My kitty has been diabetic for about a year now. It has been a year of continuing trial and error for both me and her vet. Apparently most people in our rural area let their cats run loose and mostly on their own, so the vet does not have current experience with someone who is willing to treat their cat. We started out with only urine test strips, if urine had glucose, give a shot. If no glucose, no shot. He did do glucose curves, but she got upset at the vet so he started doing fructosamine every 2-3 months, eventually progressing to a glucose meter to do glucose curves at home, but no information on exactly how to adjust the dose for what reading, etc. What complicates things even more is that my kitty was a “Grazer” and has been expected to eat twice a day for the past year. She has not adjusted to this schedule and is on an appetite stimulant every three days. She gradually eats less and less at a sitting as the appetite stimulant wears off. Because she does not eat all of her food except on day one of the appetite stimulant, you also have to take that into account to make a decision on the dose. Her blood work and other tests never indicate any other condition, even when we had them repeated with a different vet in a nearby down. Anyone experiencing anything similar?
Complicated case
- Thread starter G.M.
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Red & Rover (GA)
Very Active Member
Tagging @Suzanne & Darcy for you.
Cats do better if fed their big meal at shot time AND have snacks available, esp. during the first half of the cycle.
All food should be picked up two hours before the next shot is due so that the test at shot time has not been carb influenced.
Can you tell us what food your cat is eating?
In the meantime, here are some suggestions about how to stimulate an appetite.
Twice a day feeding is frankly old school.
Cats do better if fed their big meal at shot time AND have snacks available, esp. during the first half of the cycle.
All food should be picked up two hours before the next shot is due so that the test at shot time has not been carb influenced.
Can you tell us what food your cat is eating?
In the meantime, here are some suggestions about how to stimulate an appetite.
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Very Active Member
I agree with @Red & Rover (GA) that feeding only twice a day is very old school.
Let your kitty eat when he was used to eating, except for the two hours preshot.
Can you tell us what type of insulin you are using and the dose please?.
And what type of meter?
If you could set up your signature...its easy...that would tell us about your kitty.
Also it sounds as if you are hometesting the blood glucose. If you could get our spreadsheet set up and add any data you might have...just the last month would be enough...we can help you with dosing.
I will ask @Bandit's Mom if she will set up the spreadsheet for you. She will send you a PM.
Here is a link to information for new members. It will tell you how to do the signature, which will appear at the bottom of all your posts and tell us about your kitty. People helping you will look at the signature and the spreadsheet.
HELP US HELP YOU
Keep asking questions, we are happy to answer them.
Let your kitty eat when he was used to eating, except for the two hours preshot.
Can you tell us what type of insulin you are using and the dose please?.
And what type of meter?
If you could set up your signature...its easy...that would tell us about your kitty.
Also it sounds as if you are hometesting the blood glucose. If you could get our spreadsheet set up and add any data you might have...just the last month would be enough...we can help you with dosing.
I will ask @Bandit's Mom if she will set up the spreadsheet for you. She will send you a PM.
Here is a link to information for new members. It will tell you how to do the signature, which will appear at the bottom of all your posts and tell us about your kitty. People helping you will look at the signature and the spreadsheet.
HELP US HELP YOU
Keep asking questions, we are happy to answer them.
Welcome to FDMB!
The good news is that we have lots of experience with feline diabetes. This site has been around for over 25 years so there's a great deal of accumulated knowledge.
How can we help? If you can let us know what insulin you're using, we have dosing information that is specific to the insulin that's been prescribed for your kitty. Just as a bit of information, Lantus (or it's generic/biosimilar, glargine) and Prozinc are the two insulins that are recommended for cats. A diabetic cat needs to be on a low carbohydrate diet. The prescription "diabetic" diets -- especially the dry food variety -- are typically very high in carbs. We can provide you with information on better food choices for your kitty.
The good news is that we have lots of experience with feline diabetes. This site has been around for over 25 years so there's a great deal of accumulated knowledge.
How can we help? If you can let us know what insulin you're using, we have dosing information that is specific to the insulin that's been prescribed for your kitty. Just as a bit of information, Lantus (or it's generic/biosimilar, glargine) and Prozinc are the two insulins that are recommended for cats. A diabetic cat needs to be on a low carbohydrate diet. The prescription "diabetic" diets -- especially the dry food variety -- are typically very high in carbs. We can provide you with information on better food choices for your kitty.
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