARTING TO RESENT Vets. Can they charge ANYMORE money to us in our time of Crisis!!!SHHEESSH.
Took his blood twice today once around 10am after his snack 108. Then , just now after a nap and a nibble 189. Did a Ketostick and it was negative.
How do I know if I am giving too much insulin? Vets had me doing 4 2x a day and he has been lethargic. This morning , I only did 2 and he was much more alive and vocal. I also asked my vet for the Lantus Pen Script . Waiting for the final word .
Thaanks again EVERYONE
THANK YOU SOO MUCH !!!!!
So, he's got some major head cold...sneezing wet snot everywhere (mostly in my face) it's drippin out of his nose and his eyes are perma tears. I am staring at the lil man and he looks soooo miserable and sad. So skinny and with all the shaved patches from the Hospital. Now, his snot and tears.... I find myself uncontrollably laughing one minute then crying the next. I lost it at the Vets office today as well. Went to pick up Clavamox for the latest ailment (which CLEARLY says Amoxicillin on the package) and it was 60 bucks for a 2 week supply! I screamed an onslaught of expletives in the Middle of PetsMart. AMOXIcILLIN is 4 bucks for 30 !!!!!! As thankful as I am to Benfield , i AM STARTING TO RESENT Vets. Can they charge ANYMORE money to us in our time of Crisis!!!SHHEESSH.
Took his blood twice today once around 10am after his snack 108. Then , just now after a nap and a nibble 189. Did a Ketostick and it was negative.
How do I know if I am giving too much insulin? Vets had me doing 4 2x a day and he has been lethargic. This morning , I only did 2 and he was much more alive and vocal. I also asked my vet for the Lantus Pen Script . Waiting for the final word .
Thaanks again EVERYONE
Dyana
Member Since 2009
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
I am just so happy that his ketone test was negative. You didn't hear the big sigh from me. That's a big step.
I hope you find a way to get the testing supplies. You can get test strips for about 0.18 cents each. One of the ReliOns has 50 strips for $9.00 and I use the Arkray Vital from ADW which are also 0.18 cents each (and I think they have a discount for your first time), their shipping is cheap and your order comes quickly.
Those BG tests you got are decent numbers. The recipe for DKA is not enough insulin and not enough food and an infection of some sort. It is important that he gets the insulin he needs, and more food than he normally eats, and those antibiotics to stop that infection. To give him the insulin he needs, you will need to test him, to make sure he doesn't go too low.
I wish you The Best Of Luck. Like I said earlier J.D. was very lethargic after his DKA. Keep trying, and keep praying hard. I've been in your shoes. ((((Hugs and support))) I hope you get that Lantus prescription and get that pen for $25.00 using the coupon. A pen of Lantus can last you 2 to 3 months, if taken care of properly.
I am just so happy that his ketone test was negative. You didn't hear the big sigh from me. That's a big step.
I hope you find a way to get the testing supplies. You can get test strips for about 0.18 cents each. One of the ReliOns has 50 strips for $9.00 and I use the Arkray Vital from ADW which are also 0.18 cents each (and I think they have a discount for your first time), their shipping is cheap and your order comes quickly.
Those BG tests you got are decent numbers. The recipe for DKA is not enough insulin and not enough food and an infection of some sort. It is important that he gets the insulin he needs, and more food than he normally eats, and those antibiotics to stop that infection. To give him the insulin he needs, you will need to test him, to make sure he doesn't go too low.
I wish you The Best Of Luck. Like I said earlier J.D. was very lethargic after his DKA. Keep trying, and keep praying hard. I've been in your shoes. ((((Hugs and support))) I hope you get that Lantus prescription and get that pen for $25.00 using the coupon. A pen of Lantus can last you 2 to 3 months, if taken care of properly.
Simon'sMommy
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Just want to send healing vines for your baby! And a hug for you! :YMHUG:
Just want to send healing vines for your baby! And a hug for you! :YMHUG:
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
OH NO...took his blood 3 hrs ago 189 he just got up about 30 mins ago and puked twice...blood at 80. Gave him honey , tried to force him food and milk but he wont have it. He has a URI right now too! This IS a recipe for DKA again!!!! I took his blood after the honey and stuff 149...what should I do ? Do I skip his next Insulin?
