Hi Everyone - My 9 year old cat Badkitty was diagnosed about a month and a half ago with diabetes. Before starting her on insulin, the vet recommended we start by adjusting her diet to Purina DM. That didn't work, so we started insulin and we're now up to .2ccs of Lantus daily. Badkitty continues to scream almost nonstop, and she rarely leaves the kitchen. It doesn't seem to matter how much we feed her, she's still always hungry. We started feeding her wet food and have slowly been trying to reduce the amount of dry food we feed her. So far we are not seeing any progress in her condition and my husband and I are wondering how long it will take to get her condition regulated. We feel terrible that she seems to be suffering so much, and I'm also feeling a lot of stress from her constant crying. The situation is compounded by having another sick pet (our 3 yr old Italian Greyhound was just diagnosed with meningoencephalitis). Both animals will require long-term treatment (unless one or both go into remission), and the financial impact is pretty significant (at least so far). We would like to start home testing Badkitty's BG levels, but I have not yet purchased anything testing kits. Any advice or support would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Recently Diagnosed - Badkitty
- Thread starter Bridgett
- Start date
- Status
Sorry to hear about your kitty and your pup!
I got into home testing right away and it's been a lot to get used to but we are adjusting well now! I went online and literally searched google for "free glucometer" lol. AccuChek had a coupon (I am in Canada but I assume there will be lots too if you're in the states), so I got a free glucometer with the purchase of 100 test strips (which at my gouging pharmacy were about $85). A little pricey at first but we don't use them all up right away... a day of curves once a week, and checking pre shot am, lunch time, pre shot pm pretty much just to get him regulated and we'll go from there.
There is a ton of experience on these boards so you've come to the right place! I've only been at this a few weeks and feel so much better about the whole thing! Good luck and hang in there
I got into home testing right away and it's been a lot to get used to but we are adjusting well now! I went online and literally searched google for "free glucometer" lol. AccuChek had a coupon (I am in Canada but I assume there will be lots too if you're in the states), so I got a free glucometer with the purchase of 100 test strips (which at my gouging pharmacy were about $85). A little pricey at first but we don't use them all up right away... a day of curves once a week, and checking pre shot am, lunch time, pre shot pm pretty much just to get him regulated and we'll go from there.
There is a ton of experience on these boards so you've come to the right place! I've only been at this a few weeks and feel so much better about the whole thing! Good luck and hang in there
Welcome to FDMB.
I suspect everyone here commiserates with just how overwhelming the beginning of this process is. Take a few breaths and know that you've found the best place you never wanted to be. This is an incredible community for both support and knowledge.
Before I overwhelm you more with information, Badkitty being hungry all the time tells you that her diabetes is still not yet under control. All of our cats were initially starving. In fact, due to the diabetes, they really were starving. Insulin is what allows glucose to get into the cells. If there's not enough insulin, nutrition doesn't reach the cells and instead, glucose floats around in the blood, not getting where it's needed. That's the nature of the disease. It's also why she's wanting more food.
I think you mean that Badkitty is getting 2 units (or international units -- IU) of Lantus. Insulin is dosed in units. You should be using U100 syringes.
There are a couple of fundamentals and you are already on the right track.
There is also a huge amount of information about Lantus located in the starred, sticky notes at the top of the Lantus Insulin Support Group board. Briefly, here's what those notes contain:
Please let us know how we can help.
I suspect everyone here commiserates with just how overwhelming the beginning of this process is. Take a few breaths and know that you've found the best place you never wanted to be. This is an incredible community for both support and knowledge.
Before I overwhelm you more with information, Badkitty being hungry all the time tells you that her diabetes is still not yet under control. All of our cats were initially starving. In fact, due to the diabetes, they really were starving. Insulin is what allows glucose to get into the cells. If there's not enough insulin, nutrition doesn't reach the cells and instead, glucose floats around in the blood, not getting where it's needed. That's the nature of the disease. It's also why she's wanting more food.
I think you mean that Badkitty is getting 2 units (or international units -- IU) of Lantus. Insulin is dosed in units. You should be using U100 syringes.
There are a couple of fundamentals and you are already on the right track.
