Where to start?

So today I got the phone call that Tempest has indeed got FD.
Tomorrow she goes in for a fructose blood test.

The vet briefly discussed putting he on a special diet and asked if I would be comfortable giving insulin.

I now need to find a suitable diet - preferably something I can buy at a the supermarket or order online. (I'm in N.Ireland so U.K shops here) if anyone has suggestions I'd really appreciate it.

Now I've read a lot of information here (thank heavens I found this site!)
The insulin is the next thing, I'm not sure which one they will give me but I don't mind asking for a different type if it is better for my cat and easier for me to manage.
So here's a bit of information about me that might make suggesting the best type for me to get.
I suffer from Two chronic illnesses - both of which mean my short term memory can be terrible. I can forget really important things.
I work part time due to being ill (I guess this is handy in this case)

What I need to find is a forgiving type that Has a 'window' to give for example I intend to fit her injections in with the program I have my dog on (she gets heart tablets)
She gets her first tablet in the morning between 8am and 8.30 (occasionally a bit later if I'm too ill to get out of bed)
Then her next two in the evening approx 10 pm - 11.30pm
I am really hoping I can do the two injections around these times so that it will fit in with what I'm already doing. Does this sound suitable?

Many many thanks

 

Welcome to the forum. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes for out furbabies can be very overwhelming at first, but diabetes is treatable and many kitties become regulated soon and a number of them are able to go into remission and not have to use insulin.

I am not sure if Ireland has the same rules for insulin. In the UK vets prescribe either Caninsulin (Vetsulin) or Prozinc to start and then can progress to a different type if these ones are not working well. Prozinc is probably the most "forgiving" about timing and doses of the two I mentioned.

I am going to tag @Elizabeth and Bertie . She is from the UK and can help you with some of the better wet low carb foods available at the supermarkets or pet stores.

 

Here is some information about home testing.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

If you are able to test the glucose levels at home you can get a good idea how well the insulin and dose are working for Tempest. This is a wonderful way to make sure that it is safe to give each shot (making sure the glucose levels are not too low) and once you have started home testing you can set up a spreadsheet:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

to record your test numbers in. This can be most useful if you need advice from the experienced users here. As well you can send the link to your vet and they can track how well Tempest is doing. When you are ready to do a spreadsheet you can always ask for help in setting it up....I had to in the beginning since I couldn't figure out the steps

 

If you are in Norn rather than the Republic then I expect the vets there follow the same rules as the rest of the UK, Prozinc was licensed 2 weeks after Cappuccino was diagnosed which is the only reason she is still on Caninsulin as she is doing quite well on it. Given the choice I would have gone with Prozinc as it is slightly longer acting and more forgiving to people with hectic schedules. Vets have less experience with it than Caninsulin but fortunately there are lots of experienced Prozinc users on the forum to help you. I posted the UK foods link in your thread in the welcome forum.

 

About meters - I use the Alphatrak2 meter which is the pet specific meter, it is expensive as are the strips but I use the Freestyle lite strips in it and as far as I can tell the Freestyle lite human meter is the same meter - just programmed for humans. The pet specific meter reads closest to the lab values but most of the guidance on the forum is based on readings on the human meters. Other human meters are ok but you need one which uses a small amount of blood. The big cost is the strips. I buy the strips from amazon, I also buy generic 28g lancets from amazon, If you go with the Alphatrak the cheapest I found was at Animed UK, I have also found some 0.5 unit measurements u40 syringes (suitable for caninsulin and prozinc) at Vet UK. Other Uk'ers can tell you about other human meters and whether they would recommend them. If you need links to any of these items just let me know. To set up a spreadsheet you will need a google account and pick one of the World spreadsheets on the site as the UK uses mmol/l measurements and use that tab - it automatically 'translates' to the US scale, there is one for a pet meter and one for a human meter.

I realise this is a lot to take in but if we get you set up from the start you will find it a lot easier when you need specific advice.

