? 7/30 Buddy/no amps or shot/pmps 88

[Kelly and Buddy]

This cat...

So, Buddy has not had any insulin since yesterday morning. Despite sneaking a nice serving of HC dry kibble yesterday, I did not get very high readings. The only thing I changed yesterday was I switched one serving of his Friskies (5 carb food) with a can of FF (2 carb food).

I tried to get blood this morning and it was a disaster. After numerous pricks, I gave up. His ear looks awful and he's starting to fight it. It breaks my heart. Since he was 24 hours out with not insulin, I gave one can of FF at 7:00 this morning and another one at 1:30 this afternoon. I just took a BG reading (expecting him to be elevated) and he was only 88. I am wondering if that change in food could make such a drastic difference of if something else is causing this. I went back to work today so I could not get readings throughout the day (which is probably a good thing based on his poor ears).

He is now 36 hours without insulin. Is there any reason that he would go low without any additional insulin? I would LOVE to give his ears a break for a day or two and just keep him on FF? Have any of you experienced such a low drop in numbers from food change only?

This whole journey has been crazy so far.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Getting rid of high carb food can make a huge difference. I would keep skipping unless his numbers start drifting up. Three cycles without insulin, he should be safe now. Keep tesing at your normal AMPS and PMPS times. If he's still green after 14 days, he's in remission. If you need to restart a little bit of insulin, that's not the worst thing. Of course, it would be at a smaller dose.

Looking good Buddy. Stay away from that kibble!

 

[Kelly and Buddy]

Thank you, Wendy. I would love to see him go into remission but won't hold my breath. He is the poster cat for diet change. He was in the 400s (even in 500s) consistently when first diagnosed and put on prescription kibble diet. Even when he was eating canned Royal Canin protein prescription food (although it was for the stomach issues as much as the diabetes), he was in 300-400 range. It is crazy that switching to FF canned food has made such a huge difference in him.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Shawna & Davidson (GA)]

FYI......the Vet prescribed food is loaded with 26% carbs.........go ask your vet why he gives you high carb food for a diabetic cat.......Caching!! Stick with FF and you'll see the numbers drop............good luck, hope Buddy comes down again

 

[Kelly and Buddy]

I agree, Shawna. The original vet that diagnosed Buddy immediately put him on Vetsulin and Hill's Diabetic kibble. She NEVER mentioned a diet change and he was on 5 units (and still in the 400s) when I left and went back to my old vet (who is 40 minutes away). In her defense, she was using a single protein food to try and stop the diarrhea because it was so bad. She did tell me that FF and Friskies were both acceptable but she was worried about the GI issues. She kept my cat at home with her several weekends ago to try and get him regulated and actually started the switch to FF while she had him. There are still honest caring vets out there but there are some that I don't trust.

ALL patients should be told to switch to cats to a LC store bought canned food first and see how low cats go before starting insulin, IMO. Starting insulin and going through all the process of regulation and then trying to change diet is so much more difficult.

I've learned my lesson, for sure.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Nice! And yes, lower carb food can make a cat drop as much as 100 points. Keeping fingers and paws crossed that you continue to get normal numbers. I am assuming you are using a human meter?

 

[Kelly and Buddy]

Nice! And yes, lower carb food can make a cat drop as much as 100 points. Keeping fingers and paws crossed that you continue to get normal numbers. I am assuming you are using a human meter?

Yes, I am using the Relion Micro. I can believe a 100 point drop, but 200-300 seems a bit odd unless I was just feeding the highest carb food in the world. It's probably too good to be true but one can hope. And, yes, please keep all fingers, toes, paws, and claws crossed.