Diet change only question...

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Pumbaa

Pumbaa

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When Pumbaa was tested at the vet a week ago today, his BG level was 336.

Just finished my first successful BG test, and he is down to 325. This was 2 hours after eating.

He's put on a little weight, and isn't eating non-stop like he was previously. I've had him on lo-carb canned and raw food since last Tuesday.

I'll test again later...but is this a good drop for the first week, or should I be rethinking getting him started on insulin?

I wasn't able to get a urine sample yet today, so haven't been able to test for ketones in the urine. (At least he's getting used to me taking the lid off the litter box and hovering over him while he's doing his "duty". *LOL*)
 
he is still well into the diabetic numbers so if he was my kitty I think I would start him on a low dose of a gentle long-lasting insulin. WIth that nice number you may not be giving shots for long before he goes into remission, especially since his clinical signs are lessening, however, the longer he remains above 250 (renal threshhold) there is a chance that he is having damage to his internal organs.

My Maxwell was 485 when he was dxed, but after 2 weeks of a diet chance and insulin he went into remission and has stayed there for over a year now, but it took the insulin to bring his bloodsugars down enough for his pancreas to heal. Most cats do need, even if it is short, a period of time on insulin so their pancreas can rest and start producing its own insulin again.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
Thank you, Mel. That's what I was thinking...have a call into the vet already.

That is great news about your Maxwell only needing the insulin for two weeks! That makes me hopeful that we will, eventually, be able to manage this via diet alone. :)
 
Maxwell was one of the lucky ones...then came Musette who is still insulin dependent aftet 7 months...It just comes down to that whole Every Cat is Different. But regardless if Musette never goes into remission, those two little shots a day are no big deal and now are so routine I think she and I would both miss them when/if she every goes into remission... :lol:

But both cats are healthy and happy diabetics just one takes insulin and one doesn't...in fact that it has been so easy caring for both of them mu husband and I are discussing the possibility of adopting another sugarcat once we find homes for our 3 foster cats. (Both Maxwell and Musette were adopted as diabetics from DCIN).

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
The fact that you adopted those two from DCIN, and are looking at adopting another diabetic cat brought tears to my eyes. What wonderful people you and your hubby are! :YMHUG:
 
Initial reading at vet last week = 336
9:30 am reading today = 325 (this was about 2 hours after eating)
12:30 pm reading = 297 (I had given Pumbaa sardines in water as a treat after his 9:30 test. Don't know if he had eaten anything else.)
3:30 pm reading = 288 (He ate some raw food around 1 pm)

While I understand that the BG 288 is still high, I am encouraged by the 48 point drop since last Monday.

I have another question, though:
What would be causing variations in his BG readings?

Pumbaa is not yet on insulin. Just total diet change to low-carb canned food (Innova EVO turkey and chicken, which claims to have less than 7% carbs) and raw (Instinct Raw chicken medallions and Stella & Chewy's freeze dried salmon & chicken dinner). For treats, he gets human-food protein, like chicken, sardines, salmon or sharp cheddar cheese.

It's funny, because I can wrap my head around the differences in the readings when cats are on insulin - i.e. test before eating and if the numbers are over a certain point, they get insulin while they are eating; if the numbers before eating are low, they may not need the insulin. But I can't figure out how this relates to Pumbaa's pancreas producing insulin. If anyone can explain this, I would certainly appreciate it.
 
Many factors are affecting the BG levels :
He might have eaten less than usual; if it's cold in the house he'll be less active than usual; the shrieking toddlers that came to visit might have upset him; he might have a hairball; he might really hate those baths; the new vial of insulin might be stronger; the test might not have been accurate; some other medication (antibiotics prednisone, flea treatment) may be affecting the BG
Click to expand...
And also you mentioned your cat eats different foods, which can of course also affect his BG levels.

If your cat's BG levels are not staying long enough in the "normal range values" it will most-likely worsen his pancreatic function. When you get readings showing values over 180, you know your cat needs insulin : a small dosage of soft and long lasting insulin like Lantus would be a good place to start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_in_cats#Blood_sugar_guidelines


bcatrun_gif
 
Thank you for the reply, Kimoutte! I thought I had deleted that question above and moved it to it's own thread, but I guess not.

Both of my cats are now on all low-carb foods, which is why the variances surprised me. And Pumbaa isn't on insulin yet, so that is why I had thought the readings would be closer together. I'll go to that link now. But I do have a call into the vet (since yesterday morning) to see about getting him on insulin now that the diet changeover has taken place.
 
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