OH NO...took his blood 3 hrs ago 189 he just got up about 30 mins ago and puked twice...blood at 80. Gave him honey , tried to force him food and milk but he wont have it. He has a URI right now too! This IS a recipe for DKA again!!!! I took his blood after the honey and stuff 149...what should I do ? Do I skip his next Insulin?
julie & punkin (ga)
Member Since 2011
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
hi,
80 isn't a crisis - but it's fine that you gave him the honey to pull his blood sugar up. 50 and below is where we begin to get concerned.
don't give him milk. that's not good for cats and can upset their stomachs.
do you have more test strips so you can continue to monitor him tonight? if you measure a below-50, you give a couple of drops of honey, wait 15=20 minutes and retest. if he's under 50 do it again. if he's over 50, wait 30 minutes and retest again. you want to keep repeating this process and keep him over 50.
if you've gotten him to 149, he's doing ok for the moment. you want to test him again anyway in 30ish minutes to make sure he stays up.
giving him food is a good idea, but you don't need to forcefeed him. you can tempt him with lunchmeat (no onion or garlic), rotisserie chicken, sprinkle parmesan cheese on his food, heat it a little so it's a bit smelly.
hi,
80 isn't a crisis - but it's fine that you gave him the honey to pull his blood sugar up. 50 and below is where we begin to get concerned.
don't give him milk. that's not good for cats and can upset their stomachs.
do you have more test strips so you can continue to monitor him tonight? if you measure a below-50, you give a couple of drops of honey, wait 15=20 minutes and retest. if he's under 50 do it again. if he's over 50, wait 30 minutes and retest again. you want to keep repeating this process and keep him over 50.
if you've gotten him to 149, he's doing ok for the moment. you want to test him again anyway in 30ish minutes to make sure he stays up.
giving him food is a good idea, but you don't need to forcefeed him. you can tempt him with lunchmeat (no onion or garlic), rotisserie chicken, sprinkle parmesan cheese on his food, heat it a little so it's a bit smelly.
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Thank you so much for replying. On my way to rite aide to get strips. He won't eat right now because his lil nose is filled to the brim with snot bubbles...I don't think he can smell or taste much .
How long do I have to keep testing him tonight ? He literally wants me to jump off a cliff right now....all I do is poke him , shove food and pills down his mouth, stare at him 23 hours out of the day ....sigh. Good Times.
I really do thank you for all the help and how quickly you replied tonight, it is a lifesaver...this site and all the members rule.
Thank you so much for replying. On my way to rite aide to get strips. He won't eat right now because his lil nose is filled to the brim with snot bubbles...I don't think he can smell or taste much .
How long do I have to keep testing him tonight ? He literally wants me to jump off a cliff right now....all I do is poke him , shove food and pills down his mouth, stare at him 23 hours out of the day ....sigh. Good Times.
I really do thank you for all the help and how quickly you replied tonight, it is a lifesaver...this site and all the members rule.
Rachel
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
It's tough right now isn't it? Keep your head up! I don't have any words of wisdom that you haven't heard but I wanted to send healing vines your way! Also, get some sleep when you can. I know it's hard but rest will help you stay calm and be able to handle everything. You're doing great!
It's tough right now isn't it? Keep your head up! I don't have any words of wisdom that you haven't heard but I wanted to send healing vines your way! Also, get some sleep when you can. I know it's hard but rest will help you stay calm and be able to handle everything. You're doing great!
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
He seems to be reverting. He isn't eating or drinking again and He is back under my bed. I had to force feed him again today so I could give him his shot and his URI Medicine. He is just getting angrier with me it seems. His blood this morning before his shot was 258...high. Did I go through all the money and effort just to give him a life he is going to hate and be miserable with or is this normal? I feel so horrible right now.
He seems to be reverting. He isn't eating or drinking again and He is back under my bed. I had to force feed him again today so I could give him his shot and his URI Medicine. He is just getting angrier with me it seems. His blood this morning before his shot was 258...high. Did I go through all the money and effort just to give him a life he is going to hate and be miserable with or is this normal? I feel so horrible right now.
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
First, you skipped the shot last night, so 258 is not a bad number to have after a skipped shot.
