Returning to Feline Diabetes Thread

[Wendy Weatherby]

I need major guidance for my cats diabetes. I can no longer afford the vet. Jarry, my cat, is currently on Prozinc 2 units 2x a day. I feed him Friskies Pate. I haven't checked his numbers in a few months but am going out today to get a new glucose meter and strips. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Lately he has been throwing up his food. Thanks in advance.
Wendy

 

[Caitlin M]

I need major guidance for my cats diabetes. I can no longer afford the vet. Jarry, my cat, is currently on Prozinc 2 units 2x a day. I feed him Friskies Pate. I haven't checked his numbers in a few months but am going out today to get a new glucose meter and strips. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Lately he has been throwing up his food. Thanks in advance.
Wendy

Hi Wendy! I can't give any guidance with the vomiting but I use and really love the ReliOn Confirm from Walmart. I know lots of people use the ReliOn brand and have success. The strips are also fairly cheap (100 for about $36). Hope that helps a bit.
Would you mind giving more back story of Jarry and the issues about the vet also? I use ProZinc as well and the Friskies pate is perfect for food. I'm sure more people will chime in and we'll do everything we can to help!

 

[Wesley and Spicoli]

How often exactly is he throwing up? When did it start - and were there any changes in diet? Are there hairballs when he throws up? Or mucus, bile, or food? There are many different problems that can cause a cat to do this and is by no means normal, so any additional info might help us help you

 

[Wendy Weatherby]

He tends to throw up maybe once or twice a week. It's always food he throws up. He did it more often on the seafood flavored Friskies Pate so now he's just on the poultry pate. I keep it room temp, but wasn't sure if it would be better kept in the refrigerator.
As far as his back story. He was diagnosed in September 2014. He was started on 3 units 2x a day and within about a year his numbers were better and he was placed on 1 unit 2x a day. Back in February he had everything checked including his fructosamine which was at a 580. Then I took him back in March and the fructosamine was a 311. He hasn't had anything done since then and has stayed on 2 units 2x a day. Hope this information helps. Any thing else you need to know I'll tell you if I know or soon as I can find out. I just got back from Wal-Mart and got the meter, strips, and lancets.

 

[Wendy Weatherby]

I checked his level about 20 minutes ago and fed him. It showed 93. Is this good or bad? Should I still give him his insulin?

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

93 is a normal number. Without seeing a spreadsheet and having more data on him, I would NOT give insulin at that level

We generally say "no shot if under 200" until you have enough test data to know how your cat responds to both food and insulin....and if he's not eating well, that's all the more reason to skip the insulin tonight

 

[Wesley and Spicoli]

I've read cold food can make them vomit so I wouldn't refrigerate it. With what i've experienced it sounds like he could have a food allergy or maybe IBD. If you do need to store half a can or something in the refrigerator let it warm to room temp or nuke it before feeding.

I know it can be expensive but maybe try feeding him a protein that he has never had before like quail, venison, duck, etc. It can take several weeks before you start to see improvement and he still may vomit from time to time.

I know you said you can't afford the vet but they could give you more insight into the vomiting with a blood panel, stool sample, T4, and the pancreas test. So if you find yourself in a position that you can take him in, I would recommend it.