We just received our testing supplies and insulin today. I haven't been able to get a good prick on Zazzy yet for a reading. We have changed her to an all canned diet since was diagnosed at the vet. Should I go ahead and start her on the 1u or should I wait until I can get a reading to see if her diet changed her BG at all?
Definitely get a reading first! You have switched her diet and that will impact the numbers some. You should never shoot insulin without knowing what her numbers are first. They can survive with high numbers but hypoglycemia can be deadly. I understand how daunting it is at first to try and poke their ears. Have you watched the video on you tube on where to prick for best results?) My Zoey was so skitish I didnt know how I was ever going to catch her to test. Calm yourself first because they sense your anxiety and it makes them more apprehensive about what you are doing. Once calm and just loving on Zazzy you should be able to prick her ear. Some use just the lancet because the snap of the lancet holder can startle them, but I feel I have more control using it rather than poking freehand. My Zoe comes to me when she sees me open the strip bottle now and gets up beside me and waits to be tested. Good luck!
Please get a reading first! It's very important and the only way you can keep your cat safe Never, ever give an injection of insulin without getting a BG reading first. If none others - those are the two most important every day. It's entirely possible that her numbers have come down after switching foods...be safe...wait until you get that drop of blood to test Welcome to the group!
I get blood samples from Butternut's paw pads. He would never tolerate me poking his years. Feet, no worries. He's very mellow though.
I don't think Zazzy would tolerate her paws. She doesn't like us messing with them even without the lancet involved. She was pretty cooperative for a little bit when I was trying to get a blood drop but I'll have to keep trying to figure out her sweet spot.
Hello and welcome. Testing does get easier, we have all been through the initial frustrations with it. Have you looked at this post on home testing tips? http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/ One of the first things to decide, now that Zazzy is on an all wet food diet, is which dosing method you would like to follow. The Sticky Note on Dosing Methods describes the two we use, and the starting dose differs between the two. 1.0 units might be too high to start. How much does Zazzy weigh?
She's probably about 8-10lbs right now, though she used to be pretty chunky. 1u 2x is what the vet recommended as a starting dosage, then bringing her in for a curve. I'm leaning towards just doing the curve myself once we get the hang of testing since it'll be cheaper and easier on her. Once I get a good testing day, I'll probably repost here to get a better idea for a starting dosage. She had a UTI when she was diagnosed, so between that and her diet change I'm sure she is probably able to be on less.
Keep trying to get those tests in. Keeping her off of insulin if she does need it won’t be good either. Our Tight Regulation dosing method would have you start at 1.0 units, based on weight, not current blood sugar numbers. Is she finished the antibiotics yet?