Jack's Mom in NH

[JustJacksMom]

Hi there,

My nine-year-old ginger boy Jack was just diagnosed. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information available. I was told he was diabetic, got insulin training and Purina PRO DM wet food. He is getting 2 units every 12 hours and I am feeding him two cans a day.

Additionally, his vet wants to observe him all day this Wednesday. I guess my questions are... does he need this full-day observation? Is there a chance of remission? Are there any food alternatives? I want to do whatever I can but this is a strain on the budget and I am trying to make wise decisions.

I'd appreciate any insight.

Thank you in advance.

Jill

 

[Idjit's mom]

Good morning and welcome to FDMB Jill and Jack. It is a great deal of information at first, on top of the diagnosis and we can all sympathize with feeling of being overwhelmed.
Basically, there are three components of feline diabetes treatment: diet, insulin therapy and blood sugar testing. Take a deep breath, you are already gathering the information you need to effectively treat Jack and get him feeling better. We will help fill in the gaps and help you get a grip on the changes in your life (and dear Jack's life).
Remission is a goal to be sure, and we all hope for it. Some cats can go off the juice (OTJ) with proper diet of low carb wet food, and insulin therapy. But, you won't know what's happening if you don't test Jack's blood sugar. Human diabetics test blood sugar before injections to be sure it's safe to do so, and test between injections to see the blood sugar levels. We do the same for our sugar cats.
I suggest you begin by creating a signature and filling in as much of the profile information you feel comfortable with. You can include your first name and a general geographic location in the signature so we all know what to call you and what area you are in, as sometimes time is a factor with advice, and area is a factor with supplies suggestions.
Here is a link to that area: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/
There is a lot of reading to do, about what feline diabetes is, a good diet, testing, and the specific insulin you are using. I know..ugh! But, it's all golden and you will get through it, one step at a time.
Maybe start with the Getting Started and Education sections on the Home page, or check the FAQs forum HERE and scroll through the Index for information. The FAQs forum contains critically important information about Hypos, which every sugar cat parent needs to know.
You can post questions and concerns on the Main Health forum that more members monitor to be of assistance. This Introduction forum is mainly a welcome mat and you are going to get more input and information on the Health forum:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/feline-health-the-main-forum.28/
If you like, you can copy your message here, begin a new thread on the Health forum and just paste.
We are going to do everything we can to help you on this new journey, we all started in the same place just like you, and will share our knowledge and experience. I personally don't know what I would have done without the support and information I found here. So, here's a big hug and I'm looking forward to getting to know you and Jack.

 

[JanetNJ]

The vet wants to do a curve... A test every two hours for 12 hours. If you learn to home test you can do the tests yourself making vet trips unnecessary. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.

The starting dose is a little high. Usually they start at 1 unit twice a day.

Dm food is not necessary. Most of us feed fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods. I feed fancy feast classic and Tiki cat. I have a food chart in my signature. Pick foods under 10 percent carb.

 

[Daddy Jack's Mommy (GA)]

Hi there,

My nine-year-old ginger boy Jack was just diagnosed. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information available. I was told he was diabetic, got insulin training and Purina PRO DM wet food. He is getting 2 units every 12 hours and I am feeding him two cans a day.

Additionally, his vet wants to observe him all day this Wednesday. I guess my questions are... does he need this full-day observation? Is there a chance of remission? Are there any food alternatives? I want to do whatever I can but this is a strain on the budget and I am trying to make wise decisions.

I'd appreciate any insight.

Thank you in advance.

Jill

Hello. My 11 year old ginger boy, also named Jack (AKA; Daddy Jack) was also recently diagnosed on February 15th. Two days after his dx I took him off dry food and he has been eating Classic Pate Fancy Feast and Classic Pate Friskies wet ever since. (Friskies is reasonably priced. Money is a factor for me, as well.) I am going to do home monitoring, but have not been successful getting enough blood to get a BG reading (other than 2 times). I believe what everyone has said here - It will take a little time for capillaries to grow, and it will get easier. I'm not yet giving him insulin because I switched to low carb wet, and I don't want to give him too much insulin. One of the two readings that I was able to get showed his morning BG at 155, which is/was too low to give him his ProZinc insulin.
I, too, was completely overwhelmed with information. I still am, but it's getting easier already.
~ Carolyn