- Home testing - Mastering home testing is the best possible way to keep Badkitty safe and to give you control over her diabetes. The least expensive meter and strips are the Walmart house brand, Relion. If there's not a Walmart nearby, the manufacturer also sells their own brand at ADW, the Arkay brand meter. You will also need lancets in order to poke for blood and test strips. The latter is where the costs come in. Strips are the most expensive part of the process. This is a link to resources regarding home testing. I learned how to home test by looking at videos on YouTube.
- Food - Almost everyone here feeds a low carb, canned food diet. Vets love to sell either the Hills or Purina "diabetes" diets. The Hills is way too high in carbs. (We recommend feeding under 10% carb as a low carb diet.) Both brands are not a high quality source of protein -- they are primarily animal by-products. There is an excellent website on feline nutrition that is written by a vet, Lisa Pierson, DVM, who you may see posting here. It is truly a resource. There are also two lists of foods that we use to help find low carb choices that are in your price range. Janet & Binky's list and another table of nutritional values both have information on the carb content of cat foods. On the second list, I think the cat food list ends after page 5. Many people feed Fancy Feast or Friskies. There are other lower priced alternatives, as well. Also, if you look at price per ounce, Wellness in the really big cans costs about the same or less than Fancy Feast.
There is also a huge amount of information about Lantus located in the starred, sticky notes at the top of the Lantus Insulin Support Group board. Briefly, here's what those notes contain:
- Tight Regulation Protocol: This sticky contains the dosing protocol that we use here. There are also links to the more formal versions -- the Tilly Protocol developed by the counterpart of this group in Germany and the Queensland/Rand protocol developed by Jacqui Rand, DVM and published in one of the top vet journals.
- New to the Group: Everything you wanted to know about this forum and more. Info on our slang, FAQs, links to sites on feline nutrition and to food charts containing carb counts, how to do a curve and the components to look for, important aspects of diabetes such as ketones, DKA, and neuropathy, and most important, info on hypoglycemia.
- Handling Lantus: how to get the maximum use from your insulin and what to not do with it!
- Lantus depot/shed: This is an important concept for understanding how Lantus works.
- Lantus & Levemir: Shooting & Handling Low Numbers: What data you need in order to be able to work toward remission or tight regulation as well as information if you have a low pre-shot number or a drop into low numbers during the cycle.
Please let us know how we can help.
Ann & Tess GA
Very Active Member
We all felt the way you do at the beginning. Sienne is totally right on the food. There are a lot bette alternatives out there than the prescription diets. I think once you get Badkitty switched over to wet food you will start to see a big difference. On that, you want to be testing when you do the switch. Once she is switched to wet foods her insulin needs can drop dramatically, so you need to check frequently.
If Sienne is correct in interpreting ".2ccs of Lantus daily" as 2 units, is that per shot or are you shooting half that twice a day? Lantus works best in cat when given in 2 doses 12 hours apart. And yes it is important to keep to that schedule.
On the meter, don't worry so much about the cost of the meter, look at the price of the strips. Don't let your vet tell you you have to use a "pet" meter, way expensive and the strips are astronomical! The Relion is very popular and the Arkray strips work with it and you can get them even cheaper online that at Walmart. If there isn't a Walmart near you how about Target? Their "house brand" is actually the WaveSense, which has very good reviews. $10 for the meter and $20 for 50 strips, even a little cheaper if you buy 100 at a time. Plus you can get a small box of 25 strips if money is tight or you are waiting for an order to come in, for $10. It's nice to have strips you can run out and buy retail if needed. The only meters we don't recommend is the TrueTest (or variations on the True name) or the Freestyle Lite.
Can you give us a little more info? How old is she? What does she weigh? Any other health problems? Has she been on steroids? Where are you located (time zone can confuse matters here, we have members all over the world!) And , what's your name, just so we can say "Hi" properly!
If Sienne is correct in interpreting ".2ccs of Lantus daily" as 2 units, is that per shot or are you shooting half that twice a day? Lantus works best in cat when given in 2 doses 12 hours apart. And yes it is important to keep to that schedule.
