Re: Feline Diabetes- Julie

[MamaKitty1]

Hi Lora: I just wanted to say "Amen" to everything Julie stated. I've been home-testing blood glucose for over 8 years. Corky was the first diagnosed and I started testing him myself when I "accidentally" discovered his glucose was only 35 and it was time for his next insulin shot. (Happened during a "spur of the moment" vet visit as the vet was going out of town.) I went the next day and bought a meter and started testing. Corky passed away in June. 2004, (HyperT, CRF, pancreatitis) but I still have his brother Nads with me and he is also diabetic. I always tested both boys before each insulin shot (referred to as "preshot), and do spot checks as needed. You'll want to do full curves in the beginning, and you should.   Did you know the life expectancy of a diabetic kitty is said to be only 2 years? That is, I'm sure, based on kitties who are not home tested. Giving insulin without home testing is like playing Russian Roulette. Eventually, you're going to give a dose when the glucose is already too low and send kitty into hypo. With careful monitoring, a diabetic kitty can live a long, happy, healthy life!   By the way, my meter is now obsolete, too, but I checked mine for calibration the same way Julie did...by comparing my test numbers with the vets at the same time. A few points either way means nothing. You can test 2 minutes apart and get numbers 20 points different. I would recommend you stay with a "name" brand rather than a generic or store brand.   There's also a world of good info at www.felinediabetes.com. There is a good message board (you don't have to join to participate) and the info is appropriate for beginners to advanced.   Sending best wishes!   Hugs, Jo   PS...My "kit" came with a lancet pen and a supply of extra lancets. ______________________ In a message dated 1/7/2005 8:45:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Lora,   Happy to share!  Yes, you use all the same standard diabetic testing supplies that people use: lancets, test strips, meter.    The site where I learned absolutely everything is:   http://www.petdiabetes.org/   The have lots of info, recommendations on monitors (the one I use is not made anymore although I can still get strips for it), sources for buying low-cost supplies, etc.  They also usually have updated information about who has what on sale; the monitor itself is the least costly of the supplies and you can often get one free when you purchase a certain number of test strips (the strips are the costly item).   I use the ear stick method of drawing blood; you simply locate the small vein around the perimeter of the ear.  Now, I've never had to do it on a black cat where the vein would be a bit harder to see, so for black cats, the paw stick might be better.   I would highly recommend you do buy one of the lancet 'pens'; you put the lancet in and push a button and it does the pierce.  I'm not at all 'ishy' about doing medical things, but I have to say, it does bother me somewhat to do the stick with the lancet alone; it's just psychologically easier to know that the device is going to control the depth of the stick.   I calibrated my meter to what I got from blookwork at the vet; there can always be slight variances.  Tommy's blood glucose started out at over 500; when we got it down in a good range, I took the number from his bloodwork on a given day (say it was 123) and tested him with my meter.  Mine ran slightly lowish (I got about 110 on my meter), so after that I always added around 15 points to his readings.  A range that small is not significant.   I hope this helps and that you get the info you need at the website above; please don't hesitate to ask any other questions!   Love, Julie