Posting for new member & cat with kidney disease/diabetes

[Wendy&Neko]

@Joyfulfeline You PM'ed me this messagage. We ask that people post first in the Feline Health Forum and don't use PM for this sort of question, so I'm starting your own threa.

Last year, the kidney disease in my cat, which was diagnosed first, was stable with a prescription renal diet. Then the cat developed diabetes which the vet tried to manage using insulin while keeping the pet on the renal diet but couldnt get the diabetes under control. With consultation from another vet, the treating vet took the cat off the renal diet which is high in carbohydrates and put her on a prescription diabetic diet with lantus insulin. As a result, at the last vet visit, the blood work showed a worsening of the kidney disease (because the diabetic diet is high in protein) even though the diabetes was under control. At this point, the vet took the cat off the prescription diabetic diet and put her back on the prescription renal diet hoping to stabalize her kidneys and use insulin to treat the diabetes. This cat has had countless at home glucose curves done by me from the pet's ear. Now, because on the new renal diet the blood glucose values are in the 600's, we are starting all over again with the blood glucose curves from the ears. At this point, I am seriously considering getting the freestyle libre 2 with reader. I have a cheap old cell phone and I do not think it is capable of scanning the "disk" to read the glucose levels, that is why I am investing in a scanner. Does anyone on this feline diabetes site have experience with the freestyle libre 2 with reader? If you use freestyle libre 3, does it have a separate reader? Do you have any tips for a new freestyle libre user like me?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

You don't need prescription diets to manage diabetes. This website has a list of CKD foods that are diabeties friendly. Click on the 4th link down:

• CKD food Chart (CKD Facebook group - 2024)

I've never used the Libre, I always used a blood glucose meter and poked by hand.

Some other information that might help you as a new member in this post:
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

Also tagging @Staci & Ivy who is one of our more experienced Libre users.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

You can also check here
low carb/ low phosphorus for diabetic cats) CKD
if you tap on this link and look at post #32 I listed some Weruva pates for another member that's low carb/ low phosphorus.
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-member-11-8-and-i-am-tired.283363/#post-3124085

 

[Staci & Ivy]

You don't need prescription diets to manage diabetes. This website has a list of CKD foods that are diabeties friendly. Click on the 4th link down:

• CKD food Chart (CKD Facebook group - 2024)

I've never used the Libre, I always used a blood glucose meter and poked by hand.

Some other information that might help you as a new member in this post:
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

Also tagging @Staci & Ivy who is one of our more experienced Libre users.

Hello and welcome,
I’ve been using a Libre 3 on my cat, Ivy for about 2 years and I’m very comfortable using them.
My cat doesn’t tolerate constant ear pricks, she gets very angry and will bite and scratch me.

I much prefer the Libre 3 model because you do not need to physically scan your cat. The dedicated cat’s phone acts as a reader and sends the data to your phone so you can know what is going on at all times.
The cat’s phone must be within 33 feet of them in order to get a reading from the Libre sensor.

With the Libre 2 you have to manually scan the cat each time you want a reading and it cannot send the data to your phone.

I also test with a handheld meter when she hits “LO” readings on the Libre most especially.
There can be a discrepancy between when you see “LO” readings on the Libre and what the handheld glucometer reads.

I use a Contour Next human meter, but it could be any handheld human meter or a pet meter.
I install the sensors myself and I keep several on hand (6 or so) at all times because they can fail or be pulled off at any time by the cat. I don’t want to have to wait to have someone else put it on or be without data, or have to take Ivy to a vet for that to be done. (It’s one more stressor for you and your cat, plus additional costs).

It’s truly not that hard to put on. You just have to follow the directions very carefully. Once you’ve done it one or two times you will be very comfortable doing it.
I keep a “tube top” on Ivy, (previously had a T-shirt on her. She just didn’t like the T-shirt). But most cats tolerate a tee shirt quite well.
Your kitty may get used to wearing a Libre (and then you may not have to use a T-shirt, but then again you might always have to keep one on if he likes to pull the Libre off.)

