New Diagnosis--Advice Please!

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lesbrooke

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Hi everyone! I have been reading here religiously for the past couple of weeks, but decided to register and hopefully receive some advice. Pickle is an 8 year old cat that has always been overweight and has always been on dry food. A couple of months ago he started exhibiting all of the signs of diabetes--excessive hunger (well, he's always acted hungry, hence the overweight!), excessive thirst, excessive urination, etc. I took him to the vet thinking that he probably had a UTI, but the vet called me back and said that blood tests showed that he was diabetic and dehydrated (he also had a UTI) but not to worry, that it was easily controlled by diet and insulin shots. That was basically the extent of the information he gave me--2 units humilin am and pm, 1/2 cup of Purina DM (dry) am and pm. I started the routine dutifully and Pickle seemed to respond well. He was definitely acting better and his behavior normalized.

Since I didn't get much (ANY) information from my vet, I started researching feline diabetes and landed here. To say that I felt mislead is a HUGE understatement. It was only through reading here that I learned the importance of a low carb diet and feeding wet food. Since I already had him on the DM, I started working him down to lower carb wet foods and monitoring his blood glucose at home. Since his symptoms had only begun a few weeks before going to the vet, I really wish the vet had discussed home monitoring as well as an appropriate diet with me first, before we immediately started him on insulin. Regardless, I have not given him any insulin since last Friday (7/7) and have been monitoring him at least 3-4 times daily. At all times his blood glucose levels have stayed between 76-116 (after eating). His numbers before eating range from 76-98 consistently. I don't have much faith in my vet at this point and would like the advice/input of people who have dealt with diabetic cats if possible. What do these numbers mean? Should I continue him on his low-carb diet and continue to test him until his numbers rise to the level of needing insulin again? I have been leaving what canned food he doesn't eat out during the day in case he doesn't eat immediately when I feed him--is this OK? The vet said no more free range feedings, but he's definitely not eating excessively since we have his blood glucose levels regulated.

We just moved, so I'm going to try to find a vet in our new area that is better versed in feline diabetes, but in the meantime he's acting like a healthy, happy cat and doesn't mind the food or the testing. I really appreciate any information, insight, or advice you all can give!
Leslie
 
Wow, Leslie. Looks like you did the research yourself and got Pickle on the road to remission. Good for you!

We generally consider a cat off insulin to be in remission if their blood glucose levels run between 40 - 120 with the majority of the time spent in double digits. It looks like Pickle applies!

Yes, I think small frequent meals support the pancreas. You can freeze the wet or use an automatic feeder.

Our usual criteria for being off the juice is 2 weeks in that number range above. I would test every so often, after feeding and in the am and pm and keep records.
 
Well that's good to hear! I was so overwhelmed when the vet called me to tell me that he was diabetic that I didn't even think to ask what his levels are--I think I'll call and get a copy of the records to take to a new vet anyway so at least I'll have an idea of where he started out. I feel so uninformed, I'm just trying to read and digest as much on this as possible. Thanks for your help!
 
Hi and welcome!

I'm not familiar with the insulin and hope someone can jump in to give you guidance on that. The wet food is certainly controlling his numbers right now. I can't tell if you're using a human meter or the AlphaTrak but regardless, his numbers look very good.

What you experienced with your vet is unfortunately all too common.

What city did you move to? Maybe there's someone at this message board who can refer you to a vet. I'm seeing vet that was referred to me by someone who has been giving solid advice in the Lantus group. Even though she was able to break her vet in with the board's approach, I still received some misguided advice. Not bad, but I felt like I knew enough about diabetes not to follow it. Good luck finding a new vet!
 
I don't know if you have read about the white coat syndrome. Some cats are wildly elevated numbers at the vet (strange sounds, smells and animals....). If your vet just used a blood glucose test to determine the diabetes, it may be that his numbers were much lower once he got home. Check to see if the vet did a fructosamine test; it is the definite test for diabetes.

Most vets get only a few hours of diabetic training. They have to treat a huge diversity of diseases in a variety of species. So it is hard to expect them to be diabetic experts. The most we can hope for is that they are willing to listen and work with their patients.
 
Thanks, everyone! I just moved to the northwest side of Indianapolis, IN, so if anyone knows of a good vet near there, I would appreciate it! To be honest, it's kind of unnerving to see him not ravishingly hungry, since he's been so gluttonous all these years :) Is it correct that I don't have to worry about hypoglycemia if he's not on insulin?

