just diagnosed

Our Horus has just been diagnosed with diabetes. He is 12. I feel so bad given that I am a registered nurse and should have seen the signs earlier. What makes it worse is that the vet suggests we should consider putting him to sleep if he does not respond within a month. So far he has been on insulin for a week and does look better but today it has been increased to 3 units so we are keeping our fingers crossed that this will work.

 

Hi Adele

Don't blame yourself! Many cats hide their conditions.

Couple of things

1. You do not need to PTS; instead, you need to add to your existing medical knowledge and become Horus's advocate
2. 3 units twice a day is a large dose for one week; what insulin, how is your vet basing the dose; what food is Horus eating?

Jen

 

Welcome to our FDMB family and be patient with yourself. You sound like you really love your cats, so you have come to the perfect place. Get some chocolate, sit back and get ready to read. Also, remember Every Cat Is Different. (ECID) Also, remember opinions may vary sometimes on this board, so you may get different views. Unfortunately, that is human nature.

Sorry this is very long, but there is a lot to say! Also, remember we were ALL newbies once and are feeling just like you are right now! OK……..breathe………. :RAHCAT


You do not need any type of prescription food or “special” diabetic food. Janet & Binky’s chart is on the top of this page! Low carb is best for diabetics. I try to stay around 10% or under. I feed Whiskas, 9-Lives and mostly Friskies. Diabetes is very treatable and does not cost as much as you would think. If you are giving a high dose of insulin and feeding dry, be careful with switching to canned food. You MUST reduce the insulin at the same time you switch to canned food.

Please create a profile if you have not already done so. It will help us to help you. We need to know what kind of insulin you are on, what needles you are using (U-40 or U-100), what are you feeding, how much insulin you are giving and when, BG test results, etc. There are many people on this board from all over the world, so it will be helpful to know what area and time zone you are in.

Remember that your cat is YOUR cat, and YOU are paying your VET to help you take care of him; diabetes was probably a day or two worth of notes when the vet was in college; it is probably NOT a day-to-day existence with his own cat trying to maintain a quality of life. Sorry to say, but I would have overdosed my guys on insulin if I followed my vet's advice. Vets, unfortunately are not as knowledgeable as they should be on diabetes. I try and make my points to my vet with my opinions about MY cat, but if he refuses to listen, I say thank you, you have had a lot of schooling, smile and then do what I know is best for my cats myself.

Sometimes, as I did, you have to take a leap of faith and trust these people on this board who deal with diabetes day in and day out. Trust me. You will not be disappointed. OK………..breathe again……….get some chocolate…….. cat_pet_icon


Also, please realize that it takes insulin about a week to settle. START LOW AND GO SLOW!! The usual starting dose from our experiences is 1u twice a day for at least a week. Insulin in cats is NOT and I repeat NOT based on weight. This is a misconception that a lot of us have gotten from our vets here. pc_work

You have to be patient, as I also had to learn!! Do not adjust the dose upwards based on one test. Don’t freak out based on one test result. As long as the levels stay on the high side, keep the same dose twice a day for at least the initial week period and you should see improvements. When you have some time (hee hee), read my profile.

If you are not hometesting already, you really need to start!! Hometesting is VERY important. Think of it as a human diabetic does. *If it were you or a child of yours, you'd be testing blood glucose levels at home prior to each shot; you'd be working with your doctor to determine a proper dose based on those shot results, correct?* Some vets do not agree with hometesting and I cannot for the life of me understand why. Most vets, sadly are not knowledgeable enough in feline diabetes. Insulin is a VERY powerful drug and you NEED to hometest before giving a shot. This is very important. The vet would rather have you bring the cat to them, stress it out more, which may spike the levels anyway and then they can charge you $$. Hometesting saved me a lot of money and it is VERY important for you personally to know the cat’s levels and how it is reacting to the insulin before you shoot so you do not pass up your ideal dosage.


Thanks to everyone's help here I learned to home test 2 cats and they both got off insulin within 3 weeks with diet change…but of course, they reacting both DIFFERENTLY with the process. If I can do it with 2 cats twice a day (and more on curve days), ANYONE can do it. It does NOT hurt them as much as you think it does. It just stings for a moment and then it is gone, you can try it on yourself. Also, put pressure on the ear after poking and it should minimize the nub. They won't mind it once they start feeling better. I use the True Track meter (CVS or Walgreens brand) which I love. And, the strips are also reasonable. Also, remember to give them a treat after the test. Here is a link to a member videos on hometesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE12-4fVn8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ6iXetR398


I would not feed DRY food if at all possible. Of course, it is better than nothing – you MUST get them to eat if you are giving insulin, but if there is any chance, get them off the dry. I took my guys off dry and within a month they were off insulin. Again, remember that switching from dry to wet can cause a drop in blood sugars, so you MUST reduce insulin at the same time to make sure you are not giving too much insulin. I truly believe also that I saved some of my many others from developing diabetes. I also saved so, so much money changing them all to regular canned cat food.

