? Relapse (glucose reading of 336)

[rock_salt]

Our cat was on Lantus for 11 mos before achieving remission. Doughboy is a male Siamese mix, maybe 8 years old - he was a stray.

He also *must* be on a Rx hydrolyzed protein diet.

Today his blood glucose read 336, 1 hour before meal time. We feed him strictly at 7 and 7.

What is the protocol for a diabetic cat in relapse? Is 336 still in the "normal" range for a diabetic cat?

I think he was eating the food of our other two cats while we were out of town. We gave them hydrolyzed dry food in the AM and hydrolyzed wet food at night. We also decided to give Doughboy hydrolyzed dry food in the AM - 1/16 cup - because he is obsessed with kibs. But all this extra carbs introduced at once I think messed him up.

So, what's the protocol? I'm beginning student teaching soon and will be out of work for some time. I'm hoping we can just do glucose curves at home and adjust insulin as needed, instead of more expensive vet visits. Still waiting to hear from Doughboy's doctor.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I saw you had also posted on someone else's post today so I thought I would add it

rock_salt
Hi! New here, specifically looking for information about relapse.
Our cat, Doughboy (male Siamese mix, unsure of age, maybe 8?) was diagnosed with diabetes in April of 2023. We only spent about 11months on insulin, thank goodness. He has not had insulin injections since April of 2024.

But Doughboy also has food allergies. He has to be on Rx food, too. He can only tolerate hydrolyzed proteins. We had him on dry kibble only before his diagnosis. It is my belief that the dry hydrolyzed protein food is what caused or maybe instigated his diabetes.

Doughboy likes to try and eat the food of our other two cats, so we generally monitor him after we feed them. But last week we were on vacation. I decided to give all three of the cats Rx hydrolyzed protein food so our cat sitter didn't have to monitor while they ate - the other two are grazers. As long as we are in the room, he won't go for the food but the second we walk away, he's after it. We put it in a spot that isn't the easiest for him to reach, but where there's a will there's a way. He is champing at the bit to eat dry food but he's on a strict wet food diet. But because he wanted them so bad, to improve QoL, we started feeding him a very small (1/16 of a cup) of dry hydrolyzed protein food and half a can of wet in the AM, full can of wet in the PM, instead of zero dry and two cans of wet throughout the day.

Today his glucose reading was 336! I can't say for sure if he was overeating while we were gone, but the kibs in the AM seems to have thrown him back into full diabetes.

I would DEFINITELY not feed the dry food. I have no information to back this up but my suspicion is that it is loaded with carbs.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Unfortunately, a blood glucose of 336 is well into the diabetic range. Normal range is 50 - 120. The same routine that you used to get your cat into remission is exactly what you will need to do to address the diabetic numbers. However, I would suggest a vet visit. Any source of infection or inflammation can cause blood glucose numbers to be elevated. Dental issues are probably the single issue that cause a diabetic cat to drop out of remission. I would also be sure to ask the vet to get a fructosamine test. This will give you a clearer idea if what you're seeing is truly diabetes or not.

You can definitely follow our dosing methods and do curves at home. There's not a need for having a vet do this. I would suggest either Lantus (glargine) or Prozinc as insulin choices if, in fact, insulin is needed.