Second, you're using Lantus now, right? If so, it can take about 5-7 days after initially starting to see the full impact of the shot.
Finally, I didn't see that anyone had shared this with you yet, but now that you're home-testing, we use this fantastic spreadsheet to help us keep track of the numbers and spot patterns. Here's some help on filling out the spreadsheet:
The first two weeks are tough. You've just learned your kitty is sick with a chronic and potentially life-threatening illness. You're learning a lot of new information from having to give shots to home-testing to feline nutrition and endocrinology to technical stuff (i.e. google spreadsheets, how to use a forum, etc...) and on and on and on. You're both learning new routines. You're stressed; Gambit is stressed. Take a moment and realize everything that's been thrown at the both of you over the past week and then pat yourself on the back for having made it this far! :thumbup I'd tell you it does get easier but you probably won't believe me till you experience it for yourself. ;-) :lol:
First, you skipped the shot last night, so 258 is not a bad number to have after a skipped shot.
Second, you're using Lantus now, right? If so, it can take about 5-7 days after initially starting to see the full impact of the shot.
4u is much too high a starting dose for most cats so I'm glad to see that you thought so as well and cut the dose in half to 2u to start with. That being said, considering that you've already had to skip a shot, I would drop the dose to 1u if he is over 200 tonight.
Finally, I didn't see that anyone had shared this with you yet, but now that you're home-testing, we use this fantastic spreadsheet to help us keep track of the numbers and spot patterns. Here's some help on filling out the spreadsheet:
KPassa said:
The first two weeks are tough. You've just learned your kitty is sick with a chronic and potentially life-threatening illness. You're learning a lot of new information from having to give shots to home-testing to feline nutrition and endocrinology to technical stuff (i.e. google spreadsheets, how to use a forum, etc...) and on and on and on. You're both learning new routines. You're stressed; Gambit is stressed. Take a moment and realize everything that's been thrown at the both of you over the past week and then pat yourself on the back for having made it this far! :thumbup I'd tell you it does get easier but you probably won't believe me till you experience it for yourself. ;-) :lol:
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Thank you so much . Last night he did not skip his shot. He gets his ***** at 5am/pm. The episode happened at 10pm or so . Still on Novoiin. My vet does not want me switching to Lantus until he is stable. I just spoke with her and said that 4 seems too high. I am doing 2 iu of Novolin twice a day . I just took his blood and it was 114. I will download the sheet and study up on the Jargon you gave me ....thank you).
Thank you so much . Last night he did not skip his shot. He gets his ***** at 5am/pm. The episode happened at 10pm or so . Still on Novoiin. My vet does not want me switching to Lantus until he is stable. I just spoke with her and said that 4 seems too high. I am doing 2 iu of Novolin twice a day . I just took his blood and it was 114. I will download the sheet and study up on the Jargon you gave me ....thank you
).
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Hi,
You say you are using Novolin N right now, not Lantus. Correct?
Novolin is very difficult to regulate kitties on. It usually does not last more than 8 hours or so.
Since we all live in different time zones, I'm not sure what time your 5 am/5pm is in relationship to my time.
For that reason, we express the times in a + hour format.
The morning test is called the AMPS, or morning pre-shot test.
The evening test is called the PMPS,or evening pre-shot test.
Subsequent tests are given in number of hours since the pre-shot test.So for example, 2 hours = +2, 4 hours = +4, 6 hours = +6, etc.
So, how many hours has it been since your morning pre-shot test (AMPS)?
Hi,
You say you are using Novolin N right now, not Lantus. Correct?
Novolin is very difficult to regulate kitties on. It usually does not last more than 8 hours or so.
Since we all live in different time zones, I'm not sure what time your 5 am/5pm is in relationship to my time.
For that reason, we express the times in a + hour format.
The morning test is called the AMPS, or morning pre-shot test.
The evening test is called the PMPS,or evening pre-shot test.
Subsequent tests are given in number of hours since the pre-shot test.So for example, 2 hours = +2, 4 hours = +4, 6 hours = +6, etc.
So, how many hours has it been since your morning pre-shot test (AMPS)?
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Ah, okay. I missed that you did give him a shot last night (5 hours earlier). One of the reasons the spreadsheet comes in handy. ;-) So, the 114 at noon was +7 hours after his shot this morning?
