Bear & Lora
Member Since 2018
Hello my name is Lora,
My 9 year old male cat was recently diagnosed with feline diabetes on August 16th. He was prescribed 2 units, twice a day of Prozinc1 insulin and Prescription Hill's Science Diet. I'm sure this sounds familiar to some of you on this forum. He was taken back to the vet clinic for glucose monitoring August 28th. The Tech said his glucose level was 630 and one testing was above 700 so it wouldn't even show a number on the monitor. My cat (Bear's) insulin level was increased one unit more, twice daily. Bear hasn't had any follow ups since August 28th. Since that time I started to research Feline Diabetes and came upon Dr Pierson's article. It was truly an eye opener in many aspects and I am so thankful I found it.
A quick history of Bear's situation: Bear had been eating Blue Buffalo Weight Control Diet and had vomited for two days but had decreased the third day. Concerned I went to Pet Smart to look for a hairball remedy since it was July and I found hair and food in his vomit. I asked a Vet Tech to guide me to the right aisle. She asked me why I was looking for a hairball remedy. She told me that even though Blue Buffalo advertises as being good for cats that it was a false claim and recommended I try Hill's Science Diet.
Bear picked the Hill's kibble out of his mixed food like it was candy. A little less than a week later I noticed he was drinking more water. Needless to say over the next few weeks I had to put a much larger bowl of water down for him. I also noticed he was urinating much, much more. A month of these changes went by and I decided to weigh him as I had noticed he was getting thinner and thought this was a positive change due to a better food (Hill's). To my shock Bear had lost 4lbs in a month. I took Bear to the Vet the next day.
I explained Bear's history to the vet just as I have in this letter. He was pleased Bear was on Dry Kibble and an indoor cat. He felt like Bear could have a Kidney disease. As we were waiting for the extensive blood panel results he said while we are waiting I am going to test his blood sugar even though the blood panel will have it but I think it will be fine. I can't remember the exact number but it was over 500 and I thought wow, when my diabetic grandmother's was over 500 my aunt said that was really bad. The results from the blood panel were all good except his glucose. In the Vet's parting instructions he told us that if the insulin dosage was too high for Bear he would experience low blood sugar and the symptoms of that could be looking dazed or confused and he might possibly stagger like he was drunk. If this should occur don't panic just put some honey in his mouth and he will be fine, then you'll have to decrease his insulin but make sure to call the office and let them know.
Now present day I have been incorporating small amounts of canned wet food along with the bad dry food in Bear's diet. I heeded the article's warning to not change him to wet without testing his glucose. I tested him with the Relion Micro for the first time today and it went pretty well. He was due his 3 units of insulin and had eaten some dry kibble about an hour and a half before hand. His glucose was 431.
I think Bear will switch over to canned wet food easily but I don't have enough information on the process. I have no animosity toward the Vet but know he is misinformed. This Vet was an older man and told me the change in Bear's diet to Hill's Science Diet had nothing to do with his diabetes. As a lay person I don't feel comfortable trying to educate a Vet on the latest findings when he dismissed my concern's over Bear's change of diet being relevant to his diabetes with some arrogance, plus his nonchalant attitude about Bear possibly overdosing on insulin, which I now know could have killed Bear.
I need to have as much information as possible to help Bear transition safely. I believe the stage is ready. Bear currently weigh 16.6lbs. How often and when should I test him daily and how many portions should I feed him daily. I am using Friskies canned food, pate, and flaked. I am avoiding liver as a first ingredient, sauces, and gravy. At what glucose numbers can I safely reduce his insulin. I will be watching his weight and remember 1 to 2 percent weekly is the safety margin.
Bear's general condition is lethargy, coordination is a bit low and at times he is unsteady on his back feet, urination has slowed but isn't normal yet and his appetite has decreased some. His coat is lack luster, oily, with quite a bit of dander. Bear is black, all his dander shows up. He is eating about a can and a half of wet and a cup and a quarter dry in 7 to 9 feedings daily. The Vet had said let him eat when he wants and however much he wants. Bear is around the same weight he was when diagnosed August 16th. Bear and I absolutely need some help.
