10/18 New Member Diagnosis

Alexandra & Simon

Alexandra & Simon

Member Since 2026
Hello! Happy to have found this community. My boy Simon (7 1/2 year old tabby) was just diagnosed this past week. I noticed the signs of him drinking more water and urinating more than his brother, which initially I didn't think more about since he is bigger than his brother and both were on a urinary diet after Garfunkel had a bladder obstruction in June. Then I noticed that he was unable to now jump on the bed or couch and needed me to help him up. That along with the water consumption and peeing made me take him into the vet on the 9th. Tested his blood glucose and it was at 390. We went back in the following Monday on 12th where we did a repeat blood & urine glucose (blood was lower but still high at 307) and we also did the fructosamine to confirm. His blood ketones were also elevated when we checked at that appt. Returned to the office on the 14th to start his insulin management and retest his ketones, which had gone up since Monday. He was prescribed a low dose of Lantus and a Libre was placed. We began his Lantus Wednesday night but unfortunately that Libre has just not been able to stay in. We went back to the vet on Friday to place a new Libre and check his ketones again (which thankfully were then normal.) The new Libre wasn't placed securely enough on Friday and wouldn't ever connect so back to the vet on Saturday to replace and we manually checked his sugar around 5pm and it was 472. We got home and he was fed and given his insulin dosage (the same amount we had given since Wednesday) at 6:30pm. This is when things got concerning. I feel like since we've started his insulin that his gait and walking has gotten worse and more unsteady but otherwise he seemed okay. The Libre never registered a reading lower than 324 prior to last night. We were at home and he started walking like a drunken sailor and the Libre was flagging he dropped from over 400 to 54. I gave him some honey and fed him (appetite has always been strong) and just monitored him since the Libre said his BS was going back up. Then about 2 hrs later it was a repeat, low insulin, falling down, and twitching. I took him to the emergency vet at that point and when they manually tested he was in the 300s. They've kept him overnight to monitor him (thankfully they said his neurological functions are all good and is very alert and awake.) The ER vet just called and said his sugars stayed in the 300-low 400s all night so they are going to give him a half dose and monitor him further and then I should be able to take him home until I can talk to his regular vet tomorrow.

I just feel very overwhelmed and sad right now for my poor baby for all the vet trips which I know cause stress in cats and just feeling like I'm not doing anything right.

The vet originally gave me a prescription for a Libre reader but the strips used I couldn't get enough blood to register a reading. I've ordered an Alphatrak that should get here today, and the vet also prescribed the Purina DM diet. I've been reading here that the dry food is actually not recommended. I haven't been giving him much of it just some as small feedings in the day between his canned food in the morning and night before his injection. This community has also been immensely helpful already in recommending other wet foods and I've just bought him some of the Fancy Feast classic pate (got some in each flavor to see what he likes) and thanks to the cost difference per can between the Purina DM and FF it shouldn't be a problem to transition him just to a wet food diet. We'll try the Libre monitor again but I'm going to follow the instructions in this message board to apply. He found the surgical shirt to be too restrictive so hopefully I can find something else that he doesn't mind so he doesn't keep gnawing them off.

I know it will be journey to get him regulated but please let me know if there are any other things you found helpful to start out.
 
Welcome to FDMB
It looks like you have been reading our Forum, this is good to know.; First a few pointers:
Lantus is a great insulin, it is a 12 hour insulin and gentle on the cat, also, Lantus is a depot style insulin, it basically means some of it goes into the blood stream and some is stored and slowly released over time. It can take 6 cycles (6 days) to build up the depot so you can see what the dose can do, so it is recommended you keep the same dose, We also recommend beginning with small a small dose of 1.0 units and work from there, You want to create a glucose level pattern before you can increase or decrease the dose if necessary.
A non-diabetic cats' glucose level is between 50-120.
Diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs, The DM "prescribed" food has nothing good for a diabetic cat these foods contain over 30% carbs, Many members use the Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% some feed up to 5%, Having a feeding schedule is important to keep the insulin depot, feeding 3-4 small meals or snack during the day plus the two main meals prior to shot, the protocol is TEST-FEED-SHOOT, The transition from high carbs to low carbs needs to be a slow one, you do not want to upset Simon's stomach, and the quick change can alter the glucose levels quite low, so testing often during the transition is recommended, since you have two cats, it is recommended you transition both to the same. there are good wet food feeders with cameras and chips
The Libre is a good tool, however, it has its flaws, it tends to read low levels lower than reality, and high higher, the sensor tends to fall off or malfunction, do not glue the sensor, it will irritate the skin and the sensor will malfunction, so we always recommend to have a manual meter handy. And you can save Simon stress by placing the sensor yourself, the instructions are as simple as removing a wrapper off a lollipop, and less expensive, you should have at least 2 extra sensors at home, since they only last 14 days. You do not need a Pet meter, the strips are too expensive, Most members use the ReliOn Premier human meter and strips (Walmart) or any other human meter, they are just as accurate and the strips are inexpensive, and you always need lots of them.
We are here to ease your way thru this journey, we can help you with medical matters as well as dosing advice. Cats are very sensitive to stress, and the biggest stressor is a vet visit, so if you are requested a "curve" this you are already doing with the Libre, a curve is simply testing every 2 hours for 1 cycle (12 hours)
Please keep posting, below is a Drs approved Food list link., and a calculator, use the nutrients on the label to calculate; we are looking for Wet Matter Carbs

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food -chart.174147/
Carb Calculator - Felinediabetes.com
 
