Hi - my cat was just recently diagnosed with diabetes. I was hoping to try controlling through diet first vs starting immediately with insulin. My question is how long should I give the diet approach before needing to start insulin? I have another cat that has kidney disease so I used the food charts on here to try and find a wet food that would work for both (low carb, low phosphorous) and I’ve stopped free feeding dry kibble. Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I just ordered a glucometer so will start home readings soon. I’m a bit worried since this is my most skittish cat and he generally runs from me except for very occasional pets (and at night when I’m laying down when he doesn’t feel threatened). Help!
New member 8/11/21 Just diagnosed
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Diane Tyler's Mom GA
Member Since 2018
Found this when I did a search in the search box
Posted by one of our members
For kitties with kidney problems
. First number is carb percentage, second is mgs of phosphorus/100 cals, all less than 10% carb and less than 250 mg phos:
Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites can 6% 118
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen La Isla Bonita can 3% 166
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Meowiss Bueller pouch 7% 174
Weruva Truluxe Glam 'N Punk can 0.6% 180
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Fowl Ball can 4% 180
Weruva Classic Pates Jeopurrdy Licious pouch 4% 187
Weruva Classic Pates Family Food pouch 0% 191
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cattyshack pouch 9% 211
BFF PLAY Tuna & Salmon Shhh... pouch 3% 223
BFF PLAY Tuna & Turkey Totes! pouch 2% 226
BFF PLAY Tuna & Chicken Chill Out pouch 2% 226
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cat to the Future pouch 8% 235
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates The Breakfast Cat pouch 9.7% 235
Weruva Classic Pates Meal of Fortune pouch 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Lamburgini can 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Double Dip can 8% 248
Posted by one of our members
For kitties with kidney problems
. First number is carb percentage, second is mgs of phosphorus/100 cals, all less than 10% carb and less than 250 mg phos:
Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites can 6% 118
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen La Isla Bonita can 3% 166
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Meowiss Bueller pouch 7% 174
Weruva Truluxe Glam 'N Punk can 0.6% 180
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Fowl Ball can 4% 180
Weruva Classic Pates Jeopurrdy Licious pouch 4% 187
Weruva Classic Pates Family Food pouch 0% 191
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cattyshack pouch 9% 211
BFF PLAY Tuna & Salmon Shhh... pouch 3% 223
BFF PLAY Tuna & Turkey Totes! pouch 2% 226
BFF PLAY Tuna & Chicken Chill Out pouch 2% 226
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates Cat to the Future pouch 8% 235
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Pates The Breakfast Cat pouch 9.7% 235
Weruva Classic Pates Meal of Fortune pouch 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Lamburgini can 8% 236
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Double Dip can 8% 248
Librarianista
Member Since 2021
Hi there and welcome!
I have a tab in my Spreadsheet called Food that is a list of low carb and/or low phosphorous varieties from Weruva and Soulistic. Both are available through Petco, and Weruva is available through Chewy. Feel free to steal it and add it to your SS when you get one set up for reference. We are still testing which flavors will be useful in our house because there are so many.
As for how long before diet takes effect, I started seeing results after switching diets within 2 weeks of going to all low carb wet food. Your results may vary.
Glad to hear you are home testing! I would start training before your glucometer arrives. Offer treats (many people here use freeze dried chicken or fish treats - low carb) whenever he lets you pet his head/ears. Get him used to that sensation. If you’re using a lancing device, click it near the ears and offer treats a few times before you try getting a blood drop at all. Getting them used to the noise and to not be afraid of it really helps! If you do all this in a favorite spot or blanket, he may associate testing time with treats and willingly come. I never thought we’d get there but sometimes Chloe seems to ASK for a test because she wants a treat.
I have a tab in my Spreadsheet called Food that is a list of low carb and/or low phosphorous varieties from Weruva and Soulistic. Both are available through Petco, and Weruva is available through Chewy. Feel free to steal it and add it to your SS when you get one set up for reference. We are still testing which flavors will be useful in our house because there are so many.
As for how long before diet takes effect, I started seeing results after switching diets within 2 weeks of going to all low carb wet food. Your results may vary.
Glad to hear you are home testing! I would start training before your glucometer arrives. Offer treats (many people here use freeze dried chicken or fish treats - low carb) whenever he lets you pet his head/ears. Get him used to that sensation. If you’re using a lancing device, click it near the ears and offer treats a few times before you try getting a blood drop at all. Getting them used to the noise and to not be afraid of it really helps! If you do all this in a favorite spot or blanket, he may associate testing time with treats and willingly come. I never thought we’d get there but sometimes Chloe seems to ASK for a test because she wants a treat.
Diane Tyler's Mom GA
Member Since 2018
When you start to test buy 26 or 28 gauge lancets
They will make the ear bleed better
Some use the landing device, but a lot of us just freehand when poking
Look at the lancet and you will see that one side is curved upward, hold the lancet and poke with that side, I feel I can see better where I am poking
Buy some cotton rounds to put behind the ear
Diane Tyler's Mom GA
Member Since 2018
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up
6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar
Here is a video one of our members did
6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar
Here is a video one of our members did
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