 

Thank you I've saved the food list and will go shopping tomorrow thankfully I already feed some of that so transitioning will be pretty easy.
After reading up on everything previously and going by what's been said here I think I will ask for the prozinc and push for it if necessary.
I will check out the pet meter and look into that. The simpler this is for me the better I will probably have to order everything so what should I do short term while everything arrives?
The spreadsheet I'm not sure about I'm really bad at that sort of thing but will look into that as well and see what I can do. I don't have a computer just a tablet so not sure if it will work for me.
Thank you again, it's a lot of information but I will try to do everything step by step.

So tomorrow I will talk to vet about the insulin, how to give it and that sort of thing.
Go buy more of the food that's on the list.
Look into the spreadsheet and glucose meter, lancets, syringes and strips.

 

If you do get the Alphatrak it only comes with 25 strips so order extra as you will go through a lot learning to test, I always have at least a full pack of strips on hand. If you are ordering then add some keto-diastix to the order (I get mine from amazon), they are urine test strips you use periodically to check for ketones, one pack lasts a long time. Animed UK orders usually arrive within a few days via courier. The start up costs for a diabetic cat are pretty eye watering but it does get better in time!

 

I've just ordered it @Alexi - should be with me by Friday at the latest - feeling faint already lol cannot afford extra strips etc until next week so they will have to wait.. Think I shall bring the smelling salts to the vets tomorrow when I've to pay for the insulin etc

 

You can save a lot by ordering online. It takes time to shop around, but you can save a lot. Be sure to check e-bay.

 

Thanks Donnalea I did notice strips on eBay which seemed cheap. There was a second hand Alphatrak too but it doesn't end for 2 days and needed mine ASAP.

 

Just a couple of things you need to know about setting up and using the spreadsheet on the tablet.....
You will need to set up a Google account and download/install the Google Sheets application onto your tablet before following the instructions on this site. Google Sheets is available for both iPads and Android tablets.

 

there's a google sheets app for iphone now too.

 

That's useful I do have an iPhone. thanks

So just home (again) from th vets .. Fructose test is coming back tomorrow so get my results then about that.

Was a bit of an odd visit.
I'm a little unsure how this is going to go now.
He seemed to think diet may be the best way forward as cats are difficult for owners to inject and while I might get away with it for a while eventually Tempest will 'disappear' when it's time to have her jab.
Also seems to think that getting a glucose test with a reader will also prove difficult s d the same result as above...
However on the positive side he is more than happy to order or prescribe prozinc for me as they don't stock it in the surgery.
Bit confusing after all the positivity I've read on here.. Although he wasn't not positive either.. If you know what I mean.

 

I spoke to the senior partner at my vets practice and he said that most owners don't do home glucose monitoring but he was pleased I was as he could tell I wanted the best for my cat, he also arranged for her to see a specialist when she wasn't doing so well and I cried in his office I was so worried about her. So, mostly vets seem to deal with owners who are scared of injecting or who are happy to inject without testing. You are not one of those owners and your vet will learn from you.

You have what you need which is this board and the Prozinc, if you can get your spreadsheet set up and head over to the Prozinc forum the experienced users there will be all too happy to guide you through things. I usually see one of the younger vets at the practice and she is very interested in Cappuccino's progress, I spoke to her again today as Cappuccino's fructosamine result was back, and she asked me to email an update and her spreadsheet as she has been giving me odd numbers on testing recently and she wanted to think about what we should do next.

 

Thanks Alexi I think I was feeling positive and then he seemed unsure as to whether I could do these things with positive results. I think you are right as his experiences are limited and he did say he only knew one or two cats that had fd. And the experiences he had with those owners was poor.
You are right I'm not one of those owners, I am fully prepared to inject - while I suffer from trypanophobia (needle phobia) I have had some experience in dealing with animals and injections when I worked at a vets for a few years when I was at school so as long as I don't stick myself I should manage and if anything it might help me at the same time. Bonus! Lol
I know I have a strange sense of humour but having 2 chronic illnesses for the last 24 years means I try to keep upbeat and find humour where I can.

