Reversing Neropathy Through Diet

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Ashlee Jennings

Ashlee Jennings

Member Since 2016
My cat was diagnosed with diabetes a week ago, so I am trying a new healthier diet (I thought Avoderm was supposed to be high quality but apparently not). This brand of cat food (Instinct) is 95% meat product, no animal meal, no corn, soy, wheat, rice, or potato. The other 5% comes from vegetables like kale, carrots, and peas. I have been reading that diabetic cats really shouldn't eat dry food since it can dehydrate them but Taz is a food snob and will only eat kibble. I am trying out a new regimen of half wet, half dry to get her used to eating wet food, and to save on some money too because mixing both will help the food stretch. The kibble also has freeze dried raw food (real raw meat) mixed in as well. The bag was $35 for 5lbs and the cans were $2.59 each. I bought 12 cans. The total was $66.08. I am hoping that with this better diet the diabetes will reverse. This has been known to happen and I pray this will be the case for Taz. Her walking is getting worse, not better since the insulin shots. It's a symptom caused by a condition called neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is one of the symptoms of prolonged hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). It causes numbness and weakness in the legs, particularly in cats. She can only walk 5 or 6 steps while her feet slide out from under her and then she has to rest. Her front paws are being affected now too. I really hope this new diet works out for her!! I just wanted to share in case anyone else is going through the same thing. If you have any experience with this, I would love to talk to you! Has your cat, or a cat you know, had neuropathy reversed through an improve diet? xoxo

http://www.instinctpetfood.com/instinct-ultimate-protein-kibble-for-cats

http://www.instinctpetfood.com/instinct-ultimate-protein-cans-for-cats
 
The typical treatment for Neuropathy is B12 methyl cobalamine. Many people use the specific mix "Zobaline", which also has folic acid for better absorption. A recent thread here discusses this topic.

This website also discusses B12 treatment for neuropathy. I never heard of diet to resolve it.
 
Ashlee Jennings said:
Has your cat, or a cat you know, had neuropathy reversed through an improve diet? xoxo
Click to expand...
Hi Ashlee,
The answer to that is a sort of partial 'yes'. Diet change is only part of the picture...

My understanding is that the neuropathy is caused by vitamin B deficiency. The deficiency causes nerve damage. Diabetic cats can get deficient in vitamin B if they pee a lot, which cats with high blood glucose levels certainly will do (vitamin B is water soluble). Supplementing methyl B12 (methylcobalamin) has been found to help to heal nerve damage. Many of us have cats that have benefited in this way.

Some cats will respond to methyl B12 quite quickly, even if the blood glucose levels are still high. But other cats only begin to show significant healing if their blood glucose levels are brought into a better range at the same time.
Some cats who don't receive methyl B12 supplementation, but whose blood glucose levels are brought into better range, may heal all on their own over time. But the methyl B12 seems to speed up that process.

Switching a cat to a low carb wet diet (if they've been eating high carb food) can dramatically reduce blood glucose levels in some cats. And this, of course, will reduce the amount they pee (so, less loss of water soluble vitamins). So, diet does play an enormous part.
Most cats on high carb dry diets can be transitioned to eating low carb wet food. And it is well worth persisting. But there will always be a few cats who, despite their caregivers best efforts, staunchly refuse to eat the new food, and who will only eat dry. If you are in the US there are a couple of lower carb dry foods available.

Appropriate insulin therapy is the other crucial part of the picture, of course, in reducing blood glucose levels.

Switching to a low carb diet may reduce the cat's need for insulin. So, for a cat already on insulin the carb content of the diet should only be reduced if/when the caregiver is able to test the cat's blood glucose at home, and can monitor the situation so that the insulin dose is reduced accordingly (to prevent hypoglycemia). A cat who is not yet on insulin may (depending on the circumstances) benefit from having their diet changed prior to starting insulin. (This wouldn't be appropriate for a cat in very high blood glucose levels, or one who'd had had DKA, or who had ketones present in the urine.)