On the meter, don't worry so much about the cost of the meter, look at the price of the strips. Don't let your vet tell you you have to use a "pet" meter, way expensive and the strips are astronomical! The Relion is very popular and the Arkray strips work with it and you can get them even cheaper online that at Walmart. If there isn't a Walmart near you how about Target? Their "house brand" is actually the WaveSense, which has very good reviews. $10 for the meter and $20 for 50 strips, even a little cheaper if you buy 100 at a time. Plus you can get a small box of 25 strips if money is tight or you are waiting for an order to come in, for $10. It's nice to have strips you can run out and buy retail if needed. The only meters we don't recommend is the TrueTest (or variations on the True name) or the Freestyle Lite.
Can you give us a little more info? How old is she? What does she weigh? Any other health problems? Has she been on steroids? Where are you located (time zone can confuse matters here, we have members all over the world!) And , what's your name, just so we can say "Hi" properly!
squeem3
Very Active Member
Bridgett said:
Welcome :smile:
Diet alone rarely works for daibetic cats. A combination of diet and insulin is needed.
Lantu is a good insulin to use. There are a few things to know about using Lantus for cats. You can read the stickies at the top of the Lantus group: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=9
0.2 cc isn't the right measurement. That is the same as 20 units, which is an OD for most diabetic cats. You mean 0.02 cc, or more commonly, just 2 units. Are you usign U100 insulin syringes? If yes, are they 3/10 cc (max 30 unit capacity)? Did the vet show you how to mesure insulin?
Instead of the Purina junk, you can feed a commerical brand of canned food such as Fancy Feast, Friskies, Wellness, and Innova EVO. Use these charts/lists to find suitable canned foods:
Binky's canned food charts
Pet Food Nutritional Values list
Dr. Lynne's Wet Food list
List of low carb gluten free Fancy Feast
On Binky's charts, stick with foods that have a number 10 or less in the carbs colum. On the Pet Food Nutritional Values Chart, look at the %kcal from carbs column and choose foods that have a number 10 or less.
How often are you feeding your cat? Unreglated diabetic cats are always hungry so they should be free fed. Most people here feed multiple small meals throughou the day by using a timed feeder. One 5 oz can of food per day is enough for most cats but feed more or less depending on your cat's needs.
You can request a free testing kit from here: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=60261
If you would rather not wait for a kit to arrive by mail, you can just go to any Human pharmacy and buy a blood glucose meter kit and supplies. Wal Mart's Relion brand of meter is good and not expensive. If you don't have a Wal Mart nearby, a big name brand such as AccuChek or OneTouch or Bayer will work. Look for a basic meter. Some have all sorts of buttons and fancy abilities which you do not need for a cat. Do not buy any meter that has "True" in the name (TrueTack, TrueTest, etc typically a store's own generic brand). These meters are way inaccurate because they test 100 points or more too high. Here is a meter comparision guide: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=67082 Ideally buy a meter that only needs a 0.3 ul drop of blood since you often can't get more than amount from a a cat.
TheNewTeddy
Member
If it helps: we started this whole process at the end of March. At the time I was under the impression that cat + diabetes = goner. I didn't even know it was treatable. I then learned a bit more, and was like cat + pokey lancet + needle = my face full of scratches.
Today, we are halfway though our first week of our OTJ trials. Boo knows he needs testing and when and accepts it. He's gone from a lethargic and somewhat lazy cat during March to the most active we have EVER seen him.
I know our results are not standard, but it is important to not give up hope. It will take you a week or two of regular testing for you and your kitty cat to get used to the new normal, but eventually, you both will adjust and you'll be the one giving advice
Today, we are halfway though our first week of our OTJ trials. Boo knows he needs testing and when and accepts it. He's gone from a lethargic and somewhat lazy cat during March to the most active we have EVER seen him.
I know our results are not standard, but it is important to not give up hope. It will take you a week or two of regular testing for you and your kitty cat to get used to the new normal, but eventually, you both will adjust and you'll be the one giving advice
Thanks so much for all the helpful information!
