Recently as in this past Thursday my maine coon mix mufasa was diagnosed with diabetes. He doesn’t start his insulin until Monday. The vet stated as long as he was hungry let him eat as he has lost 7lbs since he last check up in may. So my question is how do I address the weight loss until he gets his insulin as his blood glucose had been 459 when they phoned me on yesterday evening before closing at 5pm.
Angie and mufasa
- Thread starter Angie M
- Start date
- Status
Welcome to FDMB.
What will be very important throughout the rest of your cat's life is that you transition whatever you are feeding Mufasa to a low carbohydrate diet. We recommend a low carb, canned food diet. With very few exceptions, dry food/kibble, even the "prescription" diabetic food, is high in carbs. There are only 2 dry foods that are low in carbs. Many members here use Fancy Feast pate style (Classic) food but there are any number of options. This is a link to a chart that lists the nutritional content, including carbs, for most of the canned foods available in the US. A low carb diet is not only appropriate for a diabetic cat, it's a species appropriate diet for any cat so if you have other kitties at home, it will make your life easier if they are all eating the same food. I'd also suggest getting some low carb treats. Many people here use freeze dried chicken or other freeze dried protein.
I would strongly recommend that your cat be prescribed either Lantus (glargine is the generic/biosimilar that is now available) or Prozinc. If your vet suggests a different insulin, please let the vet know that you've been doing your homework and the American Animal Hospital Association in their diabetes treatment guidelines recommends either of these insulins for cats. This is a link to the AAHA guidelines. Many vets still suggest either Vetsulin or Novolin/Humulin N which do not have adequate duration given a cat's fast metabolism. This means that the insulin doesn't last 12 hours and you end up seeing wide swings in blood glucose numbers. Prozinc and Lantus have a longer duration and have a great deal of success in getting your cat regulated or into remission. You will also need syringes. You do not want to dispense insulin from the pens. The pens do not allow you to give insulin in less than 1.0u amounts. You'll want U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings. You may need to ask your vet for a prescription or you can order from Amazon without a prescription.
I'm also linking information on home testing. Testing your cat's blood glucose at home is the best possible way to ensure Mufasa is in safe numbers. It will also guide you as to whether a dose needs to be adjusted. The other plus is that you won't need to spend a fortune on taking your cat to the vet for a curve (i.e., testing every 2 hours for a 12 hour period). You can do this at home. Many members use the Walmart Relion glucometer. There are pet specific meters but the strips cost a fortune (about $1.00 each) versus the Relion strips which are inexpensive (17 cents each). Many vets are recommending the Freestyle Libre. This is a human continuous glucose monitor. A sensor is attached to your cat's skin and you can read the blood glucose numbers on your phone. There are some issues with the Libre (e.g, cat's knock the sensor off) so it's good to learn how to use a hand held glucometer. If you plan on making a supply run, you'll need a glucometer, a few packages of strips, and lancets. You will want lancets that are around 26 gauge. This is a thicker poking size. It will take a few weeks for the capillary bed to build up which will make it easier to get blood. Once that happens, you can use a thinner lancet (e.g., 28 - 30 gauge).
If you decide you want to hang out with us here, this post on helping us to help you will give you more of the basics. Please take a look and let us know if you have questions.
I've loaded you with a lot of information. Sorry!! the beginning of this journey is completely overwhelming. We've all been there and empathize. The good news, though, is that it becomes routine both for you and Mufasa fairly quickly. Plus, this is a great community and the members are very generous with their time and knowledge.
What will be very important throughout the rest of your cat's life is that you transition whatever you are feeding Mufasa to a low carbohydrate diet. We recommend a low carb, canned food diet. With very few exceptions, dry food/kibble, even the "prescription" diabetic food, is high in carbs. There are only 2 dry foods that are low in carbs. Many members here use Fancy Feast pate style (Classic) food but there are any number of options. This is a link to a chart that lists the nutritional content, including carbs, for most of the canned foods available in the US. A low carb diet is not only appropriate for a diabetic cat, it's a species appropriate diet for any cat so if you have other kitties at home, it will make your life easier if they are all eating the same food. I'd also suggest getting some low carb treats. Many people here use freeze dried chicken or other freeze dried protein.
I would strongly recommend that your cat be prescribed either Lantus (glargine is the generic/biosimilar that is now available) or Prozinc. If your vet suggests a different insulin, please let the vet know that you've been doing your homework and the American Animal Hospital Association in their diabetes treatment guidelines recommends either of these insulins for cats. This is a link to the AAHA guidelines. Many vets still suggest either Vetsulin or Novolin/Humulin N which do not have adequate duration given a cat's fast metabolism. This means that the insulin doesn't last 12 hours and you end up seeing wide swings in blood glucose numbers. Prozinc and Lantus have a longer duration and have a great deal of success in getting your cat regulated or into remission. You will also need syringes. You do not want to dispense insulin from the pens. The pens do not allow you to give insulin in less than 1.0u amounts. You'll want U-100 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings. You may need to ask your vet for a prescription or you can order from Amazon without a prescription.
