PK - update and concerns, please look

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plemochoe

Member Since 2013
Thanks to everybody who has looked in on Patty Cake's case, and good thoughts to those who are struggling tonight

Today, PK was supposed to get her first insulin shot, but I wanted to negotiate over the testing regime and the type of insulin. This turned out to be probably an error, as I spent half the day trying to find the vets or the technicians - and then I missed their call, which was just for rescheduling.

In the meantime, I retested her for ketones. I didn't get the strip into clean urine, just into some on top of litter. But it was not "trace" this time but moderate. Maybe I am hypersensitive because of the diagnosis, but she seems pretty weak, although I saw her eat pretty good, and she visited the water bowl, and she did pee. (It's difficult for me to isolate all these activities because there's another cat, and because dogs have been known to eat the cats' food).

Anyway, now I'm going to the ER to get Patty cake one unit of Glargine. Is that Lantus? The teaching hospital wants to sell me a meter and a vial of insulin, they say $165. Of course, it's just one vial. They are also saying that there's human insulin and then there's veterinary insulin. What about that? Her initial dose is one unit twice a day, for two weeks. I did set up an appointment for her Saturday to talk to a private clinic about how to handle the prescriptions and the testing.

I got the lab work back for PK. Her blood glucose was 300, which I understand is bad but not horrible.

Also, while she's only getting Fancy Feast paté now, and while she did eat, I would like to figure out ways to get her to eat more, so if someone could repost or point me at the good food choices, I saw it at one time but I can't remember exactly where.

She is still moving and talking, but I just did freak out a little bit and I'll check for answers when I get back from the ER.
 
Glargine is lantus and its a good insulin for regulation and even remission!. One vial will keep in the fridge for up to six months so the cost isn't so bad when you think about it that way.

That dose sounds good to start too.

How much does she weigh and how much FF does she eat a day? The pâtés are good for diabetic cats so I wouldn't change that if she eats it! It's nice and low carb which is just what you want.


Good luck at the ER. When you get back we can discuss home testing ..
 
Glargine and Lantus are the same thing. This is a really good insulin for a cat as are Levimir, PZI and Prozinc.

Hope everything turns out well at the ER.

Meter being sold to you may have a high cost in the test strips. It's easy to go through 130-200 in the first month or so.

That is why we prefer the human glucometers.

Food list, by Dr. Lisa Pierson is here. http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdfYou are looking for any foods with <10% carbs.

Does your cat have CRF? If so ask for the shortcut list for low carb, low potassium.
 
PK used to weigh 10-11 pounds. She dropped to 9. She might have eaten the equivalent of a can of FF today. Maybe a little more.
She ate a little of the Innova dry food, she used to eat that, so I let her eat a little (it was in the other cat's bowl)

I gotta go now, I'll check back when we return.
 
Re: PK, meter brand

OK, we went to the ER and they gave PK one unit of insulin.

They are quoting a price of $170 for a vial of Glargine insulin, but they said it was OK to shop around for that.

They want me to buy an AccuVue meter because they say it is specifically for cats. Their material used to recommend Alpha Trak, they haven't rewritten it, I guess.

So I have a prescription, and I'm still free to move to a private clinic if I want to.

Patty Cake enjoyed her ride in the car. At one point I leaned over and rolled the windows up further so she wouldn't jump out!! She perked up a lot from interest in the car ride, she hasn't been in a car very many times.

OK, so I have to get going tomorrow so she can get her second dose on time. The vet said the insulin would address the perceived ketone problem. All the vets claimed NOT to smell the acetone breath so maybe I really am just sensitive to it.

I'll study the food choices later tonight.
 
Re: PK - CRF

I don't think PK's kidneys are in the danger zone but if they get that way, I am a calcitriol convert. I know the guys who developed that, Nagode and Chew of Ohio State. If her creatinine goes over 2.3 she gets the calcitriol. I have never used it on a cat, but I used it on two dogs. I believe in it...
 
Ok cool... So get the lantus wherever you can find it cheapest, I think there is even a coupon on this site somewhere. Keep it in the fridge, don't roll or shake it and it should last up to six months.

You don't need a cat meter, human ones are fine and cheaper. Many people here buy the Walmart relion brand (see link above) the confirm, prime or micro. They are reliable and the strips are cheap. Shopping list below.

Get her off the dry food as soon as you can, it's not good for her kidneys either. At her weight she should be getting about 2.5cans of fancy feast classic pâtés per day.. Adjust if she keeps losing or gains too much weight.


Wendy

Getting started shopping list
1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro.
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
 
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