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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
Hi and Welcome,
We have a very successful protocol for diabetic cats:
1. A slow, long lasting insulin. Lantus, Levemir and ProZinc are popular as they have a slow onset; they are not harsh and they are easiest to use for regulation. Humulin and Canninsulin are less popular because, in most cats, they have a rapid onset and don’t last as long. We like new diabetics to start low and go slow. That is, start at a low dose of .5 or one unit twice daily every 12 hours. And increase slowly, by .25 or .5 units as the numbers indicate.
2. A low carb, wet diet. We like to feed under 8-10% carbs. There are several food charts you can use: Dr. Lisa’s food chart
Hobo’s Food Chart Rhiannon’s 8% and under list
Whatever food you can afford that your cat will eat in that lower range. BUT do not change over to wet until you are hometesting. With our Oliver, the switch meant an overnight change of 100 points downward. If we hadn’t been testing and had given our usual amount., he could have hypoed.
2. And most importantly, hometesting. We think cats tend to be stressed at the vet
and we know stress raises blood glucose levels. So we test our cats at home. You want to know what the number is before you give the shot to be sure the amount you are planning to give is safe. And testing midcycle will show you how the insulin is working. We use human glucometers and test on their ears or paws. Here is a video that shows you how it is done: Video for hometesting
I'd do lots of reading of other people's threads and the nutrition and health threads on the main page, and ask questions. We'd love to help you with your sweet kitty. Is he on insulin yet? If not, and you aren't feeding low carb food, you might consider that change first.
We have a very successful protocol for diabetic cats:
1. A slow, long lasting insulin. Lantus, Levemir and ProZinc are popular as they have a slow onset; they are not harsh and they are easiest to use for regulation. Humulin and Canninsulin are less popular because, in most cats, they have a rapid onset and don’t last as long. We like new diabetics to start low and go slow. That is, start at a low dose of .5 or one unit twice daily every 12 hours. And increase slowly, by .25 or .5 units as the numbers indicate.
2. A low carb, wet diet. We like to feed under 8-10% carbs. There are several food charts you can use: Dr. Lisa’s food chart
Hobo’s Food Chart Rhiannon’s 8% and under list
Whatever food you can afford that your cat will eat in that lower range. BUT do not change over to wet until you are hometesting. With our Oliver, the switch meant an overnight change of 100 points downward. If we hadn’t been testing and had given our usual amount., he could have hypoed.
2. And most importantly, hometesting. We think cats tend to be stressed at the vet
and we know stress raises blood glucose levels. So we test our cats at home. You want to know what the number is before you give the shot to be sure the amount you are planning to give is safe. And testing midcycle will show you how the insulin is working. We use human glucometers and test on their ears or paws. Here is a video that shows you how it is done: Video for hometesting
I'd do lots of reading of other people's threads and the nutrition and health threads on the main page, and ask questions. We'd love to help you with your sweet kitty. Is he on insulin yet? If not, and you aren't feeding low carb food, you might consider that change first.
Hello,
Thank you so much for responding and for providing me with more knowledge.
Gracie, is my 14 year old female tort. Calico.
She was just diagnosed last week. To avoid giving shots of insulin we tried glipizide 2.5 mg orally for one week. After this dosage, her blood sugars still high at 540, now we are on day two of full 5mg dose. I take her back to vet next Monday, one hour after giving her med to re-ck. if high, then I will have to learn how to giver her injections.
My question is this. Since we are early in this phase, should I begin now to feed her new canned low carb food? I have been feeding her dry purine sensitive systems.
She also has increased water intake.
Thank you.
Jo anne
Thank you so much for responding and for providing me with more knowledge.
Gracie, is my 14 year old female tort. Calico.
She was just diagnosed last week. To avoid giving shots of insulin we tried glipizide 2.5 mg orally for one week. After this dosage, her blood sugars still high at 540, now we are on day two of full 5mg dose. I take her back to vet next Monday, one hour after giving her med to re-ck. if high, then I will have to learn how to giver her injections.
My question is this. Since we are early in this phase, should I begin now to feed her new canned low carb food? I have been feeding her dry purine sensitive systems.
She also has increased water intake.
Thank you.
Jo anne
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
Hi Jo Anne and Gracie,
Glipizide is not recommended. The consensus here is that it makes the pancreas work harder rather than rest and recover like insulin does. We have seen thousands of diabetic cats in the past 15+years, and I have never heard of a diabetic cat being helped with Glipizide.
Shots are not as difficult as you might think. The needles are tiny and most of us gave the shot while the cat was busy eating. Our Oliver never noticed.