Note: Potassium deficiency can also cause leg weakness. Cats who pee a lot can lose too much potassium. (And I think I also read recently somewhere that just being on insulin can reduce potassium in some cats). The vet would need to do a blood test to see if the potassium level is deficient. And it can be supplemented if necessary. But it does have to be done with care, and the blood potassium levels would need to be monitored by the vet.

Oh, Welcome to FDMB, Ashlee! :bighug:
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Eliz
 
Ashlee Jennings said:
Her walking is getting worse, not better since the insulin shots.
Click to expand...
Hi again, Ashlee

That was the case with my cat too, at first. He seemed to get worse before he got better....

It may be that the effects of the neuropathy are still becoming apparent.

Or it's possible that your kitty's blood glucose levels are actually even higher now that she's on insulin... This can happen if, for example, the insulin dose is too high.
If you have reduced the carb content of the diet (even if it's dry food) this may have reduced your kitty's insulin needs. Or it could even be that the dose was too high to begin with.

Can you tell us what insulin your kitty is on, and what dose?

And are you willing to try to learn to test your kitty's blood glucose at home? It's really not difficult to learn, it shouldn't hurt your cat at all, and it will make it much easier to manage her diabetes. Most of us use ordinary glucose meters made for humans. We can help you learn to hometest, if you wish.

Eliz
 
I noticed that Taz had even more trouble walking AFTER she began getting the insulin. I think that it is making it worse. I did a lot of research over the last week and think that changing her diet will significantly make a difference. She is my best friend. I have had her for 5 years and know her very well. I have been feeding her Avoderm for a long time thinking it was a good quality food and was very surprised that she became diabetic because I have been paying more money for a higher quality food. She has always been a picky eater (dry food only). I have tried to feed her wet food before but she wouldn't touch it. After doing a lot of research I discovered Instinct and decided to try it out. Tonight for the first time I gave her 1/3 of a 5.5 oz can and about 1/4 cup dry food (both from Instinct), mixed with some juice from the can. She LOVED it. I was really surprised. I had done a lot of reading that suggested if you switch to a low carb diet it is necessary to reduce the dose of insulin you give your cat. Well, she is only on one unit of measurement twice a day. I decided to skip the insulin tonight and just feed her the low carb food since she is on such a low dose already.

She is doing really well 7 hours later. She hasn't vomited or gone into any kind of shock. My Step Father works for Abbott Labs. They make the Therasense glucometer for diabetic people. I asked him about the accuracy of Accu-Check Aviva because I noticed a free offer for a free meter. He told me that Accu-Check was a veritable brand and that the most expensive part was the test strips, that's how these companies make their money. I plan to get one right away. I used to be a caregiver for the developmentally disabled so I have been habituated to some otherwise uncomfortable medical practices in terms of monitoring vitals and that kind of thing so I feel prepared and able to do home testing. Maybe I jumped the gun on switching her food so quickly but when I saw her getting worse after the insulin I felt like changing her diet may be the best alternative.

She is doing well now. I came home late tonight and she stood right up and was meowing like she always does. She's being her cute playful self rolling on the floor and is being less vocal which makes me think she is feeling more comfortable. I am going to test this food diet (grain free, gluten free and 95% meat with no animal meal) for 2 more days while I work on getting a blood glucose meter. I am just glad to see her happy. I think diet is really the key component here. I'd much rather pay $70/month on quality food than much more each month on insulin and syringes if I can help it.

I saw this link where you can order Methylcobalamin in a dropper and was thinking I could just add it to her low carb food to heal the neuropathy. Does anyone have any thoughts?

http://www.herbsdirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=3642&gclid=COeeupWZr84CFQJrfgoduJUPYQ
 
Accu-check is a good brand meter, do check out some other brands such as Freestyle and most importantly the cost of the strips, free meters are a typical marketing ploy to tie people into paying a lot for strips because of course you need the strips for the meter to work. You are looking for a meter which has low cost strips and takes a small drop of blood. Whereabouts are you located as someone more local to you may have a specific recommendation for a meter.

