Sphynx kitty just diaginosed with diabetes....trying to figure out numbers?

[MrBkitty]

Hey all!! I am new here and just found out that my cat has diabetes...took him into the vet and ran blood work the vet called the next day to tell me he was diabetic...said his numbers wernt super high (I think) but high enough to confirm he was diabetic he gave me a number of option ( diet, glipizid? or insulin) and let me research. I stopped his dry food and immediately switched him to a raw food diet which he ate for two days...and then this morning decided that he wasn't going to eat it anymore, my hope was that if his numbers were not super high to start with and that he gets super stressed when we go to the vet prob. elevating his numbers more maybe a diet change would work for him...so with him refusing his morning food I ran to walmart and got him some special kitty can food and a meter...when I got home I tested him and he was a champ we got in on the first try! wahooo! his number was 54...I have been trying to lookup what numbers should be and I think 100-200 right so I know 54 was very low...he hadn't eaten in 17 hours so im guessing that's what really dropped him? right after I offered the wet food and he ate most of it up at 1:00 and has a tiny nibble again at 1:35...Im not sure where to go from here? should I test him at 2:00 which would be an hour or give it two hours?

Our dog just died pretty suddenly a week ago and then we get this news I am a mom of 3 small children and learning all this news and about testing insulin and curves ect? has me super overwhelemed? any info as to when I should test or what to do would be helpful? should I test X amount of hours after he ate the large portion of food or from his last bite? I also will be calling vet to see what his numbers were on the blood test when he was diaginosed. Thanks!!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

If you are not giving insulin 54 is low but normal.
How did the vet diagnose the diabetes? Vet stress can typically raise BG by 100 points or more.
If not on insulin I would take BG before eating and then about 6 hours after eating.

 

[Julia & Bandit (GA)]

54 is in the normal range for a cat, which means your cat may not diabetic. Stress can cause glucose levels to be elevated at the vet, which is why we test our kitties at home, and why your vet should not be diagnosing your cat as diabetic off a single blood test. In order to confirm the diagnosis, he either needs to do a seperate test called a fructosamine, which gives an average blood glucose number from the past few weeks, or find evidence of glucose in his urine. If your vet did not do either of these tests, then he can't say for sure he was diabetic.

It's also very possible he was diabetic, but went into remission without the need for insulin because you changed the diet to low carb canned, and got rid of the dry. This happens with about 25% of diabetic cats. So I would recommend continuing to feed a low carb, canned or raw diet. There's a ton of options for low carb canned food at the grocey or pet food store...the Special Kitty canned pate food is low carb, as is the "classic" flavors of Fancy Feast.

I would continue to test your cat, a couple times a day, if you can. If his blood sugar staying below 150 with most numbers in the 50-120 range, then I would not start insulin.

If insulin is needed (you see numbers above 180), then it will likely be a very small dose, for a very short time. Do NOT use glipizide. It causes damage to the pancreas and is only recommended as an alternative to euthenasia for owners who refuse to give insulin injections. Not only will it fail in treatment of the diabetes long term, it will likely cause irreparable damage to the pancreas resulting in permanent insulin dependence.

 

[MrBkitty]

Thank you both for your responces! It really helps because I truley feel like I am walking in the dark here! Ok so I have some more info for youguys which might help us?
So to answer your question yes we are NOT on insulin. I took him in earkier this week because i had noticed a big drop in his weight and he was ravenous eating anythingand everything from pineapple to cookies left out, he was also drinking a ton and peeing more. the vet did a blood test and im assuming he made his dx soley on the fact his glucose levels were higher... I called today and the tech said his glucose test was 311. Het ate the raw food for two days amd then stopped so as i stated i went to walmart and got him some special kitty and he ate most of it but seems to be getting picky here is all the info i have...im starting to wonder if the diet corrected it or what is going on?

vets office gluclose blood test tue: 311
switched to raw food for two days then he didnt eat anything for 17 hours bought meter and tested today at 1:00pm BG 54
ate special kitty amd tested an hur later at 2:00 his BG was 70
tested 6 hours later as larry & kitties suggested and BG was 72
fed him again tonight...he ate some but not all so will test in morning and see numbers

a few questions...what do you make of these numbers (maybe diet corrected)
he is super skinny do i need to watch the amount that i feed him or can I offer more food and through out the day if so when should I test? not sure where the balance is of getting him to eat and not starve vs. keep him with good numbers
must I keep him on one type of food or is it ok to play around with raw and canned and diff brand as long as all are low carb?
also i feel horrible when i stick his ear..twice i think it went thru cause i got blood from both front and back side althought he didnt seem to mind felt bad like i was peircing his ear am i doing it wrong should i try going in at more of an angle or is up and down ok?
Thanks again this is such a helpful resource!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Those BG number indicate that either the diet work of the BG initially was jut elevated due to stress.
You feed enough to get to and maintain the desired weight. The supper skinny indicate that you should feed more.
Yes you can try different types of low-carb food. However, change gradually by mixing together otherwise there may be GI problems