Just diagnosed with diabetes

[Joyce and Max]

Max is 7 and was losing weight and drinking from the sink all the time. I was worried about him being diabetic and sure enough, last night's tests said he was. I have not heard from the vet about what treatment and diet will be but if any one has suggestions on what to do when first diagnosed, I would love to hear them.

 

[Sharon14]

Hello Joyce, welcome to you and Max. Sorry for the diagnosis, but you've come to the right place. Since you've not yet started insulin, now is a good time to get Max on a diet of low carb, wet food and learn to test his blood glucose. A change in diet can sometimes lower blood glucose 100 points or more, that is one reason testing is so important. I see you're in Canada. Since I'm not familiar with what food and meter choices you have, I suggest you post in the Health forum and include that you are in Canada in your thread title. We have many members that are from there and they can help you with choices.

 

[BJM]

Fancy Feast Classic Pates should be available in Canada. Starting the low carb food now, before you start insulin is safer, as it may drop the glucose 100-200 mg/dL (5.5- 11 mmol/L).

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[Joyce and Max]

Thank you Sharon. I have printed the list of wet food in Canada. We have Friskies and Fancy Feast although none of the Fancy Feast says Classic on it, I bought many of the Pates yesterday and he is already on a Friskies wet diet. I have removed the dry food and feed the other cats separately. Honestly, when the dry food is all finished, they will all be on a wet diet.

 

[Sharon14]

Great! It's much easier when everyone eats the same thing. I have 13 cats-all rescues, but some need other types of food, so at feeding time I group them into different rooms. It was hard at first, but now everyone knows where to go and they no longer get upset at the closed door. Good luck with you brood and please feel free to ask any questions.

 

[Brashworks]

Thank you Sharon. I have printed the list of wet food in Canada. We have Friskies and Fancy Feast although none of the Fancy Feast says Classic on it, I bought many of the Pates yesterday and he is already on a Friskies wet diet. I have removed the dry food and feed the other cats separately. Honestly, when the dry food is all finished, they will all be on a wet diet.

Hi Joyce - I'm in Canada. As you have already discovered, Fancy Feast in Canada is not labelled Classic. you are safe with the regular pates. Some of the Friskies are okay, also the pates, just avoid anything that says "gravy" or "sauce".

BTW, not sure where you are in Canada but I do have a spreadsheet made up of Carb values for the PC Extra Meaty cat foods. The medium sized Chicken Pate (purple) and Turkey and Giblets (green) are good choices. If Max can stand a little fish, the tuna/chicken is also a good choice. I'll have to dig up the spreadsheet - it has pictures of the cans as well. Feeding wet food is expensive and sounds like you have a crew, so note that the Turkey also comes in a 156g large can - a pain because you need a can opener but it will keep your costs down. Your kitties are so lucky to have you!

If it helps, now have my cat diet controlled and off insulin and I feed her this PC food.

Best of luck for you and Max. You have come to the right place! Make sure your vet knows how you have considerably changed Max's diet. It can often have a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels. Learn to home test if you can - it will definitely keep Max safer.

 

[Misterbeesmom]

Max is 7 and was losing weight and drinking from the sink all the time. I was worried about him being diabetic and sure enough, last night's tests said he was. I have not heard from the vet about what treatment and diet will be but if any one has suggestions on what to do when first diagnosed, I would love to hear them.

wondering how you and your kitty are doing.

 

[karentou]

My 13 yr old cat, Lek, was diagnosed with diabetes in January 2016. For the first few months, I was at the vet's office every week or every other week getting his BS checked. He was running over 500. The vet started him on insulin right away. We started at 2 units/day and increased by one unit each time I went to the vet. Twice the vet did a glucose curve. Several times I asked about a diabetic diet. The first few times, the vet told me that since Lek is such a picky eater, it was more important that he eat anything until we get the sugar under control. For several months this went on: weekly trip to the vet, up the insulin by one unit. I did switch Lek from dry food to wet food because he seemed to eat better if I offered wet food. Then the vet recommended a diabetic wet food by Purina. Very expensive and Lek wouldn't touch it. Then we had to go to twice daily insulin shots. When we hit 5 units of Vesulin twice daily, Lek was still getting readings in the 400's. I absolutely knew that his diet had to change to low carb. So I did some research on the internet. A simple google search of low carb cat food came up with a list of common wet foods and their carbohydrate counts. From what I'd read, Lek needed something with 10 carbs or less. From this list, I made my own list of foods with 10 or less carbs. Most of the brands on this list are the more expensive ones, but surprisingly, Fancy Feast and 9 Lives has a few flavors that are low carb. After one week on this low carb wet food diet, Lek's BS was 140! He's still on 5 units of Vesulin twice/day, but he seems to be doing fine. I took him to the vet today for another test...can't remember the name of it, but it's the feline equivalent of the A1C. I am currently awaiting the results of this test, but I have very high hopes.

