My Maine Coon, Walter, was just diagnosed with diabetes. He's about 10 years old (formerly a stray, so his age is approximate). He's a gorgeous boy with lots of catitude, assertive, dominant and confident, but very wimpy at the vet. In fact, he becomes catatonic. In the past, I hadn't been able to get him into a carrier, even after acclimating him by feeding only in the carrier. Last year I resorted to using a humane trap in my living room, and I was able to catch him. No symptoms at that time. This year I started noticing him drinking lots of water and peeing huge amounts. I was able to get a urine sample, and it showed Glucose +3. This time I was able to get him into the carrier and I took him to a clinic to be sedated and shaved (he gets horribly matted every year and gets shaved - this time I figured I'd get him shaved before the matting since he'd probably need injections) and I had blood work done. His fructosamine level was 784 and his CBC showed RBC 11.1, Platelet count 77. Then I tookhim to the vet and she did a complete Vet panel and his glucose was very high. I don't have the numbers, but I can get them. She prescribed Humulin N, and I'm ready to get the script filled, but I figured I"d look online first to see more about diabetes. I found this web page and it looks like Humulin N is NOT the best treatment. I'd love to know what to do, so I'm asking for your help. By the way, he's 17 pounds (NOT overweight, just a big boy), no vomiting or diarrhea, excellent appetite. He's been eating Fancy Feast canned and dry, but I switched him to Simply Nutrish cans and Purina DM dry. He's an eager eater, and he'll eat whatever kind of food I give him. I want him to live for many long, healthy years. Thanks for any advice you can give.
Newly diagnosed - what should I do?
- Thread starter MaureenK
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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
We were all terrified and overwhelmed at first and we survived and so did our kitties. We'd love to help you and your Walter (love Maine Coons)
We have a very successful protocol for feline diabetes:
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. You have discovered that Humulin is not used because, in most cats, it has 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. Would your vet prescribe another insulin? (If he routinely prescribes Humulin, he is definitely not up to date on Feline Diabetes. Your choice will be to educate him or get another FD friendly vet. If the later, post your city and state - maybe someone knows one near you.)
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. You are very lucky that Walter will eat anything. If you haven't already started insulin, you can change over the diet today. BUT If he is on insulin, 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
Keep reading and asking questions. You can do this; we can help!
We have a very successful protocol for feline diabetes:
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. You have discovered that Humulin is not used because, in most cats, it has 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. Would your vet prescribe another insulin? (If he routinely prescribes Humulin, he is definitely not up to date on Feline Diabetes. Your choice will be to educate him or get another FD friendly vet. If the later, post your city and state - maybe someone knows one near you.)
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. You are very lucky that Walter will eat anything. If you haven't already started insulin, you can change over the diet today. BUT If he is on insulin, 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
Keep reading and asking questions. You can do this; we can help!
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Hello and welcome to the board!
You are correct, Humalin N is not a good insulin for cats - its harsh and hard to regulate them on it. We recommend Lantus, Levemir or Prozinc. We can provide papers on this if you like to show your vet.
Before you get started on insulin (and while you discuss insulins with your vet) I would work on a diet change. Sooner the better because many cats go into remission when switched to a low carb wet food!!!
The Fancy feast classic pates are good - but not all flavours are - see here as you want % calories from carbs under 10% : http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=94685). Most dry is too high carb so I would stop feeding that immediately.
We also recommend home testing his blood. This will help you know if and how the food change is working, and help you keep him safe if/when he does go on insulin. It will also save you $ doing vet curves. We can provide a shopping list for this if you let us know what country you are in
Wendy
You are correct, Humalin N is not a good insulin for cats - its harsh and hard to regulate them on it. We recommend Lantus, Levemir or Prozinc. We can provide papers on this if you like to show your vet.
Before you get started on insulin (and while you discuss insulins with your vet) I would work on a diet change. Sooner the better because many cats go into remission when switched to a low carb wet food!!!
The Fancy feast classic pates are good - but not all flavours are - see here as you want % calories from carbs under 10% : http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=94685). Most dry is too high carb so I would stop feeding that immediately.
