Pimiento72
New Member
Hi Kimmie - It will be much easier on pimiento if you learn to test him at home and much easier on your pocketbook. In the main forum, Feline Health, is a post entitled "Newbie Kits" from Lori and Tom. Follow the steps there, she will help you get started. You may notice many of us use Relion meters, they are available at Walmart for $10-12. The big expense is in the strips the meters use and the Walmart strips are 50 for $20, a bit less if you have a Sam's membership. It doesn't matter which one you use, just make the sure the strips are not too expensive. Have you read Dr. Lisa's sites? She discusses ways to transition a cat from dry to wet food, with many helpful hints. Here is a link to help you get started. http://www.catinfo.org/ Her site along with this one is full of information and once you have read some of this, you'll realize that this is all do-able. It is very scarey when your kitty is newly diagnosed but if you read and learn, you will begin to feel empowered and it gradually gets less scarey. Take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, like you are blowing out a candle and picture in your mind you and Pimiento becoming very accustomed to and successful at home testing. You can do this Kimmie, because you love your kitty so much.
The next thing you want to do is copy and paste this post to me and move it to out to Feline Health, the main forum, and introduce yourself and Pimiento to the group. You will get many more responses than just mine, there are many people here who will help you along your way. Be prepared to share Pimiento's details - like how long he's been on Lantus, what is his dose, what are you feeding, any lab results you might have, any other medical problems Pimiento has. The people here are kind and we all want the best for you and Pimiento and we will do what we can to help you feel less twisted up inside. That's a very terrible feeling that we all remember feeling when our own kitties were diagnosed.
And feel free to contact me again any time. How high are Pimiento's numbers? Do you know how to test for ketones? If you are running out to Walmart today or tomorrow, let us help you put together a list of what you need to pick up there. Besides the meter and the strips, you will need Ketostix to test Pimiento's urine and you will need the supplies listed in the Main Forum under "Hypo Kit." Shadow and I have been doing this since early June and she is so much better now than she was then and you and Pimiento will get there too.
Deep breath Kimmie, you can do this.
from another Kim
The next thing you want to do is copy and paste this post to me and move it to out to Feline Health, the main forum, and introduce yourself and Pimiento to the group. You will get many more responses than just mine, there are many people here who will help you along your way. Be prepared to share Pimiento's details - like how long he's been on Lantus, what is his dose, what are you feeding, any lab results you might have, any other medical problems Pimiento has. The people here are kind and we all want the best for you and Pimiento and we will do what we can to help you feel less twisted up inside. That's a very terrible feeling that we all remember feeling when our own kitties were diagnosed.
And feel free to contact me again any time. How high are Pimiento's numbers? Do you know how to test for ketones? If you are running out to Walmart today or tomorrow, let us help you put together a list of what you need to pick up there. Besides the meter and the strips, you will need Ketostix to test Pimiento's urine and you will need the supplies listed in the Main Forum under "Hypo Kit." Shadow and I have been doing this since early June and she is so much better now than she was then and you and Pimiento will get there too.
Deep breath Kimmie, you can do this.
from another Kim