Newly diagnosed

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ziggymom

Ziggymom

Member Since 2018
Hi, I am new here. My cat was diagnosed about 10 days ago. I need help/ info to get started testing and doing a curve as I can't afford to have the vet do it, and Ziggy gets super stressed just going to the vet. I know absolutely nothing about testing on a cat, and vet acted like it was inaccurate if you do it yourself. Feeling extremely overwhelmed. He is started on insulin, and seems to be feeling somewhat better. Please help.
 
Hi again Ziggymom, I have a link about testing for you: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
One of our members, JanetNJ has a video in her signature of her home testing her cat, CC. It's well done and worth watching. There are also lots of home testing videos on You Tube.
If you haven't already, please go back to the Home page and read the "Getting Started" and the "Education" sections. Really good information when you are brand new and feel like you are floundering. We all felt that way at the start but I promise, it will get better.
The information in the FAQs forum is also a good place to visit: FAQs There is a section on home testing and meters there.
Read and print out the Hypo instructions, read the Hypo Toolbox info, and make your kit. I hope you never need it but being prepared is best.
As I said, many of us use a human meter because they, and the strips, can be less expensive and some are obtainable locally. It's a matter of choice between a pet meter and a human meter. Some of the members who use a pet meter like the AlphaTrak 2 use less expensive Insulinx strips and are very happy with them. Whatever works for you.
I gave you the link for the signature so we can see what kind of insulin, the dosage, etc, and we also use a spreadsheet here to record the insulin injections and the BG (blood glucose) tests. The spreadsheet is linked to the signature and then other members can see the data when advising. Here is a link to the area with the stickies about spreadsheet instructions and understanding the grid: HERE
I wish you well on this journey and learning the sugar dance. We are here to help!
 
Idjit's mom said:
Hi again Ziggymom, I have a link about testing for you: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
One of our members, JanetNJ has a video in her signature of her home testing her cat, CC. It's well done and worth watching. There are also lots of home testing videos on You Tube.
If you haven't already, please go back to the Home page and read the "Getting Started" and the "Education" sections. Really good information when you are brand new and feel like you are floundering. We all felt that way at the start but I promise, it will get better.
The information in the FAQs forum is also a good place to visit: FAQs There is a section on home testing and meters there.
Read and print out the Hypo instructions, read the Hypo Toolbox info, and make your kit. I hope you never need it but being prepared is best.
As I said, many of us use a human meter because they, and the strips, can be less expensive and some are obtainable locally. It's a matter of choice between a pet meter and a human meter. Some of the members who use a pet meter like the AlphaTrak 2 use less expensive Insulinx strips and are very happy with them. Whatever works for you.
I gave you the link for the signature so we can see what kind of insulin, the dosage, etc, and we also use a spreadsheet here to record the insulin injections and the BG (blood glucose) tests. The spreadsheet is linked to the signature and then other members can see the data when advising. Here is a link to the area with the stickies about spreadsheet instructions and understanding the grid: HERE
I wish you well on this journey and learning the sugar dance. We are here to help!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the quick reply, I was confused about the signature thing. I am on information overload, I think. My boy is about 12 years old, and was taken to the vet when he lost about a quarter of his weight. He was put on antibiotics for ten days for a suspected mouth issue. On return to vet for follow-up visit, the issue has not changed. We had a blood panel done, and he came back diabetic. The vet put him on Novalog (nph) because I was unable to afford the suggested Lantis. He gets 2 units twice daily. At the visit the vet wanted us to return for curve in 10 days. I am disabled and on a fixed income. I found this forum and learned about home testing . I ironically have two adult children with type 1 diabetes, so I am not stranger to the disease. My son's were both old enough when they were diagnosed to manage their own care. So, I am in need of instruction on testing. I will be purchasing a Rely on meter or something similar.
 
