Newly diagnosed kitty

[JennieK]

My 13 year old Tortie, Pokey, was diagnosed with diabetes August 1 2016 and started on 2 units of Lantus 2x a day on August 4th. Her blood glucose level was 467 and has since dropped to 369 as of August 16th. I have done a lot of research online as to feline diabetes and as of the 10th, switched her to an all wet diet, specifically Purina DM. I have not started home glucose testing which I need to but I have some concerns. One, my vet whom I had only seen once in January as I had relocated to Phoenix, put her on Hills Metabolic and told me to reduce her approximate 1/2 can of Fancy Feast pate to lose weight. Her bgl was fine in January, after the new diet, she did lose 2 lbs down to 14 lbs, but then she had this high bgl. The vet said in her 23 years she only had one cat go into remission. She sent me out the door with recommendations to continue the dry Hills Metabolic, eliminate the Fancy Feast and perhaps try some Hills metabolic wet occasionally. This seems counterintuitive to everything I've read. I also question the Purina DM but the food charts are confusing to me. Pokey loves wet food so is eating well and all around seems better and she has a glucose curve scheduled for next Tuesday at the vet. She hates being at the vet anyway, the insulin shots have been relatively easygoing, but I am feeling like I may not have the proper vet to address her issues. Any assistance regarding food or opinions on starting out on this journey would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Welcome.
Lantus is a good insulin.
it is good that you are considering home testing. Most of us here test our cat's blood glucose at home using a human meter. We test before each shot and periodically between shots. You do not need your vet approval to test. Home testing is better since vet stress can raise BG by 100 or points
Many of us record our BG reading and other info in a spreadsheet. See:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
No reason for a prescription food, especially dry. Here is a list of commercial low-carb canned

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/shortcut-shopping-list-all-8-or-less-updated.117688/

Here is a link to home testing blood sugar http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

Since you are now giving 2 units twice daily, I would not change to low-carb canned until you start testing. 2 units may be too much with a lo-carb canned diet.

For specific questions please post i the Health forum
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/feline-health-the-main-forum.28/

 

[Callie & Patches]

Testing saved my Callie's life. Twice Callie's morning pre feed / insulin test, her BG was so low that she would be hypo if I had given her the usual dose. Hypos can kill! Testing is the only way to prevent them.