CORKY said:
Welcome to FDMB
It looks like you have been reading our Forum, this is good to know.; First a few pointers:
Lantus is a great insulin, it is a 12 hour insulin and gentle on the cat, also, Lantus is a depot style insulin, it basically means some of it goes into the blood stream and some is stored and slowly released over time. It can take 6 cycles (6 days) to build up the depot so you can see what the dose can do, so it is recommended you keep the same dose, We also recommend beginning with small a small dose of 1.0 units and work from there, You want to create a glucose level pattern before you can increase or decrease the dose if necessary.
A non-diabetic cats' glucose level is between 50-120.
Diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs, The DM "prescribed" food has nothing good for a diabetic cat these foods contain over 30% carbs, Many members use the Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% some feed up to 5%, Having a feeding schedule is important to keep the insulin depot, feeding 3-4 small meals or snack during the day plus the two main meals prior to shot, the protocol is TEST-FEED-SHOOT, The transition from high carbs to low carbs needs to be a slow one, you do not want to upset Simon's stomach, and the quick change can alter the glucose levels quite low, so testing often during the transition is recommended, since you have two cats, it is recommended you transition both to the same. there are good wet food feeders with cameras and chips
The Libre is a good tool, however, it has its flaws, it tends to read low levels lower than reality, and high higher, the sensor tends to fall off or malfunction, do not glue the sensor, it will irritate the skin and the sensor will malfunction, so we always recommend to have a manual meter handy. And you can save Simon stress by placing the sensor yourself, the instructions are as simple as removing a wrapper off a lollipop, and less expensive, you should have at least 2 extra sensors at home, since they only last 14 days. You do not need a Pet meter, the strips are too expensive, Most members use the ReliOn Premier human meter and strips (Walmart) or any other human meter, they are just as accurate and the strips are inexpensive, and you always need lots of them.
We are here to ease your way thru this journey, we can help you with medical matters as well as dosing advice. Cats are very sensitive to stress, and the biggest stressor is a vet visit, so if you are requested a "curve" this you are already doing with the Libre, a curve is simply testing every 2 hours for 1 cycle (12 hours)
Please keep posting, below is a Drs approved Food list link., and a calculator, use the nutrients on the label to calculate; we are looking for Wet Matter Carbs

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food -chart.174147/
Carb Calculator - Felinediabetes.com
Click to expand...
Thank you!

He was started on 1 unit of Lantus last Wednesday as our starting point. Apologies when you say many members use the Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% or up to 5% do you mean up to 5% of carbs in a single feeding or in a single day? He is roughly 14 lbs so would a "small meal" be a smaller size of canned food (like a 3 ounce can or half of that?)

Yes, unfortunately his Libre has come off again and the vet was using glue and his poor skin is irritated now. I'll try getting a new one and following the instructions from this group to place. In the meantime I'll manually check him.
 
Last edited:
yes up to 5%! Corky is a very large cat and weighs 16.5lbs, if you look at his Spreadsheet, click on Corky's SS. which is what we use to be able to advice on doses, and concerns, as well as to create a daily pattern. you can scroll all the way to the left you can get an idea what I feed, times, what he feeds. I also have Coco Main Coon, 29 lbs. and he as well as Corky are very satisfied with their meals, the good thing about Fancy Feast is the is US made, regulated and no waste goes into the food, you will also notice a change in the litter box, because there's no waste or high carbs, he will not poop as often, probably every other day
Regarding the Libre, the sensors are guaranteed, always keep the box of the sensor placed, if malfunctions or falls off, call ABBOTT the number on the box, do not tell them is for your cat though, they will ask you several numbers on the box and phone, it will take about 48 hours, get a prescription from the VET a continuous prescription (many refills) Walmart Pharmacy has the best price, he just needs to include your cat's name and date of birth. And you can watch a video on YOUTUBE on how to install it yourself. The biggest stressor for a cat is a vet visit and replacing the sensor is easy, this will help avoid an unnecessary dose increases since the levels will be much higher at the vet's office, if you get a two-digit number on the reader, please retest manually and take the handheld level as value,.
We would like you to create your signature and spreadsheet, this way we can all be on the same page, and we can follow the progress of the dose given daily, links below ;)

Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/spreadsheets-tech-support-testing-area.6/
 
CORKY said:
yes up to 5%! Corky is a very large cat and weighs 16.5lbs, if you look at his Spreadsheet, click on Corky's SS. which is what we use to be able to advice on doses, and concerns, as well as to create a daily pattern. you can scroll all the way to the left you can get an idea what I feed, times, what he feeds. I also have Coco Main Coon, 29 lbs. and he as well as Corky are very satisfied with their meals, the good thing about Fancy Feast is the is US made, regulated and no waste goes into the food, you will also notice a change in the litter box, because there's no waste or high carbs, he will not poop as often, probably every other day
Regarding the Libre, the sensors are guaranteed, always keep the box of the sensor placed, if malfunctions or falls off, call ABBOTT the number on the box, do not tell them is for your cat though, they will ask you several numbers on the box and phone, it will take about 48 hours, get a prescription from the VET a continuous prescription (many refills) Walmart Pharmacy has the best price, he just needs to include your cat's name and date of birth. And you can watch a video on YOUTUBE on how to install it yourself. The biggest stressor for a cat is a vet visit and replacing the sensor is easy, this will help avoid an unnecessary dose increases since the levels will be much higher at the vet's office, if you get a two-digit number on the reader, please retest manually and take the handheld level as value,.
We would like you to create your signature and spreadsheet, this way we can all be on the same page, and we can follow the progress of the dose given daily, links below ;)

Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/spreadsheets-tech-support-testing-area.6/
Click to expand...
Created on and added! I feel like starting the data today is best since the last few days have been less than ideal with the trip to the emergency vet which changed what time he ate. Thank you!
 
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