3/3 Diagnosis and completely overwhelmed

N

Nickles99

Member Since 2026
My youngest cat, Mack (8), was diagnosed on 3/3 and also had ketones. He’d been acting “off” like not wanting to be in the main room with me yet not truly hiding, not begging for meals or my meals, sitting at the water fountain drinking, or trying to drink water from the shower. I’m dealing with guilt if not taking him in sooner. He was prescribed Lantus, 1 unit 2x/day after meals. I have been tracking feeding/insulin times. No mention of home testing, just bring him back in 2 weeks for a curve test.

First night post diagnosis was rough on me (not sure if he was just exhausted from the vet or if he needed to go back), but by morning he was somewhat back to himself. Eating, but not begging, sleeping a lot on my bed, but leaning in for pets and snuggles. This week he’s back to begging for food and he’ll climb up on me in the morning for snuggles, but he’s still keeping to himself more than I’d like. His two older brothers, Bobcat (14), and Tiger (13) are mixed as far as loving on him. Tiger is loving on him the most as they have always been closer.

My cousin in law’s cat, Ozzy, was diabetic and she directed me to this forum for help. I’m trying to get through all the info here, but I’m honestly overwhelmed and trying to figure out what course of action to take.

He’s currently on Stella and Chewy’s freeze dried raw which he’s been on for years since one of his older brothers has egc and it’s the only food that keeps his condition in check. We got an rx for food, but after reviewing the food file I’m not convinced that’s a good route.

I had chosen the CGM route to at least get a curve with our new vet, but now after reading posts about it I’m second guessing that choice. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to home test since Mack is not always good about the insulin shots as it is. I’m certainly willing to try home testing, but I’m not confident in that being a skill in my toolbox. He’s been poked and prodded so much in the last week I feel bad continuing to poke him.

I’m also concerted about finding someone I trust to take care of him when I need to travel. The ER vet has medical boarding to the tune of $300/day, but I’m not sure where else to potentially find a competent person to help.

I guess my questions are:
- how to determine the best food for my cats to be on?
- how to get comfortable with hometesting and picking the right monitor?
- where do you find your helpers for travel?
 
Nickles99 said:
My youngest cat, Mack (8), was diagnosed on 3/3 and also had ketones. He’d been acting “off” like not wanting to be in the main room with me yet not truly hiding, not begging for meals or my meals, sitting at the water fountain drinking, or trying to drink water from the shower. I’m dealing with guilt if not taking him in sooner. He was prescribed Lantus, 1 unit 2x/day after meals. I have been tracking feeding/insulin times. No mention of home testing, just bring him back in 2 weeks for a curve test.

First night post diagnosis was rough on me (not sure if he was just exhausted from the vet or if he needed to go back), but by morning he was somewhat back to himself. Eating, but not begging, sleeping a lot on my bed, but leaning in for pets and snuggles. This week he’s back to begging for food and he’ll climb up on me in the morning for snuggles, but he’s still keeping to himself more than I’d like. His two older brothers, Bobcat (14), and Tiger (13) are mixed as far as loving on him. Tiger is loving on him the most as they have always been closer.

My cousin in law’s cat, Ozzy, was diabetic and she directed me to this forum for help. I’m trying to get through all the info here, but I’m honestly overwhelmed and trying to figure out what course of action to take.

He’s currently on Stella and Chewy’s freeze dried raw which he’s been on for years since one of his older brothers has egc and it’s the only food that keeps his condition in check. We got an rx for food, but after reviewing the food file I’m not convinced that’s a good route.

I had chosen the CGM route to at least get a curve with our new vet, but now after reading posts about it I’m second guessing that choice. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to home test since Mack is not always good about the insulin shots as it is. I’m certainly willing to try home testing, but I’m not confident in that being a skill in my toolbox. He’s been poked and prodded so much in the last week I feel bad continuing to poke him. geometry dash

I’m also concerted about finding someone I trust to take care of him when I need to travel. The ER vet has medical boarding to the tune of $300/day, but I’m not sure where else to potentially find a competent person to help.

