I Think I Need to Adjust My Insulin, by Guiness the Cat
Hello, it is me, Guiness the Cat. As many of you know, I have feline diabetes, and I take two shots of insulin a day. In case you haven't heard, I'm an exceptionally good shot taker. I come at shot time and purr through it and everything.
When I was first diagnosed, I took five units of insulin at a time. But once I had changed my diet and cut out … okay, okay, cut down on junk food, I started having too many incidences of hypoglycemia where my blood glucose would drop dangerously low. So we kept cutting my insulin down until I was at two units twice a day, which worked really, really well for quite a long time. When I last had blood work done, the vet said my glucose control was excellent .
I went for a very long time with everything being just hunky dory, but here recently I've been having more hypoglycemic episodes. Debbi doesn't know about it unless I tell her, so when I had one today about three o'clock, I meowed and meowed and meowed and made a really big pest of myself.
Anytime I do that about four or five hours after shot time, Debbi knows it's probably not good. So off I took her to the kitchen, where I started gobbling down the same boring, boring cat food I was snubbing earlier. It's not a good sign when I eat like a dog--no offense to dogs, of course. So Debbi cracks open the yummy kitty junk food--the dry stuff that has waaayyyy too much corn, and said, "Here, eat this."
Hypoglycemia may be a bummer, but it does have it's advantages. Junk food will shoot my sugar up pretty quick, and it tastes so much better than that icky, sticky corn syrup in the cabinet. That is just gross, not to mention messy when Debbi starts poking it in my mouth. Icky, sticky things and fuzzy black kitties mix well.
Debbi checked my sugar level by pricking my ear after I ate and it was pretty low. She had a ladies' Christmas party at church to go to at four, so she checked my sugar again when it was time to go, and it had actually gone down two more points. Debbi can be sweet when she wants to be, so she called a friend and told her she was going to be late because she didn't want to leave me until it started going up.
After another half an hour of sitting in her lap (even though I told her I was fine) and being hand fed junk food (really, I was fine, but since it made her feel better I went along with it), my sugar level started creeping up and she felt okay about leaving me for a little while since she didn't have to go far, and said she'd come home as soon as possible.
I was fine by myself, especially as she left her phone (which she never leaves home without) by me on the couch. Let's be generous and say she left it intentionally so that I could call her if I needed her, and not because she was scatterbrained. And let's don't mention those overseas calls I made while she was gone, okay?
Debbi brought me home a bite of chicken (mmm, Zaxby's … yum, yum) and I sat on her and had a nice long snooze, and I'm fine now, and so is she, so I thought I would come and write a post and tell you that I think we are going to cut my insulin dosage down again and see how things go, and that I like chicken--real chicken, not that stuff that comes in cat food cans--just in case you were wondering what to get me for Christmas.
Sincerely, Guiness the Cat who has been a very good little kitty and who likes chicken. And roast beef, too. Just in case anyone asks.
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More about me and feline diabetes:
I'm So Proud of Guiness the Cat
Being a Sweet Punkin Ain't All it's Cracked Up to Be, by Guiness the Cat
How I Was Diagnosed With Feline Diabetes, by Guiness the Cat
Happy Anniversary to Me! by Guiness the Cat
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Content (c) 2014 by Guiness the Cat. May not be used without permission. All rights reserved, and all that other stuff humans say. Photo is me sitting on Debbi. (Debbi isn't pink. That's just a throw on her lap.)
TheGuinessBlog GuinessTheCat FOPP
Image Credit » Photo (c) 2014 Debbi Craton. May not be used without permission. All rights reserved.
Comments
scheng1 wrote on December 6, 2014, 11:18 PM
This just shows that cats and men cannot survive on junk food.
BNelson wrote on December 6, 2014, 11:31 PM
Gosh Guiness you take care, I know these problems are more common in cats now due to the crappy food that grocery stores sell. its too bad they sell that junk.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 6, 2014, 11:40 PM
This is Guiness the Cat. Yes, junk food is very, very bad for you, and it's a big reason why so many kitties have diabetes--and humans, too. But it tastes so good! Normally I lay off of it, but we keep a little around for emergencies like this. It doesn't raise my sugar as fast as corn syrup, but it tastes a lot better to me and isn't near as messy.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 6, 2014, 11:41 PM
This is Guiness the cat. No, we can't, but some people and kitties try.
HappyLady wrote on December 7, 2014, 2:58 AM
Dear Guinness, I am glad you are alright. I am not sure what a diabetic is as I do not have it, but all the junk food sounds interesting as I never get any. I don't mind the odd bit of chicken. Quitr right your Human looked after you. That is what we employ them for. Love, Freya the Cat blog Cat.
WordChazer wrote on December 7, 2014, 6:04 AM
Good to hear things are under control again, Guiness. It's a good sign, isn't it, when you have to keep cutting your doses like that?
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 8, 2014, 12:35 AM
Dear Freya the Catblog Cat,
Yes, I think my human is a keeper. Besides, it's hard to find anyone who will work that cheap. Except for now she's saying she wants me to eat less junk food except in emergencies. I'm already eating less junk food! It's so unfair. Why does she get to eat unhealthy and I don't?