For Profile and/or signature creation:
Click on your ID. (username: Ziggy mom) located in the upper right corner of any page
A menu will drop down, You can select "Personal Details" This is your profile information, it's about you.
On the left, under Settings, Personal Details:
If there is a small image you would like to use as an Avatar, click on the Avatar box.
The picture should be at least 200*200 pixels.
Indicate gender, if you wish it to be known.
Optionally fill in your birth date; you can check if you want it to show year or not.
Fill in as much location as you would like known.
Fill in Occupation if you would like it known.
If you have a home web page, you may enter that.
You may indicate when you joined FDMB.
In About You, fill in any details you would like to share.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

For the signature about Ziggy that will display with your posts just fill in the information, briefly, that you described in your last post.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
There is a limit of 2 hard returns; you may separate pieces with commas, dashes, | etc.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as
your name,
cat's name,
date of Dx (diagnosis)
insulin
meter
any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

I'm glad to hear that you will be getting a meter and testing.
Here's a list of things I think are essential for the testing kit:
Meter and strips
Cotton balls or cosmetic pads, to back the ear and protect your finger from the poke, also to press the poke site after you get the drop (helps prevent bruising)
Vaseline (or other label petroleum jelly) Helps the blood drop bead up
Rice sock (small sock with uncooked rice, or oatmeal, to heat up a bit in microwave) to warm the ear and get better blood flow
Neosporin (or other pain reliever brand) ointment, not the cream. For after the poke
Treats for Ziggy, a reward and conditioning aid for testing
Treats for Ziggymom, for doing the testing and being a great kitty mom!
 
Idjit's mom said:
For Profile and/or signature creation:
Click on your ID. (username: Ziggy mom) located in the upper right corner of any page
A menu will drop down, You can select "Personal Details" This is your profile information, it's about you.
On the left, under Settings, Personal Details:
If there is a small image you would like to use as an Avatar, click on the Avatar box.
The picture should be at least 200*200 pixels.
Indicate gender, if you wish it to be known.
Optionally fill in your birth date; you can check if you want it to show year or not.
Fill in as much location as you would like known.
Fill in Occupation if you would like it known.
If you have a home web page, you may enter that.
You may indicate when you joined FDMB.
In About You, fill in any details you would like to share.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

For the signature about Ziggy that will display with your posts just fill in the information, briefly, that you described in your last post.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
There is a limit of 2 hard returns; you may separate pieces with commas, dashes, | etc.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as
your name,
cat's name,
date of Dx (diagnosis)
insulin
meter
any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

I'm glad to hear that you will be getting a meter and testing.
Here's a list of things I think are essential for the testing kit:
Meter and strips
Cotton balls or cosmetic pads, to back the ear and protect your finger from the poke, also to press the poke site after you get the drop (helps prevent bruising)
Vaseline (or other label petroleum jelly) Helps the blood drop bead up
Rice sock (small sock with uncooked rice, or oatmeal, to heat up a bit in microwave) to warm the ear and get better blood flow
Neosporin (or other pain reliever brand) ointment, not the cream. For after the poke
Treats for Ziggy, a reward and conditioning aid for testing
Treats for Ziggymom, for doing the testing and being a great kitty mom!
Click to expand...
Idjit's mom said:
For Profile and/or signature creation:
Click on your ID. (username: Ziggy mom) located in the upper right corner of any page
A menu will drop down, You can select "Personal Details" This is your profile information, it's about you.
On the left, under Settings, Personal Details:
If there is a small image you would like to use as an Avatar, click on the Avatar box.
The picture should be at least 200*200 pixels.
Indicate gender, if you wish it to be known.
Optionally fill in your birth date; you can check if you want it to show year or not.
Fill in as much location as you would like known.
Fill in Occupation if you would like it known.
If you have a home web page, you may enter that.
You may indicate when you joined FDMB.
In About You, fill in any details you would like to share.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

For the signature about Ziggy that will display with your posts just fill in the information, briefly, that you described in your last post.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
There is a limit of 2 hard returns; you may separate pieces with commas, dashes, | etc.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as
your name,
cat's name,
date of Dx (diagnosis)
insulin
meter
any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

