Hello everyone! We have a nine-year-old Siamese male cat named Sydney, and I found out a year ago October that he has diabetes. It's been exhausting trying to cope with it and figure out what to do. We chose to try to help him with natural remedies and the best wet cat food we could find. I am wondering if any of you know much about pet remedy (ordered from petremedy.com). We have had Syd on that for about a year, as well as vitamin C from Dr. Goodpet, vitamin E (d-alpha ), and feline digest from Dr. Goodpet. Please, any input about any of these would be much appreciated, and any other ideas. He licks his back feet too much and is making sore spots there. I heard B-12 could help with this, but have been afraid to put him on too many things. We are feeding him Newman's Own wet food, beef and liver type, and Wellness wet food, with occasional certain types of Fancy Feast. I would love any comments on any of this! Thank you. Carrie
This is my first post, and I have a lot of questions!
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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
Welcome Carrie and Syndey,
The wet lo carb is good. We try to feed between under 10% carbs. I don't know about Newmans; you might check on our food chart to see if the carbs are listed: Janet and Binky’s chart
Did your vet do a frucotsamine test to determine if he was diabetic? It certainly is unusual to continue with diet and natural supplements for several months without trying insulin. (I am assuming you are not using insulin?) There is a limited window for the insulin to help the pancreas to help; our suggestion is to try diet for a week or so and then start insulin.)
You will be able to get a lot of information about your kitty by testing him at home. You can see whether he is in diabetic numbers and whether he is high and requires insulin. We use human glucometers and test our cat's ear. Here is good beginning site Newbie hometesting site and a video Video for hometesting
The wet lo carb is good. We try to feed between under 10% carbs. I don't know about Newmans; you might check on our food chart to see if the carbs are listed: Janet and Binky’s chart
Did your vet do a frucotsamine test to determine if he was diabetic? It certainly is unusual to continue with diet and natural supplements for several months without trying insulin. (I am assuming you are not using insulin?) There is a limited window for the insulin to help the pancreas to help; our suggestion is to try diet for a week or so and then start insulin.)
You will be able to get a lot of information about your kitty by testing him at home. You can see whether he is in diabetic numbers and whether he is high and requires insulin. We use human glucometers and test our cat's ear. Here is good beginning site Newbie hometesting site and a video Video for hometesting
janelle and Nomad
Active Member
You do not mention what your cat's blood glucose level is,so I assume you are not testing it. This would be the most important thing you can do.If your cat truly is diabetic, vitamin C and digestive aids will not cure it.We have had some members control mild cases of diabetes with diet.However, if you aren't testing the blood glucose you won't know if even this is effective or not.
Insulin is not evil The goal of insulin therapy is to restore metabolic functioning to a normal level as much as possble.Sometimes diet change and lifestyle changes alone (wether a person or a cat) are not enough.
I would urge you to explore the site here.Some cats here have been able to go into remission after brief periods of being on insulin and other cats like mine can be managed on small doses..
Insulin is not evil The goal of insulin therapy is to restore metabolic functioning to a normal level as much as possble.Sometimes diet change and lifestyle changes alone (wether a person or a cat) are not enough.
I would urge you to explore the site here.Some cats here have been able to go into remission after brief periods of being on insulin and other cats like mine can be managed on small doses..
Kelly & Oscar
Very Active Member
Getting sore spots on the back of the feet is often one sign of neuropathy, and yes, methyl b-12 supplements can help with this. Based off of this though, it seems like your kitty isn't in remission from the diabetes with these treatments, though the good diet has probably helped a lot. Make sure the Newman's Own food is less than 10% carbs by finding your flavor on the Janet & Binky food charts. Also, if you could get a couple of glucose tests at home with a human meter - that will tell you how well the diet change has worked. Get a test right before you feed and again about 3 or 4 hours after feeding. You want to see a number around 150 or below. Any number above 200 will need insulin therapy at this point.
Carol-Charlie
Very Active Member
I'm reading this and feeling that insulin is certainly needed for this poor kitty. You seem to have done as much as possible without success. Please get him started on insulin ASAP... You'll be stunned to see the improvement... dander issues... gone, neropathy reverses... licking and inappropriate behavior will change... You'll have your cat back to playing and feeling wonderful...
At 12, I thought my Charlie was getting old at 12 when he was DX.... after just a week or two on insulin, my old cat's coat was shinny gray again... inappropriate urination... stopped... and his silly, joking personality came back... by three months... He was Charlie again completely... he received his shots and blood tests, and left me at 18 years old... of a massive stroke.... My baby was saved by FDMB.
At 12, I thought my Charlie was getting old at 12 when he was DX.... after just a week or two on insulin, my old cat's coat was shinny gray again... inappropriate urination... stopped... and his silly, joking personality came back... by three months... He was Charlie again completely... he received his shots and blood tests, and left me at 18 years old... of a massive stroke.... My baby was saved by FDMB.
Gene & Bandit
New Member
Carrie & Sidney
First off, take 3 or 4 deep breaths and don't get excited. Diabetes is a treatable disease and it is not hard. First read and plan to test
Sidney's blood sugar level every day. This is vital and you have to get over any hesitation about doing it. There's plenty of info here on how to do it. My Bandit was diabetic for over 10 years until he passed away but NOT from Diabetes. I tested him 2 times a day before meals to see where he was on the scale. Then one day I found information on a RAW meat diet and he loved it. He was on that for over 10 years. He passed away of old age (19). If you want more information let me know and I'll be glad to send what I have to you. The main thing right now is to stay COOL & CALM.
Gene & Bandit
First off, take 3 or 4 deep breaths and don't get excited. Diabetes is a treatable disease and it is not hard. First read and plan to test
Sidney's blood sugar level every day. This is vital and you have to get over any hesitation about doing it. There's plenty of info here on how to do it. My Bandit was diabetic for over 10 years until he passed away but NOT from Diabetes. I tested him 2 times a day before meals to see where he was on the scale. Then one day I found information on a RAW meat diet and he loved it. He was on that for over 10 years. He passed away of old age (19). If you want more information let me know and I'll be glad to send what I have to you. The main thing right now is to stay COOL & CALM.
Gene & Bandit
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