I guess my questions are:
- how to determine the best food for my cats to be on?
- how to get comfortable with hometesting and picking the right monitor?
- where do you find your helpers for travel?
Click to expand...
Those symptoms are common early signs of Diabetes mellitus, and starting treatment quickly with Insulin glargine is the right step. I think you should choose a low-carbohydrate (<10%), high-protein wet or raw diet. If your cats are doing well on Stella & Chewy's and the carbs are low, it can be appropriate and often better than many prescription diets.
I often use a simple human glucose meter like ReliOn Premier Classic. A small ear prick measures blood sugar and helps prevent dangerous lows. A FreeStyle Libre can also help track levels if your vet applies it.
Moreover, you can look for a vet tech pet sitter, a trained professional pet sitter experienced with insulin injections, or veterinary boarding if needed.
 
Welcome to FDMB
Diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs most members feed Fancy Feast pates or Friskies most feed up to 5% , stay away from “prescribed or diabetic food” these contain over 20% carbs there’s nothing good in them for a diabetic cat, a feeding schedule main meals before shots and at least 3-4 small meals or snacks bet renta the day Lantus is a Depot insulin so you need to keep it in check and eating well helps Ketones go away, by using the CGM you do not need to take Mack to the vet for curves, save your money please! A curve is testing every 2-3 hour for a cycle (12) hours and the CGM does that 24/7, besides cats are very sensitive to stress and the glucose readings will be unrealistic , causing an unnecessary dose increase, you will need a manual monitor, since the Libre tends to read two digit BG’s lower, you will need any human meter most members use. The ReliOn Premier monitor and strips (Walmart) no need for a pet meter, and the Libre sensor you can place it yourself, you do not need the vet for that again sabe your money ask him to give you a continuous prescription and keep at least 2 extra ones at home in case one fails and again save vet bills, for traveling you can ask any vet, they usually have phone numbers of vet assistants they don’t charge much and also a wet food feeder (CHEWY) has a good selection , keep posting you are not alone,
 
W are very numbers oriented we would like you to create your signature and Mack's spreadsheet this way we don't have be asking you the same questions over and over again and we can all be on the same page , also a link of a Drs approved Food list, the third column contains the % of carbs per food, there are many brands and flavors to choose from , we are here for you, we have all been in your shoes, we have all been overwhelmed, guilty, inadequate and like we can't do this. We are here for you, you mare not alone

Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
Info - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
 
Freeze dried raw is fine for diabetic cats. That's what my diabetic eat. Many others feed low carb canned food.

Does your cat take any medications for other health conditions? Steroids are known to induce diabetes in some cats (like mine:facepalm:). But if your cat isn't taking medication it's odd that he became diabetic from eating a freeze dried raw diet 🤔 Did the vet do full blood work including a fructosamine?

Any Human blood glucose meter works, whatever you can afford and can find in the local stores if you forget to buy more test strips online.

CGM info threads here: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/think-tank.22/

Lots of people hire a pet sitter to take care of their cat. This could be a family member / relative or a neighbor or a tech who works at the vet office. Others take their cat along if that's doable. One member has a lake house and brings her cat along. Boarding is an option. Some vets offer boarding. Regular boarding places may or may not do injections and testing. You'd have to ask when choosing a place.
 
CORKY said:
Welcome to FDMB
Diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs most members feed Fancy Feast pates or Friskies most feed up to 5% , stay away from “prescribed or diabetic food” these contain over 20% carbs there’s nothing good in them for a diabetic cat, a feeding schedule main meals before shots and at least 3-4 small meals or snacks bet renta the day Lantus is a Depot insulin so you need to keep it in check and eating well helps Ketones go away, by using the CGM you do not need to take Mack to the vet for curves, save your money please! A curve is testing every 2-3 hour for a cycle (12) hours and the CGM does that 24/7, besides cats are very sensitive to stress and the glucose readings will be unrealistic , causing an unnecessary dose increase, you will need a manual monitor, since the Libre tends to read two digit BG’s lower, you will need any human meter most members use. The ReliOn Premier monitor and strips (Walmart) no need for a pet meter, and the Libre sensor you can place it yourself, you do not need the vet for that again sabe your money ask him to give you a continuous prescription and keep at least 2 extra ones at home in case one fails and again save vet bills, for traveling you can ask any vet, they usually have phone numbers of vet assistants they don’t charge much and also a wet food feeder (CHEWY) has a good selection , keep posting you are not alone,
Click to expand...
I don’t want to use the vet rx food as I know they’re full of crap, but I’m overwhelmed by the choices based on the food list in this group. I will revisit the list tonight and compare to what I know about S&C.

