4/22/2025 - New Member - welcome Jack

[SunitaJack]

Hello everyone.. I'm still getting acquainted with the Facebook group and the official message board! Very grateful for the resource, but also sad that I'm just now learning about it. My ginger kitty, Jack, who is now 12 years old and about 18 pounds, was diagnosed in Feb 2024 after going into Ketoacidosis and we are so not close to being stable still. I'm hopeful with the information that I'm learning and hope it's not too late!

We have only been monitoring with libre (vet tech applies and we take home, which is so traumatic for my kitty) recently did a libre 3 at home (which he actually kept on for 7 days! ) the second time using the 3, which has been way more successful. But they are so expensive. We have wasted two libres because he pulled them out right away.

most recent monitoring was about a week ago. the vet recommended moving him up to 5 units twice a day, lantus because his BG was still high, it was lower than it has been but was mostly in the upper 200s or low 300s and up and down throughout the day.(He was at 4 before that) Unfortunately he took the libre off so I haven't been able to monitor the new dose (but learning about at-home monitoring I am going to get one, just need to figure out which one and how! )

So he definitely seems to be eating differently since the new dose, and usually he's chomping at the bit at dinner time but tonight shyed away and didn't even eat half, so i only gave him 2.5 units at his normal time 8:30. But now I'm nervous I didn't give him enough.... but also I'm worried about giving him too much insulin.

I have had anxiety constantly for the last 13 months, worried any time that he acts weird thinking he's in Ketoacidosis again. He is my heart and I don't have kids, so i will figure this out.

I do leave the food out because I have two cats and trying to take away the food was an absolute nightmare for everyone involved...also from the information I'm seeing I'm def going to be changing up the food as soon as possible too. They are somewhat picky and it is really challenging with 2 cats to try to monitor intake.

My other cat, my princess, Veda is 18 next month. She's a cranky old lady and I worry about her too... but not diabetes, mostly I think it's just aging...

Sorry for the long post And thank you for any support!

My handsome ginger, Jack pictured below. And yes, he has two cysts, which can't be taken care of until his diabetes is under control. But they are not bothersome to him.

 

[Kobe (Dean and Lesley) MO]

Welcome! Glad you found us.

Unfortunately he took the libre off so I haven't been able to monitor the new dose (but learning about at-home monitoring I am going to get one, just need to figure out which one and how! )

If you are near a Walmart, you can get a reliable, inexpensive ReliOn meter for under $20. @Diane Tyler's Mom GA has really great info about which kind and how to test your cat. I tagged her so she'll see this.

I have had anxiety constantly for the last 13 months, worried any time that he acts weird thinking he's in Ketoacidosis again. He is my heart and I don't have kids, so i will figure this out.

You can and should test for ketones, regularly, if your cat has been in DKA, like mine. There are ReliOn ketone test strips for a urine sample that you can get at Walmart. My cat is secretive about the litterbox and I couldn't always wait for him to produce a urine sample, so I test ketones on the same drop of blood that I test for his BG with a blood ketone meter. Looks and works like a BG meter. Lots of us use them and will share recommendations if you'd like.

I do leave the food out because I have two cats and trying to take away the food was an absolute nightmare for everyone involved...also from the information I'm seeing I'm def going to be changing up the food as soon as possible too. They are somewhat picky and it is really challenging with 2 cats to try to monitor intake.

We manage BG by feeding our cats small meals throughout the day or letting cats graze. Mine grazes. You don't need to (and probably shouldn't) get your cat to eat half a day's calories in a single sitting. We'll help you with the diet change. Changes you make should be done gradually or you risk GI upset and putting your cat off his food. You don't want that. Especially with history of DKA. Food, Insulin, and fluids help keep ketones away. Eventually, you want your cat to eat a diet of low carb wet food 0% to 10% Calories from carbohydrates. We have lists and recommendations. There are lots of options, but off the top of my head, the Fancy Feast Classic Pates are low carb and reasonably priced if you want to start seeing what your cats like. Go slowly! Don't rush their tummies!

What's good for Jack diet wise is going to be great for Zelda. Kobe is my diabetic cat, but his brother Carmelo was having some health problems too... his allergies, ear an eye fungus, and elevated BG all disappeared with his diet change.

Lesley

Edit: another reason to go slow with diet change is that, on low carb wet food, Jack will likely need LESS INSULIN. So rushing the transition could be dangerous for him.

 

[Kobe (Dean and Lesley) MO]

Tagging members who can answer dosing questions.
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@tiffmaxee
@Bandit's Mom
@Wendy&Neko
@Chris & China (GA)
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome. We won't be able to help you with dosing until we see some blood sugar data. I'm glad you are getting a blood glucose meter. We have people here who use the AT's but their cats are OK with them or wear a onsie or cover to keep it on. There is a FB group for people who have pets that are wearing Libre's, that can help you learn to put them on yourself. People with Libre's attached still need to test periodically with a hand held meter anyway, because the Libre's can test too low in lower numbers.

What food is Jack eating now? Maybe we can give you some suggestions. And most important, what type of insulin are you giving?

For a description of how you can set things up to help us see the data and answer our questions, there is information in this post:
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!

I hope you can get ketones testing sticks and test him soon. Ketostix is another brand, there are a few. Information on how to do that test here: Tips to catch and test a urine sample

If he's had DKA, it's important to test for ketones, and to make sure he's eating well. The formula for DKA is not enough food + not enough insulin + infection or systemic inflammation. Tips to entice him to eat:

• Suggestions on How to Stimulate Kitty's Appetite

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

If you are near a Walmart, you can get a reliable, inexpensive ReliOn meter for under $20. @Diane Tyler's Mom GA has really great info about which kind and how to test your cat. I tagged her so she'll see this.

Most of us use the Relion Premier Classic from Walmart
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart on line.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Unfortunately he took the libre off so I haven't been able to monitor the new dose (but learning about at-home monitoring I am going to get one, just need to figure out which one and how! )

Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. Youcan fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capillaries it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets any brand
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up


Here is a video one of our members made, just ignore when she has to code it, that's because she is using a pet meter ,with a human meter like the Relion no coding is needed
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

lantus

I see you said you are using Lantus
I would read all the yellow stickys about Lantus
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/

As Wendy suggested I agree
set things up to help us see the data and answer our questions, there is information in this post:
New? How You Can Help Us Help You!