Other Cats Helped in 2010

Buddy--9/29/10. Buddy is one of Suzuanne's numerous indoor/outdoor cats. When Suzuanne and I started talking around June 2010 (she doesn't have regular Internet access), Buddy was not being hometested and was on 4, maybe 5, units of Lantus BID. It took a couple of weeks, but Suzuanne finally started hometesting. Buddy's first preshot value was in a normal range (haven't taken notes so I don't recall but it was likely in the low 100s), so I advised no shot. Buddy hasn't had a shot since. However, he still runs into the 100s, sometimes the high 100s, mostly after a 10 hour fast. (He will come down into the 50s or 60s two hours after feeding.) Suzuanne tries to get Buddy to eat only wet food, but he has access to dry given the need to feed that to Suzuanne's numerous cats. Based on suggestions in posts on the FDMB and Diabetic Cat Care, I have recommended that Suzuanne try to feed Buddy during the night to stimulate his pancreas so that his morning values are not so high. Because Buddy continues to have high-normal BG values, Suzuanne believes it is best to rehome him with someone who has a situation where s/he can better manage Buddy's diet. Once I receive more information from Suzuanne, Buddy will become a DCIN-adoptable cat. He is in New Orleans. Buddy is one of Suzuanne's street stray rescue cats. She has had him for maybe two years. Coco--Sandy, with the South Texas Persian Rescue, had just started fostering Coco. (Location 1.5 hour NW of San Antonio, 1 to 1.5 hour west of Austin.) She called me 8/14/10 concerned that because of excessive drinking and urination, Coco might be diabetic and the rescue would want to euthanize her. I gave Sandy some tips on food and hometesting, and sent her to WalMart for a Relion meter and strips that DCIN paid for. Coco tested in the normal range, and Sandy returned the meter to me. (It has since gone out to another cat in need.) I suggested some other possible reasons for PU/PD, and Sandy said she would have Coco checked by the rescue's vet. Sandy followed up with me, saying:

I forwarded the suggestions you made about further medical evaluation of Coco to the head of the rescue and she had me take her to the Vet used by the rescue. I'm not sure what the results were as the rescue took possession of her from there. I can only hope that Coco has gotten the treatment she deserves. Nonetheless, I'm glad I got to care for her even for a short time.

Duke--In late July 2010, Duke's mom Debrey sent me an email telling me could not afford ProZinc insulin. We had a phone conversation and I explained that DCIN could not afford ProZinc and did not have a reliable source of free ProZinc. However I gave her several hints about "frugal feline diabetes" and sent her a follow-up email with information about the FDMB and DCC, homestesting and inexpensive testing systems, nutrition, and hypoglycemia. Turns out she had lost a cat to diabetes when the cat went hypo on its first insulin shot. On followup in August, Debrey told me that Duke was feeling better and playing again, was resisting hometesting (for which I gave her some additional hints), and that her former husband was paying for the ProZinc. Another followup in October shows that Duke is pretty much back to his old self as far as the way he acts. Henry--In December, 2010, DCIN sent Angela&Henry from the FDMB some test strips, and found someone who could donate some ProZinc and U40 syringes. Jake--In early 10/10, someone alerted me that Breayle's Jake needed vetting. DCIN helped him to get an fPLI test and some abdominal X-rays. Sadly, that didn't reveal any information about why his blood glucose numbers are sky high. FDMB also sent Breayle 300 strips to help ease some of the financial burden. Pauline--In July, 2010, Karen & Smokey of the FDMB started seeking a new home for a non-diabetic cat. Karen had rescued stray, elderly Pauline from the streets. In September, Patricia and Gang offered Pauline a home. In October, Patti and Merlin kept Pauline overnight and then escorted her on a plane from Seattle to Dallas. DCIN raised a little of the cost of the flight while Patti raised the rest, and DCIN was able to raise another $350 for Pauline's initial vetting as a Texas Belle. The slideshow of Pauline and Patti's Excellent adventure is here. Peanut--In July 2010, Jennifer and Porky of the FDMB began the hunt for a new home for her late sister's diabetic cat Peanut. Peanut was posted in various places, including the DCIN Yahoo Group. In October, Jennifer let me know that the vet's office had found Peanut a new home. Pumpkin--Pumpkin owns FDMB member Joy.T. DCIN helped them out in December 2010 with testing supplies. Rusti--On 4/10/10, I got an email from a rescue friend about a friend of her, Margie in Idaho, with a newly diagnosed diabetic cat that would not cooperate with hometesting. By the time I found local hometesting help, Rusti had declined on the Humulin N she was getting once a day. I got Margie onto the FDMB for help and sent her Lantus overnight. However, Rusti was too sick and passed from shutdown of various organ systems on May 10, 2010. Fly free, dear girl. Swirlie--In September 2010, I became aware of a diabetic cat that IMOM was just starting to gather monthly sponsors for. I offered Swirlie's Mom education and testing supplies. She accepted the supplies but was not interested in the education and from her posts on IMOM, hasn't been testing Swirlie. Sometime help helps; sometimes it doesn't. Tinkerbelle--In 2010, DCIN helped Tink with insulin and diabetic supplies. Tink's last insulin injection was on 12/22/10, after two years of shots. Tink's OTJ party video is here. Woden--On 9/21/10, Woden's mom expressed concern on the FDMB that she might have to euthanize Woden because he was again ketonic. It didn't make sense because his BG levels were in the low 200s and down. DCIN paid part of an emergency vet visit for bloodwork, electrolyte fluids, and antibiotics. At last report, Woden seems to have recovered from the ketones, and is continuing treatment for a urinary tract infection. Here's his spreadsheet if you want to follow Woden's progress. Zeke--Deb found out about Zeke in ME on 5/12/10. Jennifer, his Mom, is physically challenged and did not think she could handle diabetes treatment. Deb began to foster Zeke (with moral support and supplies from Claudia and a promise of ongoing help from DCIN) to try to get him OTJ, but Zeke would not allow anyone other than Jennifer to handle him. Deb returned him, and worked with Jennifer to teach her how to treat him. Zeke went OTJ as of 5/29/10 and is doing great.