newly diagnosed
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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
I am sorry to hear your kitty is in the ICU. I hope you'll do a lot of reading on the site. There is a lot of good info for you - advice on insulins, home testing tips and food advice.
If she is staying another day/night, you might take a unwashed Tshirt (so it smells like you) that she can sleep on.
When you need more info, let us know. And ask questions. This is a very treatable disease. We'd love to help you help your Kitty.
If she is staying another day/night, you might take a unwashed Tshirt (so it smells like you) that she can sleep on.
When you need more info, let us know. And ask questions. This is a very treatable disease. We'd love to help you help your Kitty.
BJM
Very Active Member
Welcome!
Dehydration can happen very easily with uncontrolled diabetes; it is the body's attempt to flush the excess glucose.
Take some time to read up on diet and nutrition at Cat Info, then look at Binky's Page for lists of canned, low carb foods that may be fed your cat. We suggest keeping the % of calories from carbohydrates to no more than 10%.
CAUTION: if your vet has established an insulin dose for your cat and you are feeding dry food, hold the diet steady until you learn to test. Glucose levels have been reported to drop 100 or more points when removing dry food from the diet.
We strongly encourage learning to home test. If you test before you give insulin, you can see if it is safe to give it. When you are first starting out, we suggest you not give insulin below 200, because you haven't established how your cat handles the insulin yet. As you collect data, you will determine what the safe lowest number is for your cat.
Lantus and Levemir insulins require dosing at 12 hour intervals and dose adjustments are based on tests during the middle of the cycle when the expected lowest point should ocurr. This is because these insulins have a carry over, or depot effect. Aside from not shooting below 200, never adjust these insulin's doses based on pre-shot numbers.
ProZinc and PZI insulins are generally dosed on a 12 hour interval, but because they don't build up any carry over, the doses can be adjusted based on pre-shot test values.
If your vet is using Humulin N insulin, very politely request a prescription for one of these 4 insulins noted above. Humulin N lasts roughly 8 hours in the cat, and you either wind up dosing every 8 hours, or having 4 hours of unregulated glucose levels out of every 12. Prescribing Humulin N suggests the vet is out of date with regard to contemporary feline diabetes management - happens often when you have to know about multiple species and may not have treated a feline diabetic since college. If your vet is receptive, we have numerous veterinary journal articles to help bring him or her up to date.
Dehydration can happen very easily with uncontrolled diabetes; it is the body's attempt to flush the excess glucose.
Take some time to read up on diet and nutrition at Cat Info, then look at Binky's Page for lists of canned, low carb foods that may be fed your cat. We suggest keeping the % of calories from carbohydrates to no more than 10%.
CAUTION: if your vet has established an insulin dose for your cat and you are feeding dry food, hold the diet steady until you learn to test. Glucose levels have been reported to drop 100 or more points when removing dry food from the diet.
We strongly encourage learning to home test. If you test before you give insulin, you can see if it is safe to give it. When you are first starting out, we suggest you not give insulin below 200, because you haven't established how your cat handles the insulin yet. As you collect data, you will determine what the safe lowest number is for your cat.
Lantus and Levemir insulins require dosing at 12 hour intervals and dose adjustments are based on tests during the middle of the cycle when the expected lowest point should ocurr. This is because these insulins have a carry over, or depot effect. Aside from not shooting below 200, never adjust these insulin's doses based on pre-shot numbers.
ProZinc and PZI insulins are generally dosed on a 12 hour interval, but because they don't build up any carry over, the doses can be adjusted based on pre-shot test values.
If your vet is using Humulin N insulin, very politely request a prescription for one of these 4 insulins noted above. Humulin N lasts roughly 8 hours in the cat, and you either wind up dosing every 8 hours, or having 4 hours of unregulated glucose levels out of every 12. Prescribing Humulin N suggests the vet is out of date with regard to contemporary feline diabetes management - happens often when you have to know about multiple species and may not have treated a feline diabetic since college. If your vet is receptive, we have numerous veterinary journal articles to help bring him or her up to date.
Victoria & Buttons
Member
Welcome!
Just thought I would let you know how helpful this board really is! My babygirl got diagnosed last month and I honestly dont know how I would have done it without this board! They taught me how to home-test, taught me all about carbs, hypoglycemia, and even ketones. I also switched her insulin without a vet, and just the advice on here and shes doing better!
I know it seems overwhelming at first, but it DOES get easier. Dont be scared to ask questions on here, no one will judge you and they'll help you along. Good luck! I also hope your kitty is doing better!
Just thought I would let you know how helpful this board really is! My babygirl got diagnosed last month and I honestly dont know how I would have done it without this board! They taught me how to home-test, taught me all about carbs, hypoglycemia, and even ketones. I also switched her insulin without a vet, and just the advice on here and shes doing better!
I know it seems overwhelming at first, but it DOES get easier. Dont be scared to ask questions on here, no one will judge you and they'll help you along. Good luck! I also hope your kitty is doing better!
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