Phoenix newly diagnosed

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Lindsay & Phoenix

Lindsay & Phoenix

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Hello everyone I wanted to introduce myself, I have been following the forum since Phoenix was diagnosed a week ago but really wanted to share our personal story. I noticed Phoenix drinking excessive amounts of water and both litter boxes turned to cement in a matter of days. So we went to the vet and he was diagnosed with FD with a 500 BG. We started on 2 units of Lantus and went back to the vet 3 days later. He was at 378 so we upped the dosage to 3 units. I go back to the vet on Friday and we will see where things are. Back in February, I started adding in more wet food just to get him to a healthier weight and as of last week he had lost 2 pounds, putting him at 14 now. Since his diagnoses I am regularly feeding him and his brother (who is not diabetic) regular fancy feast classic meals but am leaving a small amount of dry food out because I don't want to wean him off too quickly. I am fervently hoping that he will go into recession like other kitties I have read about on here. Meanwhile, I am reading as much as possible and learning everything I can. I will most likely get home testing kits once I understand more about his levels and once the vet has his cycles figured out, however that works.

Also, Phoenix wanted me to inquire about treats that are good for diabetics.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate all the love and support from this forum.

Lindsay, Phoenix, and Gob
 
Welcome! There's a lot to take away from this place. I am grateful to have found it, and soon you will be saying the same thing.
I am new here too, but have learned SSOOOO much in such a short time.
It's good that you are getting kitty off the dry. It really is a very important part of treatment. I can't say what is best for your situation because I use PZI insulin, but, my vet started my kitty out at 5 units twice a day and kept checking her and whatnot till eventually she was on 8 units twice a day with instructions to go up 1 more unit starting with her next dose.
I gave it to her.
Just once. Along with a little dish of wet as an accompaniment to her dry dinner based on what I had read here about the benefits of wet.
The next day, all wet and only 1 unit of insulin. She didn't really want it. I did eventually end up having to give her some dry, just so she would eat SOMETHING, but over the course of the next few days, I kept pushing it.
That was this past weekend. She is completely fine with the wet now. In just that short time. It's important to note that by switching to the wet, I HAD to decrease her dose. Switching to wet and not cutting the dose can prove to be fatal. Very quickly.
And to finish this long story, I was actually able to go the whole day today without having to give ANY insulin! I'm sure that doesn't happen often, but it's a step in the right direction. And in my case, I contribute that almost completely to her new diet!!

And home testing. Not as bad as you might think it is. I think I was more bothered by it that my kitty, and I got the hang of it real quick. It's important to know where your kitties numbers are before giving him/her a shot. Without testing, you are shooting blind.

I saved the best part for last, the TREATS!!
Try getting some freeze dried chicken. It's a little expensive, but totally worth it. I found mine at Petco in the dog treat section. My Callie Mae goes NUTS over them. And they can be crumbled up and sprinkled over wet food as an enticement. That's what the final push was for Callie Mae. She was trying so hard to get that chicken off the wet that she had to eat the wet then realized, hey, I like this. This mushy, meaty stuff is good. And it's important to have treats when testing. Reward, reward, reward. Guilt free.

Anyway, I know I just typed you a book, so I will let you read/learn some more. Stick around awhile and come around during the day when there's more people logged on.

Glad you found us!! :mrgreen:

Angela
 
Hi Lindsay, and Pheonix and Gob too
Great that you have been reading some of the info posted on this board. I found it invaluable when my cat was diagnosed.

I might as well be the first to tell you that home testing is probably the most important thing that you can do for Phoenix. Testing him at home has multiple benefits 1) by testing b4 each shot, you know that it is safe to give that dose of insulin. 2) testing a few times between shots when you have a chance will tell you when the insulin has its peak effect. 3) hopefully prevent him from ever going too low (hypoglycemic). 4) allow you to gather acurate data so that you will know when to decrease his dose and if you are one of the fortunate moms to see when he no longer needs insulin. and 5) save yourself the $$ and him the stress of going to the vet just to have his glucose checked.

