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Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Paul & Spook, Feb 24, 2018.

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  1. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    7E512C56-9ACF-40F5-8768-BCF57EF3D87F.jpeg Spook was just diagnosed with Diabetes. He also has issues with constipation. 14 years old. On 1unit of Novalin insulin 2x aday. Vet wants us to feed Science diet w/d canned. He hates it.
    Loves his Fancy feast classic pate. Wondering if anyone knows about miralax use and dibetic cats? Thanks Paul
     
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  2. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    Jul 6, 2017
    Welcome! Spook is handsome. :cat: You may want to post your questions on the main health forum.
     
  3. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2015
    Welcome Paul and Spook! Fancy Feast Classic pates are fine for Spook. In fact they are lower in carbs than the w/d! Miralax is also fine for diabetic cats. I give my cat 1/8 -1/4 tsp Twice a day as needed. Some here use canned pumpkin(plain, not pie filling) to help as well. Are you home testing? We really encourage it as it’s the best way to keep Spook safe and to see how well the insulin is working. If you have any questions, please post them in the Main Health Forum where more people will see them.
     
  4. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    Hi Sharon,
    Thanks for your reply. Getting a meter today from Amazon. Alpha trac2. Just got Spook back from the vet last night. Only been on insulin 3 days. he was at 350 on a fructosimine test. Has lost 3-4 lbs. At 7.5 lbs. they kept him to do the curve. He was shot by a neighbor with a pellet gun. pellet. And all his troubles started. Impaction and constipation. Now diabetes.
     
  5. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    Thanks
     
  6. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2015
    Poor baby! How long ago?
     
  7. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    It has been a little over a year since he was shot.
     
  8. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    Dec 2, 2014
    That 350 on the fructosamine test is actually in the upper normal range if the measurement was done in mmol/L . Fructosamine shows the average glucose over a 2 week period, so he 'may' be a little high, but you won't know the actual numbers until you start home testing. Curves done at the vets can often be incorrect because of stress , which will cause higher readings in many kitties. Please do start home testing as soon as possible.

    Fructosamine reference ranges for cats
    Cats Fructosamine values
    (micromol/l)

    Normal non-diabetic cat 190-365
    Newly diagnosed diabetic cat 350-730
    Treated diabetic cats:
    Excellent control 350-400
    Good control 400-450
    Fair control 450-500
    Poor control >500


    For my first FD kitty that had constipation problems pure pumpkin...not the pie filling...worked well for him.

    For specific questions please post on the Health Forum

    http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/feline-health-the-main-forum.28/


    ETA Sorry...I forgot my manners. Welcome to the group, :bighug:
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
  9. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Welcome to you and your handsome kitty! :)
     
  10. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    We are in USA not sure if mg/dl or mmol/L.
     
  11. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    Dec 2, 2014

    I believe the fructosamine test range is the same in the US and elsewhere. From another site:

    Fructosamine test normal range Cats
    Fructosamine reference ranges6
    Cats Fructosamine values (µmol/L)
    Normal non-diabetic cats 190–365
    Newly diagnosed diabetic cats 350–730
    Regulated diabetic cats:
    Excellent control 350–400

    When doing blood glucose readings in the US readings are done in mg/dl. The range for fructosamine is different than the range for blood glucose. Did your vet do a blood test for glucose or just the fructosamine? If the blood glucose test was 350 that is too high, but home monitoring will show you what effect the dose of novalin is doing.


    The link below has lots of valuable information on Novolin and many other things related to dealing with a diabetic kitty. Definitely worth the read:

    http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/beginners-guide-to-novolin-humulin-nph.186097/
     
  12. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    Thanks
    Vet didnt give us a copy of fructosamine test. Will get it Monday.
     
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  13. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2015
    Did you get your meter? Have you given it a try? If you need any help with testing (or anything else) start a thread on the Main Health forum
     
  14. Paul & Spook

    Paul & Spook Member

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    Feb 24, 2018
    Yes. 284 reading last night. 303 this am. Ears are hard to get blood. 4 strips both times.
     
  15. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

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    Aug 17, 2016
    Warming the ears helps. Many of us make what we call a "rice sock" - old, clean sock with about 1/2 cup uncooked rice in the toe, tied off and nuked in the microwave until quite warm (test it on yourself). You can also put very warm tap water in a small leak proof bottle to warm the ear.
     
  16. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

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    Jan 10, 2018
    Are you putting the strips in and then poking?
     
  17. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

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    Aug 16, 2015
    Glad you got the tests, sorry about the strips though, they’re expensive. Try Kris’ suggestion. Also be sure the lancets are 26-28 gauge.
     
  18. Tuxedo Mom

    Tuxedo Mom Well-Known Member

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    Dec 2, 2014


    As Kris said, make sure the ears are warm first. I hold a cotton make-up pad on the back of the ear to keep the ear tight and for myself I find that using the lancet freehand works better for me.

    When I started I had trouble getting the right position with the AT2 strips. The Alpha Trak 2 meter has two black 'dots' on the sides. You hold one side with the dot to the blood sample. This video gives and example..it is usuing the test solution but the principle is the same. See at 2:10 minutes into the video for correct positioning of the strip to the blood.

     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2018
    Kris & Teasel and Sharon14 like this.
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