smock1999 said:
I've tried to Home test his blood but I can never get blood to come out of his ears and I have tried everything I could do and have read.
Have you seen the hometesting tips and videos?
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287
What brand blood glucose meter are you using? Are you using the lancet device that came with the meter?
Some brands of lancet devices do not work well at all for cats. Try a different one. Most pharmacies sell a couple but do not get the CVS generic one.
What depth setting is your lancet device set on? Try different higher setting to see if that helps.
If the lancet is too thin, not enough blood will come out. Try a thicker lancet if your lancet device can use one. 28 or 30 gauge usually works well. Here's a lancet comparision chart:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/centers/diabetes/lancets.jsp
Try freehanding the lancet without the device. Many people find it much easier to get blood this way.
Are you warming the ear enough? Cold ears don't bleed well. If you don't have a rice sock, it's easy to make one :smile: The hometesting tips and videos link above has instructions on how to make one. Pop the sock into the microwave and heat until really really warm but not hot. Start with 10 seconds and add more time as needed. You should be able to comfortably hold the warm rice sock in your hand for at least 10 seconds. Hold the warm rice sock firmly against your cat's ear for at least 10 seconds, longer if your cat will tolerate it. Then prick with the lancet or the lancet device.
He is on Lantus insulin 3 units 2x a day.
That's a kind of a high dose for being on insulin for 6 months. Did your cat start at 3 units twice a day or did you gradually work up to 3 units?
Should I take him to the vet or just purchase the vitamin ahead and try that?
Up to you. You can try giving methyl B12 at home for awhile and see if that helps. It won't hurt your cat. Excess mehtyl B12 is excreted in the urine.
smock1999 said:
I've also been reading up on the food portion for diabetic cats. Lucky has been on prescription dry food for diabetic cats for the last 6 months and lost the weight I am wondering if his leg problem has anything to do with this. He does like the canned food from fancy feast. I was wondering how many canned do I give a 16lbs cat a day? I usually will feed him in the morning and at night to go with his insulin shots.
The prescription dry food is not needed at all. All it does it keep blood glucose levels too high and empties your wallet.
Great that your cat likes Fancy Feast :smile: Are you feeding the low carb varieties using the food chart?
I would not change the diet just yet, though. A diet change has a big impact on blood glucose levels. You must be testing your cat's blood glucose levels daily to even start a slow diet change. It's not uncommon for a cat to drop 100 points or more just from a diet change. If the drop in levels is not noticed but the same dose of insulin is given, your cat is very likely to become hypoglycemic which can be very serious if not treated.
I think some people feed up 3 or 4 cans of Fancy Feast a day. They generally split the canned food into several small meals that are given through a timed feeder so the cat can snack on food all day. Most diabetics tend to graze on food all day to keep their blood glucose levels stable.
