Please help..

[Boo boo bear]

hello all. I just joined this group and am hoping to gain knowledge and support for my buddy and find out where I'm going wrong..
Buddy was diagnosed about a month ago with diabetics his number was 590 the vet started out with 2 units of insulin 2/day I did that for about a week had his levels tested again and they were 690. The vet said to do 3 units and so we did and there was no difference so he upped it again to 4. Had him there yesterday and his number was still 690 so he up it to 6 units 2/day. He said he seems to not be responding to the insulin. Please please help. I'm trying everything and am getting upset. After reading a lot of posts I'm not giving up hope just need some advice on how and where to start to make other changes. Buddy is 10 and has so much more life in him. Please any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[JanetNJ]

hello all. I just joined this group and am hoping to gain knowledge and support for my buddy and find out where I'm going wrong..
Buddy was diagnosed about a month ago with diabetics his number was 590 the vet started out with 2 units of insulin 2/day I did that for about a week had his levels tested again and they were 690. The vet said to do 3 units and so we did and there was no difference so he upped it again to 4. Had him there yesterday and his number was still 690 so he up it to 6 units 2/day. He said he seems to not be responding to the insulin. Please please help. I'm trying everything and am getting upset. After reading a lot of posts I'm not giving up hope just need some advice on how and where to start to make other changes. Buddy is 10 and has so much more life in him. Please any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Sometimes too much insulin can look like not enough. Raising by whole units is not the best way as you may have skipped the best dose!

The best way to determine the correct dose and keep boo safe would be to test from home. Would that be something you are willing to learn to do? I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC.


Also what kind of food are you feeding?

Which insulin is it?

 

[Sharon14]

Welcome! Like Janet said sometimes too much insulin can look like not enough and home testing is the only way to tell if that's the case. It's really easy to do and we'll be glad to help you. Check out Janet's video and this thread
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
And please ask any questions you have.
Also please give us some more info, what you're feeding, what kind of insulin, and if there are any other health problems.

 

[Boo boo bear]

Welcome! Like Janet said sometimes too much insulin can look like not enough and home testing is the only way to tell if that's the case. It's really easy to do and we'll be glad to help you. Check out Janet's video and this thread
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
And please ask any questions you have.
Also please give us some more info, what you're feeding, what kind of insulin, and if there are any other health problems.

Hi and thank you for responding
No other health issues.
He is on vetsulin.
He is eating a dry food and then when it's time for his shot he gets 1/4 can of wet. The vet said to not change his diet??? Not sure why?

 

[Boo boo bear]

Welcome! Like Janet said sometimes too much insulin can look like not enough and home testing is the only way to tell if that's the case. It's really easy to do and we'll be glad to help you. Check out Janet's video and this thread
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
And please ask any questions you have.
Also please give us some more info, what you're feeding, what kind of insulin, and if there are any other health problems.

I would be ok with home testing if I learn to. Does it stress them to much to do the home testing?

 

[JanetNJ]

I would be ok with home testing if I learn to. Does it stress them to much to do the home testing?

My cat didnt like testing the fist two weeks.... Then she came to associate it with treats and extra cuddles. You can see in the video she's purring the whole time. The dry food is probably is partially to blame for the high numbers. If your cat likes wet that's the best way to go. Most on here use fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods. Nothing with gravy. Changing diet can lower numbers by hundreds of numbers. If you decide to do that I would first get the testing supplies and REDUCE the dose to one.

Here's what you would want to get.

Walmart Relion Micro or confirm meter ($17)
Extra test strips ($35 for 100 of them)
Box of 100 28 gauge lancets ($1-10 depending on the brand you buy)
Neosporin with pain relief ($4)
Cosmetic Cotton rounds ($2-3)

 

[Sharon14]

Cats usually do fine with home testing. Pick up the supplies Janet mentioned, today if possible, also add some ketone test strips to the list. Do not change his diet without home testing and reducing his dose. The low carb food can lower his numbers and if you hold the dose and aren't testing you risk a hypo.

 

[JanetNJ]

Hi and thank you for responding
No other health issues.
He is on vetsulin.
He is eating a dry food and then when it's time for his shot he gets 1/4 can of wet. The vet said to not change his diet??? Not sure why?

I have a feeling your vet doesn't have a lot of experience with feline diabetes. Diet change should have been number 1. And as I said raising doses in whole units is not wise. Most cats never need more 3 units and that's after lots of testing, curves, and slow raises in dose.

