Cat diabetic new diagnosis

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D Lisak

D Lisak

Member Since 2020
Hi
I’m new here. My 7 year old female cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She weighs 11 pounds. She was drinking and peeing a lot more then normal. I took her in and they said her blood glucose was around 506. They gave me hills WD dry food and some cans of WD. They also started her at 1 unit of novolin insulin every 12 hours.
I took her back in a week later and her blood sugar was still high, in the upper 300s. They upped the insulin to 1 1/2 unit every 12 hours now.

She isn’t really active. Just lays around a lot.
Is the WD dry food she is on too high in carbs?
She eats that a lot. I read maybe I should start her on fancy feast pate instead?

Funny thing is, she got spayed in early June. The bloodwork before surgery shown no issues. A month and a half later, she’s diabetic.

Any help / advice is appreciated
 
I'm moving your post over to the Feline Health Forum. You posted initially in the Lantus/Basaglar/Levemir forum, but looks like your cat is on Novolin. By the way Lantus is a much better insulin choice.
 
One more thing - yes, the w/d both wet and dry is too high in carbs. But I wouldn't change to a lower carb diet unless you are home testing her blood sugars first. A change in diet can make a huge difference in the amount of insulin needed, so you need to do that safely, knowing what her blood sugars are at home.
 
WELCOME DLISAK! You've landed in a safe place! We will help you decipher whats going on with your kitty.

Again welcome to the best site on this planet to help you navigate this disease! YOU CAN DO THIS!
jeanne
 
D Lisak said:
Hi
I’m new here. My 7 year old female cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She weighs 11 pounds. She was drinking and peeing a lot more then normal. I took her in and they said her blood glucose was around 506. They gave me hills WD dry food and some cans of WD. They also started her at 1 unit of novolin insulin every 12 hours.
I took her back in a week later and her blood sugar was still high, in the upper 300s. They upped the insulin to 1 1/2 unit every 12 hours now.

She isn’t really active. Just lays around a lot.
Is the WD dry food she is on too high in carbs?
She eats that a lot. I read maybe I should start her on fancy feast pate instead?

Funny thing is, she got spayed in early June. The bloodwork before surgery shown no issues. A month and a half later, she’s diabetic.

Any help / advice is appreciated
Click to expand...
Did the Vet mention anything about testing at home ? I know this is all Overwhelming after asking questions and reading some post you will find it’s the best way to get a grip on diabetes and insulin doses etc ...... Ask every question you can think of here
 
No, the vet hasn’t mentioned the testing at home but I looked up and read about it. I read you can test a drop of blood by pricking the ear or paw pad. I haven’t tried it yet though.
I actually have a small blood glucose testing kit that my dad used.

I bought a couple cans of fancy feast pate. I have a bag of WD dry food still. I know she eats the dry food a lot but I can cut down the amount and offer more fancy feast.

She isn’t that active but she does eat, drink, use the bathroom fine. I never had any issues with her until a month ago when the diabetes symptoms started.
 
My cat will probably need moved up to 2 units every 12 hours. She’s still peeing and drinking a lot. I will ask the vet tomorrow.
Also, does anyone have experience pricking the paw pad to get a drop of blood to test or is the ear vein better?
 
D Lisak said:
No, the vet hasn’t mentioned the testing at home but I looked up and read about it. I read you can test a drop of blood by pricking the ear or paw pad. I haven’t tried it yet though.
I actually have a small blood glucose testing kit that my dad used.

I bought a couple cans of fancy feast pate. I have a bag of WD dry food still. I know she eats the dry food a lot but I can cut down the amount and offer more fancy feast.

She isn’t that active but she does eat, drink, use the bathroom fine. I never had any issues with her until a month ago when the diabetes symptoms started.
Click to expand...
I have a link to a video showing how I test my cat in my signature below. That's great that you already have a meter.
 