I agree with Deb; Novolin is great for bringing down numbers fast (like in a DKA situation) but once they're out of DKA (ketones still negative, right?) it can be a nightmare trying to get kitties regulated on it. At the very least, it's a lot more work so the sooner you can get him on Lantus, the better for everyone. :thumbup
cmarie787 said:
Ah, okay. I missed that you did give him a shot last night (5 hours earlier). One of the reasons the spreadsheet comes in handy. ;-) So, the 114 at noon was +7 hours after his shot this morning?
I agree with Deb; Novolin is great for bringing down numbers fast (like in a DKA situation) but once they're out of DKA (ketones still negative, right?) it can be a nightmare trying to get kitties regulated on it. At the very least, it's a lot more work so the sooner you can get him on Lantus, the better for everyone. :thumbup
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
OK...sorry for the confusion. His morning shot was at 5 pacific time . his AMP test was 258. His test at noon today was 114. Just talked to my vet again about Lantus and she still wants to wait for some stability before Lantus. He has an URI. Started meds yesterday. Is there anything I can give him to help the runny nose? It's causing him not to eat. I also have to give him potassium supplement gel 2x a day . I just gave it to him and he suddenly had tons of foamy saliva all over. I wiped it off and it's not continuing...is this bad ? Or a reaction to the stress of having a syringe of gel shoved down his throat? He is now refusing to look at me...he blatantly turned and sat back towards me and is growling when I try to touch him
OK...sorry for the confusion. His morning shot was at 5 pacific time . his AMP test was 258. His test at noon today was 114. Just talked to my vet again about Lantus and she still wants to wait for some stability before Lantus. He has an URI. Started meds yesterday. Is there anything I can give him to help the runny nose? It's causing him not to eat. I also have to give him potassium supplement gel 2x a day . I just gave it to him and he suddenly had tons of foamy saliva all over. I wiped it off and it's not continuing...is this bad ? Or a reaction to the stress of having a syringe of gel shoved down his throat? He is now refusing to look at me...he blatantly turned and sat back towards me and is growling when I try to touch him
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
I am going against what the vet said. Just tested Gambit 3pm pacific time and he is at 260. Trace Ketons...maybe....the color is BETWEEN the Negative and Trace. I just had him eat a little and gave him 2u shot of the Novalin N. Like clockwork, it does wear off between 608 hours and he skyrockets.
I am going against what the vet said. Just tested Gambit 3pm pacific time and he is at 260. Trace Ketons...maybe....the color is BETWEEN the Negative and Trace. I just had him eat a little and gave him 2u shot of the Novalin N. Like clockwork, it does wear off between 608 hours and he skyrockets.
terri1962
Member Since 2011
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Tina,
He is your cat. I don`t know anything about the Novolin but I am sending prayers for you. You might ask for help regarding the trace ketones, my cat never was DKA. I do know they can go down pretty quick so keep testing him. If you need help post a 911.
Terri
Tina,
He is your cat. I don`t know anything about the Novolin but I am sending prayers for you. You might ask for help regarding the trace ketones, my cat never was DKA. I do know they can go down pretty quick so keep testing him. If you need help post a 911.
Terri
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
AMPS 258
+7 114
PMPS XXX
+5 XXX
etc...
It sounds like she might still be worried about the DKA coming back and/or for Gambit to finish recovering from the DKA (probably until after he's finished with the potassium supplement). See if you can get a specific ETA from her on when you are to start the Lantus and don't accept "when he's better regulated" because that's meaningless gibberish. I've been at this a year and a half with Mikey and by some standards, he's still not considered "regulated." Ask when, i.e. a day, a week. And make sure you keep testing his urine for ketones every day till he's out of the woods.
In our "lingo," that would be displayed as follows:cmarie787 said:
AMPS 258
+7 114
PMPS XXX
+5 XXX
etc...
cmarie787 said:
It sounds like she might still be worried about the DKA coming back and/or for Gambit to finish recovering from the DKA (probably until after he's finished with the potassium supplement). See if you can get a specific ETA from her on when you are to start the Lantus and don't accept "when he's better regulated" because that's meaningless gibberish. I've been at this a year and a half with Mikey and by some standards, he's still not considered "regulated." Ask when, i.e. a day, a week. And make sure you keep testing his urine for ketones every day till he's out of the woods.
