Newly diagnosed Cat, feeding issue

My cat Sweetie was diagnosed 2/1/18 with diabetes.

Sweeties diet was dry food which I would give her in the morning and leave out all day for her to graze on.

The doctor prescribed PURINA DM dry/wet. and 1u prozinc shot 2x a day

The wet/canned food was supposed to be good bait to allow me to give the insulin shot.( However, since reading FDMB, I definantly want to switch her to all wet/Canned diet, but am now mortified because I am giving her shots blind without hometesting, and worried her BG will drop and Ill overdose her.)

Sweetie really loves the wet food, so much so, she has stopped eating the dry. What do I do?

super worried, please help!

 

Please don't be upset with yourself for following directions!!! The best thing you can do is begin home testing. Many good videos and a lot of good advise on how to be successful with home testing. Be sure to read the sticky's on home testing. Check the carb count on the wet food. Check Dr. Pieson's food lists. You don't have to feed the food the vet suggested. Many of us feed Fancy Feast classic (be sure to get only the classic line as it is the lowest in carbs). A lot of vets are well meaning, but not very well versed on FD. I have gotten all of my advise on feeding and dosing from experienced folks on this forum. (of which I am not) Chances have it that your kitty's BG numbers will drop once she is eating all wet, low carb food, so the dose will likely need to be adjusted down. Why don't you post on the Prozinc link. You can get good direction from folks who have experience with that particular insulin. Read everything on this forum and you will really learn a lot. Welcome and ask questions.

 

Welcome! The starting dose of ProZinc is a good one but you're right to be concerned about the impact of dry food on her BG. The wet DM pate is about 6% carbs and the wet savory selects chunky version is around 10% carbs. The dry is too high in carbs although I don't have the % info at the tips of my fingers.

The single best thing you can do to keep your Sweetie (appropriate name!) safe is to learn to test her BG at home. Many new people arrive here scared to death at the thought of doing this, absolutely certain they won't be able to do it and discover - much to their amazement - that they can do it and it's much less scary than they'd predicted.

If you find the DM wet food is too expensive you can buy Friskies or Fancy Feast pate versions in the grocery store and they're fine to give Sweetie. It's great that she likes wet food - you won't have to transition a die hard kibble addict. Many people feed multiple small meals a day and not just twice a day as a lot of vets recommend. It you're away from home an automatic feeder is very helpful.

Please go introduce yourself on the ProZinc forum and have a look at the yellow info stickies over there to learn more about this insulin. Yes, there's an avalanche of information to take in but you certainly don't have to learn it all overnight. Ask lots of questions.

 

This is a problem many people wish they had! It is great that she loves the wet. Wet is so much better for them.

Welcome!

 

Welcome!!

How nice that she is already on wet food, you are off to a very good start, now I would suggest you start testing at home to make sure everything is ok and to help you regulate him, as they said is not as hard as it seems at first, and we can help you here, you need a meter, most of us use a human meter because the strips are easier to get (pharmacys and walmart) and a lot cheaper than the pet meter but either one is ok