time to say hi.

My name is Jeanne my baby is max the love of my life.we found out Jan 18 he has diabetes. I am still scared to death and so mixed up. Max reading was 500 the first visit. He was put on prozine 3unites 12 hour apart.Dm dry food and wet. Max hates wet food. He's doing better mostly wet now fancy feast chicken and Turkey pata. Very little dry Dm try about35 pieces a day. He's been back for his 2 week check up down to 350. They up to 4 units. He's doing better less potty and drinking and playing again. He go back Monday the 16. Trying too get him off the dry junk I no that will help. Max is 7 and the sweetest kitty there could be. We also have mitten she is 14 also my baby she's loving the wet food. Been really good for her. I am not home testing yet plan to start after Monday vet they can show me how and explain to me. My vet believes in home testing.just wanted to say hi looking for support I am scarred for my baby.

 

Hi Jeanne and sugardude Max and welcome to the message board.

We've all been where you are right now. New and scared and not sure what to do next.

My best advice? Deep breathing exercises. Deep breath in, hold, release, deep breath in, hold, release, deep breath in, hold, release. Helps you deal with the stress and focus so you can help your baby Max feel better.

Most of us here use human glucometers like the Relion Confirm or Micro from Wal-mart. Not sure if you are in the USA or not. The pet meters are very expensive and the test strips are outrageously priced too. We have reference ranges for cats using the different meters.

What questions do you have?

 

Yes I am from the US Wisconsin. Am I doing ok with the food. You answered my question about meters I thank you. I am just all mixed up confused scared. Wondering if His dose is a lot. He is feeling better but not totally. I do not know how to explain what i am feeling. That's why it took me this long to say hi. I just love him so much he is like my Minnie me he is always there. I am sorry to care on.

 

How much does Max weigh? The dose does seem a bit high.

Yes, I think you are doing ok with your food choices. We try for those with <10% carbs from this Food Chart by vet Dr. Lisa Pierson.

The pate styles of the Fancy Feast or Friskies are low carb and fit our budgets better.

If you can wean your kitty Max off the dry food completely, you'll probably see some more improvements in the drinking and urination. BUT please wait until you are home testing before you make the food switch. The dry food can keep the BG levels higher and we want to help you help keep Max safe.

Have you seen this article by vet Dr. Lisa Pierson on Transitioning Feline Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food? I used many of these tips to get my kitty Wink, a lifelong member of DFAA (Dry Food Addicts Anonymous), switched to low carb canned food.

 

Max is 19 pounds he a very tall cat also. I shall read about the cat food now. I will try and post a picture of max tomorrow when my son can help me not to good with that yet.

 

The reason I commented on your other thread about the dose, is that if you are changing the food to lower carb, that may reduce the glucose as much as 100-200 mg/dL. Increasing the insulin while dropping the carbohydrate level in the food, without testing the glucose to see what it is doing, is a recipe for hypoglycemia.

With that in mind, here is How to Handle A Hypo

 

It is great they you are going to change his food but I would first make sure that you are testing his blood glucose first. As BJM pointed out going over to just low carb can decrease there need for insulin.

Have you read the tips about testing?

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

 

The two blood glucose readings that were done at the vets. Were they just one off readings whilst you were visiting. He didn't do a curve?

Have you seen the protocol that was drawn up here for members using prozinc. You don't have to follow it but it is a good starting point

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/protocol-for-prozinc-pzi.109077/

Newbie prozinc checklist
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ase-read-newbies-and-oldies-links-info.32799/

I wonder if @Elizabeth and Bertie may be able to free some advice here.

 

Hello Jeanne and extra sweet Max, and a huge warm welcome to FDMB!

A diagnosis of feline diabetes can come as a big shock at first. All of us have been where you are now, and we fully understand what you are going through.
((((big hug to you)))).
However, feline diabetes is very treatable, and, with good care, a diabetic cat can live as long and as happily as a non-diabetic cat. That is good news.

Your vet has started Max out on quite a high starting dose of insulin.
And as BJ and Sarah (phika29) have said; switching from a higher carb diet to a lower carb diet can reduce the blood glucose (and the need for insulin) quite a bit.
It's great that your vet is supportive of home testing. But, if you are willing, you don't have to wait until Monday: we can help you to learn hometesting right now.
Most of us use glucose meters made for humans. And hometesting is, in essence, a quick and straightforward process (though it may take you and your kitty a few goes to get the hang of it).

Essentially, hometesting involves pricking the outer edge of the kitty's ear to get a little blood droplet; transferring that droplet to a test strip in a glucose meter; and waiting for the meter to count down and give a result. This should not hurt the kitty at all as there are very few nerve endings in the kitty's ear. And hometesting would give you a tremendous amount of information that would help you to understand, and manage, his diabetes.

Take another deep breath; and also take heart: We're here to help.

Welcome aboard,

Eliz