I'm glad to hear that you will be getting a meter and testing.
Here's a list of things I think are essential for the testing kit:
Meter and strips
Cotton balls or cosmetic pads, to back the ear and protect your finger from the poke, also to press the poke site after you get the drop (helps prevent bruising)
Vaseline (or other label petroleum jelly) Helps the blood drop bead up
Rice sock (small sock with uncooked rice, or oatmeal, to heat up a bit in microwave) to warm the ear and get better blood flow
Neosporin (or other pain reliever brand) ointment, not the cream. For after the poke
Treats for Ziggy, a reward and conditioning aid for testing
Treats for Ziggymom, for doing the testing and being a great kitty mom!
Click to expand...
Idjit's mom said:
For Profile and/or signature creation:
Click on your ID. (username: Ziggy mom) located in the upper right corner of any page
A menu will drop down, You can select "Personal Details" This is your profile information, it's about you.
On the left, under Settings, Personal Details:
If there is a small image you would like to use as an Avatar, click on the Avatar box.
The picture should be at least 200*200 pixels.
Indicate gender, if you wish it to be known.
Optionally fill in your birth date; you can check if you want it to show year or not.
Fill in as much location as you would like known.
Fill in Occupation if you would like it known.
If you have a home web page, you may enter that.
You may indicate when you joined FDMB.
In About You, fill in any details you would like to share.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

For the signature about Ziggy that will display with your posts just fill in the information, briefly, that you described in your last post.

On the left, under Settings, Click on Signature.
This is where you will put information that helps us give you feedback.
There is a limit of 2 hard returns; you may separate pieces with commas, dashes, | etc.
This is where you paste the link for your spreadsheet, once it is set up.
Add any other text, such as
your name,
cat's name,
date of Dx (diagnosis)
insulin
meter
any other pertinent issues like if there are any food issues, history of DKA, hepatic lipidosis, pancreatitis, allergies, IBD, etc.
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom.

I'm glad to hear that you will be getting a meter and testing.
Here's a list of things I think are essential for the testing kit:
Meter and strips
Cotton balls or cosmetic pads, to back the ear and protect your finger from the poke, also to press the poke site after you get the drop (helps prevent bruising)
Vaseline (or other label petroleum jelly) Helps the blood drop bead up
Rice sock (small sock with uncooked rice, or oatmeal, to heat up a bit in microwave) to warm the ear and get better blood flow
Neosporin (or other pain reliever brand) ointment, not the cream. For after the poke
Treats for Ziggy, a reward and conditioning aid for testing
Treats for Ziggymom, for doing the testing and being a great kitty mom!
Click to expand...
 
I am confused about the numbers when testing with meter made for humans. From what I understand, they aren't calibrated for pets, and don't mean the same thing? I am really unclear about this. Would the numbers be less or more on a cat?
 
Hi Ziggymom, Larry is right, Human meters do read lower than pet meters, and BG range in the dosing protocols are adjusted accordingly. For example, a normal range on a human meter is 50-120, while on a pet meter it is 68-150. You cannot compare numbers from a human to a pet meter because you're using a different point of reference for them. It's more important that a meter be consistent, (we are generally looking for trends in data to adjust the dose, not single, exact numbers). There is also a +/- 20% variable allowed in any glucose meter, including pet meters.
 
So, if the meter I use gets a reading of, say, 200, then what is the actual number? I would love to be able to use one specifically for cat's, but due to expense, am not able to. I am just not clear how this works.
 
I'm new too. I got mine at Walmart 4 days ago. Everything you need for about $20 out the door including the new Reli-on Prime meter with case/lances and box of testing strips. Found out the sock full of rice warmed in the micowave for 30 secs against the cat's ear for blood flow works great. Cat will be much calmer at home doing this, trust me. You will get better and fast quickly. I put my life aside and did a deep dive on the subject. You are in the best place to be with LOTS of helpful people at ALL hours of the night. Just find out the few maxims to inject and act by and you will be golden to hopefully stay out of the vet's office, kinder to your credit card and the cat and overall happier with your growing knowledge. Good Luck. My machine was pretty accurate as I used it on myself and another one of my geriatric cats before comparing it to the vets machine today when I took my big furry Blonde flame point in for a blood test and BG comparison.
 
