Feb 19th...new member...LuAnn and Tucker

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Mysbhvn

Mysbhvn

Member Since 2023
Hi Everyone!

So much valuable information here. I'm hoping to get some help with my kitty's insulin resistance.
 
Hi and welcome to you and your kitty!:cat::)
We can definitely help you.
Can you tell us a few things first please.?
  • What insulin is your kitty on?
  • Dose?
  • Are you home testing the blood glucose?
  • What type of meter are you using.?
  • What type of food are you feeding?
  • How often are you feeding? Just the two main meals or some snacks as well?
  • How long has your kitty been a diabetic?
  • Any other health issues?
 
I have just been reading a few posts and am a bit overwhelmed at all going on here. I am going to try to get my info put together and posted. Obvious newbie here! Just a bit of info...off the top of my head.
Tucker, who is 13, was diagnosed a couple years ago, Feb 2021, as being pancreatic which led to the diabetes. He was started out on Lantus getting 1/2U twice a day. I'll have to look at the date but he did go into remission briefly. About a month ago his BG numbers were good at 180- 200. Then, the end of Jan, his levels shot up. I have done BG testing the last couple weekends. His numbers for a couple of weeks now have been in the 400's to a high of 500. He is currently on 2.5u twice daily and nothing seems to be lowering his BG number. His vet seems a bit unsure what is causing this resistance. I had him in for a sr checkup where they did labs. Everything is great. He's not losing weight, he is eating well. His water intake is a bit increased and he does seems a bit lethargic.

He is eating ProPlan Vital Systems wet food....getting four small meals a day. One with each of his insulin shots in the am and the pm. He also gets prednisole... 1/2 of a 5mg tablet every other day and cerenia every day. The meter we use is alphaTrak2.

So, off the top of my head that's what I can remember.
Appreciate any thoughts,
LuAnn
 
Do you think you could set up a spreadsheet we could see your Bg data?
I will give you a link below for the SS.
Do you know how many carbs are in the pro plan vital systems wet food? Have you always fed that food?
How is his appetite?
Has the vet checked his teeth? That can lead to higher Bg numbers.
This is the link to the SS
HELP HS HELP YOU

Have you ever tested for ketones in the urine?
If not I would recommend you do . You will need a bottle of ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy. Dip the test strip into the urine and read the result against the colours on the side of the bottle exactly 15 seconds later. There should be no ketones.
 
He has had all his teeth, except the front ones, removed. We decided that, considering the condition of the teeth, it would be better for him if they were pulled. The ProPlan food has extremely low carbs...l I found a way to figure out carbs so I do that when I pick a new food. They have been eating mainly this, with a couple flavors of Wellness thrown in for a few months now. I will try and figure the spread sheet out when I get some time....
 
If you need help with the SS I will ask @Bandit's Mom to help you. She can set it up very quickly.
I love the avatar photo! He is gorgeous!
It is possible he is bouncing on the days you test, and dropping low at other times when you are not testing.
Definition of bouncing from The Basics
  • Bouncing - Bouncing is simply a natural reaction to what the cat's system perceives as a BG value that is "too low". "Too low" is relative. If a cat is used to BGs in the 200's, 300's, or higher for a long time, then even a BG that drops to 150 can trigger a "bounce". Bouncing can also be triggered if the blood glucose drops too low and/or too fast.The pancreas, then the liver, release glucogon, glycogen and counter-regulatory hormones. The end result is a dumping of "sugar" into the bloodstream to save the cat from going hypoglycemic from a perceived low. The action is often referred to as "liver panic" or "panicky liver". *Usually*, a bounce will clear kitty's system within 3 days (6 cycles).
 
Welcome to FDMB!

If you are looking for food options, this is a list to a wonderful food chart put together by a vet, Lisa Pierson, DVM. It lists the "as fed" carbohydrate values for most of the canned foods available in the U.S.

You mentioned that Tucker is prescribed prednisolone. What is is prescribed for? If you were not aware, steroids can cause blood glucose levels to be higher than expected. If this is a new medication, it may be why you're seeing higher numbers.

Please let us know how we can be of help!
 
