Just diagnosed and need advice

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JenniferH

JenniferH

Member Since 2018
My 11 year old cat Skittles was just diagnosed with diabetes. He had extensive mouth surgery 8 days ago and his glucose was 459. I took him back to the vet for a recheck today and it was 366. There was also glucose in his urine but no ketones. He also lost 1.4 lbs in the last 8 days. He has been on hills c/d most of his life due to stones and bladder issues. I'm not sure what to do? Do I try changing his diet before going straight to insulin which I don't believe he will handle well. What food do I go to because of the other issues he has. He doesn't like wet food. He has only been eating hills a/d wet food recently bc of the extensive surgery. My vet is planning on calling hills to see what the recommend but I want to know what works. My cat gets stressed easily. Hates the vet and the 40minute car ride there. What should I do? Ican't stand the thought of losing my baby.
 
I just posted on your intro thread. I'll repeat the main part here:
High protein, low carb. low phosphorus wet food is the best. A lot of us had cats who were always fed dry and did not want anything to do with wet, but the transition is possible. There is a site called catinfo.org that has a lot of info about feline nutrition including the reasons dry food is horrible for them and tips for transition kibble addicts to wet. There is also a cat food database (link in my signature) to help you select foods that are appropriate. The vet whose site it is and who made the food list recommends, "start with protein minimum of 40, fat maximum of 50, carb max of 10, and for cats with kidney issues....phos less than 300".

A lot of people make the diet change first, and for some cats, that is enough. So, you could certainly try that. You will want to get a glucose meter and start testing so that you will know whether the diet change alone is working or if you need the insulin. Most cats (and their humans) get used to the shots and testing quicker than you would expect. And, if you are testing at home, you will not have to put him through the stress of frequent vet visits.
 
Before my boy was diagnosed with diabetes he was on Hills Prescription C/D hard and wet due to past issues with urinary. I was terrified to take him off of it because I didn't want any more problems. But his levels just were not improving while on that food. Its WAY WAY to high in carbs (both the dry and the wet) He is now on all wet fancy feast and friskies. The all wet food with lots of added water should help the urinary problems. It helps keep them flushed out. I have seen though that Pro Plan-Focus has a urinary tract wet food that is under the 10% carb rules for diabetics. If you haven't started insulin yet then I would definitely start with the diet change first. That alone can make the numbers normal again. You will need to start testing at home though to keep track of what's going on. Its true though that you will need to get him off the hard food and onto an all wet diet.
 
Jenn I'm happy that you have finally found this forum. Trust in these people they know what they're doing they are awsome! I know they will take good care of you!
 
So I just talked to my vet and hills and her are recommending m/d wet food since he also has stones and bladder issues with the diabetes issues. Thoughts? I see it's 13% on the cat info page so that worries me. She also said it would be okay to order the Dr. Esleys dry food.
 
Also is important that you consider
13% is a little high she needs to aim for less than 10% to help with his diabetes, that said right now he's getting out of surgery so she has to be very careful with any food changes because is very important that he Eats.

Usually with wet food the urinary issues get much better, do take a look at Dr Lisa's page she explains about it Www.catinfo.org

Also please consider start testing at home that will really help
 
I am new to this. My 7 year old male has diabetes . I do not have much money and my vet got very upset with me for home testing .First she says I cant use human meter ,so I buy Alpha Trak. Now because i test am and pm .And I use ketone strips .Said I was torturing my cat. She is insisting on expensive D.m wet and dry. I have him on Fancy feast classic chicken feast. She started him on 2 units Vetsulin and said for me to jump him to 4 units. I told her I had rather go slow . He has a gum infection and she will not treat it with antibiotics . She calls me Mrs Google because I told her I read everything I can about Diabetes in cats . Help I need advise. She admitted she has not much experience with Vetsulin .I am so confused.
 
Babyroo said:
I am new to this. My 7 year old male has diabetes . I do not have much money and my vet got very upset with me for home testing .First she says I cant use human meter ,so I buy Alpha Trak. Now because i test am and pm .And I use ketone strips .Said I was torturing my cat. She is insisting on expensive D.m wet and dry. I have him on Fancy feast classic chicken feast. She started him on 2 units Vetsulin and said for me to jump him to 4 units. I told her I had rather go slow . He has a gum infection and she will not treat it with antibiotics . She calls me Mrs Google because I told her I read everything I can about Diabetes in cats . Help I need advise. She admitted she has not much experience with Vetsulin .I am so confused.
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My advice is find a different vet.
 
Babyroo said:
I am new to this. My 7 year old male has diabetes . I do not have much money and my vet got very upset with me for home testing .First she says I cant use human meter ,so I buy Alpha Trak. Now because i test am and pm .And I use ketone strips .Said I was torturing my cat. She is insisting on expensive D.m wet and dry. I have him on Fancy feast classic chicken feast. She started him on 2 units Vetsulin and said for me to jump him to 4 units. I told her I had rather go slow . He has a gum infection and she will not treat it with antibiotics . She calls me Mrs Google because I told her I read everything I can about Diabetes in cats . Help I need advise. She admitted she has not much experience with Vetsulin .I am so confused.
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Hi @Babyroo of course you are confused. but you have come to the right place. I suggest you start your own thread so that you can get more eyes on your questions and concerns. Others might not see that you have posted for the first time on someone else's thread. I want to tell you first, though, you are doing the right thing testing, keeping your kitty safe, you are feeding the right food, and not jumping up the dose was another good decision. Let's get your own thread going, OK? and get more input.
 
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