Help with Dabey's diabetes

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Kathy & Dabey

Kathy & Dabey

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Hi, my cat Dabey (7 years old) has diabetes. He's on Humulin 3 unit twice a day. Doesn't seem to be doing much. Heard that humulin isn't that great? He's been to the vet for 3 seperate times to regulate but he gets so stressed out that I got all the home testing stuff to do at home. I've done it several times ok, but find the pad of paw is easier than the ear. His sugar level is around 400 and then after insulin the lowest it goes is 286.. My vet put him on Purina Dm, but after I've been reading online, don't want him on that anymore. Everything is saying soft food, high protien, low carbs. Why don't vets tell you that? They always have told me not to feed soft food to any cat as it is like junk food.
I only buy the best food that I can. He is on Blue Wilderness and canned Natural balance. Can anyone tell me if these are good choices? I get confused as to how you can tell how much carbs there are. I have 3 other cats so I split a small can with everyone and then they get a small bowl of Blue dry.
Dabey is a little overweight so trying to watch that plus making sure he eats for the insulin. My cats mean the world to me and I just want to make sure I am doing all I can to keep them healthy and happy.

Also, has anyone heard of Mellit? Herbal solution that is suppose to help diabetic cats. Great reviews of it.....

If anyone lives in my area and can help with questions that would be great!!! Kathy

confused_cat
 
Our protocol, that has helped thousands of cats to regulation and remission calls for a mild, long lasting insulin (which Humulin is not - tends to be harsh and not last as long as others), home testing (congrats on getting this done - it can literally save your cat's life) and wet lo carb food. (here is the food chart - check the carb column and stay under 10%). http://binkyspage.tripod.com/CanFoodNew.html

Where are you located?
 
Is the blue wilderness dry food? If so, it's going to be too high in carbs for a diabetic. You want to feed a complete canned diet, no dry food at all, because even the grain free dry foods are still higher in carbs because of the binders. Your vet is very mistaken that canned food is junk food--in fact, it's the exact opposite. High protein, low carb diets are what is healthy for a cat, not dry food full of carbohydrates. You'll find that with a diet change to canned only, the weight problem will start to resolve as well. Here's some information about treating feline obesity that is incredibly helpful: http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity

The Natural Balance Foods are a little high in carbs for a diabetic because most contain rice. Good premium foods for diabetics include the grain free canned flavors of Wellness, Merrick's, and EVO. There are others, too, that you can find on the nutrtion chart Sue posted. I feed Bandit a mix of Merrick's and the grain free flavors of Fancy Feast (the ones that say "classic" on the label), and he no longer needs insulin. If he gets even a handful of dry food, though, his numbers will shoot back up into a diabetic range.

You are correct that Humulin just does not work well with cats. I would certainly change insulins to something long lasting, like Lantus or Levemir. Lantus has an incredibly good track record for regulation and remission in newly diagnosed cats.

Good for you for home testing! It's about the best thing you can do to control Dabey's diabetes. Just like people, cats need to be tested daily in order to make sure it's safe to shoot insulin and to see how the insulin is working. Numbers at the vet are inflated and inaccurate because of vet stress, so vet testing is a waste of money. You're definitely on the right track. :smile:
 
I'm in Columbus.

Feel free to pm me.

I have night driving issues, but my weekends are often open.

I have pm'd her.
 
Kathy

Welcome.

You've already run into one of the problems with Humulin N - it doesn't last long enough! How open is your vet to switching to one of the newer longer acting insulins? Or reading veterinary articles on current treatment practices in feline diabetes?
You may find that your vet needs a bit of education in feline diabetes (after all, they can't know everthing!) - if so, see this post:
Convert A Vet

Changing to a low carbohydrate, wet diet is your best chance of controlling the diabetes, and if lucky, getting to remission. It needn't be expensive - PetSmart Sophistacat pate formulas are generally low carb (I'm using the Turkey & Giblet dinner, mixed with some Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblet pate to perk up the appeal) Why a wet diet? Check out Dr Pierson's web site Cat Info and see what she thinks about dry food.

Its great that you are testing him - are you able to do this before each shot? When you test during the cycle between shots, are you doing this every 2 hours (we call it a curve)?

Pop over to the Lantus, Levemir, and PZI forums to browse the sticky posts at the top a bit; all 3 of those are longer acting insulins than Humulin N. Lantus, especially, has a lot of users due to the research work of Dr Janice Rand of the University of Queensland.
 
Dear Kathy, and, of course, you too, sweet Dabey,

I know you're scared. I can't speak for anyone else but me; but, I imagine we were all scared about hearing our beloved cats were/are extra-sweet...

Giz was on Humulin N at the beginning. Increasing doses based on once-a-week +6 (six hours after shot) ER vet tests. I was a wimp and wasn't home testing, so I just went with her vet -- who I will always love, by the way, and taught volumes to... No, at that point, I was just looking at the marvel that used to be Giz. And, I knew she was miserable.

Cats metabolize insulin about twice as fast as humans. Who knew? I mean, these wondrous creatures who need like 16 hours a day of naps could possibly metabolize anything faster than a human...

Humulin N is an insulin for humans. N is like a rocket with cats. It's like a bomb. It shoots them really low and shoots them back up like a rocket. It's a roller coaster.

It simply doesn't last long enough. And, 3 units with a potential diet change is, simply, a recipe for disaster. How great is it you are home testing????!!!!!

There are kinder, more cat-friendly, gentler insulins. Levemir and Lantus come to mind...

Dearest Kathy, please understand that I'm not an alarmist. I'm simply a survivor who loved, loved, loved dancing with Giz!

And, apparently I did okay because Giz sent me Nikki... Okay, it's been an adjustment because Giz loved Motown and I'm getting the feel that Nik likes classic Rock'n'Roll. Yet, we dance!


Welcome to the place you never, ever wanted to be; but, will be blessed for having found!

Love and encouraging hugs,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
 
Got a call yesterday from Kathy. Vet had asked her to test 6 hours post Humulin N shot ... and it was around 84. Who knows how low it was at the actual nadir, and of course it zoomed up 7 hours later to 413.

She is going to check with the vet about switching to Lantus or Levemir.
 
Hi, Dabey is doing ok, but talked to vet about switching him off Humulin since about time to get another bottle.
Vet said we can switch but others are expensive.. Can anyone tell me what would be the best to try and the less expensive or anyplace to get it cheaper...
We are very low on funds now. I want to do the best for Dabey but also have 4 other cats to support.

I totally agree that Humulin doesn't seem to be working... This site is awesome and thanks for all your help. BJ has been awesome and caring.. Thanks BJ!

I need to update my profile with pic of dabey and all. new to this site so just learning......
 
At local pharmacies (and Sam's Club Pharmacy is open to non-members), you can obtain either Lantus (lots of users on this board) or Levemir (a fair number of users). Start your price checking now to get familiar with the pharmacy names and versions of each which are available (I got mine from Sam's Club)

Either one is given every 12 hours, barring an unusual dose requirement. There are some of those and they usually get discovered after being treated for a while, so assume you are starting with standard dosing.

Have the vet write the Rx for the pen version - Lantus Solostar disposable pens contain 3 mL of insulin, each mL has 100 units (U-100), and you use a regular insulin syringe to withdraw the insulin, not the fancy needle tips for the pen. This is less wasteful than buying a 100 mL vial, which you probably will not finish before it becomes ineffective. the pens are usually sold as a 5 pack, though you may be able to get one separately (they're priced higher individually). The pens don't start to expire until they are opened so you may store them in the refrigerator until needed. Store the pen on a refrigerator shelf, not the door (movement may cause the insulin to deteriorate).
 
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