Trying diet before insulin?

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Cherylockholmes

Cherylockholmes

Member Since 2013
Hi all, my 14 yr old cat Shelby is suspected of being diabetic. I confirmed by getting glucose strips and testing urine, got a middle of the chart reading, and a blood glucose reading before food in the AM is 219. I had a diabetic cat I gave insulin to years ago, and I am wondering if it is possible to avoid giving insulin with a diet change. I've spoken to his vet who said I can try that, but will need to monitor closely over the next week. I've removed all dry food and treats. I'm putting him on Smalls raw diet (he loves it), with only treats being freeze-dried chicken/turkey/salmon, etc. The vet mentioned this new pill that can treat it in cats who have never had insulin before, but I am worried about side effects. Is it possible to put a newly diagnosed cat into remission using diet alone? He is acting his normal self, just drinking and peeing a lot. Of course I will put him on insulin if it is the only choice. Please advise, thank you!
 
First, I am not an expert - I've had a diabetic cat all of ten days, so please consider that.

In the research I've done over the last week plus, however, I have consistently come across two things:

- the recommendation not not to significantly change the diet from dry to wet and start insulin at the same time
- the usefulness of having data going into your insulin plan

If it were me with an initial 219 BG (and was that on a pet monitor or a human monitor?), I might consider testing and tracking for five days first while transitioning to a wet food diet.

Best of luck!
 
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Cherylockholmes said:
Hi Bedina, I am using the CareTouch blood glucose monitor. Thank you!
Click to expand...

I asked as the pet and human monitors skew differently. I don't think that 219 is a terribly high number on either.

(I'm currently using an Alpha Trak 2, primarily as a supportive vet friend is in favor, although I anticipating transitioning away from it.)

p.s. I would definitely wait for guidance from one of the wonderful long term members here. :)
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Yes it is possible to go into remission with a diet change but not every cat does. As long as your kitty did not have ketones at diagnosis, it is OK to try a diet change first. However as a precaution, I would test the urine for ketones daily while doing the diet trial.
To do this you need a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy. There should be no ketones.

The new pill you are taking about is pretty new and I would not use it until we know more about it.
I would test before you feed each morning and night and then test again 3 hours after the main meals. If the pancreas is working, the food will bring down the BGs at 3 hours after the food. I would also give some low carb snacks during the day and evening.

you might like to set up our spreadsheet so we can see how Shelby is going.
Instructions in here
HELP US HELP YOU
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Yes it is possible to go into remission with a diet change but not every cat does. As long as your kitty did not have ketones at diagnosis, it is OK to try a diet change first. However as a precaution, I would test the urine for ketones daily while doing the diet trial.
To do this you need a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy. There should be no ketones.

The new pill you are taking about is pretty new and I would not use it until we know more about it.
I would test before you feed each morning and night and then test again 3 hours after the main meals. If the pancreas is working, the food will bring down the BGs at 3 hours after the food. I would also give some low carb snacks during the day and evening.

you might like to set up our spreadsheet so we can see how Shelby is going.
Instructions in here
HELP US HELP YOU
Click to expand...


Good morning and thanks for the information! I have been dealing with the death of a parent since my post and while I haven't had a chance to keep a spreadsheet, I wanted to update that I tested and confirmed Shelby has no ketones in his urine. Also, the glucose strips are showing an improvement over the last couple of weeks. It was somewhere on the middle to high level, but now is on the low to nearly negative level, however, his blood sugar is still testing high (304 yesterday afternoon was the last I checked). With blood sugar being that high, am I still safe to continue trying with the low carb diet? Shelby has an appointment at 10:30 this morning with the vet that I had scheduled weeks ago for a check up. I just wanted to update on the thread, and thank everyone for the information. In response to Larry, yes Shelby is getting the smalls raw food as well as a couple canned varieties (including TikiCat which I read is one of the lowest carb).
 
Hi Cheryl, I am so sorry you have lost a parent. My deepest condolences:bighug:
Would you like me to get @Bandit's Mom to set up a spreadsheet for you? It would be a lot easier to help you if we could see some BG data.
If the blood glucose is still around 300 it looks as if Shelby will need insulin.
Did the vet do a fructosamine test to diagnose Shelby? If not, I would ask for one.
Also if insulin is prescribed, I would ask for either lantus or prozinc. Don't let the vet prescribe vetsulin (caninsulin) or Novolin N as they are not recommended for cats.
 
Hi Cheryl, my deepest condolences on losing a parent :bighug::bighug:
I see you are from Fairfield N.J. ,I'm from Lyndhurst N.J. not far from you at all, plus my sisters name is Cheryl :cat:
If you can give us a little more information about your handsome boy that would be great
Here is a link helping us to help you link. If you noticed, our members have some basic information about their cat's in their signature. This helps us to not pester you by asking the same questions (your cat's name, insulin type, date of diagnosis, etc.) repeatedly. We also have a link to our spreadsheet in our signature. We are very numbers driven. The spreadsheet is a record of your cat's progress. By linking it in your signature, we can follow along and provide feedback should you need the help.

I see Bron has asked you if you would like one of our member's to set up our spreadsheet, that would be great.
If Shelby does have to start insulin, I agree with Bron about asking for Lantus or Prozinc.
Lantus is expensive in the US but you can get generic lantus , many members use it

Here is some info
Check this out
https://www.goodrx.com/insulin-glargine?dosage=five-3ml-prefilled-pens-of-100-units-ml&form=carton&label_override=insulin glargine&quantity=1
One pen would last me about 3 -4 months . we use the pens just like a vial, you would just insert the syringe it the gray rubber stopper on the pen and draw out your insulin
Its generic lantus



Or this one also

I see some members will call CVS, Rite Aid, Costco, Walgreen's, to get the price for 5 pens
Posted by another member
One members posted this
. I paid $175 for a box of 5 pens at Walmart pharmacy, but GoodRX coupon says you can get it for around $90 if you have a Rite Aid pharmacy near you.

We don't use the pen because you can only adjust the dose by full units, we adjust the dose by 0.25 units at a time. You would need U-100 syringes half unit markings


Just take the cap off the pen and use a U100 syringes and pull the insulin out of the pen!
syringe-in-pen-pic-jpg.45006



Walmart also has the U-100 syrines with half unit markings,you need to go into the store to get them
you can order these
https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/1316/surecomfort-u100-syringes-half-unit-31g-3-10cc-5-16in-100ct
You might need your vet to fax over a script for them to ADW Diabetes. Just call them and tell them what syringes you want and they will contact your vet. Give your vets office a hesfs up and ask for refills so you can go to their web site and order them.
Set up an account with them
 
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You can get the syringes with half unit markings at a Walmart. Their ReliOn Brand syringes of 0.3 cc (30 unit) capacity come with half unit markings. Cost $12.58 for a box of 100
This is what the packaging looks like: either box is fine
They won't say it half unit on the box but the are . open then and look before you leave the store, can't be ordered on line , need to go into the store
:




upload_2021-9-5_23-18-9-jpeg.62508
 
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