Sincerely, Guiness the Junk Food-Deprived Cat
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 8, 2014, 12:37 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. Yes, I suppose it you're going to have a problem, it's better to need less insulin than more. I really don't mind the shots, but it would be nice if we could drop them all together.
Kasman wrote on December 8, 2014, 4:23 PM
You really do have it made Guiness! Maybe I should try that on my owner and see if she feeds me junk food too! :)
carmela wrote on December 8, 2014, 6:31 PM
you look really cute in your picture. even if you have feline diabetes it does not show at all. Debbi's love and attention and pampering is doing its magic on you.
chatombreux wrote on December 8, 2014, 8:28 PM
I'm so happy you are able to tell her when you're having problems. Sometimes not even humans recognize when they are having problems. And, I'm so glad she is able to understand you when you do tell her. Congratulations on being able to reduce your dosages.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 8, 2014, 10:56 PM
This is Guiness the Cat. The diabetes card usually works very well for me. It comes in handy.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 8, 2014, 10:59 PM
This is Guiness the Cat. You're so sweet. I don't look a day over ten, do I? (I'm 17, I think). Yes, my diabetes is usually well under control.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 8, 2014, 11:01 PM
This is Guiness the Cat. Sometimes it's hard for Debbi to tell when my sugar is low because I don't usually display any symptoms other than ravenous hunger. But I've trained her well.
crowntower wrote on December 9, 2014, 3:08 AM
Is this fol, a cat blogger? Hehehehe Lol! this is the second time I have read a something like this, and it hit me now a ct is really blogging. Well who must have the owner of this smart cat is really has a very creative mind. My cat who died last august love Chicken and soup of bulalo. God bless.
BarbRad wrote on December 9, 2014, 9:55 PM
Glad you're feeling better now. Your fans would feel terrible if anything happened to you. Watch your diet and stay healthy for the holidays.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 10, 2014, 1:42 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. There are actually a lot of blogging kitties around. I only know of three so far here on Persona Paper (someone correct me if I'm wrong), but there are quite a few on Bubblews.
I'm so sorry about your kitty. I know you miss it greatly. Meow.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 10, 2014, 1:51 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. Debbi and I have been talking (mostly me) about getting me some higher quality food in hopes that maybe I could completely control my diabetes by diet, but high protein/low carb cat food is so expensive. In the good old days two or three months ago, my pay check at the other place pretty much covered my food, insulin, supplies, and litter. Not no more! It's hard to qualify for surveys when you're a cat, and I haven't sold a single leaf all fall. Maybe I should try slapping my purrty picture on a line of mouse pads and sell them.
BarbRad wrote on December 12, 2014, 12:02 AM
Try that at Zazzle. I'm an affiliate and can help peddle them.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 12, 2014, 1:26 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. If I could keep Debbi from wandering off long enough at a time, I'd try that.
Katherina201 wrote on December 16, 2014, 7:03 PM
So glad you are doing much better. Maybe Debbi could freeze a little chicken for you in the freezer so you can have a snack once in a while.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 17, 2014, 1:33 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. Debbi says she's going to start cooking more for me, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for her to use the stove.
VinceSummers wrote on December 18, 2014, 7:56 AM
I'm glad you're not in pain. None of us should have to suffer a lot of pain. I hope you're enjoying a rich life.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on December 18, 2014, 8:02 PM
This is Guiness the Cat. I'm doing great with my diabetes, and Debbi is a very good shot giver. I purr through shots. I just don't jump quite as nimbly as I did a few years ago.
rosepetal wrote on January 16, 2015, 5:05 PM
GuinessTheCat I am so happy that your Mom was able to get your blood sugar to a respectable level. And I'm really happy to hear that you will have to lower your insulin again. You know your Mom is doing something right.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on January 17, 2015, 12:16 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. Yes, it is nice to be healthier. But I do miss junk food.
Vivenda wrote on January 23, 2015, 2:56 PM
Well, Guinness, I hope you're more accommodating than the female dog I had when I was a child. We had to collect urine specimens from her (thank heavens she wasn't a male!) and she obviously thought it was pervy on our part - she always 'went' where we couldn't pipette it up! Oh, and she worked out that, the louder she squeaked when we injected her, the more diabetic chocolate treats my mum would give her afterwards!
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on January 24, 2015, 12:56 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. I am a dream patient. I come for my shots and am always cooperative. Sometimes I remind my human when shot time is. I really do purr through it. I'm very good at ear-pricking time, too, and only get fidgety after having my ear pricked several times over a few hours. I am an excellent kitty.
BNelson wrote on January 30, 2015, 11:27 PM
In the past this was so uncommon in cats but now its common, I do think the cat foods are to blame.
OldRoadsOnceTraveled wrote on January 31, 2015, 1:02 AM
This is Guiness the Cat. Have you read the ingredient list on dry cat food??? It's so ridiculous, it's frightening! And some actually brag about being grain-free by admitting to substituting potatoes! My blood sugar would be through the roof! Not to mention the yuck factor! Kitties are carnivores, people. We don't do potatoes!