New Diabetic kayb

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Kay posted at the end of another thread and risked getting lost there. Here's her post:


My 11 yo calico was diagnosed the other day and has spent the night at the vet's to get her therapy underway. She wasn't eating for them yesterday so had to be force-fed to get her started. They told me this morning that she did eat on her own last night and were waiting for the first test and injection of the day. I was told to use the Purina D/M, but after reading several pages of reports have decided to return it and switch her and my other cats over to an all wet diet. The home testing will be done, but have to admit being a tad overwhelmed with all the info and possible complications of "getting it wrong". Good to know there is this forum to get real advice and tips on how to manage this new development. Does anyone here feed any dry food at all, or is the switch to wet food pretty universal?

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Hi Kay,

Hope you can find this. Most people feed wet, low carb. A vet explains why here: www.catinfo.org. She also has great ideas for transitioning from dry to wet.

BUT DON'T SWITCH UNTIL YOU ARE HOMETESTING. It can make a big difference. When we switched our Oliver from dry to wet, he came down 100 points overnight. If we hadn't been testing, and had given the usual dose, he would have hypoed.

Hometesting does sound complicated, but if you take it slow, it isn't. Maybe start with buying a meter and getting used to it yourself. Put your kitty where you will test (on a towel, the counter, the bed, etc.). First just playing with her ears and then praise, a treat and let her go. Then add heating her ear, praise, treat and release. Next add the noise of the lancet. By the time you are ready to test, both of you should be more relaxed and she should be patiently waiting for that treat.

Keep reading. Ask questions. We'd love to help.