New and Overwhelmed

[Jubeeleigh]

Hello all!
I am a recently diagnosed diabetic cat mom. (See my avatar for my baby boy, his name is Bam.)
Bam was just diagnosed yesterday officially and I'm scared and nervous and breaking down a lot. Bam is about 10 years old and has lived with me ever since I rescued him from the wheel well of a friend's car.

Well, I've gone through the freaking out with vet visits and costs, and I haven't even been able to get his insulin yet. I'm overwhelmed and scared. I live alone, have awkward work hours and I'm barely paid above minimum wage. How do you all manage It? Bam has been prescribed Lantus and just calling around for pricing at my local pharmacies has my head spinning at the costs! So any help here would be wonderful!

I'm seeing a lot of posts that dry food, even the stuff my vet said I should feed him are no good, let alone expensive. Is it really better to switch him to an all wet diet?

Also, if any of you have any tips or tricks about how I might be able to get the caked on "boots" of litter off his back paws I would be forever grateful!

Please feel free to ask me any questions and I look forward to hopefully many helping tips and tricks from everyone here!!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

How do you all manage It? Bam has been prescribed Lantus and just calling around for pricing at my local pharmacies has my head spinning at the costs! So any help here would be wonderful!

Most of us are buying our Lantus from Canada....Here's all the information on Buying insulin from Marks Marine Pharmacy

It's 1/2 to 1/3rd the cost and they are great!!

Is it really better to switch him to an all wet diet?

YES!! A low carb canned diet can drastically reduce the blood glucose!! And switching over now (before you're giving insulin) is the BEST time to do it!! Here's a list of foods .....you want to feed something under 10% carbs

Most of us feed Fancy Feast Classics, Friskies pates or 9-Lives ground because they're low carb and affordable.

The water in a canned diet is also very important for keeping their kidneys healthy.

 

[Jubeeleigh]

Oh this is great! I looked into Marks Marine after reading several posts, but nerves kicked in about the "shipping to the US is illegal" disclaimer.

And that food chart is amazing! Bam actually prefers wet food and if I can continue with the grocery store stuff all the better for my wallet! That was the one downfall of my vet. She pushed the Purina DM and made it seem like that was my only viable food option.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

She pushed the Purina DM and made it seem like that was my only viable food option.

They all do!!....Those Hills salesmen are really pushy, and of course, there's financial gain in it for the vet too!!

But look at the ingredients!! They are no better (and sometime worse) than the foods you can buy at your local store for 1/4th the price!!

nerves kicked in about the "shipping to the US is illegal" disclaimer.

I originally "found" Marks several years ago and have been sharing the news ever since. I've heard from probably hundreds of other sugarcat moms and dads and not one has ever had any problem getting their insulin from them.

They will also give you a tracking number so you can follow it as it moves through the postal system. The last time I ordered was a Monday afternoon....My insulin arrived in my Friday morning mail!!

 

[JanetNJ]

You got great advice above. Just wanted to say welcome and that there's a great community of people here to help.