3/27 Onyx - SEVERE Carb Sensitivity

[Onyx & Klepto]

Last condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=115726

Hi everyone.

Okay, so I'm mystified as to what's going on with Onyx. Here are the details:

1. Went OTJ in August
2. Was doing well, other than some food allergies, which cause vomiting and hair mowing
3. A few weeks ago, her numbers shot up in the 400s
4. Started insulin again a week ago to get her numbers down, until we figured out what was going on
5. .5U did nothing. 1U did nothing. 1.5 finally started to lower her numbers
6. Vet prescribed Chlorpheniramine for her allergies; I started 2 days ago, at half dose to see how she handled it
7. While the antihistamine relaxed her and stopped the digging, it also made her so sleepy she wouldn't eat all day
8. 2 days in a row, after not eating from the meds, her numbers dropped below 100. 2nd day was down to 34
9. A few hours after eating, she shot back up into the 300s. Both days.
10. I decided to do a test today, so I did NOT give insulin...and I allowed her to not eat all day while she was zonked out from the meds. Again, she went down to 34 (thank god I skipped the dose)
11. I allowed her to eat, and within 2 hours, she shot back up to 394!!! WTF???

It literally looks like she has an EXTREME sensitivity to carbs now. And she has been eating them for months, so it's crazy. Has anyone else seen anything like this???? I'm going to do what I can to get her eating the Young Again Zero Carb again, but I'm so worried about her allergy to it. I'm just so floored by this drastic change in numbers between meals. She's only eating 8% carbs in the EVO, and I would have never imagined it could have such a drastic affect. I can't imagine having to give her insulin for the rest of her life because of FOOD. I think I might have to break something.

Any insights???

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Is there any conceivable chance that whatever your feeding changed their formula?

I would certainly try a lower carb food. There are plenty out there in the 0 - 5% range. Would you consider feeding raw?

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Brandi

I also think the dose was taken up a little fast. Yes, when they are coming back from remission, we want to be a little more aggressive but I think I would have gone from 1u to 1.25u instead of 1.5u. The 34 indicates that's a little much for her and I understand the other thing in the mix was her not eating, you might want to put that in her SS.

It's possible the low number today could have been depot. A dose can affect six subsequent cycles. But it also could be the not eating part. I bet the high numbers are more caused by bouncing from the low numbers.

I would be sure and reduce her dose it 1.25u tonight.

 

[Onyx & Klepto]

Thanks, Ladies.

Oddly enough, I had reduced her one dose to 1.25, but she went back into the 300s, so the next dose I bumped back up. I'm not 100% sure what's going on with her. Physically, she seems perfectly healthy. She's not over eating, drinking or peeing, like a true diabetic does. My vet thinks the high numbers are all from allergies and stress. I sure hope he's right. The good news is, the Chlorpheniramine really does seem to be helping. And the transdermal pen ROCKS!!!! I will never have trouble giving medicine again. :smile:

Luckily, she started eating Young Again Zero Carb last night, all on her own. YAY!!!! Perhaps she noticed my frustration...lol. Since she hadn't even been on insulin for a week, I decided last night to just let the depot drain and start over again, since she won't be eating carbs and will need less insulin as a result. She's still in the 300s today, so I'll see where she is tomorrow evening once most of the carbs are out of her system, then start insulin again.

I just wish I knew which protein she's allergic to. My gut says it's chicken, since that's the common protein in all foods she's eaten over the last year. She won't eat raw OR cooked meat. I've tried. So I'll just have to keep searching for another low-carb dry food, to give when she won't eat YAZC. I have EVO (8%), but I just learned yesterday that the Nature's Variety Instinct she'd been eating, is actually 19% carbs, and not the 8% they claim. Perhaps that was the other factor that shot her numbers up. These are the only 2 dry foods under 10% I've been able to find so far.

So I'll check back over the weekend once I start her insulin again.

Sending hugs and healing vines those in need today.

Brandi

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Beef and fish are the most common allergens. If you're trying to rule out a food allergy, it's helpful to try novel protein such as duck, kangaroo, or possibly lamb. However, you are going to be severely limited if you are attempting to feed dry. There just isn't the selection.

It also sounds like you may not have factored New Dose Wonkiness (NDW) into the equation when you raised Onyx's dose. This happens when you raise the dose. Rather than seeing an improvement, the numbers go up. It also helps to remember that with Lantus, you don't always see an immediate change when you make a dose adjustment. It can take several days for the depot to catch up with the dose change.

 

[Alexis & Nikki (GA)]

Ziwipeak makes an air dried cat food that comes in either venison or lamb. Not sure if they are on the Dr. Lisa's list but the only thing in the ingredients that might have carbs is chicory or kelp.

I fed Nikki Ziwipeak venison wet food for a while and she liked it. I discovered with her that she does best on poultry based foods though so I stopped buying the Ziwipeak.