Lora Mullenax
My 9 year old male cat was recently diagnosed with feline diabetes on August 16th. He was prescribed 2 units, twice a day of Prozinc1 insulin and Prescription Hill's Science Diet. I'm sure this sounds familiar to some of you on this forum. He was taken back to the vet clinic for glucose monitoring August 28th. The Tech said his glucose level was 630 and one testing was above 700 so it wouldn't even show a number on the monitor. My cat (Bear's) insulin level was increased one unit more, twice daily. Bear hasn't had any follow ups since August 28th. Since that time I started to research Feline Diabetes and came upon Dr Pierson's article. It was truly an eye opener in many aspects and I am so thankful I found it.
A quick history of Bear's situation: Bear had been eating Blue Buffalo Weight Control Diet and had vomited for two days but had decreased the third day. Concerned I went to Pet Smart to look for a hairball remedy since it was July and I found hair and food in his vomit. I asked a Vet Tech to guide me to the right aisle. She asked me why I was looking for a hairball remedy. She told me that even though Blue Buffalo advertises as being good for cats that it was a false claim and recommended I try Hill's Science Diet.
Bear picked the Hill's kibble out of his mixed food like it was candy. A little less than a week later I noticed he was drinking more water. Needless to say over the next few weeks I had to put a much larger bowl of water down for him. I also noticed he was urinating much, much more. A month of these changes went by and I decided to weigh him as I had noticed he was getting thinner and thought this was a positive change due to a better food (Hill's). To my shock Bear had lost 4lbs in a month. I took Bear to the Vet the next day.
I explained Bear's history to the vet just as I have in this letter. He was pleased Bear was on Dry Kibble and an indoor cat. He felt like Bear could have a Kidney disease. As we were waiting for the extensive blood panel results he said while we are waiting I am going to test his blood sugar even though the blood panel will have it but I think it will be fine. I can't remember the exact number but it was over 500 and I thought wow, when my diabetic grandmother's was over 500 my aunt said that was really bad. The results from the blood panel were all good except his glucose. In the Vet's parting instructions he told us that if the insulin dosage was too high for Bear he would experience low blood sugar and the symptoms of that could be looking dazed or confused and he might possibly stagger like he was drunk. If this should occur don't panic just put some honey in his mouth and he will be fine, then you'll have to decrease his insulin but make sure to call the office and let them know.
Now present day I have been incorporating small amounts of canned wet food along with the bad dry food in Bear's diet. I heeded the article's warning to not change him to wet without testing his glucose. I tested him with the Relion Micro for the first time today and it went pretty well. He was due his 3 units of insulin and had eaten some dry kibble about an hour and a half before hand. His glucose was 431.
I think Bear will switch over to canned wet food easily but I don't have enough information on the process. I have no animosity toward the Vet but know he is misinformed. This Vet was an older man and told me the change in Bear's diet to Hill's Science Diet had nothing to do with his diabetes. As a lay person I don't feel comfortable trying to educate a Vet on the latest findings when he dismissed my concern's over Bear's change of diet being relevant to his diabetes with some arrogance, plus his nonchalant attitude about Bear possibly overdosing on insulin, which I now know could have killed Bear.
I need to have as much information as possible to help Bear transition safely. I believe the stage is ready. Bear currently weigh 16.6lbs. How often and when should I test him daily and how many portions should I feed him daily. I am using Friskies canned food, pate, and flaked. I am avoiding liver as a first ingredient, sauces, and gravy. At what glucose numbers can I safely reduce his insulin. I will be watching his weight and remember 1 to 2 percent weekly is the safety margin.
Bear's general condition is lethargy, coordination is a bit low and at times he is unsteady on his back feet, urination has slowed but isn't normal yet and his appetite has decreased some. His coat is lack luster, oily, with quite a bit of dander. Bear is black, all his dander shows up. He is eating about a can and a half of wet and a cup and a quarter dry in 7 to 9 feedings daily. The Vet had said let him eat when he wants and however much he wants. Bear is around the same weight he was when diagnosed August 16th. Bear and I absolutely need some help.
Lora Mullenax
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