05/24/2021 newly diagnosed cat Mimi

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

Whitney&Mimi

Member Since 2021
Mimi 10 years old Female

She was drinking a lot more water and peeing a lot more this month. Took her to vet on Monday 5/24 and diagnosed with diabetes, blood glucose was 495, urine super dilute. Doing glucose curve tomorrow with vet, but I have no faith in this vet and might take her to a new vet to get 2nd opinion. Current vet insisting my cat will go blind and get cataracts without treatment (this seems more for dogs..), remission chance is very low, and low-carb diet isn't necessary (what?, he didn't even want me to change her diet before the glucose curve test but I feel changing her diet after going on insulin is more risky, so I switched her food right away).

I've ordered Alpha Trak 2 for in home testing arrives 5/27.
Glucose curve test with vet 5/27.
Got the spreadsheet setup to start entering it.

Previous diet: Nutro Indoor Cat Chicken and Brown Rice (unknown carbs, assuming at least 40-50%), Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Tuscany With Long Grain Rice & Garden Greens In A Savory Sauce (20-23% carbs)
New diet: Wellness Minced Chicken in Gravy (10% carbs) (so impressed with my picky kitty for switching so fast)

Her water drinking has already decreased back to normal or even less than normal (was 90% dry food before) with the new wet food low carb diet. If BG is low during tests tomorrow, can I keep her on new diet and not give insulin for a few days to see if she stabilizes without meds?

I'm used to free feeding her and she is use to eating throughout the day. It seems I should only feed her twice a day now? What if she doesn't eat the full portion? Can she snack on that the rest of time between feedings?

Thanks, just new, stressed and feel like vet just wants to keep my cat sick to get my $$$ based on my research and reading into feline diabetes these past couple days.
 
Hi Whitney. You're way ahead of the game by already researching feline diabetes, reading about low carb food and making the switch, and planning on testing BG levels. Mimi is in good hands.
I would feel very comfortable holding off on insulin if her BG is low with the diet change. Once you have your spreadsheet up, other more seasoned members can assist you with her doses.
The first time my sugar baby was diagnosed with diabetes, changing his diet made it possible for him to go into remission after 3 months. It was sweet! However, Jack is out of remission after 2 full years due to IBD. But changing his diet worked like magic the first time around.
Welcome to this amazing group. You'll get a lot of help here.
~Carolyn
 
Whitney&Mimi said:
I'm used to free feeding her and she is use to eating throughout the day. It seems I should only feed her twice a day now? What if she doesn't eat the full portion? Can she snack on that the rest of time between feedings?
Click to expand...
Hi Whitney, the answer to this question really depends on what kind of insulin she will be going on, if any at all. Most cats do well on many small meals a day--it's easier on the stomach and pancreas. However, if you get prescribed Vetsulin, an insulin that hits hard and fast, you need to feed a big meal before the shot. If she gets prescribed Lantus, many small meals over the course of 6 hours after the shot works better. It really depends. Otherwise if your kitty is lucky enough to not have to resort to insulin after the diet change, grazing is fine.

It's great that you've been able to switch her to a lower carb food. That's half the battle. If you could get her to eat something that is even lower in carbs, say less than 5%, that would even be better. My cats stopped drinking from their water bowl after the switch to wet food. I also add lots of water to the food to make it soupy to encourage hydration. They basically lap their food up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top