New diagnosis-food change instead of insulin

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Tamra

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In a newly diagnosed cat whose glucose was 600. Would anyone recommend switching to low carb wet food prior to insulin?
 
We defiantly recommend switching to wet food. As to when. It does not need to be done prior to insulin however if you are doing both at the same time you much be monitoring. Some cats only need a diet change but many don't. However, if on insulin the diet change can mean needing to reduce the dose because the diet change often dose reduce glucose.
 
If I had it to do over again, I would definitely have switched Squallie over to low carb, wet food before I started insulin. You run less risk of bringing on a hypo. I recommend you home test your kitty, though, either way. :)

Here is a list of some OTC wet foods, the carbs are listed and many of them are suitable. We suggest keeping carbs to 10% or less.

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
 
Unless your cat has ketones, I think it's always safer to at least take a few days and switch over to low carb before starting insulin

That way you don't have to worry so much about dropping the carb percentage at the same time you're giving insulin

But with a BG that high, it IS important that you test for ketones...You can get urinary ketone test strips from any pharmacy that has diabetes supplies

Also, I'd use the days you're changing the diet to learn how to home test so that when you do start giving insulin, you're ready to keep them safe
 
Chris & China said:
Unless your cat has ketones, I think it's always safer to at least take a few days and switch over to low carb before starting insulin

That way you don't have to worry so much about dropping the carb percentage at the same time you're giving insulin

But with a BG that high, it IS important that you test for ketones...You can get urinary ketone test strips from any pharmacy that has diabetes supplies

Also, I'd use the days you're changing the diet to learn how to home test so that when you do start giving insulin, you're ready to keep them safe
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How d
Squalliesmom said:
If I had it to do over again, I would definitely have switched Squallie over to low carb, wet food before I started insulin. You run less risk of bringing on a hypo. I recommend you home test your kitty, though, either way. :)

Here is a list of some OTC wet foods, the carbs are listed and many of them are suitable. We suggest keeping carbs to 10% or less.

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
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how do u know if they may be hypo based on cats symptoms ?
 
We are big advocates of home testing here so that we know what our cats blood glucose numbers are doing all the time.....that's what prevents our cats from having hypoglycemic crisis's

Home testing sounds scary, but it really isn't, and the vast majority of cats not only learn to accept it, but they actually learn to like it! Here's a pretty good video on how it's done

The most popular meters here are the Relion Confirm or Micro from WalMart...they're about $15 and the strips that go in them are affordable ($35.88 per 100). They also take the tiniest blood sample of any meter.

Being able to home test your kitty and knowing exactly what's going on inside it's body not only keeps them safe, but it also allows you to make adjustments in dose to give them the best chance at going into remission
 
Not all kitties show obvious signs of hypos. My boy has had at least three hypos, and if I wasn't home testing I would not have known until it was too late, as he shows no symptoms at all. That's why home testing is so vital! Not all of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are necessarily present at a given time, either, and it should be noted that these can also be signs of other illnesses, as well. Again, home testing is the best way to keep your kitty safe! Here is more information about hypos and how to treat them:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/









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Tamra said:
How d

how do u know if they may be hypo based on cats symptoms ?
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You really don't know. My two kitties are half brothers and they do not even act the same. One started twitching his eyes, then his whole head, the other would just lay down and not move. The both acted blind a few times. I would NEVER again just go off symptoms ever again. When Woody was showing low on the alphatrax (which means the meter can't pick up BG) the only symptom he was showing was hunger! So, please read and home test - it will help you save your kitty!
 
My cat was diagnosed a little over a week ago and she was on dry, I switched her to wet three days into insulin shots and she dropped to 49. While I don't know that much I do know I wish I had switched her before putting her on the insulin.
 
Squalliesmom said:
Not all kitties show obvious signs of hypos. My boy has had at least three hypos, and if I wasn't home testing I would not have known until it was too late, as he shows no symptoms at all. That's why home testing is so vital! Not all of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are necessarily present at a given time, either, and it should be noted that these can also be signs of other illnesses, as well. Again, home testing is the best way to keep your kitty safe! Here is more information about hypos and how to treat them:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/



How do you prevent hypos





o
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