Waiting diagnosis - new

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Welcome. If it turns up positive for diabetes then you're in the right place. It seems like a crushing thing to face at first, and so intimidating, but I promise after a few weeks it's much easier to handle.
 
It's a lot harder than I expected. His aunt passed away earlier this year -- she was living with my son at his house (he catnapped her -though he says he didn't --she just magically showed up on his doorstep 8 miles away -- after getting out of a house that had no escape possibilities). I think the fear that something may happen to Twitch was nearer to my heart than I'd anticipated.

We should find out tomorrow --
Twitch stats:
Born a few minutes after midnight on 12/18/2004 -- my son's 13th birthday. His mother, Donut, and her sister Sugarfoot, were ours -- his father was a maine coon that had adopted us - his name was Dexter. Twitch had this strange twitch that happened in his sleep -and my sons who both had Tourette's Syndrome picked up on it and named him Twitch.
Twitch is smart, funny, bossy, and did I say smart?
He holds a grudge like none I've ever seen before --
He started to have trouble with his fur matting shortly after my son catnapped his aunt -- which means she was grooming him not himself. We've had to get him shaved a couple of times - this time it happened fast -- and all this started seemingly overnight. We thought it was a UTI at first --but then it didn't go away -- he's laying down and drinking out of his bowl and having to have his water refilled several times a day. His appetite has not changed, but he's lost 8 lbs since his last trip to the vet in June.

Tonight, he's tired and clingy -- and we are trying really hard to not worry about him too much until we know.
 
Peggikaye said:
It's a lot harder than I expected. His aunt passed away earlier this year -- she was living with my son at his house (he catnapped her -though he says he didn't --she just magically showed up on his doorstep 8 miles away -- after getting out of a house that had no escape possibilities). I think the fear that something may happen to Twitch was nearer to my heart than I'd anticipated.

We should find out tomorrow --
Twitch stats:
Born a few minutes after midnight on 12/18/2004 -- my son's 13th birthday. His mother, Donut, and her sister Sugarfoot, were ours -- his father was a maine coon that had adopted us - his name was Dexter. Twitch had this strange twitch that happened in his sleep -and my sons who both had Tourette's Syndrome picked up on it and named him Twitch.
Twitch is smart, funny, bossy, and did I say smart?
He holds a grudge like none I've ever seen before --
He started to have trouble with his fur matting shortly after my son catnapped his aunt -- which means she was grooming him not himself. We've had to get him shaved a couple of times - this time it happened fast -- and all this started seemingly overnight. We thought it was a UTI at first --but then it didn't go away -- he's laying down and drinking out of his bowl and having to have his water refilled several times a day. His appetite has not changed, but he's lost 8 lbs since his last trip to the vet in June.

Tonight, he's tired and clingy -- and we are trying really hard to not worry about him too much until we know.
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In the meantime... Pick up any dry food. Feed him just pate food, no gravy. Food plays a huge role in the development of many cases of diabetes and is crucial in its treatment. This is at least one aspect that for the time being you can control.
 
Getting him to transition to wet food is going to be a process -- he doesn't like canned food at all -- he's a dry food only -- doesn't like people food except for crackers and -- go figure -- green olives.
My husband is going to pick up some canned food when he goes to the store tonight -- what I'm reading seems to be fancy feast is the preferred brand?
 
Peggikaye said:
Getting him to transition to wet food is going to be a process -- he doesn't like canned food at all -- he's a dry food only -- doesn't like people food except for crackers and -- go figure -- green olives.
My husband is going to pick up some canned food when he goes to the store tonight -- what I'm reading seems to be fancy feast is the preferred brand?
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That's what most of us use. The ones labeled "classic".

My cat loves kibble too. There is one brand available online called Young Again Zero which can be found on Youngagainpetfood.com. If you write to them they will send you a free sample. It's expensive but only a trace of carbs and nutrient dense. An 11 lb bag lasts about 3 months for a single cat.
 