Does she know that you're home-testing? Maybe she's worried that you might send him too low since it does require a bit more intensive monitoring to get the Novolin to work to its fullest and keep BGs the most even with the least amount of spikes (the three times a day dosing). For BID (twice a day dosing), you can also pick up food after he "peaks" on the Novolin (usually around 5-7 hours after the shot) so his numbers don't continue to climb once the insulin wears off and before the next shot time.cmarie787 said:
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Ok, so here are the numbers you got today on the Novolin. I've put these in our + hour format.
AMPS 258 2U +7 114 +10 260 give additional 2U
So, it's very likely that there was an even lower number between the AMPS and your +7 test.
With the limited amount of test data you have, plus the low numbers you did get at +7, I don't think you are ready for more than 2x a day dosing. Also, your kitty may be one of the lucky ones where the Novolin lasts more than the usual 8 hours. I'm with your vet. Too soon to think about 3x a day dosing. You don't have the data to support that.
The nadir, or lowest point of the insulin cycle, must also be taken into consideration when dosing insulin. With Novolin, that nadir is usually somewhere between +3 and +5. You'll need to test your kitty, to find out how low he is going. ECID, Every Cat is Different and some cats nadir earlier and some nadir later. The testing is all about finding out how your cat reacts.
You may want to read this primer on using Novolin. Humulin N and Novolin N are the same insulin, NPH types, just manufactured by different companies. Humulin N Primer You might want to even print out a copy to refer to.
Ok, so here are the numbers you got today on the Novolin. I've put these in our + hour format.
AMPS 258 2U +7 114 +10 260 give additional 2U
So, it's very likely that there was an even lower number between the AMPS and your +7 test.
With the limited amount of test data you have, plus the low numbers you did get at +7, I don't think you are ready for more than 2x a day dosing. Also, your kitty may be one of the lucky ones where the Novolin lasts more than the usual 8 hours. I'm with your vet. Too soon to think about 3x a day dosing. You don't have the data to support that.
The nadir, or lowest point of the insulin cycle, must also be taken into consideration when dosing insulin. With Novolin, that nadir is usually somewhere between +3 and +5. You'll need to test your kitty, to find out how low he is going. ECID, Every Cat is Different and some cats nadir earlier and some nadir later. The testing is all about finding out how your cat reacts.
You may want to read this primer on using Novolin. Humulin N and Novolin N are the same insulin, NPH types, just manufactured by different companies. Humulin N Primer You might want to even print out a copy to refer to.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
To help fight off the ketones, he needs more water in his diet. Do you add water to the food you are feeding?
I would not have given another dose of the Novolin so soon. You really do not know how your cat will react yet.
I suggest that you test at +2, +3, +4, +5.
Do you have your hypo toolkit on hand, in case Gambit goes too low?
"High numbers do damage slowly, low numbers kill quickly." Better to be too high for a day, than too low for a moment.
To help fight off the ketones, he needs more water in his diet. Do you add water to the food you are feeding?
I would not have given another dose of the Novolin so soon. You really do not know how your cat will react yet.
I suggest that you test at +2, +3, +4, +5.
Do you have your hypo toolkit on hand, in case Gambit goes too low?
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY - YOUR HYPO KIT
Put together NOW the following items and put in an easily accessible place!
â—Ź Phone number of your vet
â—Ź Phone number, address and map/directions to your nearest emergency vet (or phone number of the cab company and some cash/credit card)
â—Ź Karo syrup, honey or corn syrup
● High carb canned food with gravy – 2-3 cans
â—Ź Some favourite treats
â—Ź Spare pack of 25 blood glucose strips
â—Ź Coffee for you
"High numbers do damage slowly, low numbers kill quickly." Better to be too high for a day, than too low for a moment.
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
The nadir for N type insulins (Novolin N and Humulin N) is about +3 to +4 hours after a shot.
The nadir is the primary way to adjust the dose. You want the glucose to remain above 50 mg/dL for safety.
Because his glucose levels are not extreme on 2 units BID, you may hold off on TID. Alternatively, you might shoot just 1 unit every 8 hours if you see the insulin rises after 8 hours and want to do it.