He has pancreatitis.... that is what led to the diabetes, use of steroids for that. I was given this cat food chart from my vet when he was first diagnosed. Luckily his main diet was food listed on there.
Also, where do I get the templates???
Thanks for the help1
 
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Mysbhvn said:
He is eating ProPlan Vital Systems wet food...
Click to expand...
Hi and welcome I was wondering what flavor you are feeding
@Mysbhvn
The only flavor I see that are high carbs is the turkey entree
On the CHEWY site it says

what is the sodium level & carbohydrate % on a dry matter basis?
Answer by • Nov 14, 2022
This recipe has a sodium content of 0.52% and a carbohydrate content of 12.7%, both on a dry matter basis.

Googled how many carbs and found this
This recipe has a Carbohydrate content of 3.10% as fed or 12.7% on a dry matter basis
 
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I am feeding him the turkey. I'm new to all this. Can you explain what you mean by "dry matter".... I thought I had calculated carbs and the turkey was low..around 3 or 4.
Thanks for the help!
 
Mysbhvn said:
I am feeding him the turkey. I'm new to all this. Can you explain what you mean by "dry matter".... I thought I had calculated carbs and the turkey was low..around 3 or 4.
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
I always has a hard time understanding this too from what some of the members have said you go by dry matter which means
As Fed" %ages so they include the moisture in the food. You want to look at % on a Dry Matter Basis without the moisture

I think most members go by Dr Pierson's food chart which is as fed basis

@Bron and Sheba (GA)

@Bandit's Mom

@Suzanne & Darcy
Hi can someone please explain this better than I can to Luann
Can you look at my post #10 and her post #11 and #13
So which should one should she go by as fed or dry matter
Thank you
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi and welcome I was wondering what flavor you are feeding
@Mysbhvn
The only flavor I see that are high carbs is the turkey entree
On the chewy site it says

what is the sodium level & carbohydrate % on a dry matter basis?
Answer by • Nov 14, 2022
This recipe has a sodium content of 0.52% and a carbohydrate content of 12.7%, both on a dry matter basis.


This recipe has a Carbohydrate content of 3.10% as fed or 12.7% on a dry matter basis
0
Click to expand...

I guess I don't understand the carb formula. I have a formula to use to figure out carb content and it comes out really low....like your 3%. I thought that was a good number. What is the 12% on a dry matter basis?? Thanks for the help
 
Hello and welcome!! It looks like you are getting things rolling and getting good help. I look forward to watching Tucker’s progress. I have a Tucker too (love that name!). He is also known as Munchkin Tucker (Ensign Tucker, Tucker Tail, Tuck Tuck, and other iterations of Tucker.). He is lying down next to me right now! Anyway… Welcome!
 
Thanks!! Nice to meetcha! Tucker IS a great name isn't it. Long story short he was named after a friend's son. Who thought it was VERY COOL we were naming our kitten after him....lol
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
I always has a hard time understanding this too from what some of the members have said you go by dry matter which means
As Fed" %ages so they include the moisture in the food. You want to look at % on a Dry Matter Basis without the moisture

I think most members go by Dr Pierson's food chart which is as fed basis

@Bron and Sheba (GA)

@Bandit's Mom

@Suzanne & Darcy
Hi can someone please explain this better than I can to Luann
Can you look at my post #10 and her post #11 and #13
So which should one should she go by as fed or dry matter
Thank you
Click to expand...
I actually did some internet research and I think I've got it figured out. Never knew there was such a thing as "as fed" and "dry matter"....ya learn something every day right?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Hello and welcome!! It looks like you are getting things rolling and getting good help. I look forward to watching Tucker’s progress. I have a Tucker too (love that name!). He is also known as Munchkin Tucker (Ensign Tucker, Tucker Tail, Tuck Tuck, and other iterations of Tucker.). He is lying down next to me right now! Anyway… Welcome!
Click to expand...
Hi Suzanne what do you think about the difference in the carbs for the Pro Plan Vital Systems Wet food that I posted in post #10 that I found on the Chewy site
Does she go by the as feed or dry matter , can you explain to her what dry matter means please
Thanks Suzanne
@Suzanne & Darcy
 
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