I'm going to call the vet right now and get his results faxed to me and then I'll post them here.

Thanks again for all of your insight!
 
You know, I was thinking -- it would probably be better to start a new thread with the subject line something like: Need a new vet in NW Indianapolis

That way it'll catch any Hoosiers on this board that might have missed this thread.

Ditto on what Sue & Oliver said.
 
I just received the blood tests from my vet's office that were used to diagnose Pickle--it appears that the only value taken was a blood glucose, which was 400 at the time of the test. I don't necessarily doubt that he is diabetic, since he was exhibiting all of the signs and symptoms, but perhaps that it wasn't severe enough to disregard the potential that it could be diet-controlled? I don't know, this is all pretty confusing...
 
Possible. Some cats test 100 points higher at the vet. That's why the fructosamine test is so much better - it is a blood test that gives an average bg reading over the past few weeks, rather than a one time test at the vet under stress.

Some cats come in with numbers in that range and a diet change does the trick. But every cat is different.....
 
Okay, I tested Pickle last night before his evening feeding and his BS was 95 and 58 this morning before feeding. Do I need to be worried about low numbers like 58?
 
58 is a nice normal non-diabetic number for a cat that is diet controlled. Maxwell my diabetic that is in remission and diet controlled routinely tests in the 50s-60s. So as long as Pickle isn't on insulin at this point in time then you have no reason to worry about a 58.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
party_cat party_cat party_cat :RAHCAT :RAHCAT :RAHCAT dancing_cat dancing_cat dancing_cat

Hope the noise doesn't get you in trouble at work.....
 
Hello, another brand new member here. I have been skimming through a lot of information and can't remember quite what I've read where and many of the articles are a little old. What is the current best glucometer to use? I remember reading that it should be one that needs only a little blood. Easy to use and keeps good records is good too, right?

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi Annie and Welcome,

You might want to start a new topic so you don't get lost at the end of this thread.

Lots of people here like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is inexpensive and the strips are the cheapest. Sometimes you can get a free meter. The strips are the expensive part but you can buy them on Ebay for much less than the local drug stores. The important part is to get a meter that sips and that takes a tiny sample of blood.
 
lesbrooke said:
Well that's good to hear! I was so overwhelmed when the vet called me to tell me that he was diabetic that I didn't even think to ask what his levels are--I think I'll call and get a copy of the records to take to a new vet anyway so at least I'll have an idea of where he started out. I feel so uninformed, I'm just trying to read and digest as much on this as possible. Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

You could ask your vet for a copy of all your cat's file records so you can have a record at home and so you can do some research.
That folder will be invaluable to your new vet in filling in the background and past treatment.
I ask for printouts for everything from my vets, even my bill invoices.

Best of luck on finding a new vet and congrats on such good numbers.
 
anniemckitty said:
Hello, another brand new member here. I have been skimming through a lot of information and can't remember quite what I've read where and many of the articles are a little old. What is the current best glucometer to use? I remember reading that it should be one that needs only a little blood. Easy to use and keeps good records is good too, right?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I'm new at this too, but I got the Relion Confirm at Wal-Mart for $9 and it has been REALLY easy to use, even with the 30 gauge needles. The amount of blood needed is so small that it surprises me almost every time!
 
I have trouble getting blood from the ear. I saw someone on youtube using the paw pad. My vet mentioned cutting the toenail short enough to get a drop of blood. Any thoughts on these or any alternate methods of blood collection?
 
A foot pad is OK but you have to worry more about an infection because of the location compared to the ear. I would not use the nail-cutting method. I expect it to be painful and would probably make it hare to trim nails i the future.
 
Yea for kitty!
Those are great numbers.
My Callie Mae is diet controlled too. She needed insulin for just a little while after switching to wet, but just micro doses, and really, for not very long at all.
I still check her every other day or so, just to make sure she stays that way.
What was suggested to me (and others) and seems to work well is warming the ear a little before poking it. A warm ear bleeds.
Suggested is to take a thin sock, like a baby sock or something, and filling it with some UNCOOKED white rice, then sew it closed. Pop it in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so. Just to get it warm, not hot enough to hurt kitty then hold it to kitty's ear to warm it up a little.
Give that a try if you haven't already and see how that works out for you.
Also, after testing a while, kitty's ears will learn to bleed.
HTH
 
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