The nadir for N type insulins (Novolin N and Humulin N) is about +3 to +4 hours after a shot.
The nadir is the primary way to adjust the dose. You want the glucose to remain above 50 mg/dL for safety.
Because his glucose levels are not extreme on 2 units BID, you may hold off on TID. Alternatively, you might shoot just 1 unit every 8 hours if you see the insulin rises after 8 hours and want to do it.
Dyana
Member Since 2009
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Try talking to him and telling him you're doing all this to help him. The poking and the meds. will get better. He will get used to the poking and testing especially if he likes the treats that come after. I hope you are able to get some food into him tonight.
Sending vines that all these new things and new procedures gets easier for you and Gambit very soon. Prayers for you both.
Try talking to him and telling him you're doing all this to help him. The poking and the meds. will get better. He will get used to the poking and testing especially if he likes the treats that come after. I hope you are able to get some food into him tonight.
Sending vines that all these new things and new procedures gets easier for you and Gambit very soon. Prayers for you both.
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Thanks everyone. I got him to eat , he drank a little water.His numbers are just all over the place. I guess his PMS would be the one given at 3pm pacific (he was 258 then )
PMS 260
+2 116
+3 90
+5 238
+7 154
Did I do that right ? So, it seems to be the general opinion that I just give 2u 2x a day for now VS 3x, correct? To get back on regimen, should I wait until tomorrow morning for his next shot?
Thanks everyone. I got him to eat , he drank a little water.His numbers are just all over the place. I guess his PMS would be the one given at 3pm pacific (he was 258 then )
PMS 260
+2 116
+3 90
+5 238
+7 154
Did I do that right ? So, it seems to be the general opinion that I just give 2u 2x a day for now VS 3x, correct? To get back on regimen, should I wait until tomorrow morning for his next shot?
KPassa
Member Since 2012
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
I'll leave that up to people with more experience using Novolin, but if they don't answer, I say wait till tomorrow morning to be on the safe side since kitties often drop lower overnight and you probably want to get some sleep. ;-)
I'll leave that up to people with more experience using Novolin, but if they don't answer, I say wait till tomorrow morning to be on the safe side since kitties often drop lower overnight and you probably want to get some sleep. ;-)
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Yes, for now just the 2u, 2 times a day.
Your kitty went from 260 to 90 in 3 hours, so that's a pretty good drop in the BG numbers.
The numbers will be all over the place for some time, impossible to say how long. It takes time to regulate a cat. The diabetes did not happen in a day or a week or a month. It happened over time. It will take time to get your cat feeling better. We often say "This is a marathon, not a sprint".
Would you be willing to put a little bit of information in your signature for us? It will help us to help you better. Something like this:
Christie & Gambit (male,9)
DX date 01/xx/14 (put in correct date)
Novolin N, meter name you use for testing
DKA survivor, neuropathy, any other complicating health conditions
It goes in the User Control Panel, Profile tab, Edit Signature free form text box. While you are there, if you also select the Edit Profile section under the Profile tab and add your location, something like: USA, CA, closest city that would be helpful also.
Would you be willing to do that for us please?
Yes, looks like you did the numbers correctly in our + hour format. Thank you for doing it that way.
Yes, for now just the 2u, 2 times a day.
Yes, please wait until Thursday AM to give another shot of the Novolin. Sorry, but I'm on the opposite coast from you, east coast and did not see your post until this morning.
Your kitty went from 260 to 90 in 3 hours, so that's a pretty good drop in the BG numbers.
The numbers will be all over the place for some time, impossible to say how long. It takes time to regulate a cat. The diabetes did not happen in a day or a week or a month. It happened over time. It will take time to get your cat feeling better. We often say "This is a marathon, not a sprint".
Would you be willing to put a little bit of information in your signature for us? It will help us to help you better. Something like this:
Christie & Gambit (male,9)
DX date 01/xx/14 (put in correct date)
Novolin N, meter name you use for testing
DKA survivor, neuropathy, any other complicating health conditions
It goes in the User Control Panel, Profile tab, Edit Signature free form text box. While you are there, if you also select the Edit Profile section under the Profile tab and add your location, something like: USA, CA, closest city that would be helpful also.
