they say my cat is diabetc

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bart

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I have a couple of questions do they normally check for this when the cat hasn't eaten my cat had breakfast before he went. Also Having a problem with him eating the DM cat food they have him on. Are there any store bought can food he can eat that works just as well? He is getting checked next week to see how he is doing he's not on insulin yet. Should I not feed him? thanks
 
Hi Bart,
I'll just comment on the foods quickly.
Many people feed their cats Fancy Feast or Friskies Pate flavors. They are low in carbs, and affordable.
No dry food is good for diabetics so you may want to remove any you have.
None of my cats would touch the expensive vet foods. My vet tried to get me to feed that stuff, but it's not something they would touch.
Take a look at the food lists below and see what available around you area and that is under 10% carbs on the lists.

Binky’s Food Lists
Feeding Your Cat: Know The Basics of Feline Nutrition
 
bart said:
I have a couple of questions do they normally check for this when the cat hasn't eaten my cat had breakfast before he went.
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I think most vets will do a blood draw and do a fructosamine test which gives an idea of how high your cat's blood glucose level has been over the span of a few weeks. How soon he had eaten that day shouldn't affect that. Just a plain ol' glucose reading at the vet isn't really good enough criteria to diagnose on without at least symptoms of excessive drinking and urination, since it is common for a cat to have elevated blood glucose levels at the vet due to stress.

bart said:
Also Having a problem with him eating the DM cat food they have him on. Are there any store bought can food he can eat that works just as well? He is getting checked next week to see how he is doing he's not on insulin yet. Should I not feed him? thanks
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You should make sure your cat eats. This is important. Is the DM the wet cat food? If so, some people (like me) have had success getting their cats, who are used to dry food, eating wet food by mushing up the wet food in their bowl (with like a fork or something) and mixing in a bit of warm water to make it a bit more watery so they can lap it up. Once I started doing this my cats stopped eating the high carb dry food altogether.

Also, someone here will soon post a link to Janet and Binkys cat food list. The DM cat food is not neccessary. But really what you do want is a low carbohydrate wet food for your cat to eat (dry foods are all quite high on carbohydrate content). Personally I feed my cats the PATE flavours of Fancy Feast, and my diabetic cat is currently in remission and stable on just the low carb Fancy Feast diet.
 
As Gayle mentiond, the Fancy Feast and Friskies pate flavors are fine.

What symptoms did your cat have? Was there a reason you went to the vet to begin with?

Some cats drink more water, pee more, lose weight, sometimes they might have an infection that causes higher blood sugar.

Did the vet get a urine sample and check for sugar in the urine?
 
Hi Bart, and, of course, your sugar cat -- unless his name is Bart and we don't know your name...

I'm sorry, I just like names and who I'm talking with...

bart said:
Should I not feed him?
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Definitely feed him, okay? Feed him basically whatever he wants. You can start transitioning him to a low carb/high protein diet that is better for a sugar cat s-l-o-w-l-y if he has no other medical issues. As others have mentioned, it doesn't have to be DM. Fancy Feast Classic varieties, Friskies Pate varieties, basically canned food that doesn't involve gravy work well... Gayle gave you the link to Janet and Binky's Famous Food Charts, for which we are all eternally grateful. Go there and print the list(s) out. There's the old list and the new list; and, even one for dry food. No, we don't recommend dry food. But, hey, a sugar cat's got to eat.

It'll be okay. Feline diabetes is do-able. Just remember to breathe.

Welcome to the place you never wanted to be; but, will be blessed for having found.

As many encouraging hugs as you both can handle,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...


PS: If you post your location (no specifics necessary), perhaps one of us lives near you and can show you the ropes, how to home test, or just give you and your sugar cat real hugs. Home testing is definitely something to consider since you're changing his diet. He could be one of those lucky sugar babies who is diet controlled and doesn't need insulin. Food for thought...
 
I agree w/Deb. It was overwheliming at first, but once you get the handle of what's going on, it's just a matter of doing what you cat needs.
Cedric was drinking a lot of water in the 3 weeks prior to his annual vet visit, so when I mentioned this to them, they did the fructosimine test. Called me the next day to confirm that he had feline diabetes. He's 17.6 lbs (although he may be a little less than that, as that was 4/21) and was eating 3oz of canned food plus 1/2 cup of dry. I switched him to grain free, high protein low carb food, finally was convinced by this group to take away his dry food (that I also changed to grain free, high protien & low carb) and now he's off insulin. I still have to watch what he eats, especially since I am convinced that he has a liver alergy.

The food lists are a great help and I have taken them shopping with me. Welcome to a great group and keep us posted!
 
My name is Debbie, Bart is my sugar cat. I've been feeding him fancy feast which he like I will take away his dry they said it was ok for him to take he was on purinia one. I took him in when I noticed that he was losing weight and not as active. Right now he is doing ok. He goes back to the vet next week. for a recheck. I live in Sauk City wis. Thanks for all of your inputs. I've been pretty stressed over this.
 
Hi Debbie and Bart!

Welcome! Sorry you have to be here b/c you're losing weight but now that you're here, hugs!