Darwin Hitchens said:
I'm new too. I got mine at Walmart 4 days ago. Everything you need for about $20 out the door including the new Reli-on Prime meter with case/lances and box of testing strips. Found out the sock full of rice warmed in the micowave for 30 secs against the cat's ear for blood flow works great. Cat will be much calmer at home doing this, trust me. You will get better and fast quickly. I put my life aside and did a deep dive on the subject. You are in the best place to be with LOTS of helpful people at ALL hours of the night. Just find out the few maxims to inject and act by and you will be golden to hopefully stay out of the vet's office, kinder to your credit card and the cat and overall happier with your growing knowledge. Good Luck. My machine was pretty accurate as I used it on myself and another one of my geriatric cats before comparing it to the vets machine today when I took my big furry Blonde flame point in for a blood test and BG comparison.
Click to expand...
Darwin Hitchens said:
I'm new too. I got mine at Walmart 4 days ago. Everything you need for about $20 out the door including the new Reli-on Prime meter with case/lances and box of testing strips. Found out the sock full of rice warmed in the micowave for 30 secs against the cat's ear for blood flow works great. Cat will be much calmer at home doing this, trust me. You will get better and fast quickly. I put my life aside and did a deep dive on the subject. You are in the best place to be with LOTS of helpful people at ALL hours of the night. Just find out the few maxims to inject and act by and you will be golden to hopefully stay out of the vet's office, kinder to your credit card and the cat and overall happier with your growing knowledge. Good Luck. My machine was pretty accurate as I used it on myself and another one of my geriatric cats before comparing it to the vets machine today when I took my big furry Blonde flame point in for a blood test and BG comparison.
Click to expand...
 
Having difficulty with Ziggy trying to get blood sample. Tried about 4 times to get a good poke, and can't get a drop because he fights against me, shakes me off, and is currently hiding under the bed. He's avoiding me as much as possible, and barely ate this morning. He just seems to hate having his ears messed with. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I watched about 6 You Tube videos last night, and they make it seem so easy.
 
They smell fear and anxiety on you. Using the sock method to both warm their ear and protect your fingers you should be aiming for the 1/32 tween the edge of his ear and the vein. If you put up a light from your camera flashlight behind his ear you can see it. If after a few jabs you get frustrated just go for that area and believe me it will bleed alot but stop in short time. The longer you take with getting the blood the fussier they get. I KNOW. You will get more confident and qualified within a week of doin it.
 
You’ll need to try some desensitization techniques. Choose a spot that will be your testing spot. Take Ziggy there several times a day, pet him, rub his ear a bit if he’ll let you, then give him a treat and let him go. Do this as often as possible until you’re both more relaxed. Try singing softly too, it really helps. Once your both calmer try adding the poke. Be sure his ear is warm, your lancets are large enough (26-27 gauge) and you know how to use the meter.
 
Today I was finally able to get a blood sample from Ziggy to test . Using Relion Prime meter. I got a meter reading of HI!. I'm sure this can't be good. Ziggy is acting fine, eating and drinking, but I am quite concerned. I was expecting a number, not an ominous warning. Ziggy had an initial blood screen of over 600 at the first visit, and started insulin right away. Still having problems getting him to eat the right food. He was a dry food addict. If you don't give him what he wants, he refuses to eat at all, then I can't give insulin. He has already lost more than 1/2 his body weight. Please help!
 
Ziggymom, people are not going to know you need some more immediate help with Ziggy when you add to this more introductory type thread. I suggest you post in this forum: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/caninsulin-vetsulin-and-n-nph.19/
with a HELP plea in the title to get some more immediate attention and help. I agree that you need to get some experienced advice to help Ziggy's BG to come down. Tell the members what he is eating, how much, how often. Does he have any other medical issues or conditions besides the diabetes? Please set up the spreadsheet so they can look at his numbers there and offer advice about when and how often to be testing. If you need help with the spreadsheet, just holler, there are members here who can help you.
There is also information on the insulin you are using in that forum so you can understand how it works.
 
Idjit's mom said:
Ziggymom, people are not going to know you need some more immediate help with Ziggy when you add to this more introductory type thread. I suggest you post in this forum: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/caninsulin-vetsulin-and-n-nph.19/
with a HELP plea in the title to get some more immediate attention and help. I agree that you need to get some experienced advice to help Ziggy's BG to come down. Tell the members what he is eating, how much, how often. Does he have any other medical issues or conditions besides the diabetes? Please set up the spreadsheet so they can look at his numbers there and offer advice about when and how often to be testing. If you need help with the spreadsheet, just holler, there are members here who can help you.
There is also information on the insulin you are using in that forum so you can understand how it works.
Click to expand...
I did as you advised, thanks!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top