Fancy Feast Classics, Friskies pate's and 9-Lives ground are low carb (but there are lots of others too, just not usually available at your local grocery/WalMart)

One of the best things you can do for any cat is to get them off dry....a cats kidneys are it's weakest points (all cats, not just diabetic ones) so the more water you can get into them, the better

All dry food has to re-hydrate first so it sucks water out of the tissues/bloodstream to do it.
 
I'm going to suggest something a little different. It is more important that he eats than that he eats only canned food. Yes, canned low carb is by far best for him. However, if he is a kibble addict, and won't switch to the wet, that could create a disaster. It's extremely important to keep diabetic cats eating.

Instead, I'd have Don pick up the canned food and begin to try to transition him. Quicker is good, but he has to keep eating, so do what you have to on that. Eating's the most important thing. There are many low carb canned foods - basically what you want are the ones that come out of the can in a chunk. The ones that are the plainest, usually called pate or classic. If there is anything fancy to it, it increases the chance that it's a higher carb kind. If it says "gravy" it's going to be high carb. We feed our cats Friskies pates, even though they aren't diabetic. You probably remember when punkin passed away and we got 2 kittens. We've kept all of them on low carb canned.

By the way, the person you tagged above is almost me, but not, lol. notice that my name is all in lower case and punkin has (ga) after his name - which means that he has "gone ahead" or is a "guardian angel."

This page has great info for transitioning a dry food addict to canned food. I think I saw someone on the facebook group also gave it to you. The site is run by a vet and she has tons of good information, including the reasons why for various subjects from food to medical treatments.

PK, of course you want to wait for the diagnosis, but it does sound like diabetes. Is Twitch overweight or is his weight about right? When a cat's blood sugar is high, the glucose is floating about in their body fluids - their urine, saliva and blood. There are multiple consequences of that, but one is that the glucose that ought to be getting into the cells to fuel Twitch, is instead floating about causing problems. Bladder infections, dental decay, and other problems the same as a human diabetic would get result from the high blood sugar.

If it comes back positive, you can get a glucometer at Walmart. Many people buy glucometers there. @Chris & China knows a lot about their glucometers and can recommend one for you if you want to buy one locally. Another option is to buy the generic Arkray glucometers and strips at www.americandiabeteswholesale.com. They used to have great deals - I suspect they still do. We bought strips in batches of 250. They have good inexpensive supplies too.

You'll want syringes and lots of strips - it sounds like a lot, but I never let us get below 50 strips. To start out with I'd suggest at least 100, more if you can swing it. Here is one option that you could start out with: https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/arkray-glucocard-01-blood-glucose-monitoring-kit_4045.htm

This is a syringe that I haven't used, but others have said that this brand is pretty good. However, I can't tell on the package if it has measurements in 1/2 of one unit. It probably does, but before I ordered it, I would call ADW and just ask them if it has markings for half units on the syringe. That is super important because you'll end up measuring tiny amounts. https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product...sulin-syringes-31g-3-10cc-1-4-100ct_18597.htm

There are also syringes you can buy at Walmart that would work. Punkin died in 2013, so it's been a long time since I bought these supplies - others can suggest what's currently available.

See you tomorrow! julie
 
julie & punkin (ga) said:
Another option is to buy the generic Arkray glucometers and strips at www.americandiabeteswholesale.com. They used to have great deals - I suspect they still do
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They actually discontinued their best deal on strips...now they're about the same price at WalMart as they are at ADW although if you get a coupon code and/or free shipping you can save a little off WalMart's price

WalMart's Relion Confirm or Micro are the meters most of us really love around here. They take the tiniest sample size and the strips are affordable at $35.88 per 100. If you happen to run out of strips at 3am on a Sunday morning, you can also usually find a 24 hour WalMart open to get more (our sugarcats are famous for picking the worst possible times to run too low and require that we test more often!)

The GlucoCard01 meter that Julie linked above is the exact same meter as the Relion Confirm. Arkray is the manufacturer and WalMart re-brands them under their "Relion" name.

