50 yr. Type 1 diabetic and now my cat!

My beloved Samantha was diagnosed a few days ago with a Blood Glucose of 860. Last night it was 75. I'm so happy to have found this site.

 

Hi!

That is a big swing on numbers! With your personal experience, I am going to take a leap and say you will be home testing Samantha? Has she started insulin yet?

What kind of food is she eating? Sometimes just food changes from dry to a low carb wet can help kitties get off the juice.

 

We use a spreadsheet here. It is the one way to record your readings and help you see how Samantha is doing. It is pretty easy to set up and use, however if you need help - please give a shout out. These are the instructions http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
and here is how to read the spreadsheet http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/. This is one of first things that the people here will look at when trying to advice on dosing etc. It is also a great place to put notes on keytone testing, food given, general health.

And here is some information on creating your signature which will prevent us from asking the same questions over and over
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/


And I am sure you are aware that hypos may occur so here is some information on how to treat Samantha
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

 

I gave her a Broths packet last night before going to bed. Her dose is very low (1 unit of ProZinc) twice a day. The vet advised me not to test her BS at home but now I'm wondering if we should change vets since I think that's very bad advice. They want her back Wed. from 7:30 - 5:30 to test her all day to establish a curve. So far, we've paid $507 to the vet for the diagnosis, syringes, 3 cans of DM and insulin. I found a long list of low carb canned food and I hope it's possible we can control it with a low carb diet - only time will tell. I doubt the vet will like me since I know so much about diabetes! She's 16 years old and I need to avoid insulin shock for her.

 

I have never gone back to the vet to get a curve done. I have always done it at home. Her BG's will be higher at the vets due to stress, at home will give you a better picture on how the insulin is working.

Home testing is the best tool you have for keeping Samantha safe! You wouldn't give a baby insulin without testing would you? Or yourself?

And if changing to a low carb food - yes testing is a very wise idea because kitties BG's can drop significantly and very fast with the diet change. You don't need to buy the DM food in fact it is higher carb then what is suggested as 10% or less.

If you want to post into the ProZinc forum - you will find some very smart people there to help you out.

You can use a human glucose meter to test your cat. Most people here use the ReliOn one from Walmart.

 

I used my own meter but have another one just for her use. Now I'm wondering if I should skip the curve because I know it will be around $500 and we've already spent that much. I want to manage it as cheaply as possible plus I don't trust her vet's advice now. The reason they gave me for not testing her at home was she will get mad and try to avoid me. (???) She stayed calm and was very patient with me trying to prick her ear. I'll get better with practice.

 

High five to you Momma Bean! I think you will be a pro in no time as you already know how to handle the meter, know what size drop you are looking for.

I just took Jones to a IM vet to work on his IBD and he told me that I can deal with the FD as he thought I knew more about what to do then him and he would work on the IBD side.

I think the risk is too great not to home test.

 

I agree so was horrified once again! My BG went sky high from all the stress a few days ago. I gave her a few drops less of insulin this morning and tested 2.5 hours after her eating DM and it was 230. Her being 75 before I went to bed scared me. Samantha and I will not die from diabetes!

 

Post into the main health site or the Prozinc forum if you have any further questions or need some advice. I will let you set up your spreadsheet and signature.

Oh, and if you can, there are threads that have yellow sticky's on them in the Prozinc forum. It will give you some information on the protocols used here on dosing, holding a dose etc. I would start there if you are looking for additional information. And again - if you have a question on anything - give us a post we can help out!

 

Congratulations on testing at home. You have the right mind set to do very well treating your kitty.

 

Welcome Samantha and her Mum! Great job starting home testing. I agree not to waste your money on a clinic curve, her numbers will be more accurate at home . I'm just going to add one more link to what Tracey&Jones already set you up with. Also, if you need help setting up your spreadsheet just ask .

Signature information is super helpful to give a quick glance about your kitty and helps those of us with bad memories: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/

If you have any dosing questions, once your spreadsheet is up, come post on Prozinc . Ask any other questions on the Main Health Forum, or Prozinc too. Just more traffic goes through Main.