I meant 2 units of Lantus, not ccs. And yes, she gets 2 units every 12 hours. I'm still learning the language of diabetes
My name is Bridgett and I've had Badkitty since she was a kitten. We're on the east coast of the U.S. She's always been a healthy cat and probably weighed about 13+ lbs before all of this started. She's now at about 10.5. Her weight has dropped at least 1.5 lbs since we first took her to the vet a month and a half ago, so that's been a little scary. She's never been on steroids.
The goal was to feed her twice a day based on what my vet recommended. I've actually been feeding her more than that to keep her from crying all the time. We feed her breakfast and dinner (6/7 am and 6/7 pm) - that's when she gets her insulin. And then snacks in between, usually in the afternoon before dinner and then before bed. I feel better knowing that feeding her like this is not counterproductive.
I'm going to look into the meter right now. Thanks again for all of the support. It makes me feel like I might be able to manage this...eventually.
I meant 2 units of Lantus, not ccs. And yes, she gets 2 units every 12 hours. I'm still learning the language of diabetes
My name is Bridgett and I've had Badkitty since she was a kitten. We're on the east coast of the U.S. She's always been a healthy cat and probably weighed about 13+ lbs before all of this started. She's now at about 10.5. Her weight has dropped at least 1.5 lbs since we first took her to the vet a month and a half ago, so that's been a little scary. She's never been on steroids.
The goal was to feed her twice a day based on what my vet recommended. I've actually been feeding her more than that to keep her from crying all the time. We feed her breakfast and dinner (6/7 am and 6/7 pm) - that's when she gets her insulin. And then snacks in between, usually in the afternoon before dinner and then before bed. I feel better knowing that feeding her like this is not counterproductive.
I'm going to look into the meter right now. Thanks again for all of the support. It makes me feel like I might be able to manage this...eventually.
PrettyBlueEyes
Member
Hi Bridgett, and welcome. I'm so sorry to hear that you're having to deal with the one-two punch of two pets having health problems. 
Whether you want to learn all you can, be proactive in Badkitty's treatment, ask a question, or just need some support, you're in the right place here. My Leo and I are pretty new to all this too, and it can feel so overwhelming at times. The veterans here are of such great assistance-they'll answer any question and give excellent advice wherever they can. If there's a crisis, please believe they are staying up monitoring your situation-they care so much, they want to know you and your patient are okay. Several members did this very same thing when Leo and I had a scary episode recently. And, we fellow newbies are here to give you support!
Definitely get a meter-I have a reliOn Confirm from wal-mart that works just fine. You don't have to spend a mint, as long as it's reliable. Testing Badkitty at home will allow you to manage her blood glucose much more effectively.
Leo started out on Purina DM, but the canned kind. After he started simply refusing to eat it any longer, he switched to Fancy Feast Classics. There is an awesome list that's already been linked for you (Janet & Binky's page)-check it out! There are a lot of alternatives to both high carb dry food (which is just no good for our kitties) and expensive vet formulas.
You will indeed be able to manage this-and probably sooner than you think. It is hard, confusing, and overwhelming at first, but it does get easier, and there are a lot of people who want to help.
We're sending our best your way.
Kate & Leo
Whether you want to learn all you can, be proactive in Badkitty's treatment, ask a question, or just need some support, you're in the right place here. My Leo and I are pretty new to all this too, and it can feel so overwhelming at times. The veterans here are of such great assistance-they'll answer any question and give excellent advice wherever they can. If there's a crisis, please believe they are staying up monitoring your situation-they care so much, they want to know you and your patient are okay. Several members did this very same thing when Leo and I had a scary episode recently. And, we fellow newbies are here to give you support!
Definitely get a meter-I have a reliOn Confirm from wal-mart that works just fine. You don't have to spend a mint, as long as it's reliable. Testing Badkitty at home will allow you to manage her blood glucose much more effectively.
Leo started out on Purina DM, but the canned kind. After he started simply refusing to eat it any longer, he switched to Fancy Feast Classics. There is an awesome list that's already been linked for you (Janet & Binky's page)-check it out! There are a lot of alternatives to both high carb dry food (which is just no good for our kitties) and expensive vet formulas.
You will indeed be able to manage this-and probably sooner than you think. It is hard, confusing, and overwhelming at first, but it does get easier, and there are a lot of people who want to help.
We're sending our best your way.
Kate & Leo
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