Newly diagnosed with diabetic cat

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Genni Kirk

Member Since 2021
Hi all,
I am newly diagnosed with a diabetic kitty. His BS was 395. It will be a few days before the new food and insulin arrives. Please give me all the dietary advice to help him until then. Thank you in advance.
 
Hello and welcome!

The general dietary advice for diabetic kitties is: low carb, preferably wet. If you're in the US, you can check out the very detailed chart of available foods made by Dr. Lisa Pierson, http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

What you're looking for is foods under 10% carbs. A lot of us feed Fancy Feast or Friskies pates as an affordable option, but there are lots of others to choose from.

One caution: you want to be very very careful about switching from high to low carb food if you have already started insulin. Often, there is a dramatic decrease in insulin needs, and it can be dangerous to do the switch without monitoring blood glucose changes. Most of us here home-test BG, and we have lots of tips to help you get started with that if you're willing.

I'd also be a little cautious about insulin if the diabetes diagnosis was based on a single BG number at the vet. Cats are often pretty stressed at the vet, and that can raise BG. Did they do a fructosamine test as well, or were there other symptoms of diabetes (drinking and eating a lot, losing weight, peeing excessively)?

Last questions, what kind of insulin was prescribed? What dose is he on?

Glad you're here with us, welcome again!
 
Hi Genni,
I agree with the home testing, it really gives the best chance of getting your cat into remission. I nearly gave up so many times with home testing especially if it took me ages to get a useable blood sample, but I always gave Angel a treat afterwards. x
 
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Hello and welcome!

The general dietary advice for diabetic kitties is: low carb, preferably wet. If you're in the US, you can check out the very detailed chart of available foods made by Dr. Lisa Pierson, http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

What you're looking for is foods under 10% carbs. A lot of us feed Fancy Feast or Friskies pates as an affordable option, but there are lots of others to choose from.

One caution: you want to be very very careful about switching from high to low carb food if you have already started insulin. Often, there is a dramatic decrease in insulin needs, and it can be dangerous to do the switch without monitoring blood glucose changes. Most of us here home-test BG, and we have lots of tips to help you get started with that if you're willing.

I'd also be a little cautious about insulin if the diabetes diagnosis was based on a single BG number at the vet. Cats are often pretty stressed at the vet, and that can raise BG. Did they do a fructosamine test as well, or were there other symptoms of diabetes (drinking and eating a lot, losing weight, peeing excessively)?

Last questions, what kind of insulin was prescribed? What dose is he on?

Glad you're here with us, welcome again!
Click to expand...
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Hello and welcome!

The general dietary advice for diabetic kitties is: low carb, preferably wet. If you're in the US, you can check out the very detailed chart of available foods made by Dr. Lisa Pierson, http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

What you're looking for is foods under 10% carbs. A lot of us feed Fancy Feast or Friskies pates as an affordable option, but there are lots of others to choose from.

One caution: you want to be very very careful about switching from high to low carb food if you have already started insulin. Often, there is a dramatic decrease in insulin needs, and it can be dangerous to do the switch without monitoring blood glucose changes. Most of us here home-test BG, and we have lots of tips to help you get started with that if you're willing.

I'd also be a little cautious about insulin if the diabetes diagnosis was based on a single BG number at the vet. Cats are often pretty stressed at the vet, and that can raise BG. Did they do a fructosamine test as well, or were there other symptoms of diabetes (drinking and eating a lot, losing weight, peeing excessively)?

Last questions, what kind of insulin was prescribed? What dose is he on?

Glad you're here with us, welcome again![/QUO
Nan & Amber (GA) said:
Hello and welcome!

The general dietary advice for diabetic kitties is: low carb, preferably wet. If you're in the US, you can check out the very detailed chart of available foods made by Dr. Lisa Pierson, http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

What you're looking for is foods under 10% carbs. A lot of us feed Fancy Feast or Friskies pates as an affordable option, but there are lots of others to choose from.

One caution: you want to be very very careful about switching from high to low carb food if you have already started insulin. Often, there is a dramatic decrease in insulin needs, and it can be dangerous to do the switch without monitoring blood glucose changes. Most of us here home-test BG, and we have lots of tips to help you get started with that if you're willing.

I'd also be a little cautious about insulin if the diabetes diagnosis was based on a single BG number at the vet. Cats are often pretty stressed at the vet, and that can raise BG. Did they do a fructosamine test as well, or were there other symptoms of diabetes (drinking and eating a lot, losing weight, peeing excessively)?

Last questions, what kind of insulin was prescribed? What dose is he on?

Glad you're here with us, welcome again!
Click to expand...
Hi all thank you. No insulin yet the dr wanted to try dietary changes first. So far he doesn't like any of it. I am still waiting for BS testing supplies to arrive. I definitely will need tips on the best way to get samples. Yes it was a 1 time BS test so far, but he was giving other symptoms also.
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Welcome! I just wanted to assure you that diabetes is not a death sentence and they can live long healthy lives with it. We are here to help you.
 
Genni Kirk said:
Question for all. What is the best easiest meter? And how often do you typically test?
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Most here use the relion prime from w Walmart because the strips are very affordable. I like the alpha meter because it's the same numbers as my vet and take a really small sample size. Strips are pricy though.

I test before the morning shot, while I'm working from home once mid cycle test, before the pm shot, and a before bed test about 3-4 hours after the shot. If you work during the week get extra readings on the weekend and days off.
 
Ok all advice experience needed. Loki is not tolerating me testing him. He cannot fight me off currently, but I do not like stressing him out worse. Any extra advice? I have been trying to prepare him for testing by handling his face ears feet etc while I was waiting for the supplies to arrive. But he has "tried" to fight me the entire time I have tested him today. I worry that the readings won't be accurate if he isn't calm :(
 
Genni Kirk said:
Ok all advice experience needed. Loki is not tolerating me testing him. He cannot fight me off currently, but I do not like stressing him out worse. Any extra advice? I have been trying to prepare him for testing by handling his face ears feet etc while I was waiting for the supplies to arrive. But he has "tried" to fight me the entire time I have tested him today. I worry that the readings won't be accurate if he isn't calm :(
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Do you give a treat for testing? You can also scrape the drop onto your nail and test from there
 
JanetNJ I am giving treats and love. But he is still struggling against me when I try to get a sample. So far today I haven't even been able to get a single drop of blood to test.
 
Genni Kirk said:
JanetNJ I am giving treats and love. But he is still struggling against me when I try to get a sample. So far today I haven't even been able to get a single drop of blood to test.
Click to expand...
I feel for you. My cat is super cool about it thank God, but a few of my cats would be super difficult to test. One is five and just started letting me pet her. What size lancet are you using?
 
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