As she developed more wobbles on insulin and a lower carb diet, I think you did right to skip until you know what her glucose levels are doing.

Are you able to add a signature and start up a spreadsheet to record the glucose levels so if you ever need any fast advice the information is all there. Just shout if you need help with that.
 
The link you posted looks fine. But that product lacks folic acid. I was told folic acid helps with methyl cobalamine absorption. Per another thread you want to make sure there is no sugar or sugar substitute in the B12 product. That seems to be the case in the link you posted.
 
Welcome, Ashlee!

FWIW, I purchased a bag of Instinct Ultimate kibble for Bubba treats, then read the label after the fact. It looks to me that the carb content is around 20%, which I think is too high. Instinct Raw appears to be the "good" stuff. Since I, too, am a newbie, I could be wrong and won't take offense at corrections. :)
 
I took my first reading. Taz is at 239. Her last meal was 10 hours ago. I am going to feed her at 9:45pm. I was giving her insulin at 9:45am and 9:45pm (I work swing shift 1pm - 9:30pm) and then come home, feed her, and give her the insulin after she eats. Like I mentioned before, her walking seemed to be getting worse so I tried switching her diet and took her off of it until I could get a glucose meter. I went to Fred Meyer today and bought a generic brand Kroger meter for $9.99 and got 100 test trips for $22.99 and then lancets were cheap as well. I was going to feed her at 9:45pm and then wait 20 minutes, test her, wait 2 hours and test her again. Does that sound about right? I only need to give her insulin if I test her and her numbers are over 280 - 300?
 

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You should test first, then feed then give the shot. You don't want her pre shot test to be food influenced, so no food for two hours prior to that test.
 
Generally only give insulin if over 200. However, I don't know which meter you are using and how the blood test corresponds to feline blood tests.

Good work on starting the spreadsheet.
 
I quickly read back and little and didn't find the answer to this...which insulin are you using?

It would really help if you'd fill out your signature box. Just click on your sign on name (top right) and there's a "Signature" in the drop down menu. A new box will pop up where you can add information. Some of what we usually put in are:

Your name/cats name, age, sex, date of diagnosis, type of insulin, type of meter (human or pet?), type of food, any other health issues?

Then you won't have to keep answering the same questions over and over again!!

Also, we have our own special spreadsheet we use here that color codes your test results. It's very useful for us to see your tests in our own format instead of Excel (also, some people don't have Excel and can't open it)

All you need is a Google account....its already formatted for you. Here are the Instructions on getting the FDMB spreadsheet...if you have any problems with it, let us know! We can set it up for you if needed!!
 
Here are some Instructions on Understanding the spreadsheet (sorry...I usually give that link too!....doesn't help much if you don't understand how to use it!)

I'd suggest getting a +2 test....that just means 2 hours after the shot...it'll help see how quickly the insulin is taking effect.

Vetsulin isn't a great insulin for cats because it "hits hard" and usually wears off before the next shot is due, but some people have had good luck with it
 
Chris & China said:
Here are some Instructions on Understanding the spreadsheet (sorry...I usually give that link too!....doesn't help much if you don't understand how to use it!)

I'd suggest getting a +2 test....that just means 2 hours after the shot...it'll help see how quickly the insulin is taking effect.

Vetsulin isn't a great insulin for cats because it "hits hard" and usually wears off before the next shot is due, but some people have had good luck with it
Click to expand...

That was very helpful, thanks!
 
I added the spreadsheet to my signature, can someone tell me if they click on it that it opens. I only have one test logged and 1 injection. The title should say Taz Insulin Spreadsheet.
 
Ashlee Jennings said:
I added the spreadsheet to my signature, can someone tell me if they click on it that it opens
Click to expand...

