Hey all you awesome people, I'm back. Thanks again for all the kind words when Bobee passed away. Just last month I had my oldest kitty put to sleep as he had kidney issues plus the vet figured he had a tumour in his lungs. Now my Maine Coon Nino had been losing weight and I thought Oh no, not again! Took him in to the vet yesterday for bloodwork, might as well check for everything and his results came back today, so his blood glucose was up to around 20.5. He's going to get the lab to do another test to confirm the diagnoses. Personally I'd rather have it be diabetes than kidneys. I'm lucky he's a very easy going boy, purrs and headbutts every body even the vet. Will no doubt have some more questions as we go along.
I'm Back!!
- Thread starter pattymac
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BJM
Member Since 2010
Welcome back to FDMB.
Vet stress can raise the glucose from 100-180 mg/dL (5.5-10 mmol/L).
So, food first, since you aren't using insulin yet. You want a low carb canned or raw food with less than 10 percent calories (not weight) from carbohydrate. If not already feeding this, it can drop the glucose another 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L).
Since you're using mmol/L, you're probably either in Canada or Europe. Where you are will determine what foods may be available.
- In the US, Cat Info has a food list with the nutrition info for a lot of canned foods.
- Here is a post on some of the European foods available
Vet stress can raise the glucose from 100-180 mg/dL (5.5-10 mmol/L).
So, food first, since you aren't using insulin yet. You want a low carb canned or raw food with less than 10 percent calories (not weight) from carbohydrate. If not already feeding this, it can drop the glucose another 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L).
Since you're using mmol/L, you're probably either in Canada or Europe. Where you are will determine what foods may be available.
- In the US, Cat Info has a food list with the nutrition info for a lot of canned foods.
- Here is a post on some of the European foods available
Thanks,we're in Canada. Since my last visit when I thought my other cat was diabetic, I switched to Friskies. Vet of course doesn't really like that idea so I'll get a few cans of the prescrip diet to try him on. I've already looked at the list of foods and their carb and protein percentages. Friskies seems to be pretty good, carb wise. They also like Whiskas pretty well. I may see about getting a small package of Honest Kitchen and try them on it. They've never really had anything raw. Now I have to start shopping for metres and strips! It's a good thing he's a good kitty!! 
Hello and welcome - sorry you've got another diabetic kitty. Where are you located in Canada? There may be other raw food available near you that is better than the Honest Kitchen. The Prowl is 20% carbs and Grace is 10% carbs, neither of which is ideal for diabetics. We normally like to feed low carb foods less than 10%. My kitties are on raw food made in Vancouver with carbs between 3-5%.
Has your vet suggested what insulin they like to use? Unfortunately a lot of vets in Canada like to suggest Caninsulin, which we started on and there are better options for cats. Lantus or Levemir are available from pharmacies.
Has your vet suggested what insulin they like to use? Unfortunately a lot of vets in Canada like to suggest Caninsulin, which we started on and there are better options for cats. Lantus or Levemir are available from pharmacies.
Hi, we haven't gotten that far yet with types of insulin etc. Should hear back today about the other test the lab is doing. I can get Mountain Dog Food and Carnivora here. I can try to get him to try raw, he's a funny cat with his food. I guess I'll have to change his treats too. He loves his Temptations. I've tried him with Pure Bites Chicken and he looks at it like it's going to get him!! I'm lucky he has light coloured ears and I can clearly see the vein.
I know there's a post here about meters and strips etc here but can someone condense it for me? I remember reading somewhere that you can use the pen insulin? I'm trying to remember from when my Dad was getting insulin that the needles are tiny? I imagine that a vial would last quite a while.
I know there's a post here about meters and strips etc here but can someone condense it for me? I remember reading somewhere that you can use the pen insulin? I'm trying to remember from when my Dad was getting insulin that the needles are tiny? I imagine that a vial would last quite a while.
BJM
Member Since 2010
For both Lantus and Levemir, you get the pens and use U-100 syringes, not the pen needles, to withdraw the insulin.
If you're close enough to a US WalMart, come across the border to get a RelOn Confirm or Prime meter, as they are inexpensive. If not, there are several meters made by Abbot which are good. Go for one using a small blood droplet and that doesn't need coding. Also, the One Touch Ultra was easy to use when I was testing Dusty for an adopter.
If you're close enough to a US WalMart, come across the border to get a RelOn Confirm or Prime meter, as they are inexpensive. If not, there are several meters made by Abbot which are good. Go for one using a small blood droplet and that doesn't need coding. Also, the One Touch Ultra was easy to use when I was testing Dusty for an adopter.
In Canada, you buy a 5-pack of insulin cartridges instead of pens. They look like mini vials. You can also buy a vial, but cartridges are more convenient and a package lasts longer. You'll have to get the BD Ultrafine-II syringes, no other choice here. There are in the box with the purple and yellow in it. I've found Canadian Superstore the cheapest place to buy syringes.
I shop across the border for test strips. It's not the cost of the meters that matters, but the test strips. Unfortunately in Canada, the test strips all cost about the same and are a lot more than the Relion ones in the US. Here is a Consumer Report on meters. My backup Canadian meter (in case I can't get across the border) is a Bayer Contour. It has a fairly small blood drop required and that's a key feature for testing a cat. Several people in Canada will shop on Ebay for strips and get a much better price. I would avoid the Freestyle meters - the one I got first registered wrong at the high numbers and I wasted several weeks with wrong data.
Raw dog food isn't appropriate for a cat. They have higher percentage of vegetables and are likely higher carb foods. Lots of people here feed low carb commercial wet food with Friskies or Fancy Feast pate style and Wellness grain free being popular brands. Look at this list for ones that are under 10% carbs. Most of the ones listed are also available in Canada. You don't need to give the veterinary food. Any treat that is 100% meat, such as PureBites, are a good treat. Temptations are high carb so toss them out. You should get some high carb food and set it aside in a hypo kit in case you need to raise his blood sugar quickly.
I shop across the border for test strips. It's not the cost of the meters that matters, but the test strips. Unfortunately in Canada, the test strips all cost about the same and are a lot more than the Relion ones in the US. Here is a Consumer Report on meters. My backup Canadian meter (in case I can't get across the border) is a Bayer Contour. It has a fairly small blood drop required and that's a key feature for testing a cat. Several people in Canada will shop on Ebay for strips and get a much better price. I would avoid the Freestyle meters - the one I got first registered wrong at the high numbers and I wasted several weeks with wrong data.
Raw dog food isn't appropriate for a cat. They have higher percentage of vegetables and are likely higher carb foods. Lots of people here feed low carb commercial wet food with Friskies or Fancy Feast pate style and Wellness grain free being popular brands. Look at this list for ones that are under 10% carbs. Most of the ones listed are also available in Canada. You don't need to give the veterinary food. Any treat that is 100% meat, such as PureBites, are a good treat. Temptations are high carb so toss them out. You should get some high carb food and set it aside in a hypo kit in case you need to raise his blood sugar quickly.
I've cut out all crunchies and treats since his diagnoses and he seems to be feeling better. I gave him a can of Fancy Feast before bed and he seems more content now. I am going to Pet Valu tomorrow so will see what kinds of low carb foods they have. I think they carry Before Grains brand, I know he likes that.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
How's things going? Did you get a meter to see how the food change is working?
Wendy
Wendy
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