Newbie needs some advice concerning Diabetes

Status
Not open for further replies.
Richie & Clyde

Richie & Clyde

Member
Hi folks, I'm really excited I found this site. I really need some help. My 7yr old was recently diagnosed with Diabetes[over 400B/S count]. My Vet wants to start him on Insulin tomorrow[06/13/11], but after reading some articles on catinfo.org, I would like to start feeding him & his brother & sister a home made diet. They currently are eating Purina Pro plan weight management dry. The affects on changing the diet to home made seems to be short of a miracle on the benefits. Did anyone see the Blood/Sugar levels drop on this diet change? Or what wet commericial canned food can I try that may help?
 
Sometimes a change in diet can make a huge difference. There have been cats who have gone into remission with just a diet change, but most need some insulin to help. I won't try the diet change for more than a week, testing to see what the difference in blood glucose numbers are, before starting insulin.

Here are our food charts: Janet and Binky’s chart We feed foods around 8% carbs or lower; lots of us feed Fancy Feast, Friskies, Merrick and Wellness.

Here is how we hometest: Video for hometesting We'd be glad to teach you how.
 
To clarify what Sue said.

Dry diet change for a week. If not enough improvement, you will need to add insulin.

Don't wait too long to add insulin. Changes of remission are greater if you start sooner rather than
later.

It takes a while to get set up to make home-made food. You could try some canned
foods under 10% calories from carbs to start.

Make diet change a bit slowly....increase the canned food while decreasing the dry food over a period
of days to avoid tummy upset.
 
Wow, thanks for the quick response! It's a great feeling to know there is "HELP" out there. I see Fancy Feast as a low cost alternative, was very surprised! My Clyde, who has the issue, would prefer wet over dry anyway. So the change wouldn't be a problem. I'll pick up the recommended FF & see what happens in a week. I'm calling my Vet tomorrow to disguss my plan of action.
 
Yes, Fancy Feast is what a lot of us use. I feed it and some Friskies to my two non-diabetic
cats.

Just be sure to get the "Classic" varieties of Fancy Feast, and/or ones without gravy.
Same advice for Friskies. Don't feed fish more than a couple of times per week (high in
phosphorous, which is bad for kitties' kidneys...also contains heavy metals).
 
Just popping in to say hi and welcome to the family and to put my two cents in on diet change....I, personally have 11 soon to be 12 cats (adopting another sugarcat soon) and everyone here eats exactly what my diabetic Maxwell eats which is just good old fashioned Friskies Pate style canned cat food. Maxwell went from 485 when he was dxed to remission in one week of insulin (Lantus) and diet change, where he has been for the last 7 months with so far (knock wood) of going back on insulin. But the change in the civies is remarkable, my guys with allergies had them completely disappear, and they now have the sleekest and shinest coats.

Mel, Maxwell & The Fur Gang
 
Here's a little update on Clyde. It's been 5 days on Insulin, & he's looking & acting so much better. My wife & I started making Dr.Piersons cat food recipe. We are slowly introducing it to their diets, mixing 1/2 Fancy Feast, 1/2 home made & they seem to love it. Making the food was not a problem at all. All three of our babies[ Casper 10yrs old, Cleopatra 10yrs old, & Clyde 8yrs old] are on total wet now. Again, thank you guys so much for the advise.
 
Sorry for the delay in post, but Clyde is on Humulin N, & it's not working for him. I just ordered Lantus, praying this will bring down his numbers. I just started home testing yesterday.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top