Smokey

[Tbarry]

New diagnosed today. Smokey weighs 17 pounds and is 8 years old. Started drinking lots of water and urinating more last week. Took him to the vet today. Took 3 trys to cage him so needless to say he was VERY stressed. Simple blood test showed his sugar was 400. Vet wants me to start him on 4 units of Novolin 2x a day and only feed him Royal Canin Glycobalance dry food. He also didn't mention testing at home. Advised me to bring him back in a week. Smokey always eats wet food. I do feed them Royal Canin Urinary SO moderate calorie. But does not eat a lot of that. After reading different things on this site I'm very confused and concerned.

 

[SidneysMom]

Hi Tbarry,
Welcome from another newbie. My Sidney is also newly diagnosed but hasn't started insulin yet.
I'm a bit concerned that all the vet is going on is one blood test alone for diagnosis. For Sidney to get diagnosed, we had to have the original blood test, plus an at home urine test that we took to the vet for analysis, and then a final Fructosamine blood test that is not based on anything that can be stress related. Sugar can go up from being at the vet, and they usually like to be very sure about that. I'm not sure about Novalin, but 4 units of insulin sounds really high for a starting dose. I'm sure someone else will chime in that's familiar with that insulin. My vet only wants to start Sidney on 1 unit twice per day, but he will be on Lantus.
Did they show you how to do shots? Will you be monitoring his blood glucose at home? It's a LOT of information to take in, and like you, I'm pretty stressed and worried.
I'm sending good vibes to you and Smokey as you go through this, and hope you get some knowledgable answers from experienced members.

 

[Ann & Scatcats]

New diagnosed today. Smokey weighs 17 pounds and is 8 years old. Started drinking lots of water and urinating more last week. Took him to the vet today. Took 3 trys to cage him so needless to say he was VERY stressed. Simple blood test showed his sugar was 400. Vet wants me to start him on 4 units of Novolin 2x a day and only feed him Royal Canin Glycobalance dry food. He also didn't mention testing at home. Advised me to bring him back in a week. Smokey always eats wet food. I do feed them Royal Canin Urinary SO moderate calorie. But does not eat a lot of that. After reading different things on this site I'm very confused and concerned.

Hello and welcome.

If Smokey was diagnosed just today it is very understandable that you are confused.

The board is the right place for help. I hope we can expel some of the confusion.


You get aquainted with the board first.


I will start with the dry food Smokey was given. Dry food is not at all appropiate as food for diabetics. It's very high carb and the reason to his high blood glucose levels and also the high insulin dosage.

We have an extensive Wet Food List for cats in general and for diabetics in particular you can start with to read.
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf


Then you don't need the vet's permission to proactively home test. It is part of what us diabetics do. We home test the blood glucose with human meters and there are different brands of home testing blood glucose meters and price ranges.


You can read up about that and ask specific questions about what ever is at your heart. The board here is to help.

 

[Tbarry]

Hi Tbarry,
Welcome from another newbie. My Sidney is also newly diagnosed but hasn't started insulin yet.
I'm a bit concerned that all the vet is going on is one blood test alone for diagnosis. For Sidney to get diagnosed, we had to have the original blood test, plus an at home urine test that we took to the vet for analysis, and then a final Fructosamine blood test that is not based on anything that can be stress related. Sugar can go up from being at the vet, and they usually like to be very sure about that. I'm not sure about Novalin, but 4 units of insulin sounds really high for a starting dose. I'm sure someone else will chime in that's familiar with that insulin. My vet only wants to start Sidney on 1 unit twice per day, but he will be on Lantus.
Did they show you how to do shots? Will you be monitoring his blood glucose at home? It's a LOT of information to take in, and like you, I'm pretty stressed and worried.
I'm sending good vibes to you and Smokey as you go through this, and hope you get some knowledgable answers from experienced members.

Thank you so much! Same for you and Sidney. I'm not going to start insulin yet. I'm going to try and find different vet in out area. I am definitely changing his diet tomorrow morning !

 

[Tbarry]

Hello and welcome.

If Smokey was diagnosed just today it is very understandable that you are confused.

The board is the right place for help. I hope we can expel some of the confusion.


You get aquainted with the board first.


I will start with the dry food Smokey was given. Dry food is not at all appropiate as food for diabetics. It's very high carb and the reason to his high blood glucose levels and also the high insulin dosage.

We have an extensive Wet Food List for cats in general and for diabetics in particular you can start with to read.
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf


Then you don't need the vet's permission to proactively home test. It is part of what us diabetics do. We home test the blood glucose with human meters and there are different brands of home testing blood glucose meters and price ranges.


You can read up about that and ask specific questions about what ever is at your heart. The board here is to help.

Thank you! I just got done reading the food list. He and his brother will be getting new wet food tomorrow. I am pulling dry food bowl as soon as I post this. And I will be checking sugar at home. I am also going to take to another vet for second opinion.

 

[Ann & Scatcats]

Thank you! I just got done reading the food list. He and his brother will be getting new wet food tomorrow. I am pulling dry food bowl as soon as I post this. And I will be checking sugar at home. I am also going to take to another vet for second opinion.

Continue to keep us updated.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Vet wants me to start him on 4 units of Novolin 2x a day and only feed him Royal Canin Glycobalance dry food. He also didn't mention testing at home.

In my humble opinion, you need to find a new vet. Four units of any insulin as a starting dose is dangerous. The protocol is 1 unit and then increase by 0.25 units so that you do not go straight past the correct dose.
Novolin is a harsh insulin. There are better, more gentler, insulins available for cats – Lantus and Prozinc.

There's nothing special about the RC Glycobalance Dry. It is 30% carbs.

Questions to ask a new vet: Vet Interview Topics

 

[Tbarry]

In my humble opinion, you need to find a new vet. Four units of any insulin as a starting dose is dangerous. The protocol is 1 unit and then increase by 0.25 units so that you do not go straight past the correct dose.
Novolin is a harsh insulin. There are better, more gentler, insulins available for cats – Lantus and Prozinc.

There's nothing special about the RC Glycobalance Dry. It is 30% carbs.

Questions to ask a new vet: Vet Interview Topics

Thank you. I agree with. Finding a vet in our area is not easy. I will be on the phone today looking for one that works well with diabetic cats.