You need to go to the top right where it says "Share" and click....a new box pops up...look at the very bottom right on that box for "Advanced" and click....choose "Anyone with the link" and save
 
wow, 1 u got her into blue numbers! Looks like she's doing well. :) Good for you for testing right away. I was put off about testing, and my vet didn't push it, so I waited two months before I found this forum and got on board. I feel like I wasted those two months now and she could have progressed quicker had I not hesitated. You're doing awesome!
 
Congrats on the spreadsheet and getting rolling with diabetes treatment. It can be challenging during the start.
 
How many times can you test your cats ears in a day? She doesn't seem to mind the lancet so much as she gets a little annoyed with me messing with her ears but she cooperates. I just don't want to give her sores or anything from pricking her too often. I try to switch it up but it really just depends on which ear I am able to get a grip on lol
 
You can test every 2 hours. But that is not usually needed, unless you are doing a "12 hour curve". A curve is done to determine how your cat responds to a specific insulin and dose.

I don't like to test more than 4 or 5 times a day. You are right, the poke doesn't hurt. But many cats wriggle around a lot. And if I test Leo during an AMPS or PMPS then he gets cranky real quick. There is a real art to getting the blood out of the ear fast, and onto the test strip.
 
Has anyone seen this food chart before?

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

It looks like Natural Balance Stews are a really good option. Highest in protein, less fat, and low carbohydrate percentages.

I am disappointed by what I see here because I spent $65 on new food for Taz this month and apparently, according to this chart, Instinct wet food is high in fats and not low enough in carbs, even though I spent $30 on 12 cans... What a bummer! Natural Balance seems like a better choice and I am seeing 24-packs of the 5.5 oz cans for $26! Way cheaper.
 
The stews do look low carb, check calories too because that will determine how much food you have to feed. The Natures Variety Instinct cans are low carb.
 
Yes, that chart is one of the links from the home page.

It is easy to overspend, and challenging to find the right diet for a good cost. You want 10% or less carbs, and high protein. Our cat Leo is a high-dose kitty, and diet is a critical component that I'm still trying to get strictly regulated.
 
JeffJ said:
You are right, the poke doesn't hurt. But many cats wriggle around a lot. And if I test Leo during an AMPS or PMPS then he gets cranky real quick. There is a real art to getting the blood out of the ear fast, and onto the test strip.
Click to expand...

Bubba says "Owww" when I poke his ear. :) I keep freeze-dried chicken in our testing spot, and put the container right in front of him while I test. He knows what's in it, and he knows he gets a treat after I poke him. Seems to help keep him still. When he's getting hungry, he'll sit where we test and stare at me!

He does seem to prefer I not mess with his right ear. His left gets a workout, but he doesn't mind as much.
 
Ashlee Jennings said:
Has anyone seen this food chart before?

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

It looks like Natural Balance Stews are a really good option. Highest in protein, less fat, and low carbohydrate percentages.

I am disappointed by what I see here because I spent $65 on new food for Taz this month and apparently, according to this chart, Instinct wet food is high in fats and not low enough in carbs, even though I spent $30 on 12 cans... What a bummer! Natural Balance seems like a better choice and I am seeing 24-packs of the 5.5 oz cans for $26! Way cheaper.
Click to expand...

If you want to look at Bubba's spreadsheet, there's a "Food" tab - I took the foods under 5 carbs, and sorted by carbs and protein. There are some budget friendly foods in there like Fancy Feast. Bubba gets a mix of them. Some days he likes gourmet, others days he likes the cheap eats. I can get most of them at Chewy.com for less than I can find them at any store around here.
 
see the shortcut food list
( it is time i updated again)
you aren't referring to nature's variety instinct , are you? Those are low carb.

I can understand wanting to heal your baby with the right foods but the faster path is a combination of all you will get advised here.
food is just one part of the puzzle....
imho, I would get some methyl b12 asap because neuropathy is painful... obviously....
and if I understand it correctly , there can be some permanence if it occurs for too long.... just from humans I know with diabetes.

I have not heard of any one having an example of success without the methyl b12.
so i'll be listening to see if anyone has an example.....
 
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