Question regarding the diastix are they the human ones or are there pet specific ones I should be looking for?

I'm sending good wishes to both you and cappuccino and hope things improve soon

 

Human ones work fine....any ketones over "trace" is a medical emergency

 

I've my dip stix now, food is bought my Alphatrak is here and I'm still awaiting a phone call from the vet. I tried the machine out (not good with machinery) so took a couple of tries and poor Tempest isn't keen on the lancets... I'm not sure I did this right but did it a while after she ate as it took me quite a long time to set up and test and what not. Feeling anxious now as the reading said 27.1...

 

Testing does get easier the more you do it so well done on getting a number - was this before she ate? If so 27.1 is nothing to worry about at this stage of the game as it is usually better for the numbers to be a little high rather than too low, especially as you are looking at changing her food. Once you have the insulin then the routine is to test before food (and with no food at least 2 hours before the test), then feed then give the insulin. We also recommend trying to get some mid cycle tests in once on insulin and a before bed test. Once you have the insulin you will need to check a curve to see how she responds - we can talk you through this so don't worry. Sounds like you are all set up

 

Didn't get back last night as had a migraine! Prob all this stressy stuff and my brain is overloaded lol

I'm attempting a curve today as a practice so going to try to get a test every 4 hours just to get the hang of it.
Managed one just now (only 10 minutes of faffing, 1 strip and 2 lancets this time lol) chicken helps! Which was 20.6 (3 hours 30 minutes approx after breakfast).

Her prozinc is in on Tuesday so going Tuesday night to learn how to inject etc. I'm off Wednesday so might try to swap the Thursday at work so I'm home the first couple of days as worried about hypoglycaemia?
I had a moment last night when I was a bit weak/faint at the thought of the needles but I'm just going to have to get on with it and not think about it - I believe I will become accustomed in time though and it's good desensitisation for me.

After a 1.30hour standoff at the litter tray and lots of chicken later I got her to wee on the ketone stick - result! 0 ketones.
Definitely feeling a little more positive today.
Thank you @Alexi i feel more reassured after reading your reply.

 

Congratulations on both the BG testing and the ketone testing. Getting testing down pat now will mean you have overcome the biggest hurdle because the shots are a breeze in comparison, at least for kitty. Some of us inject insulin while kitty is eating so they don't pay any attention to what we are doing because they are so engaged in their food. So all you have to do is deal with your own trepidation. For practice and to desensitize yourself, you could inject water into an orange or grapefruit a few times. That's how we learned in nursing school! You are going to do just fine. Have faith in yourself!

 

Thank you, I'm feeling rather pleased that I managed it in less time on the second go. The first one was a little disheartening as it took me 40 minutes, 4 strips and 5 lancets. So I think while I may have a few ups and downs with the testing it will come in time and I will be like the pros in those online videos lol
Oh lol ok I will get an orange and give it a whirl thanks that's a great idea!
The one question I do have about sticking the needle in. Is it the fatty bit it's to go into or the space in the fold of skin?

 

When giving an injection:

https://www.drugs.com/cg/how-to-give-a-subcutaneous-injection.html

This is a "people" site but the injection is done the same way with our kitties.

Here is more information:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/injections.htm

 

Here are different areas you can inject your kitty:

https://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7374

 

Just in case you were asking about ear testing rather than injections here is a picture of where to do the ear poke:




http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-test.htm

 

Great pic of the subq tissue Mary Ann! I was going to try to explain in words but the pic is much better. Injecting into an orange or grapefruit gives you a similar sensation/resistance skin does so it helps you know when you've injected properly.

 

Fab! That's perfect so it's into the fatty bit then

When she eats nothing else matters so that's when I'm going for it.

 

I am a visual person so pictures are always much more informative...plus I ramble when I try to explain things

 

No you don't!