Callie my 14 year old

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Lisa and Callie

Member Since 2016
My 14 year old cat was diagnosed as diabetic on Tuesday. We just started injections of Vetsulin on Friday. She is overweight so I was told that I need to change her diet to canned food. The bet recommended Purina DM. Any less costly suggestions?
 
Hi Lisa welcome to you and beautiful Callie! A low carb, canned food is best for Callie, but there's no need for expensive prescription food. Many of us use Fancy Feast Classic and Friskies Pate. If you want a higher end food, the Wellness grain free is a good one. Just be sure there is no grain or gravy. Here's a list
http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
Look for under 10carbs.
 
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Thank you for your help. I'm so new at this any info is great. Definitely learning process. I'm so scared that her glucose is going to drop quick. We started out at 633 and after three injections we are at 400.
 
My vet never mentioned home testing. Callie has a curve on Wednesday to see how she is doing. I'll have to ask about it then.
 
Many vets don't, but it's the best way to help Callie. If you're testing her you would catch any drop before it became serious and could steer her back up with food. It's easy to learn and we'd be glad to help you.
 
For Vetsulin, feed about 30 minutes before you give the shot. This will help buffer the rapid drop frrom the initial onset of Vetsulin.
Come on over to the Feline Health section to post more questions. This is the guideline for using Vetsulin.
 
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You don't need permission from the vet to start home testing, blood sugars are often higher at the vet and often drop with a switch to a low carbohydrate wet food. So you do need to know what they are doing at home to keep your kitty safe. I no longer have curves done at the vet as my home readings are much more reliable. They have the link to my spreadsheet so they can check her numbers periodically. You don't need an expensive pet meter either, a human one does just as well, and you can use a spreadsheet as we do to keep track of the readings. I am using the same insulin as you but can't advise on the meter as I am not in the US, when you do go to buy one make sure you get some urine testing strips to check for ketones as well. Testing can be done from the ear or the paw pads and there is a lot of information in the stickys in each forum. The routine is test, feed, shoot. Any questions just ask and someone will be able to answer.
 
My Callie says hi to your Callie. She is also on Vetsulin. My Vet had me start testing about a week and a half after her diagnosis. She showed me how to do the testing and gave some forms for recording when she ate, had her shot and what she tested at. I have forms to record a graph for a curve. I am supposed to drop of copies every week or so. Then she will call me to change her dosage or change the amount of food I give Callie. When I started testing, I wrapped Callie up in a towel like a burrito. Now she doesn't seem to mind.
 
My Callie will be going for her first curve tomorrow. I have several questions to ask the vet. She said she looks more for quality of life than numbers . I haven't home tested yet. I'm kind of scared to do it. Callie is also eating the DM and some Fancy Feast. How much Vetsulin are you doing?
 
My Callie will be going for her first curve tomorrow. I have several questions to ask the vet. She said she looks more for quality of life than numbers . I haven't home tested yet. I'm kind of scared to do it. Callie is also eating the DM and some Fancy Feast. How much Vetsulin are you doing?
She is up to 5 units twice a day. I think her numbers zre still high because she has a UTI. She is on her second antibiotic and I don't think its working so well.
 
They started Callie on 1 unit twice a day. Her diagnosed number was 633. They had it down to 420 the next day. Hopefully your Callie's numbers will be better when she gets over her uti.
 
They started Callie on 1 unit twice a day. Her diagnosed number was 633. They had it down to 420 the next day. Hopefully your Callie's numbers will be better when she gets over her uti.
Just got the results from Callie's curve. Her numbers were always in the 400's so the vet is changing her to 2 units twice a day.
 
Just got the results from Callie's curve. Her numbers were always in the 400's so the vet is changing her to 2 units twice a day.
My Callie's numbers have gone down to the 300's. They started her at 11/2 units and bit by bit increased it to 5. She does seem better. She is more active and has been grooming herself.
 
We both are at least making progress. Callie had gained a little bit of weight but the vet said that was ok. I was surprised that she wasn't concerned. Callie had lost some weight before but is still overweight.
 
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