New Diabetic Mom

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by HeatherD, Mar 16, 2019.

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  1. HeatherD

    HeatherD New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2019
    Hi All,

    My 14 year old kitty, Hazel, started insulin today. Looking forward to learning more here in the forum.

    Thank you!

    Heather
     
  2. Idjit's mom

    Idjit's mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2018
    Hi and welcome Heather and Hazel. There is a wealth of information here as well as a very supportive community to help as you go forward with Hazel's treatment.
    You can begin with some basic information by reading the Getting Started and the Education sections on the right side of the Home page.
    If you would take a few minutes and create a signature, it would be very helpful to have Hazel's pertinent information available with each of your posts.
    Setting up your signature (light grey text under a post). Here's how:
    click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
    click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
    type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.
    We advocate home testing so that you can be certain it's safe to inject insulin, and to see how the insulin is affecting the blood sugar level. If you are not home testing, we can help you learn the process and what supplies you will need. We will provide the links to the spreadsheet we use and how to understand the spreadsheet. It is linked to the signature and would be available so we all see it and look at it before offering suggestions or advice.
    Please post further questions, concerns and issues in the Main Health forum HERE so that more members can see them and respond.
    Very best wishes going forward :cat:
     
  3. HeatherD

    HeatherD New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2019
    Thank you!
     
  4. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Welcome
     
  5. HeatherD

    HeatherD New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2019
    Thank you for the spreadsheet! I am having a hard time saving or printing it. Any tips? I hope to get the tools for home testing tomorrow. I'm told I need a glucose meter, strips, and a lancing device.
     
  6. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Here's the directions for the spreadsheet

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

    I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
     
  7. Idjit's mom

    Idjit's mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2018
    A meter, strips (a human meter is fine) many members use the ReliOn Prime from Walmart because it's not expensive and neither are the strips, plus you can get more strips very readily. There are other meters that are good, just look at the price of strips so you can make an educated decision.
    26 or 28 gauge lancets to begin with, a lancing device is a personal choice, some use it some don't
    Cotton balls or cosmetic pads to back the ear when you poke and then to compress the ear a bit after you have tested. This helps prevent bruising.
    Pain relief ointment (not cream) Neosporin or Walmart brand Equate are the brands I know, to dab on the poke site
    You can make a little rice sock, just a cotton sock with 1/4 cup uncooked rice, knotted to warm in the microwave and warm the ear. Or a pill bottle with warm water works very well too.
    Low carb treats for kitty, some use before the test and most definitely after whether it's successful or not. Pure Bites freeze dried chicken, a piece or two of cooked chicken breast are things I have used.
    JanetNJ's testing video is a very good one, and there are lots on YouTube.
    Re the spreadsheet, if you continue to have trouble, there are members here who can help.
    I urge you to post in the Main Health forum so that other members can meet you and Hazel and help you on this new journey.
     
  8. HeatherD

    HeatherD New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2019
    Thank you and the video is great too!
     
  9. HeatherD

    HeatherD New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2019
    Thank you!
     
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