My boy was diagnosed 3 weeks ago. it was to say the least a bit of a shock for myself, him and his sister who now eats the same food. My concern is he has been to the vet each week for a blood curve. Initially his weight went down and he was scarily slim this week he has put on a fantastic 300grams however his curve has gone haywire and he's been at the vet 2 days and has to stay tomorrow. We had him on 3 units of insulin and today and tomorrow we are trying 4. I'm concerned that he doesnt seem to, be following the norm? I've placed him on a diet of raw meat (twice a day with his shot) and then the dry kibble recommended by the vet however all literature seems to point to dry kibble not being the best. I dont want to harm my boy while he is unstable - should I push the issue of changing his diet to canned or more natural food or remain on the mixutue of raw meat/beef and biscuits til he is stablised? there is so much information out there and I'd really appreicate guidance from fellow owners of diabetic cats. If I could I'd like to transition him to a solely raw diet.
newly diagnosed
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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Member Since 2009
Welcome! It is overwhelming and scary at first to get this diagnosis and not know what to do! We would love to help you help your kitty. As you have read (good for you educating yourself) we have a protocol that has worked for thousands of cats. It is a steep learning curve, but the more you learn, the more confident you become. Why is your cat at the vet? Did they mention ketones or DKA?
The only way to treat this disease is to take charge, at home, just like you would with a two legged child.
We test our cats at home. Blood glucose levels at the vets can often be artificially high as the cat is usually stressed (strange noises, people, other animals). Then doses at the vet can prove to be too high once the cat is home. We use human glucometers. We have taught hundreds of people how over the Internet and would be glad to teach you.
Your raw food is a good idea. Have you read this website by a vet? www.catinfo.org. She explains the necessary supplements needed and has a recipe.
Your vet started at a higher dose than we suggest. We like to start low and go slow, with .5 or one unit and increase as the home testing numbers indicate. What insulin are you using?
Keep reading and asking questions. Let us know how we can help.
The only way to treat this disease is to take charge, at home, just like you would with a two legged child.
We test our cats at home. Blood glucose levels at the vets can often be artificially high as the cat is usually stressed (strange noises, people, other animals). Then doses at the vet can prove to be too high once the cat is home. We use human glucometers. We have taught hundreds of people how over the Internet and would be glad to teach you.
Your raw food is a good idea. Have you read this website by a vet? www.catinfo.org. She explains the necessary supplements needed and has a recipe.
Your vet started at a higher dose than we suggest. We like to start low and go slow, with .5 or one unit and increase as the home testing numbers indicate. What insulin are you using?
Keep reading and asking questions. Let us know how we can help.
hmjohnston
Member Since 2011
Hello there Kiwichick! My dad's a Kiwi so I feel a kinship for sights unseen 
.
Most of us do curves at home- way cheaper and more accurate as being at the vet tends to increase the stress level of the cat and that increases the BG level. So any dose amount you receive will probably not be an accurate one- and yours is HIGH. Most cats- when fed on a proper low carb diet only need around 1u to become regulated. As long as your cat (whats his name?) is on dry cat food he will most likely never become regulated or have low enough numbers to be safe. We keep track of the #'s on a spread sheet in Google Docs (you would need the sheet that says World and it converts to US so we can understand the numbers) that is attached to your signature line so those on the board can look and see what is going on if you need help on just about anything FD related -
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopi ... =6&t=18207
Food... Wet is the best- no dry food as that has too many carbs in it and not enough moisture. Can you eat peanut butter all day without a drink? Plus, it is basically candy for cats. The catinfo link is where I started out in the way beginning of... last November and I follow her recipe to make my Sneakers her chicken food that I supplement canned food (Fancy Feast and Sophisticats) with. We try to stay under 10% carbs over all but most people try to really feed under 5%. As you are in the NZ our regular list might not be available so here is a UK/Europe friendly version-
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopi ... 28&t=64843
If you change his food you NEED to be home testing- human glucometer is absolutely okay to use. The numbers are slightly higher than an animal one but we understand that. you really need the consistency rather than the absolute number to notice any trends and such. Normally I would say stay away from any with True in the name or the Freestyle lite meter that takes the butterfly strips but in NZ I don't know what you actually have. Try to get a brand name with the cheapest STRIPS as you will use more of those and don't get a generic- even if the strips are cheaper. For us, the generic is the True meters so it might be the same with generic over there.
There are plenty of u-tube videos out there to watch on how to test. But start out with the small gauge lancets- 26 or 28 as they have the larger size needles. Larger needle- bigger hole- more blood. By the time you need a new box you can get 31's. It does take a little bit to get the cat (and you) used to testing so give it a little time. Warm the ear up first to get the blood flowing as the ears normally don't have any.
Good luck!
