New diagnosis

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Nicola belshaw, Jan 21, 2015.

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  1. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    hi my 18 1/2 year old cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes. He isn't a healthy cat to start off with as he is also hyperthyroid. It's alot to take in.
     
  2. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    Nov 30, 2014
    Hello Nicola, nice to meet you. My cat was only diagnosed a few weeks ago . I'm sure there'll be people along soon who're more experienced than me to give you support & advice.
     
  3. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely! We've all been there.

    Some slow deep breathing may help you feel more in control.

    There's lots you can do to manage your cat's health.
     
  4. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Thanx guys it helps that others have been through what I am about to go through. I know it will be a long journey which starts when he gets his first insulin on Friday.
     
  5. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    Nov 30, 2014
    I found the thought of giving Squiggles my cat insulin injections very daunting, but it's not nearly as bad as I imagined !
     
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  6. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    It looks daunting from the pictures but I hope I can do it for soxs sake.
     
  7. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Try practicing on a piece of fruit with water in the syringe to literally get a feel for it. It'll help you feel more confident, too.
     
  8. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Thanx that sounds like a good idea.
     
  9. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Gave sox his first injection today it wasn't as bad as I expexted.
     
  10. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Once you get over the first one and start getting more experience, it'll seem like old hat in no time.
     
  11. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    I hope so. I keep thinking it's going to hurt him but it doesn't seem to.
     
  12. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    You're more likely to accidentally stab yourself with the syringe (I have!)
     
  13. manxcat419

    manxcat419 Well-Known Member

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    Jan 14, 2015
    The needles are so small it's actually really easy. I was worried too when I had to start Rosa on insulin last week but she doesn't even seem to feel it. Once or twice she's given me a 'what are you doing' look, but there's no pain reaction from her at all. Even if he doesn't like it just for a moment, that moment's discomfort is better than him getting more and more sick - it's only for a few seconds a couple of times a day. I've found if I talk to Rosa as I give the injection she's more relaxed and not wondering what I'm doing. The more relaxed she is, the easier it seems to be to grab a bit of loose skin which makes it much easier to give the shot. I don't worry too much about location either - if she's laying down and the only skin I can get to easily is on her flank just in front of her back leg, I'll go with that rather than move her around to get her scruff.

    I've not stabbed myself with the syringe yet - just one of the lancets. And a while ago a sub-cutaneous fluid needle for our older cat...that one stung a bit - it's a lot bigger!
     
  14. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    Well done Nicola !
     
  15. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    Nov 30, 2014
    LOL , I've stabbed myself twice .Sometimes Squiggles notices when I inject her, she whips round & glares at me , other times she doesn't ! I've wondered about doing her injection elsewhere, but I'm nervous of sticking the needle in muscle .
     
  16. manxcat419

    manxcat419 Well-Known Member

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    I might just have got lucky there. Rosa's always been one of those cats who seems fairly loosely put together if that makes sense. So she does have loose skin in a few places (actually more of it in quite a few areas than she has on her scruff which is fairly tight for some reason). As long as I'm sure I'm only getting skin, I'll go for it to save disturbing her. The vet said I could move the shots around if I needed or wanted to so I haven't worried about it too much.
     
  17. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    The bit I'm not forward to doing is trying to get sox to pee when I want him to so I can check his sugar levels. He usually goes when he wants not when I want.
     
  18. manxcat419

    manxcat419 Well-Known Member

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    Jan 14, 2015
    You can get non-absorbent litter but it's expensive. I've seen other people here recommending putting aquarium gravel in the litter box as that's non-absorbent too of course. I've not tried that myself but it would work for sure and is most likely cheaper. Easier by far than getting him to pee on command!
     
  19. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

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    Sep 14, 2014
    Hi Nicola

    Just checking in to see how things are going. Testing the urine should be pretty simple. I know my cat always goes for a pee when he gets up so I just follow him into the room and stick the strip under his bottom as he is going. It is likely that you will still see some sugar in his pee as he has only just started the insulin.

    May I ask what insulin you are using and what the dose is?
     
  20. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    Nov 30, 2014
    You're lucky if Rosa's got plenty of loose skin , I try & move the injection site round a bit, so Squiggles doesn't get a sore patch.
     
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  21. LynRich

    LynRich Member

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    As April said, try getting some aquarium gravel, although you might have to wash it first. It's very similar to those expensive little packets of plastic beads they put in wee testing kits ! The gravel's much cheaper as well.
     
  22. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    If you're going to test urine on a regular basis, note that you'll need to wash the gravel each time or it will contaminate the results.
     
  23. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Well let's see. Saturday he decided he was going to cross his little legs and not go until after I went out. Today was fun and games. He went into the litter tray I got out of bed he got out of the tray. Got back in bed and he went in tray. Opened bedroom door and he jumped out of the tray again. Then his cat pal jinxie decided she would have fun with him. He got in tray she ran down corridor he jumped out of tray. This went on for a few minutes till I got a sample. The stick didn't really change colour at all. He has been prescribed Caninsulin 2.5ml. 40iu/ml 1 unit 2 times a day to start with.
     
  24. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    Insulin is dosed in units, not mL, is the 2.5 mL a container of some sort?

    Because 2.5 mL * 40 units per mL would be 100 units, which is unlikely for a cat.
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2015
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  25. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    I just copied what it said on box. But it is just 1 unit to start with then will be increase over time.
     
  26. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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  27. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    What kind of container is it in The original vial, or something else?
     
  28. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Red caps.
     
  29. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Original vial kept in fridge.
     
  30. Larry and Kitties

    Larry and Kitties Well-Known Member

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    Drawing Caninsulin up to the 2 1/2 unit markings on a U40 syringe is a high starting does, especially with Caninsulin.
     
  31. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

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    I think we have gotten confused maybe. I read it that Nicola was drawing 1 unit on those syringes.

    Nicola could you just confirm it is the 1 unit you are drawing up to twice a day. Thanks :)
     
  32. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

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    This written part she first posted is unclear.
     
  33. Nicola belshaw

    Nicola belshaw New Member

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    Jan 21, 2015
    Yes I draw up 1 unit. That's the bottom mark on the syringe. Just a small amount to start with.
     
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