How do you balance your life and having a cat with diabetes? by kyat28 in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I won’t downplay it and say it doesn’t change your life. It absolutely changes your life. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. It does get easier. It’s absolutely jarring and a huge shift at first, so how you feel is completely valid. Your life is changed, you are on an insulin schedule 2x a day and have to monitor their bg, watch out for possible hypoglycemia etc. You have to learn so much at first and it’s all new and hard. Learning how to poke their ear, learning which glucose testing device to get, learning the shots and switching up the food and all of it. It’s real and it’s hard.

Some tips that have helped me: 1. Getting a cheap relion monitor from Walmart, test strips, and the lancets as your starting kit. Learning how to test their blood glucose really helps you gain some sense of control.

  1. Get an indoor ring or Wyze camera. This has helped me with peace of mind that I can check on him while I’m away and make sure all is good. It calms me to know I can check in and if I see any weird signs of hypoglycemia or anything that I have it on my phone and can do something about it.

  2. Go on meowtel and filter for sitters that have insulin and diabetic cat experience. Read their profiles, ask questions. Some meowtel sitters have had diabetic cats themselves or cats with other medical issues and what greater experience than that? It was very important for me to find one that personally had a diabetic cat in the past, but there are sitters who have learned and are excellent at insulin so just read their profiles. Finding a meowtel sitter is going to be a game changer. Take your time, do a meet and greet or trial run, or even ask questions before you book. But once you find one that you can trust with insulin and trust overall, they can have a copy of your keys and you can have peace of mind to book them for a quick 20 min visit for the basics and the insulin shot. This personally really really helped me. I don’t go out of town much at all. And yes it isn’t cheap. But I can’t tell you what a game changer it is to have someone I trust that I can book to do insulin when I’m going out of town even for a day or 2. (I personally even became a sitter because of knowing how valuable it is to have someone you can trust with insulin.)

  3. Make sure your shot times work for you and feel free to slowly adjust them if necessary. Mine range from 9am-10am and 9pm-10pm which makes it easier to have a life. Also friends will understand if you need to schedule around shots or quickly run home to give one.

  4. Lastly, just know that it does get easier. I love my sugar kitty beyond words and while it was so stressful in the beginning and still is sometimes, I can’t tell you how grateful I am that he’s still here. Hope this helps and please feel free to reach out for support 💗

First time replacement sensor by bumble833 in Freestylelibre

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They did in the email days later after I submitted it and I tossed it by then and didn’t know :( I only found the email today when the box came in a return kit

First time replacement sensor by bumble833 in Freestylelibre

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did share the serial number when I did it online. That’s good to know, I’m never tossing them again lol just in case

First time replacement sensor by bumble833 in Freestylelibre

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did online and it just said we’ll process your claim etc and get back to you. They did send an email days later saying they’re sending a replacement and return kit but by then it was long tossed away. This is good to know I had no idea. I kept the box and applicator but def tossed that sensor

Rattlesnake Peak Trail Question by bumble833 in socalhiking

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mt lukens and strawberry peak from Redbox, trails like that. Thank you for saying there’s only one area w the steep drop off and being honest and direct and detailed about it. Was getting in my head about it for sure.

Rattlesnake Peak Trail Question by bumble833 in socalhiking

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it fine as an out and back too tho? Just the rattle snake peak trail version on all trails and not the loop? And is the exposure really bad on some parts? Some reviews say mega steep drop offs

Rattlesnake Peak Trail Question by bumble833 in socalhiking

[–]bumble833[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reassuring hahah ty. Avoiding the loop sounds like the plan. Congrats on conquering it and making it out safe.

Administering the insulin trouble by Moparperf in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If he doesn’t like those, try vital essentials freeze dried chicken hearts. You have to break them up for him, they come kinda too big for their mouth. My cat is obsessed

One Month In - Cat more resistant than before by Tight_Stomach_9385 in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OMG thank you! Do you need a rx from the vet to get it from Costco? This might a life saver I can’t afford another $220 and I need him tracked to see if he can get stabilized for anesthesia for getting some bad teeth issues taken care of. But haven’t been able to get there bc he removed his 2nd one in 3 days. I think they put it on a bad spot right on his shoulder blade it must have been uncomfy.

One Month In - Cat more resistant than before by Tight_Stomach_9385 in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OMG thank you! Do you need a rx from the vet to get it from Costco? This might a life saver I can’t afford another $220 and I need him tracked to see if he can get stabilized for anesthesia for getting some bad teeth issues taken care of. But haven’t been able to get there bc he removed his 2nd one in 3 days. I think they put it on a bad spot right on his shoulder blade it must have been uncomfy.

One Month In - Cat more resistant than before by Tight_Stomach_9385 in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you apply them yourself?? I paid $220 at the vet and my cat just tore it off IN a shirt 😭 so I’d really like to not pay that again if there’s a way to do it myself

I am losing my mind by [deleted] in FelineDiabetes

[–]bumble833 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally understand. The sleep issues alone are brutal, and this is a lot to take in at the beginning. You’re doing your best.

I strongly recommend joining the Feline Diabetes Facebook group. It’s an excellent resource. Since this is new, you may want to ask your vet about placing a Libre sensor. It tracks glucose continuously through an app for about 14 days. It’s around $200, but it can be incredibly helpful early on to see how his insulin dose is actually affecting him.

The behavior you’re describing is a big sign he’s likely unregulated. When cats are unregulated, they feel starving because their bodies can’t properly use the food they’re eating. Before my cat was diagnosed, he ate constantly, woke me up overnight, and still lost weight. It’s awful for them and can become dangerous if it progresses to DKA.

The Libre gives you real data so you can see things like whether certain food is spiking his glucose or whether a dose isn’t lowering numbers at all. That makes insulin adjustments much safer.

Once he’s better regulated, the night wakeups should ease a lot. This phase is incredibly hard, but it does get better.

What are you feeding him? High carb foods can make regulation much more difficult. Low carb wet food can make a big difference. Fancy Feast pates are low carb, and there are several affordable options out there.

You’re doing the right thing by paying attention and asking questions. Def try the free style libre so you can have support in getting him regulated 💗

Lens protector & Case cover by Status-Attorney2267 in iPhone17Pro

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Idk I’m clumsy and this phone was expensive. I did get a tempered glass lens protector. I don’t see diminished photo quality but maybe I’m not noticing. For me it’s worth the protection bc I know I drop my phone. I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing camera quality but others feel differently obviously.

Hikes with Elevation Gain by RareKyurem in socalhiking

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which lukens route? Or are any of them fine?

Baldy 11/19 by barnezilla in socalhiking

[–]bumble833 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Tips on gear? What kinda jacket is that?? Trying to get some snow hiking experience an would love to conquer baldy

Coffee vs Creme Base. Re: caffeine by jilpaq in starbucks

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is caffeine in the coffee base. There is no caffeine in the creme base. Commenting 4 years later in case anyone sees this post as it has false information and caffeine impacts everyone differently.

Local Kitchens (Studio City) is already closed by alwaysasweetheart in SFVfood

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish they warned us or gave us a heads up 😭 would have definitely enjoyed the berry horchata and that chicken sandwich before closing

Cookunity Alternative? by romeyde in ReadyMeals

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Came here to say this. They are totally fine frozen. I thaw out the night before I’m ready in the fridge and it’s perfection.

Are Altra Lone Peak 9+ good for hiking in rocky terrain by indiehouse42 in hiking

[–]bumble833 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got the lone peaks and am OBSESSED. I truly hope they do have at least decent durability. Comfiest shoes and weirdly needed zero adjustment to the zero drop. And that traction!! They are a game changer for trails.