Would you be willing to do that for us please?
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Hi all. So, I thought Gambit did some miracle recovery because he was super consistent and stable on his 2 shots. Then , Last Wed, I noticed he was walking on his legs again instead of his paws and his blood is again all over and he is acting like he did before diagnosis...drinking tons of water, eating tons, sitting like a meatloaf and hiding under the bed. What do I do ? I really think he needs the Lantus but my vet is still not approving it ? Why did he do so well and suddenly turn like this ?
Hi all. So, I thought Gambit did some miracle recovery because he was super consistent and stable on his 2 shots. Then , Last Wed, I noticed he was walking on his legs again instead of his paws and his blood is again all over and he is acting like he did before diagnosis...drinking tons of water, eating tons, sitting like a meatloaf and hiding under the bed. What do I do ? I really think he needs the Lantus but my vet is still not approving it ? Why did he do so well and suddenly turn like this ?
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
I am also confused on what I should be feeding him, how often and how much . My vet said no wet just dry and let him graze. This is CLEARLY not right ? He will literally eat all day and his blood shoots up when he eats the dry . And all these forums say wet, no dry???
I am also confused on what I should be feeding him, how often and how much . My vet said no wet just dry and let him graze. This is CLEARLY not right ? He will literally eat all day and his blood shoots up when he eats the dry . And all these forums say wet, no dry???
BJM
Member Since 2010
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
You want to feed low carb, preferably canned or raw food. See Cat Info for a vet-written website on feline nutrition.
One inexpensive product is Friskies, most of the pates. You can leave the food out for grazing for 10 hours after the shot.
cmarie787 said:
You want to feed low carb, preferably canned or raw food. See Cat Info for a vet-written website on feline nutrition.
One inexpensive product is Friskies, most of the pates. You can leave the food out for grazing for 10 hours after the shot.
Chris & China (GA)
Member Since 2013
Re: Newly Diagnosed Kitty fighting for his life. Please help
Hi again Christie!
First of all, you must get rid of all dry foods. They're too high in carbs and you'll never get Gambit controlled if you continue feeding it. Since you're already giving insulin, it's important that you wean him off the dry gradually and make sure you're home testing because as the carb level goes down, the need for insulin does too. Here's a list of pretty much any food you can buy..we want him eating wet foods that are less than 10% carbs. Dr. Pierson's Food Chart
I strongly urge you to consider finding another vet who's willing to give you the Lantus or Levemir or ProZinc...these are the only insulins recommended for cats. The Novolin is fine for bringing down the numbers for cats in DKA, but it's just not good for home use except in very specific conditions, and even then, it's usually use along WITH Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc.
The other thing I suggest (in a big way) is to get yourself a spreadsheet going like the rest of us use. Even if you're still using the Novolin, it will help a LOT to have the numbers on the spreadsheet so we can really tell how he's doing. Here's the link to How to set up your spreadsheet. It's really not hard, and once set up, you can put the link in your signature so we can see how he's doing.
Hope you're able to find someone who's willing to work with you on the Lantus. Best of luck to you and your dear kitty, Gambit! (I love that name)
Hi again Christie!
First of all, you must get rid of all dry foods. They're too high in carbs and you'll never get Gambit controlled if you continue feeding it. Since you're already giving insulin, it's important that you wean him off the dry gradually and make sure you're home testing because as the carb level goes down, the need for insulin does too. Here's a list of pretty much any food you can buy..we want him eating wet foods that are less than 10% carbs. Dr. Pierson's Food Chart
I strongly urge you to consider finding another vet who's willing to give you the Lantus or Levemir or ProZinc...these are the only insulins recommended for cats. The Novolin is fine for bringing down the numbers for cats in DKA, but it's just not good for home use except in very specific conditions, and even then, it's usually use along WITH Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc.
The other thing I suggest (in a big way) is to get yourself a spreadsheet going like the rest of us use. Even if you're still using the Novolin, it will help a LOT to have the numbers on the spreadsheet so we can really tell how he's doing. Here's the link to How to set up your spreadsheet. It's really not hard, and once set up, you can put the link in your signature so we can see how he's doing.
Hope you're able to find someone who's willing to work with you on the Lantus. Best of luck to you and your dear kitty, Gambit! (I love that name)
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