Diet management - no insulin update

[Cat mom]

I came here for help and got a ton of great advice.

My cat was on insulin for 5 days (1 unit Novolin 2x's per day) he crashed to 70 and I had a very scary situation on my hands. I was ready to quit and end his suffering.

He was a dry food junkie and insulin to me is out of the question after that scary disaster.

I decided to hopefully give one more try at this with control w/diet. He was a dry food junkie.

He's been off dry food for 8 days. I put him on Methyl B12 5mg per day and I also have added in a natural supp that is suppose to control blood sugar and daily probiotics, which I have read are essential to good BG.

We were hurting him horribly w/taking blood from his ear and then his paw. He would literally moan, so sad. But I was able to get an idea of what it's like the first week w/no dry food. His BG has bounced around from 116 - 340 off dry food and these new supps.

His symptoms are improved. He jumped to the couch yesterday, something he hasn't done in months. His coat already is looking shiny...how is that possible so soon?

I don't know the long term outcome. But the improvements in symptoms alone tell me something is better. Before he started insulin his BG was 485-688. So What a considerable drop.

He seems more relaxed, more comfortable, yet I can see he has a ways to go.

But honestly, if I had known dry food was literally POISON I would have stopped it years ago.

I will keep you updated. It's seems encouraging. I'm praying for my guy that he just gets stronger and healthier on good low carb canned foods, good nutrition and supplementation.

 

[Lillie]

Taking my cat off dry food made a huge difference. So much so that he has not needed any insulin now for a few weeks. I still have to watch his BG levels but so far he's been way under what would require insulin. He was a dry food addict at one time which caused him to be over weight no matter how little dry food he ate. Now I have a problem with putting weight on him because I'm not sure how many calories he needs. He's pretty lazy so he doesn't really burn much off. Using some forti flora and Pure Bites freeze dried treats sprinkled on the wet food helped transition him off the dry to the canned. He was able to chew the freeze dried treats so maybe he thought he was still getting his dry food? Good luck with your kitty. I hope the food transition works.

 

[Squalliesmom]

I came here for help and got a ton of great advice.

My cat was on insulin for 5 days (1 unit Novolin 2x's per day) he crashed to 70 and I had a very scary situation on my hands. I was ready to quit and end his suffering.

He was a dry food junkie and insulin to me is out of the question after that scary disaster.

I decided to hopefully give one more try at this with control w/diet. He was a dry food junkie.

He's been off dry food for 8 days. I put him on Methyl B12 5mg per day and I also have added in a natural supp that is suppose to control blood sugar and daily probiotics, which I have read are essential to good BG.

We were hurting him horribly w/taking blood from his ear and then his paw. He would literally moan, so sad. But I was able to get an idea of what it's like the first week w/no dry food. His BG has bounced around from 116 - 340 off dry food and these new supps.

His symptoms are improved. He jumped to the couch yesterday, something he hasn't done in months. His coat already is looking shiny...how is that possible so soon?

I don't know the long term outcome. But the improvements in symptoms alone tell me something is better. Before he started insulin his BG was 485-688. So What a considerable drop.

He seems more relaxed, more comfortable, yet I can see he has a ways to go.

But honestly, if I had known dry food was literally POISON I would have stopped it years ago.

I will keep you updated. It's seems encouraging. I'm praying for my guy that he just gets stronger and healthier on good low carb canned foods, good nutrition and supplementation.

I know it has been traumatic for you but please don't stop testing his bg levels. (Cats actually have very few nerve endings in the outer edges of their ears; he may just not like his ears messed with. Also, remember that testing is vital to keep him healthy and safe.) If the diet changes don't bring his bg under control he will need insulin, and without it he will get very sick. He also runs the risk of developing ketones, which can quickly become fatal. You can buy ketone test strips at any pharmacy for about $10, it would be a good idea to test him regularly for ketones. I hope the diet changes work wonders for him!

 

[Cat mom]

Now I have a problem with putting weight on him because I'm not sure how many calories he needs.

Everything you've said sounds like my cat. He was once overweight, dry food junkie and he is now skinny and hard to put weight on, because I'm not sure how many calories he needs either. I've been feeding him (low carb) canned 4 times per day, offering as much as he wants until he stops eating. It's usually about a 1/4 of a can each time. So, he's eating about a full can a day. It seems all he wants.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Cat's weight (or desired weight in lbs) x 13.6 + 70 = Required calories per day. Divide by how many feedings kitty gets in a day

 

[Lillie]

The canned food I'm using is 187 calories a can which is not enough for Leo a day so I've increased it to 1 1/2 cans. Since he needs to eat small amounts several times a day due to his IBD it seems all I do all day is fix Leo's food!
He's not a very active kitty so I have to consider his activity level too. I'd really hate to see him get over weight again and possibly cause the diabetes to return. But then again I don't want him to be under weight either. Oh well- He seems happy right now..