We are just strangers on the internet but everyone of us has or has had a diabetic cat. The protocol I gave you with insulin, low carb food and testing has allowed hundreds of cats to be regulated and helped hundreds into remission. My Oliver was one. He eventually died from heart disease at 16, but the people on this forum helped me get him off insulin and into remission in 6 months. We see dozens of owners and diabetic cats here every week - more than any vet and we know from experience what works.
If she were mine, I would not increase the dose of the pills but ask the vet for one of the three insulins I suggested above. You can cite the vet website I gave you. We also have scientific studies we can give you that recommend wet low carb food, insulin and home testing.
Glipizide is not recommended. The consensus here is that it makes the pancreas work harder rather than rest and recover like insulin does. We have seen thousands of diabetic cats in the past 15+years, and I have never heard of a diabetic cat being helped with Glipizide.
Shots are not as difficult as you might think. The needles are tiny and most of us gave the shot while the cat was busy eating. Our Oliver never noticed.
We are just strangers on the internet but everyone of us has or has had a diabetic cat. The protocol I gave you with insulin, low carb food and testing has allowed hundreds of cats to be regulated and helped hundreds into remission. My Oliver was one. He eventually died from heart disease at 16, but the people on this forum helped me get him off insulin and into remission in 6 months. We see dozens of owners and diabetic cats here every week - more than any vet and we know from experience what works.
If she were mine, I would not increase the dose of the pills but ask the vet for one of the three insulins I suggested above. You can cite the vet website I gave you. We also have scientific studies we can give you that recommend wet low carb food, insulin and home testing.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
And no, don't change the food until you are testing at home (we have taught hundreds of people and can teach you how) i definitely wouldn't change the food while giving Glipizide. Its use in cats is very unpredictable. Here is a vet article on it. Note it is not recommended over insulin.
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=779874&sk=&date=&pageID=2
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=779874&sk=&date=&pageID=2
BJM
Member Since 2010
If you're not on insulin yet and the glipizide hasn't had any effect, You might start gradually swithcing the food about 20% different per day to avoid GI upsets.
Also start working on the home testing, so that you'll be able to tell if the food change is having an effect. Some cats have had the glucose drop 100 mg/dL from just a diet change.
An inexpensive human meter, such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm, Confirm Micro, or Prime, plus using pet-specific numbers will help you monitor his condition.
Also start working on the home testing, so that you'll be able to tell if the food change is having an effect. Some cats have had the glucose drop 100 mg/dL from just a diet change.
An inexpensive human meter, such as the WalMart ReliOn Confirm, Confirm Micro, or Prime, plus using pet-specific numbers will help you monitor his condition.
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
Here's a shopping list for home testing
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. Some members stay away from any meter with True in the name and the Freestyle meters. Some people think they are unreliable and read lower than other meters. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 26-28 gauge is good. Any brand will work as long as the lancets match your device.
Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.
Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking. You can also use a prescription bottle filled with very warm water. It provides a good surface to poke against.
Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not Lo carb treats
To get your kitty ready for testing:
First pick a place where you want to test. Some people use the kitchen counter, a blanket on the floor, between your legs while sitting – whatever works for you. Take the kitty there and give him/her lots of praise while you play with his/her ears. Give a treat and release. Next time, add the rice sack (thin sock filled with raw rice, heated in the microwave until very warm but not hot) or a prescription pill bottle filled with very warm water. Lots of praise, treat and release. Finally add the lancet so he/she will get used to the noise. The hope is that when you finally poke, they will be used to the process and know a treat is coming!
This is a good food chart. You want a food you can afford, that your kitty will eat and that is between 8-10% carbs
Dr. Lisa’s food chart
Good luck! Let us know how we can help.
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. Some members stay away from any meter with True in the name and the Freestyle meters. Some people think they are unreliable and read lower than other meters. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 26-28 gauge is good. Any brand will work as long as the lancets match your device.
Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.
Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking. You can also use a prescription bottle filled with very warm water. It provides a good surface to poke against.
Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not Lo carb treats
To get your kitty ready for testing:
First pick a place where you want to test. Some people use the kitchen counter, a blanket on the floor, between your legs while sitting – whatever works for you. Take the kitty there and give him/her lots of praise while you play with his/her ears. Give a treat and release. Next time, add the rice sack (thin sock filled with raw rice, heated in the microwave until very warm but not hot) or a prescription pill bottle filled with very warm water. Lots of praise, treat and release. Finally add the lancet so he/she will get used to the noise. The hope is that when you finally poke, they will be used to the process and know a treat is coming!
This is a good food chart. You want a food you can afford, that your kitty will eat and that is between 8-10% carbs
Dr. Lisa’s food chart
Good luck! Let us know how we can help.
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