Newly Diagnosed-Long Intro

I took in my sister's cat two years ago due to his issues with vomiting. He was on i/d, but was changed to d/d and has done well since then. He's had multiple issues, one of which was his body overproducing it's own steroid, so this past Halloween he was tested for Cushing's and came up negative. In just under two months after that, he lost almost 2 pounds. Blood tests showed a 43.9 white cell count, so we did a three week course of antibiotics. His white cell count dropped to just over 21, so another three weeks of zenoquin. The third round of blood work showed he is now diabetic (the first was borderline, the second was a white count only) and weighs just at 5 pounds, another pound lost. At this point, he has next to no muscle mass left. He's extremely wobbly and is confined to the spare bedroom so he's not jumping as much and isn't at risk from the other cats getting rowdy.

My vet is not a proponent of home testing for diabetes. Smudge goes in 2/15/18 to spend the day being tested. I'm guessing this is to find the baseline he needs, but it's not going to be simple as he doesn't eat a regular amount. His appetite comes and goes. I'm hoping to convince the vet on home testing. I'm 30 minutes away and work a full time job. If there's an emergency with his status, I know I'll need to be able to rectify it myself. I'll pick up his Lantus and syringes today and will be looking to order a glucose meter and strips after our appointment. Don't know if I'll be taught how to test after our discussion or if I'll have to ask here how to do the monitoring. Thanks in advance for any help I may end up needing!

 

Welcome! Lots of good knowledge here! My vet didn't want me home testing either, said it bothers kitties too much. I started home testing about 7 weeks after diagnosis and wish I would have started day 1. It was a little difficult the first week because I was nervous, but Rufus couldn't care less. Remember Smudge is your kitty and you need to do what's best for you and him!

 

Welcome! Home testing is the best way to go. Perhaps you could share the AAHA guidelines (link in my signature) with your vet. They say that home testing is the best option. You are able to get the most accurate results since your cat does not have to go through the stress of going to/being at the vet's office. It will also save you money and time since you can knock out vet visits that are for glucose testing and/or fructosamine tests. A lot of people here use human monitors since the cost of strips is much cheaper than those for the AlphaTrak pet monitor. You should be able top pick up a monitor and strips at a local store versus having to order them. To be safe, you should always test before giving an insulin shot to make sure the glucose level is high enough to warrant the intended insulin dose. Food should be taken up two hours prior to that test so that the results are not food-impacted. Then, you will want to get mid-cycle tests as you can. Sometimes, curves are done which means that you test before a shot then every two hours ending with the next pre-shot test. It sounds like that is what your vet plans to do tomorrow.

I was not taught to home test. I learned what I needed to know here! The vet that diagnosed Mia was also against home testing. For that reason, and a few other things that showed her ignorance about diabetes, we changed vets. So many vets know very little about diabetes. As you educate yourself, you may find that much of what the vet tells you is contrary to what you learn. Hopefully, the vet will work with you, but if not, there are others who will.

Post your questions on the main health forum, and you will get a lot of good advice and support about home testing and anything and everything else.

 

Welcome! Great advice already given. We can help.

 

Welcome aboard. I had inherited my parents cat already diabetic (not my avatar). My vet didn't bring up home testing. When I asked if I could do it at home he was sure but only need to do it if he acted funny. He said most of his clients wouldn't do it so he doesn't mention home testing unless they ask. I knew nothing so I did what he instructed. One night Smokey was "funny" well trying to learn during a hypo episode is not the way to learn. Luckily this board got us through the night, more likely saved his life that night. Regardless of what vet believes, I don't need his permission for certain things like home testing. However, I do need him for other things (like scripts and regular exams etc.) so you do have to weigh your options and sometimes just have to go against them. Now I was converted to home testing. Smokey crossed in 2016 not from diabetes.

This past Saturday 2/10/18, I adopted another diabetic kitty (the avatar). She hadn't really started treatment yet, only a few days. A lot of people worked hard and fast to get her to me quickly so treatment could start before complications set in. I can't get her into see the vet as soon as I'd like but treatment can not wait. So with my prior experience and with the help of everyone here we are going forward. I will be seeing a different associate in the vet office and it will be interesting to see what her views are on FD. I am prepared to smile and nod if I have to.

You CAN do this. Remember Smudge can not speak for himself, you must be his voice. If something doesn't seem right to you, come here and ask, you will get answers.

 

Welcome to the forum, and a lot of helpers here.

There is just no basis for vets to tell owners "don't test your pets at home". No basis at all. Why? Owners can gain substantial knowledge from testing their own pets. Also the testing will help you adjust dosing on a daily basis. I think vets do it so they can make more money. The procedure isn't that hard. Most of us have been doing it for over a year. I have been testing and dosing Leo for almost 3 years now.

We see this cruddy "don't test" recommendation quite a bit in the forum. I hope you continue to work with us. Many people get almost all their diabetes info from this forum.

 

I just read your into twice. I see someone who understands what the numbers and words you used actually mean rather then just repeating them with a blank stare. That just makes it so much harder to understand why any vet would advise against testing at home. Testing is just a tool that will give you knowledge, what you do then is up to you. You're going to see that over and over again here, we all test at home and it's no big deal but it can look like we're attacking your vet which reflects badly on you but that's not what we're doing. I just thump my cat's bed and he knows it's time for something important, he trusts me. Your vet is going to have to trust you too.
What Jeff said is true. I think a lot of vets have an issue with control as well as money.

 

Thanks. I love my vet, but in this, we're going to differ. The stay and curve testing is $118. I can handle it for one or two more trips, but that's about it. I'll be getting human supplies in a few days for testing at home.

 

Yes, save yourself some money and start testing at home. In the Main Health subforum - BG testers are a common topic. Just search on the one you want...like Relion or AlphaTrak.

 

Yeah for you!!!!! If you start now maybe you can save that last $118.