For a Libre 3, I got Ivy her own phone that stays with her at home and I can monitor her 24/7, the data is sent directly to my own phone (through the Libre Linkup App).
The phone does not require any active service so you are not paying for an additional phone line.
The phone operates on Bluetooth and uses Wi-Fi to send the data to your phone so that you can monitor your cat’s sensor information at all times.
You can use an older phone model if you have one or could purchase one used.
On the Abbott website there are lists of compatible, androids, or iPhones.

***I strongly recommend learning about how to use a Libre from the Facebook group:
“Freestyle Libre for Dogs and Cats”
They have somuch valuable information, guide guides, tutorials videos, and everything you will need to learn about using a Freestyle Libre sensor and what supplies to use.

A vet’s office tends to use glue to install them, it is highly recommended not to use any glue.
The glue can flood and kill the sensor and it’s terrible on their fragile skin.

I hope this helps. Please ask questions if you have them.

 

[Joyfulfeline]

Hello and welcome,
I’ve been using a Libre 3 on my cat, Ivy for about 2 years and I’m very comfortable using them.
My cat doesn’t tolerate constant ear pricks, she gets very angry and will bite and scratch me.

I much prefer the Libre 3 model because you do not need to physically scan your cat. The dedicated cat’s phone acts as a reader and sends the data to your phone so you can know what is going on at all times.
The cat’s phone must be within 33 feet of them in order to get a reading from the Libre sensor.

With the Libre 2 you have to manually scan the cat each time you want a reading and it cannot send the data to your phone.

I also test with a handheld meter when she hits “LO” readings on the Libre most especially.
There can be a discrepancy between when you see “LO” readings on the Libre and what the handheld glucometer reads.

I use a Contour Next human meter, but it could be any handheld human meter or a pet meter.
I install the sensors myself and I keep several on hand (6 or so) at all times because they can fail or be pulled off at any time by the cat. I don’t want to have to wait to have someone else put it on or be without data, or have to take Ivy to a vet for that to be done. (It’s one more stressor for you and your cat, plus additional costs).

It’s truly not that hard to put on. You just have to follow the directions very carefully. Once you’ve done it one or two times you will be very comfortable doing it.
I keep a “tube top” on Ivy, (previously had a T-shirt on her. She just didn’t like the T-shirt). But most cats tolerate a tee shirt quite well.
Your kitty may get used to wearing a Libre (and then you may not have to use a T-shirt, but then again you might always have to keep one on if he likes to pull the Libre off.)

For a Libre 3, I got Ivy her own phone that stays with her at home and I can monitor her 24/7, the data is sent directly to my own phone (through the Libre Linkup App).
The phone does not require any active service so you are not paying for an additional phone line.
The phone operates on Bluetooth and uses Wi-Fi to send the data to your phone so that you can monitor your cat’s sensor information at all times.
You can use an older phone model if you have one or could purchase one used.
On the Abbott website there are lists of compatible, androids, or iPhones.

***I strongly recommend learning about how to use a Libre from the Facebook group:
“Freestyle Libre for Dogs and Cats”
They have somuch valuable information, guide guides, tutorials videos, and everything you will need to learn about using a Freestyle Libre sensor and what supplies to use.

A vet’s office tends to use glue to install them, it is highly recommended not to use any glue.
The glue can flood and kill the sensor and it’s terrible on their fragile skin.

I hope this helps. Please ask questions if you have them.

 

[Joyfulfeline]

Thank you very much for all the helpful information for my cat!

 

[Joyfulfeline]

You don't need prescription diets to manage diabetes. This website has a list of CKD foods that are diabeties friendly. Click on the 4th link down:

• CKD food Chart (CKD Facebook group - 2024)

I've never used the Libre, I always used a blood glucose meter and poked by hand.

Some other information that might help you as a new member in this post:

You can also check here
low carb/ low phosphorus for diabetic cats) CKD
if you tap on this link and look at post #32 I listed some Weruva pates for another member that's low carb/ low phosphorus.
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-member-11-8-and-i-am-tired.283363/#post-3124085

Thank you for your assistance!