New Member: wow a lot has changed!

Hello all,

We just joined on as our dear Catman was diagnosed with diabetes. Back in 1998 we had our only other male tabby who also developed diabetes and we managed his with a slotted litter box fish tank rocks and urinet test strips. Now we finally have a glucometer and have already started a spreadsheet. We have had four other cats since 1998, all female and all fed the same way and they all lived well into their late teens. What started as a UTI and then crystals in the urine finally manifested as diabetes but we are a lot older now and so much has changed!

I am amazed at the wealth of information on this board. We have a horse with Cushing's and discovered the best options for keeping him going without laminitis on the ECIR board so we are hoping for the same positive results here. The biggest challenge will be switching from 5 x day rotating dry food to moist food; that and we have a 4-month-old puppy.... The UTI and crystals started before the puppy arrived but we are doing everything we can to keep the stress levels down and keep our kitty purring whenever possible.

Alice

 

Hi Alice and welcome!

I’m glad you found us, it’s the best place to be when your cat is diabetic. I’m also very happy to hear you’re going to home test as we recommend doing that before each shot and also at least once midday and at nighttime too. What insulin is Catman on and what meter are you getting? Nvm, I see it’s Lantus!

do you have any questions for us?

welcome again!

 

Welcome, Alice!

One quick question -- are you giving a shot only once a day? There's no dose indicated in the "U" (i.e., units) column for the PMPS (PM Pre-Shot) test.

You may also want to do some reading. There is a wealth of information about Lantus and dosing methods in the sticky notes at the top of the Lantus board.

 

Hi,
We are give 2 u 2x pd 8 am and 8pm. We just find the spreadsheet today so our data tomorrow will be complete.

We are using a Contour® from 2000 and they just offered to send us a new one for free!

 

Welcome Alice, I had to do a double take and enlarge Catman's photo, I see he brought you a present, he must be a good hunter . He is adorable, he looks like a big Kittie

 

OMG I totally missed that hahaha!

 

Hello and welcome. You'll find the switch to wet food will also help crystals. If you haven't already checked out the catinfo website, there is some good information on food and urinary issues.

 

I do! How far before the AMPS and PMPS should we feed Catman? I'm assuming PS is literally right before filling the syringe to make a good decision? Just curious as we switch him off dry (Petsafe 5 rotating feeder) when to give him his food to get the most accurate BG PS.

Thanks!

A

 

Try not to feed 2 hours prior to shot time as the food will influence his numbers and plan to feed the majority of his food to him prior to his nadir. If his numbers are heading too low, you may have to feed earlier but anytime you are not sure what to do, post and ask for help. Use the little ? icon in your title to attract more eyes to your post. I also use the Petsafe 5 feeder but put Freckles' wet food in the feeder. The feeder can be used for wet food too. You can freeze later in the day snacks in icecube trays and put them in the feeder frozen.

What a coincidence! I have a horse with IR and joined the ECIR Forum board this spring. He is doing so much better with the advice that I received from that board. You will find the same with the FDMB - there are so many helpful people on here who give up their time and knowledge so willingly to help others.

 

What Judy said and yes, you test right before you shoot. So with Minnie I test her at 7:20, feed right after and shoot at 7:30. Lantus is a good gentle insulin so the on setting is about 2 hours after you give the shot. Once you know how your cat react, you can play a little with that. Even if Minnie wouldn’t eat when she was nauseated, I’d still give her the insulin then an anti nausea med because I knew I’d get her to eat 30 minutes after the med started to work

 

Btw, do you know what nadir is? It’s the lowest point your cat’s BG will get in a 12 hour cycle. With Lantus it’s most of the time around +6, so testing around then is a good idea. I’d alternate +5,+,6,+7 to see when he gets the lowest.

 

I wish there was a way to test without poking so much. Can you see our spreadsheet? Looks like the last nadir was around +9? We are also switching to FF so we have compounding variables.... His BG this AMPS was the highest so far. Not sure if that's because there was a frozen mouse of FF in the 2 am rotation. Still experimenting with moist food in the feeder...