Chris & MoeMoe

[MoeMoe]

My Moe is a 11 yo male recently diagnosed (about 2 months ago) with diabetes. He was losing weight, his hair was greasy/not smooth, wanting people food all the time, and peeing whereever he wanted. We started by changing his food to DM savory selects wet with a little dry mixed in without insulin but that didn't work. He started Lantus at 1Ux2, now 2Ux2, and will see how the next BGC goes later this week. It has put a lot of stress on me more than anyone in the family. In over 30 yrs having cats in the house this is the first for me. With 4 other cats in the house it has been frustrating. I hope it gets better...

 

[Bandit's Mom]

The reason the food change may not have worked is because the DM Savoury Selects is 10% carbs and most dry food is too high in carb. A diabetic cat needs to eat food with less than 10% carbs. Not at all cats can get diet controlled though - some of them need insulin even after a food change. You need not restrict yourself to prescription food. They are expensive and not of the best quality for the price. Any low carb canned food that Moe likes is fine. If he is a kibble addict there are low carb options - Young Again, Dr. Elsey's Cleanprotein and Epigen 90.

In a multi-cat household, changing all of them to a low carb diet will ensue that Moe does not get into the high carb food of his siblings.

If you are feeding Proplan DM, it is 6% carbs but the DM dry is high carb. The removal of the dry food can improve his numbers, but I would not do that without home testing. We have had cats go off insulin from a food change. I would suggest that you start home testing (testing at the vet can give inaccurate/higher numbers due to stress) and then make the diet change gradually so that you can lower the insulin dose accordingly.

 

[MoeMoe]

I realized that after I purchased the DM savory selects on line. Moe has another BGC on Thursday. I have a list of things I want to discuss with the vet because this forum has really opened my eyes on how I can really help Moe in the long run.

I was going to get regular DM wet and try to gradually move over to a lower carb. I noticed the progression of highest to lowest recommended is protein, fat, then carbs. I looked at the list Dr. Lisa (I think) of foods for suggestions.

I really want to talk with the vet before Thursday to see if I could start with a slight transition of food before the next curve or just see what it is this time and discuss. I know I need to start home testing but that seems to be a tough sell with the vet at this point.

I don't want to make too many changes at once.

I guess it would also help the rest of the cat family if I transitioned them to a healthier diet.

This has been such a whirlwind event. I am trying to get up to speed on how to help him it the short term and not go down the wrong path.

Sorry for rambling...

Chris

 

[Bandit's Mom]

You are most welcome to ramble!

Firstly, the vet works for you and you shouldn't need to ask his permission to keep Moe safe! I don't know why any vet would be against a caregiver home testing. Of course, we've seen a lot of vets recommend high carb "prescription" food and too high a dose of insulin for their cats. We've also seen cats go off insulin once a food change is made - not at all cats but several.

Despite what the vet says, please do not make a food change to a lower carb food without home testing. BG numbers can plummet with a food change. I am sharing the spreadsheets of 3 cats I can think of that this has happened with:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...rJs4_u_cUBmIdGP1COrsWAOSInfdXkOQAG6hR/pubhtml
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...HLM6Qe3bkzZq8JOoqRn10T1qrk/edit#gid=152807105
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IxtQMNTAGefIAx4SSsT91PYExkdgC1SCPUutSrpyaKk/edit#gid=0

Moe is newly diagnosed and that is the best time to try to get him regulated. The longer he stays at higher numbers, the greater the chance of glucose toxicity setting in.