Hello

[catchick65]

Hi, new to the board. My name's Karen. My 11 yo Maine Coon Frisky was just diagnosed on Thursday 1/13/11. My vet and I are trying to adjust his diet first before going to insulin. Kinda difficult since Frisky is allergic to poultry. However, info from this sight led me to some wet food seafood flavors that were appropriate for Frisky. I am so glad this site is here and hope to learn more of how to take care of my sweetie! Thanks!

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Welcome Karen and Frisky!

Wet lo carb will make a difference, but most kitties do need insulin. It would be okay to experiment with the diet for a few days, but don't give it longer than a week. The pancreas has a limited time to heal itself and every cat is different. See this site by a vet to get tips on transitioning from dry to wet: http://www.catinfo.org And seafood is okay a couple times a week but we do not advise it as a diet. It has mercury and phosphorus that are okay in smaller quantities but not as a full time diet. There are lots of chicken and turkey flavors you can try: Janet and Binky’s chart

It will help you see what is happening with Frisky if you learn to hometest. Then you will know whether his numbers are coming down with the diet, and coming down enough. You also can see if he is running high and does need to get on insulin earlier than planned. Here is a good beginning site: Newbie hometesting site and a video: Video for hometesting We all have tips that helped us - mine is to make a rice sack and heat the ear before poking. And don't worry if you are not successful at first; very few people get it on the first try. Just ask for help.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

Welcome Karen and Frisky,

You are now in the best place in the world to help you help Frisky. One thing most of will be pushing for it learning to home test, while this is critical until you start insulin it still is a very good way to see how well the diet change is or is not working for Frisky. It will also tell you much truer numbers than trying to go off vet numbers as all kitties ( even those that love their vets) are under stress at the vet's and stress raises BGs.

I would personally wait no longer than a week on a diet switch alone, before looking at starting insulin. While we have many kitties go into remission here, almost all of them needed at least some support from insulin to let their pancreas heal.

But should she need to go insulin it's no big deal, simply 2 tiny shots a day, with a few pricks of the ear to test her blood. Diabetes is so easy to manage that several of us have adopted kitties from this board, myself included, as diabetic.

Looking forward to learning more about you and your baby Frisky

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang