not sure what to do

Status
Not open for further replies.
My cat Mal

My cat Mal

Member Since 2016
Don't know what to do! About 15 minutes past time we usually do insulin. He is usually hungry and I give insulin as he eats. He is interested in his treats but not so much canned food. Today I let him have more than usual in morning. He has eaten a tablespoon or so and a few treats. Should I skip shot? Give more treats since he wants those and then give shot? Feeling worried.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
He is on bed now, seems fine, I am just not sure which way to error here? If I skip shot do I resume our routine in morning? I am not monitoring his levels at home yet, we are about 2 weeks in to the whole routine with shots.
 
Also, would you consider home testing? We really don't like to advise dosage without knowing what the insulin is doing to Ma's sugars. It's not hard and there are so many people on here that can help with any problems.
 
Venison treats (pure venison), Fancy Feast trout feast and Lantus. In my U 100 syringe 2u , From bottom of syringe I pull up to 2nd black line. Sorry, sounds so ignorant to explain that way.
 
The reason why we suggest monitoring the levels is because your kitty can go too low. Look at my Buzz's spreadsheet. He was going way to low on 1 unit and then on 1/2 unit. I hadn't monitored him the first 3 months of giving insulin. He was hypoing several times a week and thankfully I found this site.
 
In the absence of further data and since you are not testing yet, and he has not eaten his dinner, I would have to advise you not give the shot, for ultimate safety. I would definitely suggest calling the vet in the morning.
 
I use Lantus. I mean dicey in that he is not liking the process, we aren't having much of the ease I read about other people experiencing with shots. He has always been a bit fiesty.
 
One thing you could start doing is to pick a place that would become your testing site and getting him used to that area. Rub his ears and give him a treat. That way he starts associating that place with yummy treats!
 
My place is on my recliner in the living room. When I was testing everyday I would go to my chair and buzz and Woody would take turns jumping up. After a week or so they knew they would get fed after their test.
 
He is not acting at all strange, I would not suspect anything if I hadn't known that he is usually ready to eat in evening since routine was started. This morning though he seemed hungrier so I gave him more food. I did see he had'nt eaten all of it when I saw it was time for shot. I should have put it away. He does seem to want the venison if Inwould give it to him. Just not very keen on other food. I will call vet in morning. All the input greatly appreciated. I guess i am apprehensive about the other testing since the shots are touchy, I fear more resistance is going to build.
 
Squalliesmom said:
That would be my suggestion regardless of the type of insulin she is using; there is just too little information to give any dosing advice. Better too high for a day (or night) than too low for a moment!
Click to expand...
I agree! I was concerned she may be using Vetsulin or another fast acting and was shooting while feeding instead of waiting 30 minutes. I made that mistake for months!!!!!
 
My cat Mal said:
He is not acting at all strange, I would not suspect anything if I hadn't known that he is usually ready to eat in evening since routine was started. This morning though he seemed hungrier so I gave him more food. I did see he had'nt eaten all of it when I saw it was time for shot. I should have put it away. He does seem to want the venison if Inwould give it to him. Just not very keen on other food. I will call vet in morning. All the input greatly appreciated. I guess i am apprehensive about the other testing since the shots are touchy, I fear more resistance is going to build.
Click to expand...
I can well understand your apprehension! But it's really so much safer to test so you know whether or not it is safe to shoot, and it gets easier with time, the more you do it. :):):)
 
I guess my final question is IF his appetite is back in morning would you advise going back to shot at 6:15 as I have been doing? Or wait until I talk to vet at 7?
 
Squalliesmom said:
I can well understand your apprehension! But it's really so much safer to test so you know whether or not it is safe to shoot, and it gets easier with time, the more you do it. :):):)
Click to expand...
Thank you, I just feel worried anf over my head with this. Plus he likes my husband better so being in charge of it all makes me feel, at times, like there is already resistance.
 
My cat Mal said:
I guess my final question is IF his appetite is back in morning would you advise going back to shot at 6:15 as I have been doing? Or wait until I talk to vet at 7?
Click to expand...
I really can't advise on giving any insulin without knowing what his blood glucose is, I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful than that but I would not want to put Mal at risk. Insulin is a powerful hormone and I would not give it to myself or my cat without knowing for sure that it was safe; I will always fall on the side of caution.
My cat Mal said:
Thank you, I just feel worried anf over my head with this. Plus he likes my husband better so being in charge of it all makes me feel, at times, like there is already resistance.
Click to expand...
I felt that way, too, when my cat was first diagnosed. I guess most of us do, really. It does get easier. Once you are more comfortable testing and shooting you will feel like you have a bit more control of the whole situation, and it won't seem so daunting.

We use a spreadsheet to record glucose readings, amount of insulin, and anything else you want to put on it. Here is the link to it:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

and the instructions:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

If you need help setting it up (I did, lol) just post for help and someone will assist you. The spreadsheet is a wonderful tool for tracking patterns and changes, and understanding how your cat is reacting to the insulin. Feel free to check out others' spreadsheets to get an idea of what you can do with it - the links are in our signatures, at the bottom of our posts, they say so-and-so's spreadsheet, or sometimes just SS.
 
I am preparing to home test. I know it is the right direction to go. We have only been on Lantus about 2 weeks now(feels like forever since shots are not always done with much ease). I have a few questions though. My vet said around this time I should bring Mal back in to be kept for the day so they can test him, I guess to regulate his blood sugar for the day and see how insulin is working. Should I do this or should I start blood testing myself to see what is going on? And it seems like people base giving shots and how much on the blood sugar readings. How do you learn how to determine that and what dose is right based on numbers?
Lastly, in hindsight I thought it was odd Mal had his first shot at the vet and with no food being given. He was quite tramatized, pooped on way home, stepped in it, was obviously not reacting well. Now that I understand he always be fed along with his shot I think why did the vet dose him with no food? No test of his blood sugar? We have a hard time with the shots, he gets very angry. I don't have a lot of money for vet exspenses but if taking him in for the day is the right thing I will. Any advice appreciated. And how many times a day do people test blood sugar? What is a minimum number of times that would be acceptable and still achieve infor needed? Thank you so much! I sign off as Mel's Mom stinks at this☹️️
 
Most of us test at home. Every week or so we do a curve, meaning that we test every 2 hours for 12 hours and then we email the results to our vets. We have a nifty spread sheet to record the test results and the insulin doses. I email it to my vet. She liked it so much, she called to ask where I found it. She wants to have all her FD patients to use it.

You can buy an inexpensive meter from Walmart made for humans. Many here buy one called Relion. The strips are much less then for the meters for pets.

The best time to test is just before feeding and giving his shot. If possible, it helps to have some tests in between.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top