Diet Change

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MustLuvCats

MustLuvCats

Member Since 2012
Happy New Year all!!!

Question about newly diagnosed diabetic 9 yr old kitty. I just changed her diet to the dreaded prescription diabetes wet food prior to beginning insulin which will start tomorrow. My question is she has changed for the better since the new diet...I never see her drinking anymore and she is acting like her old self. Could her diabetes with glucose over 300 turn around without even doing insulin?

Thanks in advance for your help
 
I have heard that some cats can be managed with the appropriate diet so that the need for insulin is reduced. I know that Chester (while FAR from being regulated) does seem to be feeling better since we've switched up his food.
Are you home testing yet?

I don't think you need to give her the prescription food, but if she likes it and you're ok with it, then there's certainly no problem that I'm aware of. Lots of people here use other, more economical and available food. Here is a link to Binky's food table and a link to Dr. Pierson's chart. They give nutritional breakdowns of quite a few commercially available foods - a number of which are fine to feed to diabetic cats. The lower the carbs, the better.

Happy New year!
 
Which prescription food? (Please don't say Hill's:-) )
Yes, a switch to low carb food can do the trick. I've seen a couple of cats here switch to low carb and end up not needing insulin. Not often, but it happens.
You do want to be home testing before starting insulin, because odds are that Rylee's numbers will be lower due to the diet change.
If Rylee was eating dry food prior to this, one reason she's drinking less water is due to her getting enough moisture from the canned food. Bob rarely if ever uses the water bowl. He stays hydrated just from the canned food he eats.
Carl
 
Maui was a dry food addict. When I finally got her eating 100% canned/wet food, she stopped drinking water altogether. At first I was concerned, then I realized she was getting plenty of water from the canned/wet food and I also added 1/2 - 3/4 water to the canned food as well. So, she no longer had the need to drink water.

She mainly ate friskies, fancy feast and I have over time tried other expensive and novelty foods, such as EVO, nature's variety, among others. All low carb of course and nothing prescription or vet prescribed.

To this day, she hasn't taken a drink from the water dish. Of course the peeing is about the same, just not as sticky/clumpy as before insulin.

Maui did require insulin, luckily for only a short period (3 months).
 
I am just so appreciate of all the responses I have had on this board.

To Carl & Bob - unfortunately I am on Hills and I don't like it either and will switch once things get more comfortable. She is staring on insulin in the hospital tomorrow and I will be discussing switching her food to sometime better then Hills when I speak with the vet.

This is all so new to me but I have learned so much on this board, like how the curves are a waste. However Rylee hasn't started insulin yet and I just want to get her back on the road to good health before I start with my new found knowledge discussion with her vet. I do trust her vet, my daughter is a tech and worked with her for several years. I already told the vet I want to check her blood sugar in the future.

Thanks!!
 
make sure they keep a very close eye on her levels tomorrow because they very well could overdose her if they don't do so. the change in diet can indeed drastically improve glucose levels and if they just shoot insulin without testing her first, they could seriously harm her tomorrow.

not sure if you saw my post in your other thread but depending on where you are in riverside county, i could help you learn to hometest. we're back to work now and we work in orange county so it would have to wait until the weekend but i'm pretty free on weekends
 
To Carl & Bob - unfortunately I am on Hills and I don't like it either and will switch once things get more comfortable.
Click to expand...

Well, not the greatest, but we can "fix that" later. ;-) Just keep in mind that when you do decide to switch, her insulin needs will almost certainly decrease, so you can make the change gradually by mixing "better" food with the Hill's while monitoring the numbers, and reduce as needed based on your data.

We can help you with that when the time comes.

Carl
 
If they are attempting to 'regulate' the cat's insulin dose, vet stress may add as much as 100 points to the glucose levels and the vet's recommended dose may actually wind up too high. It would save you money to just start based on the recommended dose per guidelines

It will save you money and keep your cat safe if you learn to hometest the glucose and find an over the counter, low carb cat canned cat food rather than buying prescription cat food. See Cat Info for more nutrition info.

