My kitty is very lethargic this morning and more so lately...I don't yet have a home testing kit-- should I give her her shot? She usually gets 1/2 unit insulin twice a day but I've switched her to all canned meat food only and also weaned her off the steroids she is on so I am wondering if her need for insulin is dropping. I know she needs a glucose test which she is getting in a few weeks (full curve) but in the meantime, should I just keep her on her usual dose? I almost feel like once a day might be enough--argh I know it's hard without numbers to go by. Also--she threw up twice yesterday which doesn't happen too often and was meowing in a disoriented way but only for a few minutes. Vet can't take her tomorrow--but may have to do a emergency visit?
URGENT Sunday morning May 13 question
- Thread starter br55
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Squeaky and KT (GA)
Very Active Member
Without a number, no one can answer your question - PLEASE, go get a meter and strips, it might mean the difference between your kitty being OK or a huge vet bill or worse....PLEASE find a way. YOU can answer your question AND be sure she's safe.
We send BIG HUGE HUGS!
We send BIG HUGE HUGS!
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
The only safe thing is to skip for now. A curve at the vet won't tell you as much as numbers at home. Could you a ReliOn meter and strips on Walmart and let us help you learn how to test today? If you learn how, you will always know what is happening and never have another day like today.
Yes, reduction of steroid use and wet low carb food can really reduce insulin needs.
Yes, reduction of steroid use and wet low carb food can really reduce insulin needs.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
Here's a shopping list:
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 26-28 gauge is good. Any brand will work as long as the lancets match your device.
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.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9172
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 26-28 gauge is good. Any brand will work as long as the lancets match your device.
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.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9172
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
And stay away from meters with True and Free in the name. They have been unreliable in cats.
BJM
Very Active Member
Lancets for pricking the ear should be 27-28 gauge when just starting out.
Neosporin ointment (not cream) with pain relief may be applied a few minutes before testing, then wiped off. It will help the blood bead up and reduce the annoyance of pricking.
Not everyone is successful the initial times attempting blood glucose monitoring; secondary monitoring tools are described in the link in my signature. They are a useful adjunct in addition to blood glucose monitoring, too.
Neosporin ointment (not cream) with pain relief may be applied a few minutes before testing, then wiped off. It will help the blood bead up and reduce the annoyance of pricking.
Not everyone is successful the initial times attempting blood glucose monitoring; secondary monitoring tools are described in the link in my signature. They are a useful adjunct in addition to blood glucose monitoring, too.
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