Heather
.Most of us do curves at home- way cheaper and more accurate as being at the vet tends to increase the stress level of the cat and that increases the BG level. So any dose amount you receive will probably not be an accurate one- and yours is HIGH. Most cats- when fed on a proper low carb diet only need around 1u to become regulated. As long as your cat (whats his name?) is on dry cat food he will most likely never become regulated or have low enough numbers to be safe. We keep track of the #'s on a spread sheet in Google Docs (you would need the sheet that says World and it converts to US so we can understand the numbers) that is attached to your signature line so those on the board can look and see what is going on if you need help on just about anything FD related -
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopi ... =6&t=18207
Food... Wet is the best- no dry food as that has too many carbs in it and not enough moisture. Can you eat peanut butter all day without a drink? Plus, it is basically candy for cats. The catinfo link is where I started out in the way beginning of... last November and I follow her recipe to make my Sneakers her chicken food that I supplement canned food (Fancy Feast and Sophisticats) with. We try to stay under 10% carbs over all but most people try to really feed under 5%. As you are in the NZ our regular list might not be available so here is a UK/Europe friendly version-
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopi ... 28&t=64843
If you change his food you NEED to be home testing- human glucometer is absolutely okay to use. The numbers are slightly higher than an animal one but we understand that. you really need the consistency rather than the absolute number to notice any trends and such. Normally I would say stay away from any with True in the name or the Freestyle lite meter that takes the butterfly strips but in NZ I don't know what you actually have. Try to get a brand name with the cheapest STRIPS as you will use more of those and don't get a generic- even if the strips are cheaper. For us, the generic is the True meters so it might be the same with generic over there.
There are plenty of u-tube videos out there to watch on how to test. But start out with the small gauge lancets- 26 or 28 as they have the larger size needles. Larger needle- bigger hole- more blood. By the time you need a new box you can get 31's. It does take a little bit to get the cat (and you) used to testing so give it a little time. Warm the ear up first to get the blood flowing as the ears normally don't have any.
Good luck!
Heather
Allie & Myrtle (GA)
Member Since 2009
Hi there Kiwichick - from another Kiwi!
You have had good advice, and I really can't add to that. My diabetic cat Myrtle died (or rather was put to sleep) after getting an aggressive cancer, back in 2007, but I still visit this Board now and then!
I did not home-test my cat, much as I'd have liked to. because she was semi-feral and it was hard enough to get her to accept the shots let alone ear-testing.
So I can't suggest a good glucose monitoring kit - nor do I know if you are likely to get any support in doing so from your vet! Not so back in my day! But it's the only way to get a handle on how things are going with the insulin.
I got by, sort of, with urine testing (catching her pee in mid-stream!) and regular fructosamine tests.
I did not feed her the cat biscuits or canned stuff the vet recommended. as I read on the food charts here that they are quite high in carbohydrates. And Myrtle wouldn't eat that canned stuff, anyway.
Like you, I found raw meat very helpful - plus tins of Fancy Feast. Some flavours - the Classic range, by and large - are quite low in carbohydrates. Don't know where you are in NZ, but I bought Fancy Feast when it was on special. I got raw horse meat from a pet food shop, and I still buy that for my current non-diabetic cat. Beautiful lean tender meat! I never had the dedication to do the total raw diet thing which involves grinding up the bones as well.
I doubt I can be of much help to you myself, but I'm glad you found your way here. Hope your boy can do well on insulin, as my cat did, even with my bumbling, half-blind efforts. It can be quite a worrying business, but rewarding!
What insulin are you using?
You have had good advice, and I really can't add to that. My diabetic cat Myrtle died (or rather was put to sleep) after getting an aggressive cancer, back in 2007, but I still visit this Board now and then!
I did not home-test my cat, much as I'd have liked to. because she was semi-feral and it was hard enough to get her to accept the shots let alone ear-testing.
So I can't suggest a good glucose monitoring kit - nor do I know if you are likely to get any support in doing so from your vet! Not so back in my day! But it's the only way to get a handle on how things are going with the insulin.
I got by, sort of, with urine testing (catching her pee in mid-stream!) and regular fructosamine tests.
I did not feed her the cat biscuits or canned stuff the vet recommended. as I read on the food charts here that they are quite high in carbohydrates. And Myrtle wouldn't eat that canned stuff, anyway.
Like you, I found raw meat very helpful - plus tins of Fancy Feast. Some flavours - the Classic range, by and large - are quite low in carbohydrates. Don't know where you are in NZ, but I bought Fancy Feast when it was on special. I got raw horse meat from a pet food shop, and I still buy that for my current non-diabetic cat. Beautiful lean tender meat! I never had the dedication to do the total raw diet thing which involves grinding up the bones as well.
I doubt I can be of much help to you myself, but I'm glad you found your way here. Hope your boy can do well on insulin, as my cat did, even with my bumbling, half-blind efforts. It can be quite a worrying business, but rewarding!
What insulin are you using?
hmjohnston
Member Since 2011
How is your boy doing?
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