D Lisak said:
My cat will probably need moved up to 2 units every 12 hours.
Click to expand...
If you can get down the blood testing at home, you will know for sure. Cats often read higher at the vet clinic. And we typically increase in smaller increases, such as 0.25 units at once. If you haven't already, half unit syringes are very helpful for doing smaller doses.

Also, if you switch out the WD dry for low carb wet food, she won't need as much insulin. Best to do the switch when you can monitor her blood sugars.
 
She doesn’t care for the WD can food anymore but eats up the fancy feast pate can food. Are you sure the fancy feast can food doesn’t raise her glucose?
She still eats a little of the WD dry food.

She is on 1 1/2 units of novolin insulin but she’s still peeing a lot and has a big appetite.

I’m talking to the vet today.
 
FF Pate is usually under 10% carbs I think a couple are just a tad bit higher. This is an acceptable range
Peeing a lot and ravenous appetite is a sigh of non regulation. Please feed her. Her little body isnt absorbing the nutrients properly. Please let her eat.
I dont see a spreadsheet would you like to set one up? You can find how to do that here:
FDMB SPREADSHEET INSTRUCTIONS

Also in the same section theres a Signature instruction thread.

If you are having trouble setting them up we have good folks here that will help with that. ;)
 
Her blood sugar was 361 this afternoon so now she will be at 2 units of insulin. do you know of any low carb, diabetic cat treats I can give her?
I used to buy her a small bag of treats before.
 
A lot of people here use Purebites I bought a couple of diff. bags and Zoe looked at me like I was trying to poison her. Most here swear by them :rolleyes: Theres also bonita flakes. (zoe doesnt like them either):rolleyes:
 
She’s is still peeing a lot and has a big appetite. She is on 2 units of novolin n insulin now. This is going on the 3rd week of novolin n insulin.

Also, when I asked the vet clinic about feeding her WD dry food since I read it’s still high on carbs, they brushed it off saying she will be fine and that particular food is designed for diabetic cats.

In addition, how many vet clinics actually insert a needle into the cats leg vein to draw blood for a glucose check instead of pricking the ear vein or paw pad to get a drop of blood for the glucose reader?
I ask because that’s what this clinic does.
 
Your Vet is repeating what the food company TOLD them (it drives me nuts that vets blindly believe a huge food company). Sorry to put it so bluntly but THEY ARE WRONG. Vets get a kick back from theses huge companies to SELL THEIR PRODUCTS .
Unless your cat has a specific issue like IBS All dry food is packed with carbs. There are a couple on the market that sell a lower carb dry food but they STILL have more than 10% carbs
 
They also offered me WD dry food for my dog, who has a sensitive stomach and stress colitis flare ups. Instead of offering the diet that is particularly for sensitive stomach.

Does anyone here know how many vet clinics actually insert a needle into the cats leg vein to draw blood for a glucose check instead of pricking the ear vein or paw pad to get a drop of blood for the glucose reader?
Is this common?
 
D Lisak said:
Does anyone here know how many vet clinics actually insert a needle into the cats leg vein to draw blood for a glucose check instead of pricking the ear vein or paw pad to get a drop of blood for the glucose reader?
Click to expand...
I think it is on the initial visit. Mine did. But my vet worked WITH me. We never did go back in after his DX we did everything over the phone. I think vets believe that is the purest form of testing.
 
My vet never did a prick but I always had lots of data. If she was checking blood glucose, it was typically when she was getting a blood draw for an annual check up or for some other reason that required lab tests.
 
Well, it’s been well over a month now since she’s been getting insulin. She’s at 2 1/2 units now every 12 hours of novolin n insulin. She’s on Purina dm dry food, which she picks at and on pate canned food from friskies and fancy feast.

She still has the same symptoms I brought her into the vet to begin with ... excessive urination, drinking and big appetite. Her most recent glucose checks went as low as the 290s but usually is in the 390s.

She’s 7 yrs old and weighs 11 pounds. I think it’s time to talk to the vet for a new insulin this week instead of novolin n?
 
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