Scared with lots of questions

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pteacher

Member Since 2013
I'm new and so is my kitty! Rocky is my eight year old part Ragdoll male kitty. He was diagnosed with diabetes just this past Wednesday (April 17). I knew he had been drinking a lot of water and was afraid he might be in Renal failure since I had lost two cats to that in past years. Also, we were having a peeing on the floor problem, so suspected that he could have a UTI. We are still waiting on results from that test. He stayed at the Vet's for two nights and I just picked him up yesterday where I was given instructions on how to care for him. I've never given an injection in my life! Also, I have another younger cat, so there is the problem of keeping food separate and monitoring the shared litter box. My cats usually eat both dry and wet food and like to "graze" all day. Can't do that anymore!
I am having trouble getting Rocky to eat all his food in order to give him his injection. He eats a little, then walks away. I am constantly putting the food up and down so it won't be eaten by my other cat. Also, I don't know how much he is supposed to eat before I can safely give him his shot. He is on ProZinc.
I was also told I could monitor his sugar level by putting Glucotest chips in the litter box. I think my vet knows all this is hard for me and is trying to make it as easy as possible. Since I just started doing this today, I have no idea how well this will work.
I never wanted to be a nurse and all medical stuff makes me very nervous. I honestly believe my blood pressure was way up yesterday because of anxiety about all that I now have to do just to keep my kitty alive. nailbite_smile
I also work outside of the home and so am not home a lot of the day. I'm trying to do everything I can, but have no idea if this will be enough or not. I've made up my mind that these last two kitties will indeed be my last pets. After losing the other two and others before them, I just can't do this anymore. It is way too stressful and I am NOT a young woman. I will just have to be content with loving others pets. Thank you for listening. I think my co-workers are already sick of hearing about this. @-)
 
Welcome! This is a wonderful place to get support and information. We were all terrified at first, but the more you learn, the easier this process becomes.


We have a very successful protocol for feline diabetes:

1. A slow, long lasting insulin. ProZinc is one of the insulins preferred here. If you start on a low dose while you are learning to test, Rocky should be okay. We suggest .5 to one unit twice daily. It is not imperative that he eat a lot when he gets his shot; it is just important that he eat something. You can let your cats graze on wet food. Many people here freeze the food and the cats can munch on it as it thaws. Lots of us use automatic feeders to dispense during the day and night.

2. A low carb, wet diet. We like to feed under 8-10% carbs. There are several food charts you can use: Dr. Lisa’s food chart
Hobo’s Food Chart

Whatever food you can afford that your cat will eat in that lower range. BUT do not change completely over to wet until you are hometesting. Our Oliver went down 100 points overnight when we switched. If we had given our normal dose, he would have hypoed.

2. And most importantly, hometesting. We think cats tend to be stressed at the vet and we know stress raises blood glucose levels. So we test our cats at home. We use human glucometers and test on their ears or paws. Here is a video that shows you how it is done: Video for hometesting It does seem like a hard thing, but eventually it becomes part of your day. The urine tests your vet is having you do provide good information, but their results are long after the shot, after the urine has gone through the body. To be sure the amount of insulin you are planning to give is safe, you need to test before each shot.

If you want, we may have a member who lives near you and who could come back and help with the initial hometesting. If you want help, just ask.

We'd love to help you and sweet Rocky. And unlike your co workers, we all have been in your shoes and understand. Everyone who answers your post is paying it forward for help they received.
 
Welcome to the ProZinc club!!!

I totally hear what you are saying about the craziness of having one SugarCat and civvies (not SugarCats).....I have 6 civvies !!!! If you get a chance to read my posts (see where they are in sentences below), you can see how I deal with feeding time. Some of my posts about this issue will make you laugh....they are all true. :smile: :roll:

You will be fine....pop on over to the PZI board. There is a lot of info that will help you + everyone there are totally awesome when it comes to answering your questions. AND do NOT be afraid to ask a question that you may thing is 'stupid'....there are NO stupid questions. :smile:

Everyone on the PZI (ProZinc) board has helped me soooooo much.

If you get a chance take a look at my posts for RUMPELTEAZER (my SugarCat) to see how my questions were helped from her first diagnosis. They start on March 3, 2013 on the Main FDMB Forum. On March 9, 2013 I started to post on the PZI board. Might be a lot of reading for you, but you will be able to see how everyone helped me.

I will be watching your posts and will try to help you and/or offer support whenever I can.

Big :YMHUG: ..... It does get easier .... crazy at the beginning.....but EASIER as the weeks go by.


Misty & Rumpelteazer
 
Welcome,
I am also fairly new to this board and the world of Feline Diabetes. If someone had told me 2 weeks ago, I would be sticking a lancet in the edge of my Cleo's ear a few times a day, I would have thought they had lost their mind!! And, my Cleo is not a touchy, feely, lovey cat. She is a pet me now and again kind of kitty.

I can sympathize with you. I remember the terror, yes terror, of the first night (where I really screwed up, and almost put my kitty into hypoglycemia), and the nerves of the first week. But, now I can tell you, there is such a light at the end of tunnel. I am more confident; I never feel alone (there is always someone on this board to help/advise/support), and with a good pair of reading glasses, I can find the right spot to test, and fill up that insulin syringe pretty accurately! And I an not a young woman either. :lol: :lol:

My cat has tolerated this whole thing so much better than I could have every imagined. There will be others, more experienced here to give you advice, but I want you to know that, it may all go so much smoother than you think. I also have two other kitties, but they are all on Fancy Feast Classic (low carb) food. My one guy only likes dry, so I still put that out for him when I can watch. He is slowly starting to eat more of the wet food, but still prefers dry. I also work full-time, so I usually only test once in the morning, but try to get in a few extra in the evening.

Again, Welcome
 
Diabetes is a very treatable chronic disease. You can do this!

If your vet established the dose in the office, it may be too high. Glucose values may be as much as 100 to 180 points higher at the vet than at home. To keep your pet safe, please learn to home test as soon as possible.

See my signature link for Secondary Monitoring Tools, especially urine ketone testing. Ketones are a by-product of fat breakdown. Too many ketones may be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), an expensive to treat, potentially fatal, complication of diabetes.
 
Just another welcome! The people here on this board are amazing and dedicated and they WILL help you. It is an overwhelming and scary thing to find out your cat has FD, but as the others have said, it gets easier, and it happens quickly. It wasn't long ago that I sat sobbing at my keyboard writing a post much like yours. But now, I can test my kitty easily and have relied on the people here for advice.

Best of luck to you and your kitty.
Hang in there,
KJ
 
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