Just a quick note on Fancy Feast...there are many varieties. The low carb version is the Fancy Feast Classic. Gravy is where the carbs are. Also seafood flavors are high in phosphorous which may not be good for kidneys. Some people give it to their cats once in awhile but I can't with mine. He has hyperthyroidism and the meds he's on is already wrecking his kidneys.

Good luck and I'm glad you found this place!
 
Hi Debbie,

One thing that could definitely help with your stress is to test Bart's blood glucose levels at home. Then you would know it is safe to give the amount you are planning on, and how the insulin is working - whether it is taking him too low or leaving him too high or if it is just right. Here is how we do it: Video for hometesting

We have taught hundreds of people how to test over the internet. We would be happy to help you!
 
I will be taking Bart in next week right now we just changed his diet. He had sugar in his urine but not alot. and she said that his blood work showed liver disease. He is on medication for his liver and going to see if this straightens out. Right now I feed him 3 to 4 times of day with friskies liver and chicken pate I hope this isn't to much. Last night he slept with me for the first time in over a week. so glad i found this website. You are very helpful. Thanks again everyone.
 
bart said:
I will be taking Bart in next week right now we just changed his diet. He had sugar in his urine but not alot. and she said that his blood work showed liver disease. He is on medication for his liver and going to see if this straightens out. Right now I feed him 3 to 4 times of day with friskies liver and chicken pate I hope this isn't to much. Last night he slept with me for the first time in over a week. so glad i found this website. You are very helpful. Thanks again everyone.
Click to expand...

What great news to hear Bart is acting more like his old self; you could just find that the diet change is enough to fix Bart's sugar in urine problem.... there are many cats who are diet-controlled diabetics, so if you can just stick feeding your Bart a good healthy wet and low carb diet, there could be no need at all for insulin.
When you go back to the vet, it would be a good idea to ask what was meant by liver disease, and also ask for copies of any tests that were done and also a copy of his b/w so you can see the values and know which ones are out of range.
 
The Friskies Liver & Chicken pate is a good one for a diabetic. It's one of the 3 flavors I feed my cats (we also do Supreme Supper and Turkey & Giblets pates), and Max has been diet-controlled w/o insulin for over a year now. Diabetes and liver problems are tough to swallow alone, let alone together, but I can promise you, the people here are great and we'll do what we can to help you through it!

I agree, knowing the kind of 'liver disease' is important--it'll help you and your vet figure out the best way to help him.

Until his glucose levels are regulated and he's gained back the proper amount of weight, don't limit the food. His body thinks it is starving, so he'll be hungry all the time. Let him eat as much as he needs to.

Home testing his glucose level will be your #1 best tool to getting him into remission from the diabetes. You'll have up-to-the minute knowledge of his glucose levels, and keeping a record of it will cut down on your vet visits and costs tremendously. Read through some of the stickies, and ask any and all questions you have here. There is a wealth of knowledge around here, and I'm sure someone will come along with the answers you need. If you don't get an answer, be persistent and ask again--the person with the answer may not have seen your first post.

And most of all...BREATHE. :-D I know this is all overwhelming right now. All of us here have been in your shoes at one time or another with the FD, and many have dealt with liver issues too. But really, once you've given your brain some time to soak in the info, and you get the hang of home-testing, well, you'll wonder what was so upsetting in the first place. It really IS pretty simple to deal with!
 
Thanks everybody for your advice you are all very helpful. Bart is doing ok for the most part I feed him when he wants to eat I noticed this morning that he has gained a little bit of weight back which is good. He slapped his brother in the face today so that is a good sign he hasn't done that in two weeks. I am going to get a copy of Barts records I'm a little confused to about his liver. this vet is young and I have a concern about that also. This vet office is like a palace with doggy day care and the whole works worried that they are trying to nickel and dime me. They even want to charge me for teaching me how to give him insulin.
 
That seems a little ridiculous to charge to show you how to shoot. If you want to start a new thread and post your city and state, maybe we have someone who lives nearby and could suggest a FD vet, and help you with giving shots and hometesting.
 
Hi Debbie,
I am new to the site and to FD.

Sounds like your vet IS trying to nickel & dime you! Although I worry about mine being a bit young and his lack of experience in the area, He took up A long time teaching us how to give shots and answering questions for us- no extra charge. They are always available by phone to answer questions too and no charge. I would definitely be on the lookout for a vet that shows more concern for Bart and less for $$$.
 
So I'm not crazy in thinking that this place is trying to nickel and dime me. When I first brought him in they wanted to run every test they could on him for 1,000. and one for 6,00 which meant not all the xrays. They had one for 200.00 for pumping him up with fluids and pills for his liver and anitbotics. I took the 200.00 and thought to see how he does. So far he is ok. Not a 100% of himself but better then he was. I will put up a new post maybe can find another vet to take him to. They also charged me 30.00 for his follow up. Which I thought should have been free.
 
Hi Debbie, and, of course, you too, sweet Bart,

I also think follow up visits should be free. You could mention "no office visit fee" to your young vet.

I'm both sorry and thrilled he slapped his brother. It's a good sign. Well, except for his brother...

It is incredibly interesting and touching dancing with a sugar cat... Trust me. Better yet, trust us.

Love and countless breathing, brave hugs for you, Bart, and his brother,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, who taught me all about breathing and being brave...
 
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