New to the world of Feline Diabetes

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Janet Gens

Member Since 2015
Hello everyone,

I am Janet from Germany and my 16 year old exotic shorthair "Shorty", has been diagnosed with diabetes almost two weeks ago. It's been extremely difficult since I have been lacking support from freinds and family. At the moment I am sruggling with the refusal to eat even the slightest amounts of foods. Even fresh cooked chicken didn't do the trick today. Anyway, I hope to find the needed support here and learn to cope with the struggles that I am sure everyone here knows about.

I would certainly greatly appreciate any tips to get my old tiger to eat properly. ;)

Oh and in order to do that let me give some info. Shorty is getting 1/2 a unit of Lantus and his Glucose levels are around 230 the past few days. This morning it was 229 after he ate 1/2 tea spoon of his new food (which he has been on for 12 days). During my lunch break I returned home to feed him again. He had another 1/2 tea spoon and has refused anything else since then. Has anyone any idea, how to get him to eat again??
 
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Hi Janet,

i'm also new to feline diabetes and weight is really an issue with my cat since he is extremely underweight at this point. but i find that pan-fried salmon (no oil necessary as the salmon will naturally "leak" oil as it cooks) is one thing my cat cannot resist. sometimes i give it alone as a treat or mix it and the oil, with his food.

chicken breast has always been something my cat can resist. but chicken thigh with the skin and fats and cooked with fresh pumpkin and ground beef is another thing my cat likes.

perhaps these 2 may work for your cat? good luck :)
 
Thanks igot10fingers,

I so know what you are talking about. Shorty is also quite underweight. He ate quite good yesterday but today I had to go to work again and after I had experienced hypoglyceamia 9 days ago, I was so scared to inject Lantus this morning. Anyway...I remember reading somewhere that yoghurt can be given and I tried it. Since I didn't have any salmon and he never had it before, I thus tried a table spoon of that - acting as if it was my food - and it worked. He had a little wet food after that but still not enough to inject him with Lantus later...

Does anyone know how long I can allow him to be picky with his food before calling my vet again?? As long as his glycose level is around 230 I am ready to risk a night without it...
 
Have you checked for urine ketones? These form as a by-product of fat breakdown for energy. Too many may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, a severe complication of diabetes. See my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for some tips, plus other assessments you can make (ex dehydration checks).
More than 2 days without eating normally may start hepatic lipidosis.
 
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Thanks BJM, but when self testing would I not see a extremely high glycose level indicating a diabetic ketoacidosis? Thanks for the info on hepatic lipidosis. I will read into it.
 
High blood glucose does not necessarily mean DKA, though the risk is increased.
For the cat who has had DKA, getting a blood ketone meter is strongly suggested, as these will detect ketones earlier than urine test strips.
 
Well, my cat has not yet experienced DKA and I am in frequent contact with my vet, so I might ask him about it, when I next see him. Thanks again.
 
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