New Here Raw diet question

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JLS12

JLS12

Member Since 2024
My 13 year old female dilute calico, Mini Purrl, was just diagnosed as diabetic. I am just amazed as we've used the raw recipe from catnutrition.org from about 2012 to 2014 after much reasearch, then transitioned to franken prey. I researched thoroughly, and feed appropriate bone, meat, organ meat ratios, including heart. I use varied proteins,, quail, beef, pork, chicken, cornish hen, rabbit, some turkey, goat when I can get it, and I just can't understand why Purrl now seems to need insulin based on testing blood and urine on 1-25-24. She does eat a bit of "junk" as a treat, once or twice a month such as dry kibble in a treat ball, but her diet for almost all her life has been species appropriate.

If anyone has some insight on this, I'd appreciate it.
 
It's not necessarily diet that causes diabetes. There can be other underlying conditions or medications such as steroids, pancreatitis, and some other secondary conditions. And some cats are more prone to it than others. How much does Mini Purrl weigh and what is her ideal weight?
 
Thank you Wendy & Neko for the reply.

Purrl's ideal weight is about 9.5 lbs. She's fluctuated a half pound up or down through the years. She is less muscular now and weighs 9.1, looking thinner through shoulders and haunches. In her prime, she was a stocky fireplug body style. She is on no meds, never took steroids, only had booster shots until about 4, and since then only mandated rabies every 3 years, the most recent about 2 years ago.

Her BUN, SDMA, and Creatinine levels are high normal range. I know BUN can be higher in raw diet cats. Her standard bloodwork was all within normal range showing no indication of infection or any other red flags.
Base line blood work from 2019 showed all normal range.

Current workup 1-25-24
Her urinalysis showed GLU 1000mg/dL and specific gravity was 1.020.

GLU 327 mg/dL
TP 9.6 g/dL
GLOB 6.2 g/dL
ALKP 13 U/L (low)
LIPA 2659 U/L

everything else was in the normal range.

I have made a cursory look at pancreatitis, but haven't delved enough to understand.

We have an appt on Tuesday to get started with insulin and I will be ready with a meter and all the other accoutrements. I want to check our meter against their levels, so I have an idea of how close we are with readings.
 
Sounds like Purrl is a good size. Many super sweet cats are a little "fluffy".

The acceptable insulins for cats are either Lantus (buy at human pharmacy) or Prozinc (through vet). Let us know what the vet says. We might have some places to go for good prices for supplies.

What meter are you using? Be aware that many vets try to get you to buy a pet meter. You don't need that. Our dosing methods were developed with human meters, back before the pet meter manufactures started marketing heavily. Plus the pet meter test strips are very expensive.

Her specific gravity is a little low. Any chance that taken later in the day? Early morning pee should be more concentrated. Did she get her thyroid test too (T4)? Is she drinking more and peeing more? Those are standard diabetes symptoms.

One other test your vet could do is a fructosamine, which shows blood sugar averages over a couple weeks. A vet visit can be stressful and raise the blood glucose, but not typically it and urine which is delayed.
 
I was asked my preferred pharmacy today, so I believe we will be picking it up and taking it in on Tues. Didn't know about different types until after the call today. I suppose if I find it's not preferable, we can change it. I can call Monday and ask what they ordered.

We are shopping this weekend for a meter and supplies.

The initial appointment yesterday was at 2, so yes, later in the day urine, and she remarked how clear and pale it was. But of course Purrl had likely gone a couple times before the appointment.

We took her in because she was drinking and peeing excessively, and her usual hearty appetite was even more ravenous.

Yes, she had the thyroid done. 2.1 yesterday and 2.2 four years ago.

I greatly appreciate your help. We have been multicat for many years and although we've had a few feline health challenges and one rare genetic case, we've never had a diabetic cat. This is a whole new world. Ha!
 
My Neko taught me a lot.

If insulin is from a people pharmacy, that will likely be Lantus or a generic glargine version. Note, prices vary a LOT where you buy it. Call and ask pharmacy for price.

A lot of people buy the Relion meters at Walmart. They have the cheapest test strips and that's what you'll go through most of. You can also get 1/2 unit marked U-100 syringes there. Might want to wait until you know the insulin before shopping for that though.
 
Thanks for the tips. I saw many use the Relion and that's likely what we'll go with. I did see about the 1/2 unit syringes, and will wait until I know further. Once I see what we're dealing with and what our needs will be, I will certainly shop for best prices.
 
I hope the vet prescribed Lantus. While the brand named Lantus is very expensive, it is available as a generic/biosimilar -- glargine. It is a fraction of the price.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
My Neko taught me a lot.

If insulin is from a people pharmacy, that will likely be Lantus or a generic glargine version. Note, prices vary a LOT where you buy it. Call and ask pharmacy for price.

A lot of people buy the Relion meters at Walmart. They have the cheapest test strips and that's what you'll go through most of. You can also get 1/2 unit marked U-100 syringes there. Might want to wait until you know the insulin before shopping for that though.
Click to expand...

what are some names of the biosimilars? I’m searching online to get an idea for pricing and it’s overwhelming. I can’t find any threads with specific cost experiences in the US
 
Basaglar, Semglee, Rezvoglar, Mylan are examples, they should all say something like insulin glargine and be U-100.
 
SpotsMom said:
I get Spot’s insulin at Costco. You don’t have to have a membership to use the pharmacy. It’s about $80 for 5 pens of the Mylan generic of semglee.
Click to expand...

thank you? How long does that last? I’m so confused. Can’t find side by side comparisons of the insulins. How they work, how they are used, special considerations and price. I’ve had bad vet experiences and want to know more before they just send us home with a prescription.
 
GoodRx.com is a good place to compare prescription medicine prices at your local pharmacies.

An insulin pen can last pretty much to the last drop. A box of insulin pens is basically a supply you have on hand for several months. As long as you handle and store the pens with kid gloves, they won't go bad.

Use a pen just like an insulin bottle: insert insulin syringe needle into the rubber stopper and draw out a dose.

Have you checked out the Lantus board? There's lots of info in the stickies with specifics on how to use the insulin: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/
 
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