Food concerns - anyone had issues with Wellness?

[JenM]

So, I decided to hold the .4 dose for a bit and see what happens. Still not happy with nadirs... but looking at his SS... I'm becomming concerned with the FOOD (Wellness GF). Was talking with a local person who has a recently diagnosed cat (yes, she's already aware of this forum), we were discussing Wellness. She was concerned because she found what appeared to be chunks of white potato in her chicken flavor wellness. She contacted them and was given the following carb info:

Wellness® Complete Health Wet Cat Foods
Complete Health Chicken Recipe
As Fed: 1.74%
Dry Matter: 6.48%
Complete Health Chicken & Herring Recipe
As Fed: 2.10%
Dry Matter: 8.40%
Complete Health Beef & Chicken Recipe
As Fed: 1.42%
Dry Matter: 5.91%
Complete Health Turkey Recipe
As Fed: 1.67%
Dry Matter: 6.22%
Complete Health Turkey & Salmon Recipe
As Fed: 1.79%
Dry Matter: 7.35%
Complete Health Salmon & Trout Recipe
As Fed: 2.89%
Dry Matter: 11.17%
Complete Health Chicken & Lobster Recipe
As Fed: 3.81%
Dry Matter: 15.16%
Complete Health Kitten Recipe
As Fed: 1.99%
Dry Matter: 7.40%
Complete Health Beef & Salmon Recipe
As Fed: 2.12%
Dry Matter: 8.66%
Complete Health Salmon, Shrimp & Crab Recipe
As fed: 3.87%
Dry Matter: 13.52%


Though still lower carb, this info does NOT match the "under 8% carbs list" we use here, which shows the 4 bolded flavors at 4% carbs. If I remember correctly, the dry matter # is the one to pay attention to, right?

In any case, I'm going to pick up a few cans of Weruva today (1% carb I believe) and see if that makes any difference. I just find it odd that his bg would go from 229 to 354 in an hour due to just 1.5 ounces of a food that's supposed to be only 4% carbs. I was seeing this before when he was eating higher carb foods. I HOPE I'm wrong, because I really want to like Wellness. I just worry because they aren't a small company anymore... and in my experience, that's rarely a good thing where quality is concerned. I've also noticed the white chunks in my cans, and for the life of me, can't figure out what it could be. Potato is not listed in the ingredients, but sweet potato shouldn't be white, and I can't imagine zucchini holding up that well with all the processing. I also recently got 2 cases of turkey flavor that my cats wouldn't touch. It was almost pourable in consistency. Upon furnishing the batch#, I was advised by Wellness that they stopped using that facility a few months ago - though that alone makes me wonder about quality issues. :/

So... I guess my question with all this rambling is... do I pay attention to "as fed" or "dry matter" carb content?? I've been searching old threads on here for over an hour and can't seem to find the conversations that discuss this.

 

[JenM]

Well, picked up two cans of Weruva, so we'll see if that has any impact on his numbers.

The gal at the store (a local pet "health food" store) said it's likely that the food just doesn't work for his body anymore, that over time that happens. She's kind of one of those folks who maybe THINKS she knows more than she really does though... and that sounds odd to me. If it's a highly digestible, low carb food... why would the body not take it anymore after awhile? I mean, I understand certain things (meds, etc) build up in the system or for whatever reason become ineffective (ie. take tylenol for every headache and all of a sudden it doesn't work anymore, etc) - but it seems odd that this would be the case with food. Anyone else hear of anything like this?

I only got 2 cans, so will see what it does tonight/tomorrow. If no major change, I'll get some new insulin and see if that helps get us into some reasonable nadirs at the least - back off the juice is what we're hoping for... but who knows if that'll happen. I think Tink and I are both ok with having to take insulin - but I REALLY want to get him off this high roller coaster he's been on the past 2 weeks. And HE wants that too... getting tired of multiple pokes per day. He just looks at me like "REALLY? AGAIN?!?!"

 

[BJM]

It isn't the percent of weight from carbohydrate, it is the percent of calories from carbohydrate.
You've got a bit more math to do.
Let the weight be 100 grams
Use 3.5 calories per gram for protein and carbohydrate and 8.5 calories per gram for fat.
Plug in the percent weights below
3.5 * %protein by weight =
8.5 * %fat by weight =
3.5 * %carbohydrate by weight =
Total the calories above.
Divide the calories from each of protein, fat, and carbohydrate by the total calories.
Multiply by 100.
The result will be the percent of calories from each of protein, fat, and carbohydrate.

 

[JenM]

Aw crud. I HATE math!!!

 

[JenM]

FWIW, the Weruva didn't make any immediate difference (sorry, haven't updated the SS yet and left my hard copy at home). Still never got out of the 300's yesterday - but it stayed pretty flat.

However, this morning's AMPS was 295, which is considerably lower than it's been... so that gives me some hope. Though it may be misguided hope... as I think I could afford new insulin better than I can afford Weruva!! Good grief is that stuff pricey AND the only place that carries it, no longer has the big cans. :/ Not sure if it's worth it to switch him over or not - I'll grab a couple more cans today and try to find the big cans online and order a case. If he's going to be on insulin anyway, I'll likely just stick with Wellness. But I would switch if it meant getting him back OTJ. I guess only time will tell.

On the bright side... it takes him a lot longer to EAT the Weruva. I think he actually has to CHEW it. I'm thinking this might help him feel more satisfied, since it takes him 5min+ to eat it, versus the 20-30 seconds it takes him to scarf down the Wellness. SO FAR he hasn't SEEMED any more satisfied... but he does love the food.

 

[BJM]

Aw crud. I HATE math!!!

So put it in a spreadsheet and let the computer do the math!

And we need the % of protein and fat, too, or can't get the desired result.