CGM concerns me due to the use of Bluetooth to monitor. I don’t use Bluetooth anything myself. I’m ok using it for the curve, but unsure if I’ll use it going forward especially if I should still be manually testing anyway. No idea how he’ll handle manual testing.
 
CORKY said:
W are very numbers oriented we would like you to create your signature and Mack's spreadsheet this way we don't have be asking you the same questions over and over again and we can all be on the same page , also a link of a Drs approved Food list, the third column contains the % of carbs per food, there are many brands and flavors to choose from , we are here for you, we have all been in your shoes, we have all been overwhelmed, guilty, inadequate and like we can't do this. We are here for you, you mare not alone

Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
Info - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
Click to expand...
I haven’t been testing his numbers myself so I haven’t started the spreadsheet, but I will once I figure out testing supplies.
 
squeem3 said:
Freeze dried raw is fine for diabetic cats. That's what my diabetic eat. Many others feed low carb canned food.

Does your cat take any medications for other health conditions? Steroids are known to induce diabetes in some cats (like mine:facepalm:). But if your cat isn't taking medication it's odd that he became diabetic from eating a freeze dried raw diet 🤔 Did the vet do full blood work including a fructosamine?

Any Human blood glucose meter works, whatever you can afford and can find in the local stores if you forget to buy more test strips online.

CGM info threads here: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/think-tank.22/

Lots of people hire a pet sitter to take care of their cat. This could be a family member / relative or a neighbor or a tech who works at the vet office. Others take their cat along if that's doable. One member has a lake house and brings her cat along. Boarding is an option. Some vets offer boarding. Regular boarding places may or may not do injections and testing. You'd have to ask when choosing a place.
Click to expand...
No other medications, but he has a heart murmur since he was a baby. I’m assuming he’s got diabetes from crappy genetics. I’ve never over fed my cats or been a constant treat dispenser.

When I asked two different vets about travel solutions they said they didn’t have anyone. My regular person won’t do injections or testing.
 
Many cats end up diabetic because they ate mostly or only dry food their entire lives. I suppose genetics can play a role. A low carb only diet wouldn't cause diabetes. Maybe @Sienne and Gabby (GA) or @Wendy&Neko know.

You can look on Rover.com or a local neighborhood group for anyone who can pet sit and have experience with testing and injections. Or there might be a member here who lives in your area. Check the member's map: https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/members/membersmap

Food: Raw is just fine. Freeze dried, frozen, from a recipe, etc. So is home cooked.

Most people choose to feed low carb canned food because they can't do raw or home cooked for whatever reason. The food charts are here: Links to FOOD CHARTS There's a newer US chart here: Cat Food As-Fed Chart Any food that has under 10% carbs is best. You'll find many options from Fancy Feast Gourmet / Classic pates to Friskies to Tiki to the more expensive brands like Rawz. Whatever you can afford and the cat likes is fine.

A CGM needs to be replaced every 2 weeks or sooner. It's known to fall off a cat or malfunction. You can replace the meter yourself. There's info here: Getting Started With Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for Diabetic Cats You do need to learn how to manually test from the ear or a paw pad in case the CGM isn't working or you get a LO reading and you need to know exactly how low..

Hometesting Links and Tips

Few cats enjoy being tested initially. It takes time and patience and low carb treats to slowly get a cat to allow testing.
 
Nickles99 said:
I don’t want to use the vet rx food as I know they’re full of crap, but I’m overwhelmed by the choices based on the food list in this group. I will revisit the list tonight and compare to what I know about S&C.

