Switching diet works, it works, it works!

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evakot

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Hi All,

My cat provides a strong support for the fact that in a newly diagnosed cat, who has not had the symptoms for extensively long, switching to a low-carb diet can work miracles!

Big Kitty, my 8 y.o., was diagnosed with FD 2 weeks ago, to the date. His BG at the vet was 400. I found your website and forum on the day he was diagnosed, and the next day I switched him to the all-wet, low-carb diet.

I had trouble home testing him, but on the days I was lucky his numbers were in the mid 200s at home. Because I was not confident about being able to consistantly test him, we were holding off with starting the insuline. A week after he got on the new diet his BG was 137. Today, 2 weeks after, he is at BG=76!!!!! I really consider it almost a miracle and I am so, so happy. I will, of course, continue to monitor him and stick with the strict low-carb diet.

I wanted to thank you all for having such an amazing resource for kitty "parents." It just dawned on me today that had I listened to the vet and fed him the W/D diet and gave him shots of Humulin N at 4 units per shot, the outcome would most likely have been horribly different.

I am such a strong believer in the importance of diet now that I converted 4 coworkers who have (healthy) cats to change their diet as prevention and healthy practice. :-D

Thank you again guys, the information I got on this forum has really made all the difference in my cat's (and my) life!

Eva
 
How wonderful!

I can also attest to the fact that a change in diet works wonders. I changed Porky to a LC all-canned diet, and with just a little Lantus (1 unit or less), he was in remission in about 5-6 weeks.

You've done a great job - keep up the good work!
 
Eva,
Congratulations and I am so happy the food change has made such a change in Big Kitty.
Isn't it amazing that such a simple easy change can make such a huge difference?


Donna
 
Congrats!!! I was so happy that I found this site as well, because I was giving my Chloe her insulin shots blindly..and when I started to test, saw that the #s were normal! She's been off insulin for 2.5 weeks and I'm convinced it's the low carb wet food and the little bit of insulin she received that turned it around.

Diet controlled kitties for the win!!!

I also have switched my 2 civies and my bf's civie to lowish carb canned food, and have urged my parents and friends to do the same with their furbabies.


You did an awesome job. Congrats again!! flip_cat flip_cat flip_cat party_cat
 
I am so happy for both of you!!

Just a nosy question....what kind of wet food did you switch to?
 
Yes, proper diet is important for every cat - diabetic or not. Congrats on listening to the group and your cat doing so well!

For everyone reading this, please keep in mind that each cat is different and while changing diet will dramatically change the cat's BG's level - there may still be a need for insulin.

So, please don't think that if you have a FD diagnosed cat that diet alone will correct it. It may, but insulin may also be needed too.

Also, once a cat is diagnosed with FD, the cat is always considered diabetic - however in diet controlled remission. And home testing is vital to know what is going on with your cat, especially if the cat isn't acting right. Pull out your test kit and give a poke.

You also need to monitor for the rest of its life as other issues could arise that could cause the cat to come out of remission.
 
Kathy said:
I am so happy for both of you!!

Just a nosy question....what kind of wet food did you switch to?
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Hi,

I buy anything I can find from Janet & Binky list that is under 10 carbs. I have 9 Lives and Friskies easily available at my grocery store, I bought some Evo wet food at Earth Fair (upscale grocery store), and some Special Kitty cans at WalMart. I am VERY LUCKY cause my diabetic cat is not fussy- he made the transition extraordinarily smoothly. My civvie is another story- she turns her nose and walks away from food every morning, but I am a "toughie" and when she sees there will not be anything else, she ends up eating her food after a couple hours. I hope she will get used to it and not feel unhappy soon.

E.
 
Hillary & Maui said:
For everyone reading this, please keep in mind that each cat is different and while changing diet will dramatically change the cat's BG's level - there may still be a need for insulin.So, please don't think that if you have a FD diagnosed cat that diet alone will correct it. It may, but insulin may also be needed too..
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely. I realize that I am very lucky my cat went into remission based on diet change only, and not every cat will. I also know that diabetes can return, so I will definetly monitor his BG throughout his life, and if he needs insuline later I will give it to him. For now, I am just so, so happy and relieved that my Big Guy is OK.

Thank you for your expertise. I think many vets could benefit from reading this website.

E.
 
That's amazing! I think I see a correlation in Arnold's numbers between when he eats more dry vs wet. His #s were low this morning so we didn't give him his shot and then I was concerned he hadn't eat much and gave him plain dry food (the rx DM even) and his #s shot up fast! I hope when we get all switched to wet we can have similar results to yours.
 
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