newly diagnosed with diabetes

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ruthdh

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My 10 year old cat was just diagnosed yesterday with diabetes and I have lots of questions that I hope some of you can answer. I switched him yesterday to only canned food the vet suggested--Hill's Prescription Diet w/d. He loves it. Suggestions for other food or is this one okay?

My instructions were to feed him twice a day. He is used to having food sitting out there all day and he has cried for more. Is there an optimal/proper amount to give him at each feeding? He is 11 pounds. Should I feed him more when he comes crying?

I have to start out giving him twice a day 1 unit of insulin. He sensed my nervousness and was very upset. Any tricks to giving the insulin easily?

Do any of you monitor the blood yourselves at home? Advice on this would be appreciated!

Any other advice---please!!
 
Welcome Ruth! What's your kitty's name and particulars? What insulin are you on?

Wet lo carb food is best for any cat, but especially diabetics. See this vet site for more info: http;//www.catinfo.org The Hills is expensive and does not have as good ingredients as some commercial foods. Dr. Lisa explains all that on her site. We feed Fancy Feast - non gravy - under 8% carbs. A member here has done all the work for us on her food charts: http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetic-cat-diets.htm Janet and Binky’s chart

Non regulated diabetics are literally starving because their bodies are not using the food well. When Oliver was first diagnosed, we started to feed him small meals several times a day ( a little more food, spread out over the day and night) As he became regulated, he ate less and complained less. We always gave the insulin while he was head down in the food dish and he never even seemed to notice.

Yes, we hometest. Here is a video that shows how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE12-4fVn8 and my favorite site for beginners:
http://www.sugarcats.net/sites/harry/bgtest.ht

When we first came on, we read and read. And printed off pages so we could read again. It is a steep learning curve, but doable and well worth it. We'll be glad to help!
 
As Sue said, any low-carb canned food will do, and in fact, I think the W/D is pretty high in carbs, so you can do better with Fancy Feast or Friskies (that's what I feed).

Unregulated diabetics are hungry all the time, so it's okay to feed more than twice a day. I feed my crew breakfast, and then put out a dish of frozen canned food that they can nibble on in the morning. Then they get dinner and a snack.

It's good you're starting with only one unit--that's a safe starting dose, especially if you aren't hometesting yet. Most of us hometest using a human glucometer, and get blood from poking the ear. Hometesting saved my Snickers more than once.

If you can post more information, such as which insulin you're using, that would be helpful. Welcome and feel free to ask more questions!
 
Can you tell us which insulin you are using.

WELCOME, this forum is a great place to gain knowledge and really learn how to manage feline diabetes. By doing just a few things each day (that really won't take up much of your time at all), you won't need to worry about losing your precious cat, not where feline diabetes is concerned.

There are three key factors to managing diabetes: food/nutrition, home testing and insulin

1) Feline Nutrition: Now, as far as diet - definitely dump the dry food (if you are feeding any) and if the vet recommends purchasing prescription food like DM just say "no thank you". ALL cats, and especially those with diabetes, do best on a species appropriate diet that is high in protein and low in carbs. Dry food DOES NOT fit that bill and DM food, even canned, just really isn't that great as far as quality. Most here on FDMB feed low carb/high protein canned, raw bought from a pet store or they make there own.

Here great links, one is to a food chart put together by one of our board members that breaks down the carb % and protein % of most of the commercial brand foods. You want to keep the carb % below 10% and around 7% is great. The other link is to a site by a vet "Dr. Lisa DVM" ... who also posts on this board from time to time ... there is in-depth info. there about many things, including nutrition and how to make raw food.

Nutrition/food info

The good thing with feeding your diabetic cat this way, is that it is ALSO good for any non-diabetic cat too. All your cats can safely eat the same food without worry and it may save you some costs and headaches of having to do separate feedings and keeping track of what they are eating.


2. Home testing: It is impossible to convey the value of testing your cat's BG (blood glucose) level at home. Some vets will "suggest" this, but most won't even mention it. They will send you home with insulin and an amount to shoot and maybe some instructions about hypoglycemia (blood sugar dropping to a dangerously low level).

Well, the thing is, human diabetics don't EVER give themselves insulin without checking there BG to make sure it is safe to do so, so why shouldn't it be the same for our kitties. Here on FDMB it is. You will notice that the vast majority of people here test their cat's BG at least 2x/day (before giving each shot to make sure the level is safe enough) and periodically at other times to see how the cat is responding to the current dose. We use a human glucometer, test strips and lancets - which are all very readily available and easy to use.

Our kitties get lots of love and treats for "putting up" with this and most of them actually come out to be tested on their own 'cause they want those treats . Here is a collection of great links that "Carolyn and Spot" pulled together about hometesting. See what you think ... it truly is the best way to not only keep Your cat safe but also really get a handle on this disease and help him to live a healthy life with FD (feline diabetes).

Home testing Links

3. Insulin: There are several types of insulin available. Many people, myself included use Lantus or Levimer both of which are great insulins. They are gentle insulin and given twice (BID) per day in 12 hour increments.

Please read up on the insulins available, here is a link to the Insulin Support Groups:

Insulin Support Groups

However, one caveat and again this shows how these three things are inter-related:

If you are feeding dry food or even a high carb food, BEFORE removing these foods, please make sure of your insulin dose as it will most likely need to be reduced, so as to avoid a possible hypoglycemic situation due to the removal of the dry/high carb foods that will lower the BG’s and reduce the amount of insulin required. Again, another reason why home testing is important.

I know this all seems like a lot, and that's because it is ... there is a learning curve here. But as long as you are determined and keep at it, you will have it down before you know it and you'll be seeing the results in Your cat' overall health and happiness. Ask all the questions you can think of - that's why we are here!

Also, if you haven't done it yet, take the time and fill out your profile. It will help when others come on and read this. Also, let us know where you live - city/state as there are probably people in your area who can provide on the ground support and help you to learn home testing, etc.
 
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