We also recommend home testing his blood. This will help you know if and how the food change is working, and help you keep him safe if/when he does go on insulin. It will also save you $ doing vet curves. We can provide a shopping list for this if you let us know what country you are in
Wendy
Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the support. I've got a call in to my vet to ask her about an alternative to Humulin N - I'll use the information I've seen on this board and ask her for a better choice. I've also completely stopped (for one meal, so far) using dry food. I looked at the Rhiannon’s 8% and under list and took a ride to PetSmart and picked up a bunch of different cans of low-carb food. Tomorrow I'll head over to Bill's Wonderland of Pets and get a variety of the premium brands. I'll try them with Walter and see which ones he likes (knowing him, it will probably be all of them), and I'll see how that affects his glucose. I tried to do a glucose test at home - I'm also diabetic, so I have the glucometer and test strips. I watched the video that shows how to do the ear prick, but Walter was not cooperative. The You Tube video was helpful, but I can see it's going to take a lot of trial and error before I'm able to get a sample. Meanwhile, I'm just so glad to have this group of people who have been there and know what it's like.
Larry and Kitties
Member Since 2009
To help getting a better insulin, have your vet look at:
http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/ ... elines.pdf
http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/ ... elines.pdf
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
What kind of meter do you use? Some of them are better than others for cats.
Here are some testing tips https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub. Meanwhile you can get him used to the ear stroking by repeatedly stroking and giving treats. No poking. and just wait till he is lying quietly or snoozing. No need to restrain him.
Or you could try his feet if he is ok with those being touched?
Wendy
Here are some testing tips https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub. Meanwhile you can get him used to the ear stroking by repeatedly stroking and giving treats. No poking. and just wait till he is lying quietly or snoozing. No need to restrain him.
Or you could try his feet if he is ok with those being touched?
Wendy
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
You might start slowly with the testing. First take him where you plan to test, play with his ears, give him a treat and let him go. After a few times, add the rice sack and warm his ears, treat and release. Finally add the poke. Always a treat, successful attempt or not. It's the treats that make this thing work.
25-29 gauge lancets work best at first- the 30-31 gauge people use are too tiny. And warming the ear usually makes a big difference.
25-29 gauge lancets work best at first- the 30-31 gauge people use are too tiny. And warming the ear usually makes a big difference.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Maureen and sugardude Walter and welcome to the message board.
My name is Deb and that handsome sugardude pictured to the right is my diabetic foster kitty Wink. He's been OTJ (off-the-juice, insulin being the juice) for 8 months now. That happened with a combination of Lantus insulin, home testing, switch from high carb dry to low carb wet and careful monitoring. He's a happy dude now, no signs of the horrible diabetic neuropathy, dry flaky skin, huge patches of fur that had fallen out and incessant hunger and peeing. He can jump everywhere now, where before , he could hardly get up the stairs.
It's very possible to get your cat feeling better and have Walter live a long healthy life.
I agree with the recommendations the others have made for a better insulin such as Lantus or Levimir. If you get a prescription for the pens, you can often find a pharmacy that will sell a single pen at a time to keep the initial cost down. The great thing about the pen (think miniature vial) is they can be used to the last drop. Often, the 10ml vial goes bad before you can use the entire vial. Just one money saving tip from those of us that have gone before you in this new 'sugardance' you are doing with your kitty.
A food change before insulin is started, can often bring the BG (blood glucose) levels down dramatically. Wink was a dry food addict, but he is now eating the Fancy Feast classic pates, low carb 3-6% and loves them.
No sign of ketones I hope?
My name is Deb and that handsome sugardude pictured to the right is my diabetic foster kitty Wink. He's been OTJ (off-the-juice, insulin being the juice) for 8 months now. That happened with a combination of Lantus insulin, home testing, switch from high carb dry to low carb wet and careful monitoring. He's a happy dude now, no signs of the horrible diabetic neuropathy, dry flaky skin, huge patches of fur that had fallen out and incessant hunger and peeing. He can jump everywhere now, where before , he could hardly get up the stairs.
It's very possible to get your cat feeling better and have Walter live a long healthy life.
I agree with the recommendations the others have made for a better insulin such as Lantus or Levimir. If you get a prescription for the pens, you can often find a pharmacy that will sell a single pen at a time to keep the initial cost down. The great thing about the pen (think miniature vial) is they can be used to the last drop. Often, the 10ml vial goes bad before you can use the entire vial. Just one money saving tip from those of us that have gone before you in this new 'sugardance' you are doing with your kitty.
A food change before insulin is started, can often bring the BG (blood glucose) levels down dramatically. Wink was a dry food addict, but he is now eating the Fancy Feast classic pates, low carb 3-6% and loves them.
No sign of ketones I hope?
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