I'm also linking information on home testing. Testing your cat's blood glucose at home is the best possible way to ensure Mufasa is in safe numbers. It will also guide you as to whether a dose needs to be adjusted. The other plus is that you won't need to spend a fortune on taking your cat to the vet for a curve (i.e., testing every 2 hours for a 12 hour period). You can do this at home. Many members use the Walmart Relion glucometer. There are pet specific meters but the strips cost a fortune (about $1.00 each) versus the Relion strips which are inexpensive (17 cents each). Many vets are recommending the Freestyle Libre. This is a human continuous glucose monitor. A sensor is attached to your cat's skin and you can read the blood glucose numbers on your phone. There are some issues with the Libre (e.g, cat's knock the sensor off) so it's good to learn how to use a hand held glucometer. If you plan on making a supply run, you'll need a glucometer, a few packages of strips, and lancets. You will want lancets that are around 26 gauge. This is a thicker poking size. It will take a few weeks for the capillary bed to build up which will make it easier to get blood. Once that happens, you can use a thinner lancet (e.g., 28 - 30 gauge).
If you decide you want to hang out with us here, this post on helping us to help you will give you more of the basics. Please take a look and let us know if you have questions.
I've loaded you with a lot of information. Sorry!! the beginning of this journey is completely overwhelming. We've all been there and empathize. The good news, though, is that it becomes routine both for you and Mufasa fairly quickly. Plus, this is a great community and the members are very generous with their time and knowledge.
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi and welcome to the forum. Sienne has given you lots of great information. I do hope you will start testing and join our group as we can do so much to help you and your beautiful boy on his diabetes journey.
Mufasa went to the vet on Monday and had a urine test done he has no infections or keystones present. The vet was is supposed to be treating him was not very compassionate as he at first didn’t remember treating him on Thursday . He also didn’t seemed to be concerned that his blood glucose was 459 when they sent him home with no treatment. I think because I have a medical background he wasn’t prepared for the questions and answers I had for him. He sent me home with lots of information that contridicted what he said. I did get his insulin lantus that I requested and a box of 100 needles filled at or local Publix pharmacy for less than $65. He went back yesterday for an instruction on giving the insulin which I had no problem giving him. He also was prescribed royal Caine. I asked to speak with a different vet to follow him as the first vet said he could only have two feedings a day with no treats after his shot. He also didn’t address the eye treatment that I had been doing for him because the eye hasn’t improved. My question now is even after all his shots yesterday and feedings his belly was still growling because he was still hungry. The information that he had given me was the same as he information that I had read from seinne small amounts of food should be available for them at all times. He doesn’t return for follow up visit for two weeks !
Overwhelmed and confused!!!!!
Overwhelmed and confused!!!!!
I'm so sorry. Your vet doesn't sound very helpful. Do you have any other (better) options in your area?
Royal Canin food is high in carbs. Even the canned food is 14% carbs. We consider low carb as below 10%. The prescription food is not worth the price and I'd encourage you to opt for a lower cost, lower carb food. There's a link in my post above to a food chart that lists the carbs in most of the available canned foods.
Until a diabetic cat is regulated, the cat will be hungry all the time. What they are eating isn't getting into their cells and providing adequate nutrition -- the end product of metabolism is glucose and when a diabetic isn't regulated, the glucose floats around in the bloodstream and doesn't get into the cells. In other words, feed your cat! As long as Mufasa doesn't start gaining a huge amount of weight, you're good. .
Royal Canin food is high in carbs. Even the canned food is 14% carbs. We consider low carb as below 10%. The prescription food is not worth the price and I'd encourage you to opt for a lower cost, lower carb food. There's a link in my post above to a food chart that lists the carbs in most of the available canned foods.
Until a diabetic cat is regulated, the cat will be hungry all the time. What they are eating isn't getting into their cells and providing adequate nutrition -- the end product of metabolism is glucose and when a diabetic isn't regulated, the glucose floats around in the bloodstream and doesn't get into the cells. In other words, feed your cat! As long as Mufasa doesn't start gaining a huge amount of weight, you're good. .
Mufasa goes back to the vet on Tuesday for his two week check up he seems to be doing well with the insulin shots and the adjustments in his feeding times and snacks in between he has not had a afternoon snack in two days as he has not wanted them, I hoping for the best as we continue on this journey. Thank you all again for the information. Also we tried the dry glucobalance royal cainin and the pieces are huge and he has a difficult time chewing them. They’re more like a small dogs food. Would not recommend at all
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Very Active Member
I agree with Sienne. I would feed low carb canned food and give snacks and low carb treats.
Are you thinking of hometesting the blood glucose? Would really recommend that to keep Mufusa safe
HOMETESTING HINTS AND LINKS
Are you thinking of hometesting the blood glucose? Would really recommend that to keep Mufusa safe
HOMETESTING HINTS AND LINKS
Yes I am considering home testing as his third eyelid still is present when it is time for feeding I have been giving him dried salmon and minnow treats as well as small pieces of tilapia and tuna filets for his in between meal snacks I have noticed since I’ve changed his diet to the low carb and giving him a liver wet food once a week his ur has changed and he is not peeing as much of a giant puddle its a smaller round ball
- Status