How many injections can my cat miss and be safe.

[Crazypetlady]

Issue for Thanksgiving weekend.
Long story, short
We have plans months in advance to go out of town Friday, come back Sunday.
This was before cat's diabetes diagnoses 6 weeks ago.
I can not afford to board my cat for that weekend. I made arrangements for someone to help me with the evening Friday shot, both on Saturday and the morning Sunday one. 4 in total.
However thar has fallen through and no one else I can rely on to do it right or that my cat would allow to touch them.
So questions how many shots can my cat miss before it becomes point of no return.
I thought about just canceling but it's on husband side and we havnt been in 2 years and that caused a huge fight between us.
Thanks

 

[Larry and Kitties]

It depends upon history like has cat had DKA in the past, how high are the BGs with dosing and what is the dose.
I note that you do not have a linked spreadsheet of BG and dose and did not provide any information on current BGs and dose.
Without history of problem it is likely not shots on a weekend would be OK.

 

[Crazypetlady]

I do t have a spreadsheet because testing his BG twice a day is a fight. The few times in recent weeks a BG test has been done it was at different times when cat would not fight and hide. The BGs I got where 245, 345, 245 and 315.
He had the thurst, hunger and extreme weight lose, beginging runny stools before diagnosis but never throwing up or lethargy.
He's on vetsulin 5 units twice a day.
I have him on low carb friskie pates

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Can you identify the time after shot that each BG was measured.
5 units, especially of Vetsulin, is a very high dose. How was that dose arrived at?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

He's on vetsulin 5 units twice a day.

That is a lot of insulin, especially vetsulin to give a cat.
Are you feeding then waiting 30 minutes before giving the dose?
Are you testing at all before giving the dose?
Are you feeding snacks during the cycles as well s the pre shot meals?

I would not leave a cat from Friday until Sunday evening without insulin.
Who is going to feed him?
The risk of not giving the insulin is that ketones can appear in the urine/ blood in a diabetic cat who is not getting insulin….even for a short time. This can lead to the deadly DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis.
I also think leaving him with someone to give 5 units twice a day is a risk with no testing and possibly no food in between the doses.
If you can find someone, I would lower the dose for while you are away…and seriously think about routinely home testing the BGs when you return

 

[Crazypetlady]

That is the dose the vet set and I was not told to adjust or change it.
The vet didn't even tell me to test at home I started on my own after finding this forum.
Tigger gets fed 30 minutes before each shot. Low carb food friskies. I was just going to wing it and find the lowest carb possible dry food possible and leave it out for the time I was gone.
I do.not test before each shot because Tigger fights it so bad, ( my husband has tried to help hold him but that's makes him worse) that he becomes the monster cat, refuses to eat and then tries to hide. If he can't hide he's so wound up that he fights the insulin injection and then either I do a fur shot or cant get close enough anyway, so he misses whole shot.
The few BGs I have gotten have been sneak attacks and days or a week apart because it never fails. It takes him days to calm down again after one.
He use to never been this ornery, but after almost a week in vet and then several weekly visits, then being turned into a house cat. He's not the mellow cat anymore.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

You might want to consider a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) such as the Freestyle Libre. There is a sensor that's attached to Tigger and you can use your phone to get a glucose reading. Using a CGM may allow you to test your cat's ear less often and have more flexibility with getting him used to being tested.

I do want to underscore what others noted. The insulin you're using can drop numbers hard and fast. Not getting a pre-shot test means you don't know if your cat's blood glucose is 400 or 40. In other words, you don't know if it's safe to give a shot. Likewise, if your cat has a history of developing ketones, it is not advisable to skip shots.

Have you spoken to anyone at your vets office to find out if any of the techs does cat sitting? Is there any option of bringing Tigger with you?