 

[Stephanie Howard]

My cat was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago. As of right now were doing 1.5 units twice a day of Humilin R. The food my vet recommended was Prescription Hill and is very expensive with wet and dry food. I have a follow up appointment this week to try other options on food. His glucose levels were low 400 when we first found out. Hopefully the insulin is helping

 

[karentou]

i found a list of low carb wet foods just by googling "low carb cat food". i found a list of brand foods by carb content. I made my own list from this with just the foods under 10 carbs and take that to the store with me every time i buy cat food. Fancy feast is reasonably priced and they have a selection of varieties that are low carb. All the other brands are high priced. just an update on my Lek. Diagnosed with diabetes 10 months ago. immediately went on insulin and was slowly increased to 5 units twice/day. As he wasn't eating much at the beginning of this, the vet said to give him anything he would eat and not worry about the diet. down the line, i continued to ask about diabetic food. he finally gave me a prescription food that lek wouldn't touch. When we hit 5 units twice/day, i researched diet and the foods. one week after putting him on this diet his BS dropped dramatically. because he started going hypo, we decreased his insulin little by little. when we were down to 3 units twice/day, he was still going hypo. i emailed the vet and said i was going to 2 units. one week before taking him back to the vet for a check up, Lek wasn't eating enough at any one time for insulin. He went all week w/o insulin and i took him in on saturday. vet ran some tests and said he's in remission. BS that day was 120, weight is perfect, all other labs came back great. he is now off insulin and the vet said he's only seen one other cat in his career that went into remission and came off insulin! of course, i'm keeping him on the fancy feast that I believe is the cause of his remission.

 

[Stephanie Howard]

I have always fed them either fancy feast or friskies. I have 2 cats and I would take one can and split it at night. I did leave out dry food all day and would feed them whenever they asked for food. ( I know , I'm bad) When I went to the vet they said I would have to change the diet and really cut down on the dry food during the day. I have done that and now am feeding only at night and dry food in the morning before insulin. The prescription hills brand seems to be good. My kitties like it and eat it every time. Just hate that a 4lb bag of food is almost 40 bucks. Hopefully its helping.The only thing is I am not testing my cats sugar levels so I don't know if the food and medicine are helping with the diabetes. The vet told me to just continue doing it twice a day until they tell me other wise

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

He went all week w/o insulin and i took him in on saturday. vet ran some tests and said he's in remission. BS that day was 120, weight is perfect, all other labs came back great. he is now off insulin and the vet said he's only seen one other cat in his career that went into remission and came off insulin! of course, i'm keeping him on the fancy feast that I believe is the cause of his remission.

Wow, that is fantastic news!

@karentou, would you be able to write some details about your kitty's remission in the remission thread here? (See link below):
Recent Remissions?
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[Elizabeth and Bertie]

The only thing is I am not testing my cats sugar levels so I don't know if the food and medicine are helping with the diabetes. The vet told me to just continue doing it twice a day until they tell me other wise

Hi Stephanie, are you willing to try to learn how to test your kitty's blood glucose levels at home? We can help you learn how to do that...
Reducing the dry food can reduce the blood glucose quite a lot in some kitties, and it may mean that the insulin dose needs to be reduced also (in order to prevent hypoglycemia)
Learning to test at home ('hometesting') can help to keep your kitty safe.

Eliz

 

[BJM]

1.5 units twice a day of Humulin R

Are positive it is Humulin R? I am very concerned if this is so, as it lasts about 4-6 hours at most, and is a poor choice for routine care of a diabetic cat. It is typically used in a hospital setting with an IV drip to control the dosage and rate of delivery..