Many times we've seen a cat that has been tested at the vet where they are stressed (raises the blood glucose, quite dramatically in some cats) and then the dose has been raised. When the cat gets home and is not stressed, it turns out to be too much insulin.

I don't use Lantus, but I know that others who do will suggest that 3 units is quite a high dose in just a week. He probably can tolerate it because he has access to dry food. It may be the dry food that is keeping his bg high, BUT please do not take away the dry food while giving 3 units.

Have you checked on the Lantus insulin support group and read the information about tight regulation and how the insulin works? There is very useful information in the documents posted at the top of the group - called 'stickies' as they are permanent.

Welcome to the diabetic family. I'm sure that others will be along with more questions and suggestions for you.
 
Angela's story is a great example of what we often see here - diabetic cats on tremendously high doses of insulin, which is a hormone, not a drug, although some vets seem to dose it like it is a drug.

Lantus is one of 2 longer acting human insulins which can be used for cats, Levemir is the other. They work better if these insulins are started at a low dose, no more than 1U. If too much insulin is being given, it causes an effect known as Somogyi Rebound, which manifests as continually high blood glucose levels with occasional dips to low levels, which, unless the owner is diligently hometesting, may be missed.

Because of how these insulins work, although 2U may be too much insulin it does not mean 2U will throw the cat in to hypoglycemic shock, it more likely will simply cause rebound so the vet and owner think the cat needs more, rather than less insulin, because they continue to see high blood glucose values.

And, like human diabetics, insulin works better when less carbohydrates are processed in the body. That means a low carb, wet food diet AND a much lower insulin dose if you have only been feeding dry food previously. Usually at least half as much insulin.

Others will be along to give you links with more info to read but the most important things you can do now are go to Wal-Mart and get a blood glucose testing meter - their Reli-On brand works fine and was highly rated by Consumer Reports - and get some low carb wet cat food. We have a list of foods, Janet & Binky's food chart: http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetic-cat-diets.htm
Look for foods under 10% of calories from carbohydrates

We can help you learn how to home test and have lots of tips if Phoenix doesn't cooperate or if you have trouble getting blood.

Then give only 1U of insulin on their next dose, you MUST lower the dose before switching him completely to wet food.

Freeze dried treats are a big hit with most cats. Petsmart or Petco may have freeze dried chicken or salmon varieties. My cats especially like Wild Side Salmon, which can be found here: http://www.thecatconnection.com/cats/wild-side-salmon-cat-treats.html The packages may seem small and expensive for the ounces, but dried salmon weighs very little. It is in bite size chunks. Giving treats while learning and teaching your cat with home testing are a big help!

Good luck and let us know how else we can help.
 
Just wanted to echo, hello! You'll find lots of help and support here with many who are long time companions to Sugar cats. Maisey and I only had to do the sugar dance for a month, but the first week was really rough on both of us. Thank heavens for all the wonderful supportive people here.
 
Thanks for the welcome everyone. We just got back from our one week check up and he tested at 194. I am getting home testing equipment in the mail and will begin testing as soon as I get it. I definitely feel like we have both made a lot of progress in a week but have a long way to go. So, let's say I get the home testing down, reduce his insulin, and take away the dry food. I have a chance to get him off Lantus completely on a low-carb wet food diet. How often would I have to home test from then on? Do cats who go into remission still get tested several times a day? I want to make sure I do this right because it sounds like I could blow my chances for remission if his insulin doses are too high.

Angela, I bought the freeze-dried treats and both of my cats turned their noses at it haha. But I found the list on here with low-carb treats so we'll try those. I really appreciate all the responses and warm wishes from this site. I can only imagine how much more I will know about the disease in another week.
 
194 is a good number, particularly if it was at the vet, where most cats are stressed. (stress raises bg levels)

You can get him ready for testing by playing with and warming up his ears. Pick a spot where you plan to test, maybe put a towel or blanket down. Plop him down and mess with his ears. After a few sessions, try the rice sack (thinnish sock filled with raw rice heated till very warm but not hot in the microwave.). After a few minutes, give a treat and lots of praise. Then when your supplies arrive, you will be ready to poke!
 
