Newbie from scotland

Hi - I've just joined the forum. My love of my life Sam has just been diagnosed with diabetes. We have changed diet but are now on day four of insulin and it's pretty overwhelming. He is so well in himself I am really, really anxious to do all that I can to help him to adapt to what has happened. We have a good vet but it is something I have never had to deal with before so I am trying to find out everything that I can.

And hopefully a wee bit of support to not feel quite so alone with it all.

 

Hello and welcome! Sam is adorable!!! You've come to the right place for info and support. Are you home testing Sam's glucose? If not, we highly recommend it. It's easy to do and we'll help you learn. Please ask any questions you have, we love to share our knowledge!

 

Hi thanks for your reply☺

I have a glucometer to pick up from my vet in the next couple of days. Think I'm dreading doing that bit more than the injections!

Vet wants me to test his blood every 2 hours for a day once he has been on insulin for a week to look at his glucose curve. I said I'd do it at home as I didn't want Sam to have a whole day at the vets. But if I'm struggling I may need to get them to do it.

He's doing fab though. ❤❤

 

Hi from south of the border and welcome to this board - the very best place to come for all the help, support and advice you could wish for when treating FD.

Can you give us some more info about Sam - how old is he, what does he eat, any other conditions? And importantly, what insulin is he on and what dose? All this helps us to get a picture.

The testing of blood glucose at home is easy once you've got the knack and there are people here who can talk you through it.

Keep asking questions - and when you've settled in here a little more, post on the Main Health forum where you will get maximum response.

Good luck!

Diana

 

Glad he's doing well! Testing is really not that hard, though there can be a bit of a learning curve. Here are some tips to help you get started
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
We suggest you get a test before every injection, to make sure Sam is high enough to get the shot. What insulin are you using?

 

WELCOME

Home testing may take a little time to get perfected, but it is the best thing you can do for Sam. Once you get the technique perfected you will be empowered with being being able to check glucose levels at any time to make sure he is safe, and to get a "real-time" idea on how the insulin is working. Readings and curves done at the vets office often give a poor reflection of how the levels are because of stress at the vets. The one and only time I had a curve done for my Tuxie kitty he was so stressed that they cancelled it 1/2 way through. After that I learned to home test...wasn't the easiest in the beginning...but in a short period of time it became part of the daily routine. There are lots of people on here to help you with learning the basics and understanding the glucose readings you get. Just keep asking questions

 

It is scary at first ... But pretty soon will be routine.... We are here for you.

 

Welcome Sam and his Mum!
If you could put some of the answers to the questions Diana asked in your Signature it will help us when you make other posts and help those of us with bad memories :
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/

Since you'll be picking up your testing supplies from the Vet, this is the Spreadsheet template most of us who home test use. It helps us give dosing advice, should you want a second, third, etc opinion from your Vet. Just need a google e-mail address and if you need help setting it up, just ask! http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

I know it's already a lot to take in but I like to give this to new members, better to be prepared and I hope you never need it: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

Please feel free to ask any questions on the Main Health Forum!
Also, @Blair & Freya are in Scotland too so she may be able to help you find things

 

You are so NOT alone here. So many wonderful people to help you in any way possible. Welcome aboard.

 

Hi everybody.

Thanks for the information which I am reading my way through. I will try and get details in my signature.

I got Sam as a rescue cat and believe he is coming up 15 years old and a Maine Coon cross. I've had him since he was eight. Over that time he has been generally healthy apart from being overweight and i struggled hugely to try and keep his weight at a healthy level. He arrived as a total nervous wreck and would hide and shake if anyone new came to the house. Now he is so laid back. He was lying on the sofa last week when the sky engineer came and he asked if he was a 'real cat'. He is very affectionate, massive personality, very strong minded and not always especially co-operative. Added to that very big and strong and my total baby.

Last summer he was very unwell. Think now that it was probably a bad UTI but at the time the vets thought it was something a lot worse and that I would probably lose him. At the point he lost a lot of weight.

Since then he went back to the vet as he was losing weight and drinking a lot. I dont know if they tested for diabetes (???) at the stage i was convinced he had a thyroid imbalance. A couple of months later he had an upper respiratory infection. He had always been a healthy cat but i had just broken up with my fiance and we moved house four times over six months which was hard for him so I thought he was run down.

He had his teeth done about a month ago and his glucose level was very high. At that point I changed his diet. Initially he had science diabetes food from the vet. They gave us wet and dry food, but having read info at that stage the dry bag was never opened. He ate the canned food with very limited enthusiasm. I have tried to find low carbohydrate canned food and he has Lilys, Applause, feline Cuisine. He will not eat one type of cat food for long without becoming fed up of it. He also prefers fish stuff and it would appear the chicken or turkey are better? I have ordered him Royal Cabin diabetic cat food.

He went back to the vet last week and unfortunately his change in diet had made no change to his glucose levels (very high 28). They did say he looked fantastic and I think that the diet change has been a really good thing for him in general. He seems to be starting insulin as a very happy cat. He looks strong and healthy and I find it hard to think of him as 'ill'.

He has now started on 1U of Caninsulin twice a day and I have a Glucometer on order from the vet. My aim is to do as much as I can at home as since he was poorly in the summer he spent time at the vets and I wouldn't want him to spend more time there if it can be avoided.

 

Glad you have the glucometer on its way! Home testing will be much more accurate than test done at the vet due to stress. To prepare Sam for testing, try a little desensitization. Choose a spot that will be your testing spot, take Sam there multiple times a day, rub his ear and give him a low carb treat and some cuddles. After awhile he'll look forward to going there and getting the treat so when you add the poke it'll be no big deal. HERE is some more info.
As for food, HERE is a food chart for UK. Maybe you can find a few selections he will like.