Newly Diagnosed Mainecoon - Winston

[janet hartman]

So, we just received a confirmation e-mail at 6:45 that Winston's glucose levels were at maximum. We will be meeting with the vet this week to start treating. We are already trying to start the low carbohydrate wet food, but he does NOT like wet food. While I know we will be okay and will be fully capable of caring for him, this feels kind of like a gut punch. He has no other symptoms (no weight loss, change in appetite, high volume water consumption, excessive urination), so we feel pretty stumped about how we arrived here. I am already reading everything I can on this site, and I am sure that as we know what type of insulin and how we will be testing him that I will be seeking more targeted information. Just glad you all are here.

Janet

 

[Sharon14]

Welcome! A switch to low carb wet food can be difficult with some kitties. Come to the Main Health Forum and tell us more about Winston. There are several folks that have successfully transitioned their picky eaters and I’m sure they will have some ideas for you.
Here’s some info that may help. https://catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf

 

[Figaro's Liz]

I have a newly diagnosed MC too. Figaro also didn't have the usual symptoms until he suddenly slid towards DKA because of a UTI, so my local vet was hesitant to diagnose and start on insulin.... in retrospect, it may have saved us from a hospitalization. But we survived, and can only move forward!

 

[janet hartman]

Thank you for sharing that... I just received a follow-up today that the specialist has agreed we should begin insulin regardless of the lack of symptoms. So she is prescribing Lantus. Now, the next challenge... he only likes dry food... ugh! We started with the two meals a day with low carb dry... and are trying to move to wet food. This may be the biggest challenge yet.

 

[Idjit's mom]

Janet, welcome to you and Winston. Since Winston is going to be starting insulin, it will be very helpful to us if you would create a signature. This will display Winston's pertinent info whenever you post.

Setting up your signature (light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.
Fill in what information you have now, you can edit and add information as you go forward.

Another thing that will help us help you when you get started BG testing at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. You will see how the trends and patterns emerge, and members can review his/her progress before offering suggestions or advice:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/

We can help with additional suggestions about transitioning from dry food to the low carb diet, as well as home blood sugar testing supplies and learning the testing process. Please post your questions and concerns in the Main Health forum HERE so that more members can read and respond.

Some good information about Feline Diabetes and treatment is right on the Home page: the Getting Started and the Education sections on the right side of the page. You have found a resource for excellent information and a very supportive community.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Hello and welcome to FDMB. So sorry you had to find us but very glad you did.

I am the mother of one, if not the most kibble addicted kitty on the planet. I started trying to transition my girl to wet food when we welcomed her into our family at the ripe old age of 10 weeks. She was having none of it. She has 2 brothers who both ate wet food and she would try to bury their food as if it was waste. Never mind offering it to her. I have scars on my kitchen walls testifying to her resistance to wet food!

When she was diagnosed with diabetes, I of course went on a more aggressive course to try to get her to relent but alas she kept winning the battle for quite some time and I was left scrambling trying to find the lowest carb kibble I could to get her regulated. Miraculously about 2 years into our journey, I caught her eating her brother's left overs and she finally relented and started eating wet food. It's not impossible but some cats are definitely harder to transition than others.

In the big scheme of things, the most important thing is that kitty is eating and getting the nutrition they need. There are a couple of very low carb dry foods available in the US if that is where you are located. If you live elsewhere, the selection gets a little more difficult and is unfortunately, not optimal. That said, the dose of insulin can be adjusted to accommodate kitty's diet so kitty will be fine.

I find it very interesting that your cat had no symptoms whatsoever. Has your cat gained weight lately as that can in some cases be an indicator. I am curious as to whether the diagnosis was based on a single blood glucose test/urine glucose test in the vet's office or whether a fructosamine test was run. A single high blood glucose or glucose in the urine in the vet's office is not sufficient to reach a diagnosis of diabetes and sadly we've seen a few cats come here who were likely incorrectly diagnosed due to the lack of appropriate testing.

If you are uncertain how your vet reached the diabetic diagnosis, I'd check to make sure all the necessary checks were done before embarking on insulin therapy.