Help! I'm new to this!

[stillife488]

Hi, everybody. I have four cats. One of them, Biggie, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. The vet had said a few years ago that he was borderline and now his numbers are really bad. I think he's about 11 years old (he's a rescue). In most respects, he seems healthy, but I noticed excessive thirst and urination over the past year. He also eats a lot. He had occasional vomiting and diarrhea as well. About a month ago, I took him to the vet, who confirmed diabetes. The vet put him on 1.5 units of Lantus (I use the pen) twice a day. There was no improvement. Well, he has not had diarrhea or vomiting but the excessive urination and thirst are still there. I took him back yesterday and she told me to up his dosage to 2 units twice a day, which I did, and she wanted him to come in the next day (today) to be monitored. We did that and his numbers are off the hook - in the 500 range! Honestly, he doesn't seem that sick, but the numbers are insane! The vet (different vet today) recommend that I up him to 4 units twice a day.

Now, Biggie is a large cat (17 lbs), I don't know if that makes a difference, but 4 units seems like a lot. I gave him 4 units tonight and he seems fine. But is this a crazy escalation in insulin? I posted about this on the Facebook group and they directed me here. The consensus was that I should be home testing and that 4 units 2x a day was way too much. I have the Keto-Diastix (haven't used them yet) but I guess the better method is the pin-prick in the earlobe.

Biggie eats wet and dry food. The wet food is Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken, which I understand is low carb. The second one is Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers and I know I must get rid of that. I know seafood is low carb, but most of my cats don't like it or it doesn't agree with their tummies. Biggie also gets dry food - Evo Grain Free Weight Management. Do I have to totally eliminate the dry food? I can put it up high so that he can't get to it and the other three can.

I would appreciate any help or insights!

 

[BJM]

We generally advise pitching all dry food per Cat Info.

That said, Evo Cat and Kitten dry is about 8& calories from carbohydrates and Young Again 0 Carb is about 5% calories from carbohydrates (internet order only).

You want a few cans of high carb on hand in case the glucose levels go too low and you need to steer the numbers back up safely.

 

[KittyMom777]

I replied to you on facebook Leah. This was my post:

The vet knows NOTHING! If I'd followed my vet's advice my kitty would be dead. He was diagnosed three months ago. Vet started him at 2 units twice daily and wanted it up to 3. I followed advice for two months seeing NO improvement. Decided to listen to FDMB and cut him back to 0.5 twice daily. Within a few days that went down to 0.25 as his numbers improved drastically. Ten days later he is now in remission. Yes, change the food even when on insulin but you will very likely need to drop that 4 units right down.

Gravy lovers good for your hypo kit. High carb food is needed if he goes low and gravy lovers is high carb. You want fancy feast pate.

Never shoot insulin without testing first. Ever. You don't want to shoot blind.

Juliet and Silver

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Hi Leah! Glad you made it over here...due to the holidays, it might be a bit slow around here, but this is the best place you never wanted to be!

Yes, 4 units is crazy high...Lantus has a starting dose that's "weight in kgs x .25u"...so for Biggie, that means about 1.5u every 12 hours. We like to start them a little low and slowly work them up instead of risking a hypo

Here's a Short list of foods under 10% but the link BJM posted above includes a lot of great information on feline nutrition, including the full chart that has pretty much any food you can find and the carb % (column C)...you want to stay under 10%, so yes, the "Gravy Lovers" has to go! Keep a few around in case you need them though! They're great when we need to bring them up if they go too low!

You don't have to spend a fortune on food either. A lot of us feed Friskies pates, Fancy Feast Classics (or Pates) and 9 Lives...the Paw Lickin' Chicken is a good choice too! You want to limit the amount of fish because of the problems with mercury...as well as the fact that the fish flavors are higher in phosphorus (which is hard on their kidneys) and a lot of cats will become "addicted" and only want the fish!

We can really help you with your extra sweet Biggie, so keep posting and asking questions! The people here really are great in giving back what they've learned!