All these have half unit markings and are the correct syringes for U100 insulin and are available from ADW online:
UtiCare
Monoject
Carepoint
Sure Comfort (these are the ones with half unit markings...the ones above don't have the half unit marks)
BD Ultra-Fine

They're also available at WalMart if you have one near you..Their Relion Brand 3/10ml, 3o or 31 gauge, 8mm insulin syringes all come with half unit markings and are only $12.58 for a box of 100 (although it seems a lot of WalMart employees don't realize that they DO come with half unit markings!!)
 
Thanks for those updates, Chris and the link to the correctly marked syringes.

I didn't realize the Relion Confirm was still being sold - that's the one we used. It worked fine. I bought the Arkray strips to go in it. I confess I have an anti-Walmart bias, which is why I used ADW. Although I was always very happy with ADW's products and service. We used Terumo syringes, which were fabulous, but they aren't making the right sized ones anymore.
 
@julie & punkin (ga) He was overweight -- at 24 lbs in this picture. He's down to 16. Vet said for him about 20 would be appropriate. This picture was taken this summer when McDonalds had the emoji toys (I had given this to Don and kept waking up to finding Twitch cuddling with it) .

He has a skin infection that the vet gave him a shot for yesterday.

We should find out later today what all the labs said. I'm working today and have 2 home visits, but both are homes that I feel comfortable saying "if the vet calls I have to take the call" (thank goodness!)

Thank you all for your support and advice.
 
Peggikaye said:
@julie & punkin (ga) He was overweight -- at 24 lbs in this picture. He's down to 16. Vet said for him about 20 would be appropriate. This picture was taken this summer when McDonalds had the emoji toys (I had given this to Don and kept waking up to finding Twitch cuddling with it) .

He has a skin infection that the vet gave him a shot for yesterday.

We should find out later today what all the labs said. I'm working today and have 2 home visits, but both are homes that I feel comfortable saying "if the vet calls I have to take the call" (thank goodness!)

Thank you all for your support and advice.
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Infection could raise bg as well.
 
"Don't forget Amazon.com. They have good prices on diabetic supplies. Also different supplements you might need. Don't forget ketone sticks. If your a Prime member, The free 2 day shipping is wonderful. I hope everything turns out well.
 
Sorry to hear it was confirmed, but hey....diabetes isn't the worst thing in the world and you know that it's totally manageable from all the others here who are doing it every day!!

Do you know what insulin they're going to start him on?
 
I read in your Introduction post that you're concerned about his weight loss

Don't worry....a little insulin, a little food and help from the great people here and he'll gain it back quickly!!

Click on pics to expand

China before diagnosis.jpg This is China when first diagnosed....less than 8lbs
China after diagnosis.jpg China after about 4 months on Lantus with the help of the people here...around 13lbs
 
I forgot to ask. I kind of went numb when she said it was positive and all my questions that were forming in my head disappeared. We meet with the vet at 10:30 in the morning and pick up the insulin on the way in.
I also had a personal medical crisis today that kind of knocked me off my feet -- between living in Tulsa and the events of the week, problems at work, Twitch and my eye -- it's been one heck of a week!
 
Hi PK - you'll be able to manage things. If anyone can, it's you!

Hopefully the vet is going to give you Lantus or Levemir. If they suggest something else, ask about one of those two. ProZinc is another one that is used a lot with cats and is good. Cats can do well on it, but in my experience here, I've seen the most success with Lantus (glargine) and Levemir (detemir).

Here is a thread about how to draw up the insulin for Lantus/Lev. I made the video several years ago about how to draw up a dose from either a pen or a vial. They have different prescriptions and aren't interchangeable. The pens will save you money. Some pharmacies will break open the box of 5 pens and sell you one. That's the ideal situation. Don't buy repackaged insulin from the vet - it lasts longest when bought from a pharmacy and not repackaged. There are photos of what it should look like.

I'm trying to get you this info before you've gone out and bought things! Let us know how it goes tomorrow.
 
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