 

Hi Kim!
You are intimately more knowledgeable than I was lay week. we paid our $500 for the diagnosis and the vet scared me into bringing her back in right away and they said they had to keep her a few days.

So a new surprise diagnosis and a grand later I was sent away with insulin and needles and my poor baby not fixed. If I spend a grand, I want my cat fixed! Lol.

Then I read the paperwork and they charged me $30 every time they did a glucose test... Over 3 days they only tested her 4 times! I was infuriated! On our way home from the vet we picked up our meter and I watched the videos on how to be a good diabetic cat mom and get this done!

It took Fabby less than 48 hours to learn the eat prick gets her a treat, so now she runs to me if I pick up the testing kit. This would be the opposite of "hurting or relationship". The vet wanted me to come back Monday since I picked her up on a Friday.... Nope... Now I just got to figure out how to get an insulin refill since I really don't want to go back to this vet.

But you're way ahead of my learning curve! Welcome!

 

Thanks for what you've said! I wondered if our vet was super expensive but I guess not since you were charged the same amount as me. I was feeling guilty about not wanting to do "the curve" because it seems like a waste of money and I can do it at home. She's using my OneTouch Ultra 2 meter.

 

I was just reading in another thread that the steps for the one touch are quite expensive. (I'm using 4 a day currently, and more when I do a curve on the weekends. But we are just diagnosed + food change + insulin added, so I'd rather test to make sure we're improving.)
I went with the ReLion confirm as it uses the .03 of blood. It was $14.99 at my Wal-Mart. There was a cheaper model with cheaper strips, but it needed double the blood, and since I'm new I didn't want to take that risk. I think we paid $30 for the confirm strips... That day was a whirlwind of emotions... It's only been a week and a half and I'll need more strips before next week ends.
But I hear any kind of meter will work, so maybe you already have tons of your one touch strips (or you have the hook up to get them extra cheap or under insurance since you use them...) and you're all set!

No guilt. I'm glad to help you save that money. I sure wish I had found this site first... The more you know ... Lol.
With an expensive lesson, at least I'm sure to learn it.

 

I recommend everyone check ebay first for strips and meters. I've been doing diabetes Trial Studies for 12 years and most of the other patients tell me they get their supplies from ebay. They're even cheaper if they're expired (or damaged box) and I've found that they still work correctly 2 years beyond the exp. date. Don't bid - just choose Buy It Now.

btw...I lost my job due to Diabetes discrimination after 10 years with my employer. I was refused the right to test my blood sugar unless on a break in my car! Three upper management people called me a BioHazard. At least Samantha won't lose her job. lol Yes, I'm going to make them "see the light" if you know what I mean.

 

Wow. I'm sorry.
Yes dealing with blood is a biohazard, however if they don't want you testing in specific areas they are required to have facilities set up to handle that issue... (complete with hand washing capabilities) and that facility is not "in your car". OMG.
I hope you take them to the cleaners and they learn their lesson so no one else has to go through disability abuse!
Sincerely a disabled person who didn't fight wrongful termination because my body wasn't physically able to endure the fight.

 

Wow. That is ridiculous. I would think the bathroom was an acceptable place and it's not like you were covering the walls in blood, just a drop . Blind them with that light!

 

sounds like a law suit to me. crazy. I wouldn't trust a vet who told me not to home test. Saying it's optional is one thing... to flat out say don't test sends up red flags that either they are control freaks, or just want you to keep going back to them so they can charge you.

 

We have 5 cats so changing vets is a big deal but I'm going to find another one. You are so right! I think diabetic dogs and cats need their own insulin pens and endocrinologist vets! I'm definitely finding one that fully supports me testing her.

 

There's lots of experienced people on here, and an extensive collective knowledge.... the folks on here have helped a lot of people along the way. they were the ones who finally gave me the courage to test last year when my cat was diagnosed, and I've paid it foward since then. Honestly the people on here collectively know more than most vets... most of whom don't get enough training in this particular area, esp. when it comes to food and dosing.