Hello everybody. Sophie, my 7-year cat, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Here, in Romania, I received three opinions from three different vets: one of them told me to put Sophie on insulin at once and the other two told me not to, because they say her glicemy can be regulated on diet. Her numbers were all around 325 in December( the tests were made at the vet's). Yesterday I tested her glicemy again and her number was already 375 (the test was made at home). Next week I am going to see another vet, to take the final decision. What do you think?
Sophie
- Thread starter Ileana
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Sharon14
Member Since 2015
Hi Ileana, welcome to you and Sophie! Great that you are home testing Sophie!!! It’s fine to try a diet change for a few days, but if her numbers stay that high, then insulin is a must. Also it would be a good idea to get some ketone test strips to test her urine. Come to the Main Health forum and tell us more about Sophie, such as what food you are feeding and any other health problems she has. We can also help you with questions you should ask your vet.
FurBabiesMama
Member Since 2017
Welcome! If diet alone was going to control it, you should see those results within a few days. So, if the numbers have remained high, it is time for insulin! You did not mention what you are feeding her. You want a low-carb wet food. Definitely under 10% carbs but preferably even lower.
Kris & Teasel
Member Since 2016
Welcome to you and your cat Sophie! We can help. 
Dear all,
It seems that something happened with my Sophie since my last message. I gave her some raw liver and also home-baked chicken thighs and her BG lowered to 249 (from 375!). All this week she got the same meals and her today test was 230. She is not yet on insulin, I have to discuss with someone I really trust and take the final decision.
Thanks to all of you who supported us! And thank you for being here!
It seems that something happened with my Sophie since my last message. I gave her some raw liver and also home-baked chicken thighs and her BG lowered to 249 (from 375!). All this week she got the same meals and her today test was 230. She is not yet on insulin, I have to discuss with someone I really trust and take the final decision.
Thanks to all of you who supported us! And thank you for being here!
Critter Mom
Member Since 2014
Hi Ileana,
Just a quick word on the raw/home-cooked food. It's not nutritionally complete and should only be fed for a very short amount of time. If you haven't done so already then, going forward, you'll need to either find a premix of additional nutrients to add to the home-prepared food or find a wet, low carb, nutritionally complete food to make up Sophie's regular diet.
Mogs
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Glad to hear that Sophie's BG levels are improving.
Just a quick word on the raw/home-cooked food. It's not nutritionally complete and should only be fed for a very short amount of time. If you haven't done so already then, going forward, you'll need to either find a premix of additional nutrients to add to the home-prepared food or find a wet, low carb, nutritionally complete food to make up Sophie's regular diet.
Mogs
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Hi Ileana,
Glad to hear that Sophie's BG levels are improving.
Just a quick word on the raw/home-cooked food. It's not nutritionally complete and should only be fed for a very short amount of time. If you haven't done so already then, going forward, you'll need to either find a premix of additional nutrients to add to the home-prepared food or find a wet, low carb, nutritionally complete food to make up Sophie's regular diet.
Mogs
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Thank you for your feed-back. In the latest 2 weeks I gave Sophie raw liver/home-cooked meat and also her diet food. I fed her three times a day and gave her this sort of combination daily. I have no idea what exactly has lowered her numbers but it worked. A week ago, one of the vets told me to give her also urinary stress kibbles. She said that this dry food (which I was definitely against) had a thing called triptophan (or something like this, I am not sure if this is the name in English) and this would control her stress... I was also afraid that kind of thing not to increase again her BG... her levels did not change much after...
Anyway, all the vets were reluctant to put her on insulin. Yet.
Veronica & Babu-chiri
Member Since 2016
Welcome!!
You should try and see if you can determine the carbohidrates (carbs) content of the food you are giving her, this is a list ( click on the link ) with a lot of different foods with some luck yours is listed, for it to be diabetic appropriate and really help his numbers it has to have 10% or less carbs.
Stress can be an issue that can raise her numbers at the vet but not usually at home unless something out of the ordinary is going on ( remodeling for example) but with numbers over 200 and more around 300 I would suggest starting her on insulin
You should try and see if you can determine the carbohidrates (carbs) content of the food you are giving her, this is a list ( click on the link ) with a lot of different foods with some luck yours is listed, for it to be diabetic appropriate and really help his numbers it has to have 10% or less carbs.
Stress can be an issue that can raise her numbers at the vet but not usually at home unless something out of the ordinary is going on ( remodeling for example) but with numbers over 200 and more around 300 I would suggest starting her on insulin
Thank you for your message!
The fact is, from what I saw until now, the food I have available here, in Romania, in not on the list!!! The same thing is with a lady from Malaysia who has the same problem. It would be a real challenge for me to find something appropriate but for sure I will.
Do you think that bringing a kitten in my apartment would be a source of stress for Sophie? The kitten stayed here from May until August, when I found somebody who wanting him. But I have noticed that frequent urination and her unusual thirst somewhere in Autumn...
The fact is, from what I saw until now, the food I have available here, in Romania, in not on the list!!! The same thing is with a lady from Malaysia who has the same problem. It would be a real challenge for me to find something appropriate but for sure I will.
Do you think that bringing a kitten in my apartment would be a source of stress for Sophie? The kitten stayed here from May until August, when I found somebody who wanting him. But I have noticed that frequent urination and her unusual thirst somewhere in Autumn...
Veronica & Babu-chiri
Member Since 2016
I know I have the same problem here and even if I find one that may be on the list I'm not always sure because the change and translate labels, here's a carb calculator I've used some times, is not really as accurate as Dr. Lisa's list, for one because you'll probably be using the ingredients as they come on the can and not as fed as Dr, Lisa's research but at least it can help you get an idea if what you are getting is close to 10% or way off or if one is higher in carbs than the other and choose the lowest you can find
http://scheyderweb.com/cats/catfood.html
A new kitten will surely cause stress but if the kitten is gone since August any effects should long be over by now if she's stressed is for something else something that is happening now, could even be a reflection of your own stress ( kitties are very receptive and sensitive about this things ) but unless is something really extraordinary I doubt her numbers will raise so much at home because of stress alone and even if the kitten stressed her a bit it wouldn't cause her the diabetes she was probably already diabetic
Oh, God, you are right! I should have thought of that myself... it could be the reflection of my own stress and grief. My husband passed away recently (a month ago) and was very ill for the last three years. He stayed mostly at home, with Sophie and her mom... but probably she was diabetic for some time.
Thank you for opening my eyes and thank you for the carb calculator, I will definitely try it.
Veronica & Babu-chiri
Member Since 2016
Sorry about your loss sending you
Karen Mulholland
Member Since 2017
Welcome lleana
Critter Mom
Member Since 2014
FYI, you can get supplements which contain tryptophan (e.g. Cystease). Here's a link to products available via Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
You could potentially feed an FD-friendly diet alongside an appropriate supplement. It might be worth discussing such supplements with your vet.
I am very sorry to hear that you lost your husband.
Mogs
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