Newy!

[Melva Lingard]

Hi. I'm new to this feline diabetes. I have had a foster cat with me for 6 months because after 1 month we diagnosed diabetes.
He was on 2 units twice daily of insulin, which we gradually cut down to half a unit twice daily.
Two weeks ago, after a run of really good fructosamine tests, and starting him on Royal Canin wet diabetic food, the decision was taken to stop his insulin.
Now, 2 weeks later, he is yet to show any signs of returning to a diabetic state.
He is having another fructosamine test next week, which I'm hoping and praying will again be well inside the normal range.
I have two questions...
1) How soon after stopping insulin might I expect to see a return to excess drinking/peeing if the diabetes is coming back?
2) If, please, he does return a good result, can I look to introducing a small amount of ordinary cat food along with the diabetic food?
Many thanks.
Mel.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

How soon after stopping insulin might I expect to see a return to excess drinking/peeing if the diabetes is coming back?

Hi and welcome!
To get a strong remission it is best to reduce the dose of insulin down to 0.5unit, 0.25 unit. 0.1 units and a drop while seeing that the blood glucose is staying in the normal range. Just getting a fructosamine test is not the best way to manage this. Ideally you need to keep monitoring the blood glucose after you stop insulin to ensure it is staying in normal range. If he starts peeing and drinking a lot again he will probably have been in higher numbers for a while.
I would recommend you think about Hometesting his blood glucose levels.

If, please, he does return a good result, can I look to introducing a small amount of ordinary cat food along with the diabetic food?
Many thanks.

Once a diabetic, always a diabetic, just a diet controlled one, so you must always feed low carb wet food, otherwise he will fall out of remission
You don’t need to feed a prescription diet
HERE is a link to suitable foods. Look for carbs of 10% or less.