KT - one year diabetic kitty...

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fraucatmat

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...How have I not stumbled upon this site until now? I was just thinking about how happy I am that my KT has made it through the past year. Diagnosed in November, 2009, she is 15 years old and is a sweet, happy, kitty. She is on Humulin N, 4 units, 2x per day. Diet: Prescription Diet MD dry food.

However, I assumed that her urinating amount was 'normal' for a diabetic cat but reading some recent posts I see that her output is not 'normal' but more of a symptom? Since she seems fine and on a good schedule I havent really questioned much.

Please feel free to share any advice. I feel terrible if I havent been caring for her well enough or if she is suffering in any way.

Thank you,
KT's mom - Catherine confused_cat

P.S. Anyone in the Tampa, FL, area?
 
So glad you are here. Yes, we can help with KT.

Your first job is to start reading and asking questions Our protocol calls for insulin, hometesting and wet lo carb food.

Humulin is not the easiest insulin to regulate with. It is more harsh than others used here and tends to hit fast, take the kitty down low and then go up again before the 12 hours is over. Here is a primer on how it works: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=303 It's one of the cheapest insulins but members have had much greater success with Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc.

We test our kitties blood glucose levels before we give them insulin, just like we would do with our two legged children. It isn't hard and is such a good tool to see what the insulin is doing, and to be sure it is safe to give insulin. Here is a good beginning site: http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/harry/bgtest.htm and a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE12-4fVn8 We have taught hundreds of people over the internet, but I think we also have people in Tampa. I will go over to Community and see if anyone is on that lives nearby.

Diet. We advocate wet lo carb food. See this site by a vet to understand why: http://www.catinfo.org BUT don't change the diet until you are hometesting. It can really impact bg levels. When we changed Oliver from dry to wet, his numbers came down 100 points overnight. If we hadn't been testing him, we could have overdosed him.

It is a steep learning curve, but a very manageable disease. We can help you. Just ask!
 
Welcome Catherine and KT to the best place on the web you never wanted to be. But also the best place to help you help KT.

The very very first suggestion I have for you if you aren't already is learning how to home test KT. That way you are going to be absolutely sure how the insulin is working or not working for her. It will also put a bit of cash back in your wallet and not in the Vet's. Home testing is very very easy, we take a small blood sample from the kitty's ear and use a regular human glucometer to test it. Wal-mart has a very good meter called the Relion that I use for my sugarcat Max. Both the meter and strips (which is the part that will cost you) are fairly cheap.

Second after you are home testing, I highly recommend dumping the prescription dry food and switching over to a low carb//high protein canned wet diet or even RAW. My own diabetic cat went OTJ or off insulin within two weeks of getting him off the dry kibble. But you want to be home testing before switching otherwise you could give too much insulin and cause KT to go into Hypo or kill her. I have 11 cats that all eat the exact same thing--9-lives Pate flavors. I just try to stay within 4-8% carbs. Check out Binky's List for some great options. You should be able to find several flavors that both cats can agree on. Even my non-diabetics are better for the change in diet.

Lastly N isn't a real good insulin for cats, it is way too harsh and doesn't last a full 12 hours in the cat so she is spending several hours running high more than likely. You may want to talk to your vet about switching her unto a gentler - long lasting insulin, like Lantus (what I used), Levermir or PZI all are a much better choice for KT.

As far as her "out put" she shouldn't be going anymore than your other non-diabetic unless she did before she got sick. Max doesn't use the litter box anymore than any of my other kitties.

Other than that just keep asking questions and we will do our best to walk you through all of this. And welcome again.

Mel
 
Ilive in Broward County so I am not too far away.my cat Nomad was diagnosed about a year ago also.HE is currently on Lantus but I am thinking of switching to levemir. Very few vets use Humulin although it is probably the most popular human insulin. If you don't home test his BG level at home yet, that is probably one of the most important things you can do.

One thing I noticed is that my cat's drinking and urine output varies with the weather.even though he is inddors all the time on hot humid days he drank and urinated twice as much. Now the cooler weather is here he has slowed down.

Welcome fellow floridian! I haven't been to Tampa in a few years but it is a beautiful area.
 
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