When Blackie and Jackie got diagnosed, I was afraid to start shots. The people on this board made me realize it was no big deal. (They went on PZI insulin around 3-25-06 and went off on 4-18-06! Please also realize that diet plays a BIG, BIG part in insulin needs. I switched my cats off dry food to all wet and I was never so happy. It was a challenge to try to regulate 2 cats at once.


Welcome to the Sugar Dance. flip_cat
Welcome to the Vampire Club.

If I can do it, ANYONE can!!!
It does get easier. Trust us.

You need to test BEFORE you shoot. It usually goes: Test, Feed, Shoot



There's a saying something like "better the sugar level is too high for a day than too low for a minute".

 

I am not a vet so my comments are not medical advice.

Most cats should be started on 1 unit BID and at least a week should pass before
increasing the dose in 1/2u to 1u increments, based upon BG tests.

Home BG testing is best, because that eliminates the raised BG caused by VET STRESS
(white-coat-syndrome) at the vet's.

What is Horus eating....hopefully not dry food, but Low Carb canned food.

 

Jen, Cecelia and Karen have made some excellent comments and given you a lot to think about...

I'm just popping in to say take your time... read through the information provided really slowly... ask questions along the way if you want... We have all been where you are.

Feline Diabetes is not a death sentence... do NOT let your vet make that decision for you. If your kitty is well enough to be home with you, and is improving somewhat, then he's got a great chance at a happy healthy and long life... So, educate yourself... and maybe educate your vet.

It does concern me that your vet not only thinks that the kitty should be PTS if not better in a month... but has you on a relatively high dose of insulin so soon.

As Karen said, 1unit is the general starting dose. So your vet might be very behind in his knowledge of this disease.

Please also consider doing home testing of the BG... you use human meters and it's really easy after a while. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

 

Welcome

3 units of what insulin? 3 units of any insulin is a HUGE dose for a cat who has only been on insulin for a week. Cats are not dosed by weight. Doing so may result in an insulin dose that is too much for the cat's body to handle and can result in hypoglycemcia, which I'm sure you know about since you are a nurse

What is your cat eating right now? Did the vet addess diet and/or say that you must feed prescription food? Just like with Human diabetics, diet is a very important part of managing your cat's diabetes. What is best for cats is a low carb canned food only diet. You don't need to feed expensive junky prescription food. Read http://www.catinfo.org for reasons why canned foods are best. Many commerical brands are good for your cat: Fancy Feast, Friskies, Wellness, etc. We can help you choose the right foods using the famous Binky's canned food charts, http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html The basic rule is to feed any low carb food that your cat likes to eat (most important) and you can afford and can find in the stores.

Do you plan on testing your cat's blood glucose levels at home or is that something you've never thought of? Home blood glucose testing is also an important part of managing the diabetes, just like it is for Human diabetics. With cats, you take a tiny drop of blood from the edge of the ear or from a paw pad. Human diabetic blood glucose meters work well and is what many people here use. You do not need to buy an expensive pet blood glucose meter. Keep a log of your cat's blood glucose levels. Many people here use a template that is on Google.com Instructions on how to use it are here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16

You can manage your cat's diabetes with the help of this board :YMPEACE:

 

Hi Adele! Welcome to the very best place to help your kitty (and yourself). As has been mentioned, we have ALL been where you are and we know it can be overwhelming and scary. We're here to help. You have already gotten great advice and questions, so I will just say again: read, read, read, and ask all questions you have.

I will also echo the statement that it is NOT necessary to put your kitty to sleep if he hasn't gotten better in a month (absent any conditions which are untreatable, of course, but diabetes is NOT one of those conditions). Horus can live many more years happily with his diabetes under control. It's great that you have a nursing background; it will possibly make much of this easier to absorb.

Keep us posted and please do answer the questions that folks have asked. The more info we have, the easier it is for us to help you and Horus.

 

Adele - Welcome! You have arrived at the best site you will ever find regarding diabetes and your cat, Horus. I was new to all of this just four months ago and me and my cat have gone through alot. My friends and family recommended putting my cat to sleep right after diagnosis, but I hung tough and I found this Board and I have to tell you, the people on here not only saved my cat's life with their advice, but they gave me tremendous support, too. My cat is now "off the juice", i.e., no longer needs insulin and he is on an appropriate diet and is happier than he has ever been. Please stay tuned to this Board and respond to questions and concerns. You can absolutely take this Board seriously. Being a nurse, I know you know that doctors are not perfect in their knowledge - neither are Vets. I had to ignore my Vets and learn to do three things: 1) put my cat on a canned food diet that is low in carbs, high in protein; 2) test my cat's blood glucose before giving insulin and sometimes do a blood glucose curve; and 3) insist on a good quality insulin, such as Lantus. None of this was easy for me, but I did it and I am so very glad I did. The people on this Board will tell you what food is best, how to test and all about various insulins. Learn from them and you won't be disappointed. Best of luck to you and Horus.