Also, what insulin is the vet planning to use? If it is Humulin or Novolin N, that is old school and NOT the best choice fro managing feline diabetes. Print out the guidelines and take them in to the vet.
 
Just gave my 1st insulin injection. Rylee did better than me. Got to check on her every few hours thru the night. She did well with her first injection of the Lantus so hopefully all will go well. Wish me luck :)

Now if someone lives in Mo Val, Hemet, East Riverside area that could teach me to test her that would be great. I am out by Lake Perris.

Thanks :smile:
 
I remember what it was like when I was first starting out and it can be quite a bit overwhelming. I live in Orange County. It's a long drive, but if no one else volunteers, I'd be more than happy to help you out this weekend if you wanted.
 
Well done on the shot! It really doesn't bother them as long as they're distracted by something or asleep!

Testing is scarey at first but then it gets easier! Check out the youtube videos.
And, it doesn't hurt the kitties either - again, if distracted, mine doesn't even notice.
 
BG testing is all bark and no bite: it seems much more difficult, intimidating, and frightening than what it really turns out to be. Here's something I wrote up a little while ago of things I discovered when I first started out testing Michelangelo.

A couple of weeks ago, I was out of town for work and I had my brother taking care of Mikey and doing his BG tests. Well, a family emergency had my brother gone unexpectedly for quite a bit so his girlfriend and one of our friends both stepped in to help out. My one friend had tested Mikey once before but my brother's girlfriend had never done it herself, so she pulled up youtube videos to help figure it out. They both said that because they'd watched me doing it to Michelangelo a million times, they didn't even think twice about it and it was simply a task that needed to be completed, like making sure he was fed. If it hadn't been for that, they said they would have been terrified of doing it and would never have volunteered. I think it's mostly a fear of the unknown that makes it worse than it seems. Within a couple of weeks, you'll be an old pro at it. ;-)
 
hey there, i'm right near the 15/91 area so you're not too far from me actually, half an hour or so i'd say depending on which route we take. i'd be happy to come help you learn to test. maybe pick up a meter and strips if you haven't already and we can hook up sometime this weekend. i'll check back in later today.
 
Way to Step Up FDMB folks!!

Mustluvcats: Yep, you are in good hands...I would most certainly take LynnLee up on her offer...and good luck!
 
I will most definately take you up on that offer. Then I don't have to drag her back to vet to learn testing and I can do the curve myself.

I will PM you my cell

I am so thankful I came across this board!!!

Thanks!!

Stephenie
 
oooooooh you're going to meet Lynn Lee! I am so jealous! she collects cats of all kinds, so make sure you do a headcount to ensure you aren't missing any cats before she leaves !!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
HAHAHA, um ok will do :)

I have now given 4 injections of insulin and the 4th was by myself because hubby was still sleeping. I am still a little nervous but slowly getting the hang of it. Just scare of hurting Rylee. Also my vet said to draw back on syringe once I inject to make sure no blood but that's kinda difficult I think. I wanna get in and get out as easily as possible. Any thoughts?

After I become more comfortable with all this and learn the home testing I will most definetaly change Rylee to a better food for sure. This has been a learning experience and all my cats are undergoing diet changes. I lost a cat to kidney disease that I believe was directly related to dry food and now diabetes. Dry food begone!!

Thanks everyone here for their help and continued help I am sure!!!
 
Was very blessed today to meet Lynnlee. She came out to my house to show me how to test Rylee and educate me on diabetes. She is a wealth of knowledge. I know I already forgot some stuff but just knowing that I have someone I can call besides the vet makes me so much more comfortable.

Good news is Rylee is 3 days into insulin and her BG was 111 this afternoon. Oh and one of my fat cats is only 80 but he is dieting now so he won't be fat for long :)

Thanks Lynnlee, I look forward to learning more from you and thank you for not taking any of my kitties home :)
 
LOL!! too funny! I had a great time and your kitties are beautiful!

btw, those numbers were with an alpha trak meter so Rylee is already doing wonderfully. and she was playing and bathing and just acting like a kitty :-)
 
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