Six months ago today

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Likameow

Likameow

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It was six months ago today that the vet told me that Ben has diabetes and started us sugar dancing. He is nowhere close to regulated. Every test is a surprise to see what number will show up on the glucometer. When he was first diagnosed, I said I would give him six months then take him back to the vet to get all his labs rechecked. And if I was wrecking his other organs with this sugar dance, I would send him across the rainbow bridge.
But as I look at him sitting n the side of the tub waiting to get his sugar checked, I'm rethinking my plans. He looks better and acts better than he did six months ago. He isn't sleeping next to the water dish and he is playful. So we'll just keep doing what we are doing for now. And maybe ignorance is bliss regarding his other lab work for now.
 
He is more than just lab tests, so that makes sense to me.
You might take a look at my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools and see the 5Ps also called the Whole Cat Report. While they may be less concrete measures of how he's doing, they are just as important and are often questions the vet or vet tech will ask.
 
I agree; quality of life is so important. He does have an unusual pattern of lower numbers overnight with a possible bounce in the am. You have tried skipping the pm dose and giving a lower dose then but neither helped that am number. One thing you might consider is to do a 13/11 schedule if it will fit your life. So, wait at night and give the shot at +13 when he is sure rising and high enough to shoot. Then in the am, test at +11. If he is rising and high enough, give a shot then. You might lower that first dose, especially if your amps is lower than it has been. This sometimes works well with cats who dip at night but not so much in the daytime. Sometimes it has to do with energy levels and food intake; sometimes it is just the cat.:)
 
I could easily do 11/13 but not the other way around. And I think that some of his crazy numbers come from the nights that I work. For example, when I am working he gets tested/injected about 5:30 PM then not seen again until 6:30-7:00 AM. I'm going to start noting when the AMPS is after I've worked to see if I can pin down a trend. Luckily, I don't using work more than 2-3 nights in a row usually. And using BJM's secondary monitoring tools, he is a happy and healthy cat.
 
Likameow said:
It was six months ago today that the vet told me that Ben has diabetes and started us sugar dancing. He is nowhere close to regulated. Every test is a surprise to see what number will show up on the glucometer. When he was first diagnosed, I said I would give him six months then take him back to the vet to get all his labs rechecked. And if I was wrecking his other organs with this sugar dance, I would send him across the rainbow bridge.
But as I look at him sitting n the side of the tub waiting to get his sugar checked, I'm rethinking my plans. He looks better and acts better than he did six months ago. He isn't sleeping next to the water dish and he is playful. So we'll just keep doing what we are doing for now. And maybe ignorance is bliss regarding his other lab work for now.
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Lisa, your post sounds like my own thoughts about my sugar baby, Hannah. For us, it's been nine months and still no regulation. And Hannah's spreadsheet looks so much like Ben's... very colorful, like an explosion in a Crayola factory. I've never given her a deadline to regulate, but I figure trying my best is the only hope she has for a good quality of life. And like Ben, she acts pretty much normal these days. I often look at her and think how much better she is doing, now. Regulation or even something close to it would be wonderful, but I'm not sure that's in Hannah's future. So, for now, we will just keep on with what we are doing and be thankful for each good day she has.

Thanks for your post. I could not have said it better!!! Keep up the good work with handsome Ben!!!
 
Hi Lisa,

For a long time after Bertie was diagnosed he was totally unregulated. I actually stopped posting on FDMB because I thought we were such a hopeless case. I was convinced that he would suffer by not being in better numbers, but his blood glucose seemed so hard to control. He had a 'sputtering pancreas' that made it almost impossible to predict what any shot would do.
Now, 8 years after his diagnosis, he is sitting by the keyboard watching as I type this post....
Over time Bertie's numbers got better and more stable. Recent blood tests show that his organs are doing just fine.
He's old now and I don't know how much longer I'll have him with me, but he has had a great life, despite being an insulin-dependent diabetic.

You say that Ben "looks better and acts better than he did six months ago". That's excellent. Hold onto that. It's not all about 'the numbers'.

Sending a huge reassuring hug to you, Lisa; and chin scritches to Ben.

Eliz
 
Hi Lisa,
There were so many times that I thought that Tommy would never make it to the falls, and I had finally decided that Tommy would need insulin the rest of his life. He too was brighter, more playful, had softer fur and was so much like his old self that I said it was worth all the time and work to see him healthier even if we danced forever. Almost a year had past and all of a sudden his numbers became too low to shoot, even with my daring insulin regime. (Please do not follow without support.) He is doing very well now and still tests in the good numbers. Sue was so supportive of us and I truly couldn't have done this without her help along with all the other support that was given here. Listen to the advise and know that you aren't in this alone. Please don't give up on your fur baby whether or not he goes off the juice, he is well worth it!
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
He does have an unusual pattern of lower numbers overnight with a possible bounce in the am. You have tried skipping the pm dose and giving a lower dose then but neither helped that am number. One thing you might consider... 13/11 schedule if it will fit your life.
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Hi again, Lisa,

I absolutely agree with Sue that Ben could be dropping too low at night and then bouncing. And I notice that you've occasionally given shots on 'falling numbers' or 'flat numbers' where it isn't clear that the blood glucose is actually rising.
(It might be that your kitty's pancreas is able to produce bit of insulin of it's own and that is extending the duration).

Sue's idea of a 13/11 shot schedule is an interesting one, (although I understand that it doesn't usually fit in with your variable work schedule).
But what I'm wondering is, are there any days when you could give the am shot an hour earlier (to experiment with the 13/11 schedule idea).

Or, have you tried giving a lower AM dose on the days when you know you'll be working evenings, so that there's more chance that he will be shootable in the evening..?