CGM concerns me due to the use of Bluetooth to monitor. I don’t use Bluetooth anything myself. I’m ok using it for the curve, but unsure if I’ll use it going forward especially if I should still be manually testing anyway. No idea how he’ll handle manual testing.
Click to expand...
I personally after using CGM the first three month, I love my ReliOn human monitor, you can use any human monitor, please don’t wast your money on a pet meter is not necessary the human meter are very accurate
 
The Stella and Chewy's is fine to feed him. I fed my diabetic kitty raw food, as do many others. I wouldn't say that "most members" feed Fancy Feast. It's a good low carb option for those on a budget, but it's rather high in phosphorus if your cat has kidney disease. There are many options out there. You are find sticking with what you are feeding now.

If you are in the US, a lot of people use the Relion meters from Walmart as the hand held meter You want a meter that needs just a small blood drop and has cheap test strips as that is what you will go through more. Lots of tips and videos here on testing. Hometesting Links and Tips It can be a steep learning curve, but finding a treat he really likes (freeze dried is good) really helps.

As far as pet sitting, ask around at the local vet clinics to see if staff there do petsitting on the side. Or maybe even some of the animal shelters or rescues might have people wanting to earn a little on the side. See if there is a young university student in the area who wants to be a vet when they graduate. Our neighbourhood has a pet/house sitter guide. Maybe something similar near you.
 
Regarding what caused diabetes, there are many possible reasons. Genetics is one possibility, being overweight or a little too fluffy is also a common reason. There are also secondary conditions that can play a role.
 
Got the keto mojo delivered this morning (he had ketones so want to monitor that) and we were unsuccessful. I was able to get blood, but couldn’t get enough to come up on the strip and even after several treats he became uncooperative.
 
Cats are very sensitive to stress, you stress they stress, breath in and out, cuddle before you start so before testing, put all the supplies in front of him, let him smell see them, take a small sock fill the end with rice to make a small ball tie it should fit in the inside inner ear, for support, lightly but firm, place the back of your palm between the ears for head control, in a week or so the capillaries will swell, and it will very easy to draw blood see photo. That small flashlight I place it in my mouth while I’m pinching the ear and taking the droplet to the strip, never letting go of the head, always have an extra strip by you in case you don’t get a reading you can try again , insert the lancet sideways, not straight thru the ear, if you get a bad reading you can gently milk more blood, then compliment with a treat, not before this way he can associate that if he’s a good boy, he’ll be rewarded😉
 

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I tried to order that vein finder and emailed them as their secure site wouldn’t recognize my zip code. Haven’t heard back yet. Still no success getting a sample. Is there another type of flashlight I should be looking for?
 
CORKY said:
Cats are very sensitive to stress, you stress they stress, breath in and out, cuddle before you start so before testing, put all the supplies in front of him, let him smell see them, take a small sock fill the end with rice to make a small ball tie it should fit in the inside inner ear, for support, lightly but firm, place the back of your palm between the ears for head control, in a week or so the capillaries will swell, and it will very easy to draw blood see photo. That small flashlight I place it in my mouth while I’m pinching the ear and taking the droplet to the strip, never letting go of the head, always have an extra strip by you in case you don’t get a reading you can try again , insert the lancet sideways, not straight thru the ear, if you get a bad reading you can gently milk more blood, then compliment with a treat, not before this way he can associate that if he’s a good boy, he’ll be rewarded😉
Click to expand...
What kind of flashlight is that? I tried one I had on hand and I couldn’t see anything and my other two cats went nuts.
 
that is not a vein finder if you are referring to what I am holding is a small flashlight, I place in my mouth to be able to see the droplet of blood, what you see are the swollen capillaries after several weeks of pricking the ear you can get any flashlight and light up the inner part of the ear so can get familiar as to where the veins are, this part you see is called the sweet spot, try Amazon for what Squeem3 send you the link for
 
I used a small pocket flashlight, maybe the light part was 1/2 inch across. Make sure it's flat top. I'd put a cotton makeup remover pad on top, then put that under the ear which gave me something to poke against and did a great job illuminating the capillaries.
 
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