To answer your question about cats going into remission and coming completely off insulin...Yep many do, in fact I have living proof sprawled out on my bed at this very moment. Now not every cat does but a lot of them on Lantus have a great chance when put on an all canned low carb/high protein diet. My Maxwell has been completely off insulin now for 7 months and shows no signs of returning. He went from 485 when dxed to remission in just a couple of weeks. But we started him instantly on canned food and make sure he doesn't even get crunchy dry treats.

As far as testing goes, once he went off insulin for the first 2 weeks I tested twice a day, then for about a month once a week and now I only test maybe once a month, or if he is just acting off for any reason. I probably don't even need to test him as often as I do now but I tend to be a worrier. So it makes me feel better and keeps both of us use to the practice by making it a monthly thing.

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
 
Sue, that is a great idea!!! I'm going to try that starting today. He pretty much lets me do anything to him as is, he is a sucker for any type of affection whatsoever.

Mel, that is what I am hoping for. I understand it might not happen for us but your situation seems like the ideal way to handle FD.

The other positive to the wet food switch is my runt of a baby, Gob, who is not diabetic looks even sleeker and shinier. He's got his summer bod faster than his mama.
 
Hello Lindsey & Phoenix!
We are new to this too and Bean is really doing great with the pokey poke... mommy is semi doing just fair! I went to petco and bought their brand of 100% tuna flakes... she loves loves loves them... They are kinda like fish food and toward the bottom of the container, is a little bit of a pain because it seems more like powder... I picked us a spot for the towl, lap, love, messing with the ears, and only then does she get a few flakes... no other time, just pokey poke time... I just started the pokey poke and have to admitt, very nervous.. but of course, I love, talk and try to stay calm as my BEAN knows when mommy is scared... She does great with it... sometimes not in the mood, I just wait a couple of min., put down the sharp and love a little more and then we try again... The better mommy gets, the better she is!

As I said, I am very new at this since 4/23 and only testing since 5/10 (where she was 26! - my first test at +2!) We are eating only low carb wet - she looooves fancy fest! and we are trying to get low #... Was using PZI -BCP - 1 unit in U-100 syringes...NOW we are down to .25 (yes, you cant even see that, but I try) and gave that to her today and +4 she is at 167~~starting in at 396~~~ GO BEAN! Yesterday she was 412 and +4 was 57 using .50... SOOOOOOO< looks like our diet is WORKING!!!! I know I probably am not telling you the numbers exactly as I should cuz I am learning! But, I hope Bean too gets diet controlled sooon.

Welcome and hugs to you both,
ohbell, mommy to Sugar Bean, Slappy and Gumpy Girl (civies)
 
Hiya Lindsey and Phoenix,

I also just wanted to say hi and welcome. Like Ohbell says the tuna flakes are an excellent idea. Over here at our house we call em kitty crack :razz: But, I just wanted to share a much cheaper option for getting them then the pet shop, where the tuna flakes, also called bonito flakes, and extremely expensive. Local Asian markets will often have them because they are used a lot in Japanese cooking. Mine did not have them though, so I looked around and found a really good deal on them on amazon. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Marutomo-Katsuo-B ... -rd_dp_img

I just got my first order of this item a week ago, and the quality is excellent. They arrive in great condition, and this product qualifies for super saver shipping, so it ships free. The bag is huge! Its a whole pound of flakes for just 26 dollars, I put a good amount in a sandwich baggie in the kitty treat drawer, and the rest in a gallon size freezer bag in the freezer to keep in fresh. It took some gentle shaking and a little compressing to get it to all fit in just one freezer bag though, but I got it all in :-D

Anyway, my cats love this treat and will do anything to get it. Plus, if you like fish it is made for human consumption so you could save a little aside for yourself, it is really very good! ;-)

Debbi and Saatz
 
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