What is your feeding schedule?
Does Ben have food available to him through the night?

I do sympathise. It's hard to predict the effect of any shot with any level of accuracy, but when a kitty may be 'dropping out of a bounce', and/or there may be a 'sputtering pancreas' in the mix then it's even harder to predict.

Hugs,

Eliz
 
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Lisa,
Before Hank was diagnosed my son told me that if Hank had diabetes that he was going to have him put to sleep. Well, thank God his sister convinced him that having diabetes was not a death sentence.

I agree too that quality of life is the key.

Ben may not be in remission but he is so much better than 6 months ago.

Keep up the good work just loving and caring for sweet Ben.

Kimmie
 
Sorry that I haven't replied to everyone's comments. It's been a hectic few weeks. As you can see, he is still all over the place but the spreadsheet has more blues and greens. Yay! And also you can see that I've made a few poor dosing decisions. Luckily, he is none the worse for wear. And to answer Eliz's question, he does have access to food all the time. There is a bowl of YA zero carb dry food out all the time and he gets a can of FF morning and night.

I'm looking for advice regarding dosing PMPS numbers that are obviously still dropping. If I'm at home that night, I can stall for a few hours like I did on 3/11. But what if I'm not going to be home? Should I just not give insulin and deal with the crazy high number in the morning or give a smaller dose? Thanks in advance for all your help.
 
If possible, I'd stall 20 minutes with no food and retest. Then you can see if he is still dropping or if the number is rising. However, I get that sometimes that isn't possible.

Honestly, it's hard to say what to do in those situations. Looking at your SS, I see last night you shot into a 187 and he dropped a huge amount! But you've shot lower numbers before and not had that happen. I guess what I would say is if you won't be home to monitor, maybe skip? If you knew for sure he was rising, you could probably do a smaller dose...like maybe a 0.5 or something like that as a token. In the end, better too high for a day than too low for a moment.

I tend to be more conservative in my advice sometimes. I'm sure others will be along to give you their thoughts soon and they may have some more advice or ideas for you!
 
Likameow said:
he is still all over the place but the spreadsheet has more blues and greens. Yay! And also you can see that I've made a few poor dosing decisions. Luckily, he is none the worse for wear.
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Lisa, this sounds like our story, too. Glad you posted. Hannah's numbers are still somewhat unpredictable and erratic, as well. And like Ben, she's had some better numbers lately, so we're thankful for that. I can so relate to not knowing how to shoot those lower, still-dropping numbers. I've also made some poor dosing decisions and am trying to learn from those mistakes. Unfortunately, I seem to be a slow learner. Ugh!!! Problem is, what works one day doesn't always work the next.o_O

Likameow said:
I'm looking for advice regarding dosing PMPS numbers that are obviously still dropping.
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Yep, me too! I'm hoping you get a few more comments to your post. Best wishes to you and Ben.
 
It's been about 6 months for us too. It was so difficult in the beginning, but we are figuring it out slowly. I wish the numbers were better for mine and yours, but our Rudy is also showing signs that his life is going pretty good :-)
I had someone tell me last week when they found out what we were dealing with that we should just put him down. She said they would never schedule the shots, test, give all the other meds, keep logs and spreadsheets. I just looked at her and said- I guess Rudy is very happy that I'm his mom and not you.
I love my little cuddle kitty and as long as he is happy, then so am I :-) hugs to all the sugar dance moms and dads! keep up the great work!
 
Karen, it's been 10 months for us, and what a ride it has been... and continues to be. It sounds like neither one of us is about to give up on our wonderful kitties, thank goodness. I guess no one ever said it would be easy, although, for some more fortunate, it seems to have been that way. I try not to get too discouraged, as Hannah, like Rudy, is acting much better these days. It definitely is about more than just those numbers!
KarenBlasky said:
I had someone tell me last week when they found out what we were dealing with that we should just put him down. She said they would never schedule the shots, test, give all the other meds, keep logs and spreadsheets.
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Yep, I've gotten that same comment from folks I personally consider to be just a tad ignorant and selfish (my opinion, of course). I get so angry with that attitude! I think to myself, "Wait until it happens to your furbaby. Then we'll see how you handle it." And, like you, I feel sorry for the unfortunate kitties or dogs that live with them, 'cause it definitely could happen to them and I'm pretty sure what the outcome will be.

Keep up the good work with Rudy! He is blessed to have you for his momma bean!
 
You're BOTH doing great! Your kitties are so lucky to have you as moms. As you said, it's about more than numbers. Your cat is more than just a BG number. Quality of life is determined by more than BG numbers. If the kitties are happy and feeling good, it's not time to give up. :)
 
Lisa, I think you're doing a great job with your kitty! And I totally agree with the folks who've posted above: It's about so much more than numbers; we all have special bonds with our sugar-cats!

After Bat-Bat had her diabetes pop back up again last month, I heard the "...maybe it's time you put her down, because she's really not a very friendly cat anyway" remark from a couple of people who I'm sure meant well, but ... really!!! Who would throw away a human member of the family who has diabetes and tends to be antisocial? Bat's a one-person cat - it's just who she is. And yes, she'll tend to swat at people she doesn't know if they try to pet her; and yes, she is the worst patient EVER in the vet's office. :eek: But oddly, she tolerates all those repetitive ear pricks beautifully ... & I think perhaps she even understands that it's needed to help make her better. And she still curls up beside me on the bed every night. (But only when it's her idea, ha!) Only if she were suffering, with no hope of recovery, would I take the heartbreaking step to send her over the bridge.

You keep soldiering onward, Lisa! You're in good company - and we're all here to cheer you & Ben on. :bighug: - Robin
 
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