But you've come to the right place. There are many experienced people on here that can help and advise and can answer questions you have. It's an active forum so there's usually someone on that can help.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Welcome Buddy and his Momma bean!
Sharon and Janet have started you off with some great tips. Can't believe last dose increase was from 4.0 to 6.0U . I definitely agree to do a diet change for him BUT not until you are home testing and to reduce the dose to 1.0U twice a day. Home testing and this forum can help you and Buddy .
When you start home testing, you can use the Spreadsheet that each of us have in our Signatures. I'll give link on how to set that up as well . Just as an example (because Every Cat Is Different [ECID]), we recently had another member who's Vet had her kitty at 7.0U, once home testing and posting on the forum we had her start decreasing the dose. Her kitty is now needing less than 1.0U.

Spreadsheet (just need a g-mail account and if you need help, just ask): http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Signature: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/

And when you have a minute, read this ahead of time. Better to be prepared but I hope you never need it: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

Keep asking any questions

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Welcome! We can certainly help you and your lovely kitty. You've had great advice already and I agree about those crazy dose increases.

 

[Boo boo bear]

Welcome Buddy and his Momma bean!
Sharon and Janet have started you off with some great tips. Can't believe last dose increase was from 4.0 to 6.0U . I definitely agree to do a diet change for him BUT not until you are home testing and to reduce the dose to 1.0U twice a day. Home testing and this forum can help you and Buddy .
When you start home testing, you can use the Spreadsheet that each of us have in our Signatures. I'll give link on how to set that up as well . Just as an example (because Every Cat Is Different [ECID]), we recently had another member who's Vet had her kitty at 7.0U, once home testing and posting on the forum we had her start decreasing the dose. Her kitty is now needing less than 1.0U.

Spreadsheet (just need a g-mail account and if you need help, just ask): http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
Signature: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/

And when you have a minute, read this ahead of time. Better to be prepared but I hope you never need it: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

Keep asking any questions

I bought all the stuff needed to do the home testing. I will admit I'm very nervous. So should I just keep everything the same and test for the first couple days or should I change the food? Lower the dose?? I don't want to do it wrong. I'm scared..

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

First, I would get more comfortable with home testing before making any changes. Then do diet change and reduce dose to 1.0U. Be sure to do some ketone tests too, DKA has a greater chance of developing in higher numbers but we don't want to maintain the high dose of insulin with new low carb wet food .

It's OK to be nervous and remember you are doing this to help him, not hurt him . You're aiming for the sweet spot, a lot of kitties barely feel the poke . You can use a good lamp or small flashlight (even on a smartphone) to shine on inner part of the ear to see the marginal vein, runs parallel to the outer ear.

As you both become more comfortable with home tests, we'll get into more details about when and a couple other guidelines . Definitely, check out the links I gave you

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I bought all the stuff needed to do the home testing. I will admit I'm very nervous. So should I just keep everything the same and test for the first couple days or should I change the food? Lower the dose?? I don't want to do it wrong. I'm scared..

Please try to breathe. We all understand the nerves - been there! . Here's what I suggest, based on the advice of the others who have posted on your thread:

1. Immediately lower his dose to 1 unit twice a day. The food change can lower BG.
2. Try feeding only wet low carb food like Friskies or Fancy Feast pates (no gravy types). Almost all kibble is very high in carbs. We can direct you to better ones later.
3. Start a testing routine without actually testing. Choose your location, take him there +++ times a day, give lots of attention and a low carb treat (freeze dried meat treats are ideal).
4. Practice actual testing. Janet in post #8 above has a link to her testing video on the small print at the bottom of her post. NOTE: Testing will not be stressful once you're calmer and more proficient.
5. Set up the formal testing routine we recommend here: a) every AM and PM before feeding and giving insulin (no food at least 2 hour before); b) at least once near the middle of the time between shots plus just before bed; c) extra tests on days off.
6. Set up the spreadsheet we use here. It's vieweable by all members and is the first thing we look at before offering advice.

 

[Boo boo bear]

I just did his first home testified I did it accurately it read 483. He is due to eat now? Did I do that right?

 

[AlphaCat]

I just did his first home testified I did it accurately it read 483. He is due to eat now? Did I do that right?

Great job getting your first test out of the way! Now all the other tests will be easier!

Yes, it goes test, eat, insulin (if using insulin). If possible I try to get another test in a few hours after the insulin just to watch it working. I'm weird like that, I like to watch her numbers drop. Also, it will give you more practice at testing and Boo Boo Bear more opportunities to experience this is the new normal. I do treat after every test as well. So actually my cycle is: test, treat, real food, insulin (if it's time).

Good job! And get you a treat too for making it through the first test!

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I just did his first home testified I did it accurately it read 483. He is due to eat now? Did I do that right?

That's great!!! Yes, feed him now and wait 20-30 minutes before giving his insulin. You want to see that he's eaten enough because Vetsulin can start acting fairly quickly and you want food on board.

What specifically will you be feeding him? Have you thought about dosing - ie., stay at 6 units twice a day? I'm asking so we can help you decide on a dose for tonight. What he eats will be a factor.

Give yourself a treat too!!

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Great job! It will get easier