 

I too am concerned about the "time limit' your vet has "given you" (using the quotes because those are my feelings on the matter, and might not be your true reality)

My Em was diagnosed with FD when she was 9. She needed insulin until she was 16 (and got cancer and then shortly after that passed)

I've fostered four diabetics after that. Two went right into remission with the proper food. The third needed insulin for three months before she went into remission. The fourth is at my home at the moment and has been on insulin for a month (was on it before I got him too) and his numbers are not settling down. But he's happy, and eating, and active, and very vocal As long as your kitty has life left in him, there are treatment options.

I guess maybe we are all a little sensitive when it comes to vets suggesting PTS over FD. Knowing what he means and what his criteria for "better" is would make that not seem quite so harsh.

but the members of this board have a lot more combined experience with FD then your vet could ever hope to have. He probably has dealt with a few cases that the owners weren't willing to do the research as you have just done, and they gave up treating it because it involved something outside of their comfort zone.

No one ever wishes for this disease, but we are all a little bit thankful for it. Not only because of the friendships made on this board, but because treating your cat for FD or any other long term illness actually makes the human/pet bond stronger and sweeter.

Everyone here is waiting to help you if you have any questions or need any support. Just shout out!

Connie

 

Most vets do not have much training or experience with Feline Diabetes - so arm yourself with knowledge by reading everything that you can.

Here at FDMB, we have hundreds of people with years of experience treating our own diabetic cats. So - read - post your questions - and make informed decisions.

If your child had diabetes, you would research and learn how to test your child's blood sugar before giving injections.

Learning to home test your kitty's blood sugar will be well worth your time and effort.

Insulin is a powerful hormone (not drug) and overdosing can be deadly. This is why we stress the importance of testing your kitty's blood sugar every day at home.

 

#1 Breathe
#2 Realize you can do this
#3 Get some chocolate and read everything you can on this site and the old FDMB site
#4 Get a BG meter and start testing
#5 Tell your vet you will not put your precious furrbaby to sleep
#6 Come back and ask lots of questions and listen to what the advice givers say
#7 Watch your cat get better

This isn't an easy road, but you can do it ((hugs))

 

Hi Jen
Thank you very much for taking the time to post a reply. As you can imagine this is not the easiest of times but we hope he does all right over the next few weeks.
He is actually on 3 units of caninsulin per day and this is given in the morning. This is what my vet advised. Initially he was on 2 but his sugar levels are still very high. Food wise his favourite tends to be dried food and he is very picky, although we do alternate between feeds with tinned.

 

Well, 3 units once a day isn't great either, as caninsulin doesn't last more than 12 hours max, so for the rest of the day he is running high.

I'm guessing you are in the UK? I guess that because caninsulin is called vetsulin in the USA, and in North America we say canned instead of tinned....

 

Hi
I want to thank you all for posting your replies. I have had time now to look around this website and so far I have found it really interesting and the stories encouraging. I guess I don't help any of my cats by buying them dried food which they get in conjunction with wet tinned foods. Are there any that tend to be better than others? The best my vet could offer was a very expensive prescription diet somewhere further down the line (no thank you!)
Thanks folks.

 

Your best bet for food is tinned (or if in UK pouched) foods that do not contain wheat, corn, rice or soy. Or a properly balanced raw food diet. See the www.catinfo.org folink for more info.

 

Hi Adele,

Welcome here.
I am a newbie here. So I can't give you much advise. Only a bit of my experience so far.
I came here... and stayed here. And with all that had happened to my Spacey and all the advises I've got here, I'm trusting these people here more than my own vet as far as fd is concerned.
It got a bit easier for me with everyone here ready to help.

I put Spacey (and my other cat) immediately on wet (can) food. Which one is better? I don't know. I made a spreadsheet (see link in my signature) which can be used to calculate how much carbs there are in a specific can. The sheet works with guaranteed analysis which can be found on the cans in the Netherlands. Maybe it works for uk cans as well. (Works as long as there are no min max numbers but round numbers).
The best food is: the one which has less than 10% carbs and which your cat is really in love with I would say.
Also... making your own cat food can later on become an option.

Well.. again welcome here!

 

Read!!! There is tons of information on this site about diet, testing, hypos. In addition to this site, there is the Pet Diabetes Wiki (http://petdiabetes.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page)

Some food information:
1. General nutrition/diet links: http://felinediabetes.com/diet.htm

2. Janet and Binky's page on commercial food content: http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html


You can do this!

 

Welcome to the board. You're probably already overwhelmed with information, so I won't add to it -- I just want to say hello, and let you know that you'll find a great bunch of knowledgeable folks here, so don't be afraid to chime in and ask questions. Diabetes is overwhelming at the first diagnosis, but in the scheme of things -- it's a really easy disease to treat ;-)

 

Stopping in to say hello. You've gotten some great suggestions and information, so far.

My vet also suggested that it might be best to put Calliope to sleep. That was in July '08. By Aug '08, with the help of the folks on this forum, Calliope went into remission and is still with me. FD it treatable. Takes some time and patience, but you can have a happy kitty again. Do read what's suggested. It will help you in the long run.

 

I have posted to our UK contingent, they should be by to welcome you soon.

 

UK food suggestions:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/r ... msg-602242
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/r ... msg-918743
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/r ... 527,911527

Felix in jelly seems to be a popular low carb brand for UK members.