So my cat has diabetes...

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KristenP&Sam

KristenP&Sam

Member Since 2010
Last Sunday, one of our cats, Sam, was acting very strangely and was most definitely sick. Monday at 7:30 am I rushed him to the vet and was told a few hours later that he was in ketoacidosis. I am not unfamiliar with diabetes, so I knew this wasn't good. I was told to prepare myself for the worst. As of today, Saturday, Sam is still in the hospital (due to fluid therapy for high BUN and creatinine levels) but expected to come home tomorrow. He's now on prozinc insulin, about 1.5 units twice a day, and although his BUN and creatinine levels continue to approach normal, they tell me they won't really know what kidney function he has left until they retest him in about two weeks. I've been through CRF with another of our cats and it tore my heart out, so I'm hoping for the best with Sam, that these numbers were so high to begin with because of the untreated diabetes. Sam is 11 years old, so for him to develop diabetes at this age, I'm a little shocked, but completely prepared to do whatever necessary to help him through this. (Including sub-q fluids if he really does have CRF on top of the diabetes.)

We have 3 other cats, one of them, Jack, is asthmatic and on an inhaler twice a day, so I figure if I can do that, I can manage Sam. We just started feeding them a high protein, grain-free diet a month ago due to what I thought was another cat's allergies (Finn, our one-eyed cat), and plan to continue with quality, high protein food. So far the brand they like best is Soulistic, but Fancy Feast Flaked Fish and Shrimp remains a favorite (I know, not exactly high quality, but they love it like crack.) I'm concerned the FF is a little high in phosphorus, so will be tapering back on that.

Here's what I'm struggling with: there seems to be so much information on what kind of glucose meter to buy that I really don't know which one to get. I thought I was going to get the One Touch Ultra, then read in the reviews on Amazon that it's readings can be off by 20% +/-! This seems like a big discrepancy. Is there a general consensus on what meter used by most people on this board? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for listening. I'm so happy to have found this place to help me through this with Sam. He's my baby and I want him to be as healthy as possible.
 
Welcome Kristen,

This is a great resource to help you with all your cats, but especially Sam. Lots of people here like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is the least expensive, as are the strips. Any meter that sips and takes a tiny sample will do. Sometimes meters are even free - it's the strips that are expensive, but you can buy future supplies on ebay where they are less than half the price in stores.

All meters have the 20% variance. It is more pronounced at the higher numbers where it is less of a concern. (If he is 300 or 240, you will treat the level with the same amount of insulin...)

We have people whose cats have CRf and diabetes and lots of people who give sub q fluids. They will be along with advice.

If I were you, I would collect the things you will need for hometesting and be ready for Sam. Besides the meter, you need

Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 25-26 gauge is good. Any brand will work.

Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.

Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking.

Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.

Here is a good beginning site for hometesting: Newbie hometesting site and a video: Video for hometesting

The best way to help your dear Sam is to do a lot of reading and ask a lot of questions. We'll be glad to help.
 
Thanks for all the info. I've watched the videos and read through most of the info I've found online and feel pretty ready to go for testing and such. I do want to get everything set up before Sam comes home, though, so I'll probably head out to Walmart today and look at the meter you suggested.
 
Sue and Oliver said:
Welcome Kristen,

Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking.
Click to expand...


A baby sock works well. Put 1/4 to 1/3 cup of plain un-cooked white rice in the toe.
Knot the sock closed or sew across and cut off the excess.

Heat 10 sec in microwave oven. Moosh around in your hand, then heat another 10 sec or so.
Hold next to your cheek for a few seconds to test that it is not too hot.
 
Just got back from the store with all my supplies and decided to try out the lancet and meter on myself. That lancet hurts! I'm kind of afraid to do it to Sam now. Are cats just less sensitive to pain? I can't imagine doing that to myself twice a day, let alone my cat.
 
Did you use the spring loaded pen or just prick by hand. I just use the lancets by hand and my cat has never flinched. I've also tested 2 of my other cats just to see what a normal bg test looks like, and neither one noticed. Everyone develops their own technique, based on the cat. I sit mine on my lap, rub his face and ears which he loves (drools a lot when I do). I have the lance ready, and at a still moment, just poke in the 'sweet spot'. I shaved it a bit at first b/c he is quite hairy being an outdoor cat. Some people sit on the floor and place the cat between their knees - this seems to work for cats who don't like being restrained.

I also wonder if rubbing his ears before I poke desensitizes them somewhat. And when you poke, do it like you mean to draw blood(!) - not an annoying little prick.
 
Are you in the U.S.? My Walmart ReliOn Confirm cost me $9, and the strips are 50 for $20. Other brands of test strips are $1 apiece, which is frustrating when my cat is wiggly and we go through four strips to get a reading.

On the lancet pen: my depth perception is too poor to freehand the poking, but that will probably work better if you can do it. My cat has never flinched when he's poked; those ears must not have a lot of nerves. HOWEVER, I had a terrible time getting a blood sample when we started out. I was going to rename the cat 'Turnip', as in can't-get-blood-from-a. However, after my first box of 100 lancets (that would be somewhere between 400-600 pokes, I'd say...) his ear was 'tenderized' enough to bleed on the first or second poke. And he still doesn't flinch, although sometimes he's still wiggly.

J.
 
But, even if it hurts for a second, (and we never had any indication that it did) it hurts a lot less than too much or too little insulin - both of which can be deadly. The vet who often posts here describes treating diabetes without testing like driving down the freeway with a bag over your head.

We figure we would never just blindly shoot our diabetic children; we will treat our 4 legged children in the same way. Human diabetics poke themselves numerous times a day-a little pain to be safe and alive.

I think the other thing we haven't said is that you give him a treat each time you poke, whether you get blood or not. He soon associates the poke with a treat.

Take a deep breath and go for it. It is so empowering to know what is really happening with your kitty and feel confident about giving insulin to him.
 
First of all, I didn't realize you could reuse lancets. Good to know!

Secondly, I managed to do a trial run on our crankiest cat without him putting up much of a fuss. I warmed up his ear with a hot washcloth in a plastic bag, then went at it. It took me a few pokes because I was timid, but then I got it and did the test. I'm sure with a few days practice, I'll be a pro. Thanks for all the feedback!
 
:RAHCAT :RAHCAT :RAHCAT Fantastic! Welcome to the Vampire club. Getting blood from a civie counts too.

You can poke again in the same place, quickly after the first poke, to get a little more blood. I wouldn't use lancets more than twice. They get dull easily and that could hurt. They are the cheapest part of the process; we bought them in a large box that lasted forever.
 
According to the relion meter, Sam's sugar was in the "hi" range this morning. I'm not happy about that. I gave him his prozinc shot and will try to test again in an hour or so, but having it so high worries me. The vet also has him on some pills (an antibiotic and azodyl to keep his BUN numbers down so he'll feel better) and a potassium gel, none of which he cares for at all. At least he's eating and drinking well. He goes to the vet tomorrow to get his bloodwork redone. I'm praying his kidney numbers haven't shot any higher, but I don't have a good feeling about it. Must give him sub-q fluids today too per vet's instructions.

I feel like I'm losing him and it's killing me. :YMSIGH:
 
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