New Member: Gem

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Prosthetic_Lips

Member Since 2013
Hi! Our cat, Gem, went to the doctor for a UTI (straining to urinate), so she got a steroid injection as well as antibiotics. After several weeks of heavy urination (at first the vet tech thought it was remnant effects from the steroids), tested again and is diabetic. What really concerned us was the weight loss, from 15.5 lbs to 12.4 lbs in just 2 months. As you can see, she was pretty overweight -- but has been that way and on a diet (diet food, restricted food amounts, food she really didn't like -- tried everything) for many years, but nothing ever worked.

Just got the diagnosis, going to try to regulate with food at first. Need to talk to the vet some more, and see the steps they suggest, but we appreciate all the info here! We'll probably start monitoring glucose levels at home, so we can keep track (with the "magic spreadsheet" :-D ) of progress. I don't have the initial readings from the doctor, but I'll get that when we see the vet next.

Gem is just past 13 years old, and is actually MORE active now than she has been ... probably due to the weight loss. We just need to regulate this now, while she is still relatively healthy.

We'll keep you updated. Thanks for the website help already, and I'm sure I'll be checking in here once this gets underway.
 
Diet - low carb canned or raw food is recommended. See Cat Info for a printable food list. Select foods with 10% or fewer calories from carbohydrates.

Glucose Testing - we use human glucometers, not expensive pet-specific monitors. Reference numbers for cats have been developed on these. The WalMart ReliOn Confirm, Confirm Micro, or Prime are reasonably priced, seem to work well, and have inexpensive test strips. Our shopping partner ADW carries the Gluocard 01 and Glucocard 01 Micro which are unbranded versions of the Confirm. Get 27-28 gauge lancets for obtaining blood samples.

Ketone testing - ketones are a by-product of fat breakdown for calories. Urine ketone test strips from the pharmacy can be used to detect these. Too many may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal, expensive to treat complication of diabetes. Tips on urine testing are in my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools.

Insulin - Lantus, Levemir, and ProZinc/PZI are recommended as they work roughly 12 hours in the cat. NPH-type insulins last only 6-8 hours in the cat.
 
Hello and welcome to the board!

What food are you feeding right now? Many of us here feed Fancy feast classic pates, friskies pates or wellness grain free cos of price and low carb values but there is a big list - you want something under 10% calories from carbs - column C: http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Edited to add - this could be an after effect of the steroids - these can push a cat over the edge into diabetes.. as can an infection. Good news is that once these clear you have a good chance of remission.

Testing will be your friend here.. heres a shopping list:

Getting started shopping list
1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro.
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast

Let us know what other information you need or questions you have!
 
Welcome Tom and Janice and your new sugarbaby Gem. There is alot of collective knowledge here to help you. We have all been where you are now and have 24/7 experience with all facets of dealing with this disease.

First thing, read this. A message from your cat

Second, thing. Take a deep breath, hold, release, take a deep breath, hold, release, take a deep breath,hold release.

Third thing, ask questions. We will be able to answer most of them.

Remember to take good care of yourselves. This new sugardance you have started on with your cat Gem can be very stressful. As well as suggestions on how to manage the diabetes, you may need to cry on our shoulders, rant in frustration or if you are doing ok. We can reassure you every step of the way.

BJM and Wendy have already given you some good pointers.

Hope to see you back here soon with your questions.
 
Since Gem was just diagnosed, we're a little overwhelmed with the amount of information and what the next steps are. Normally we expect our pets to just need food and maintenance visits to the vet, not daily (or several times a day) real maintenance.

Having said that, the first question is really: is it possible to start managing diabetes with JUST food, since she was recently diagnosed? Or, are we going to have to start off with insulin, until we can get it under control, and work toward "OTJ"?

When we got the results from the vet, confirming diabetes (which we had assumed due to the urination), their question to us was, "do you want to start with insulin or food?" That seemed like a weird question, as if it were one or the other. The board messages / pages I've read here seem to indicate it is really both at the beginning, moving toward remission and being able to manage with just food (and monitoring).

Thoughts?
 
If you are feeding dry food and you start with diet adjustments to low carb canned or raw food, you get a better idea of how much insulin you may actually need. If the cat is NOT showing any ketones or other signs of illness besides the diabetes, start with the diet adjustments. Do them gradually to avoid GI upset - maybe change 25% per day.

For a printable food list, go to Cat Info for US foods. Select those with 10% or fewer calories from carbohydrate. Also pick up a small selection of high carb gravied foods for if you start insulin, as it is possible to go too low on insulin and you may need the high carb foods to manage it.
 
For sure its a steep learning curve.

Having said that, the first question is really: is it possible to start managing diabetes with JUST food, since she was recently diagnosed?
Click to expand...
yes as long as there is no mention of DKA or ketones by your vet.

So to keep it simple:

1. change the food gradually as BJ said to wet - many of us here feed the fancy feast classic pates, friskies pates or wellness grain free as they are low carb and cheapish. You should know in a week or so ( assuming you are home testing) if this is working at all.
2. home test Gems blood - how else will you know if the diet change is working? We can provide a shopping list and tips etc.
3. Test Gems pee for ketones - you can get ketone urine test strips from any pharmacy including walmart. Again we can provide tips on how to get hold of the pee

let me know and I can provide more info on 2 and 3.

Wendy





When we got the results from the vet, confirming diabetes (which we had assumed due to the urination), their question to us was, "do you want to start with insulin or food?" That seemed like a weird question, as if it were one or the other. The board messages / pages I've read here seem to indicate it is really both at the beginning, moving toward remission and being able to manage with just food (and monitoring).

Thoughts?
 
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