I'm new I'm scared and I need help

Purrrnella

Purrrnella

Member
I just found out yesterday my cat has diabetes, the vet sounded like I should just put him down, I think she thinks because I'm disabled I can't afford to help him, he's almost 4 years old I've had him since he was 8 weeks and he is my baby, I've been trying to figure out how to get a hold of diabetic cats in need, I did send a message on Facebook yesterday but I'm not getting any reply, what I read is they will give me a voucher to help me get my cat started on medication I am on disability and things are going to be hard but I'm going to do whatever I need to do to help my cat, anybody on here that can give me any ideas on how to help him and get financial help would be so appreciated I don't want to have to rehome my cat or put him down he is my baby
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Hello and welcome. What is your kitty's name? 4 years old is young to be diagnosed as diabetic, though not impossible. How did the vet diagnose him?

Tagging @Chris & China (GA) who might be able to help with the DCIN contact. Other ideas for financial help in this list:
Our Supply Closet - For Sale or Free forum sometimes has some good deals.
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This is the people that help me in DCIN, email them they will answer right away, if you receive any Federal assistance it will even be great, I hope this will help I know I've been there, they have been assisting me with all supplies including insulin, for the past 3 years I hope thist can help you. Best to you and your kitty:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
Isabelledaventport@gmail.com
THH@dcin.info
 
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4 years old is young to be diagnosed with diabetes although it happens. What made you bring your kitty to the vet? Were there symptoms you observed (e.g., drinking and urinating a lot)? Also, how did the vet make the diagnosis? The best way to diagnose for the first time is a fructosamine test. Many cats are stressed by car rides and being at the vet's office. Stress can raise blood glucose levels (i.e., stress hyperglycemia). The fructosamine test gives you an average of blood glucose over several weeks much like a hemoglobin A1c for humans.

One immediate thought is diet. What are you feeding your cat? If you're like many new members here, chances are you haven't been feeding your cat a low carb diet. If the vet suggested prescription diabetic food, especially dry food, it's not low in carbs. There are options, like Fancy Feast Classics (pate style food), that are low in carbs. We can provide a (long) list of foods that are low in carbs.
 
Hi and thank you to everybody that replied, I had a long day yesterday between phone calls and messaging organizations on the internet, I promise I will be back to talk to people, I have a lot of health issues myself but I spent the day cooking a salt-free stew for my cat last night and I'm beginning to learn more about diabetic cats, people have been wonderful ❤️ anyways I have sjogren's syndrome and with that comes a brain fog that gets worse with stress and boy has this been stressful, I just need a few hours to get my thoughts and order... Thank you to everyone for the replies and thank you for being caring loving animal lovers ❤️❤️❤️
 
Purrrnella said:
Hi and thank you to everybody that replied, I had a long day yesterday between phone calls and messaging organizations on the internet, I promise I will be back to talk to people, I have a lot of health issues myself but I spent the day cooking a salt-free stew for my cat last night and I'm beginning to learn more about diabetic cats, people have been wonderful ❤️ anyways I have sjogren's syndrome and with that comes a brain fog that gets worse with stress and boy has this been stressful, I just need a few hours to get my thoughts and order... Thank you to everyone for the replies and thank you for being caring loving animal lovers ❤️❤️❤️
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I am sorry for your health issues, and I am sure with a newly diagnosed kitty with diabetes does not help, we have all been overwhelmed by FD, scared, stressed and frustrated, I myself for one, so I'll tell you what was told to me by a member," just take a step back breath in and breath out, cats are very sensitive to stress we stress they stress," I hope you find the financial assistance you need, believe me the DCIN has been a life saving experience for my Corky, so has been this Forum and the member as well, I cannot afford the insulin, supplies or Vet visits, I am in a minimal budget, I was told that if I could not afford it financially he would need to put him down, I almost had a breakdown, Corky and Coco are my family support company, everything, and then the DCIN came in to play, I have depended on this Forum to stabilize Corky to almost remission, even though he will probably be a lifelong diabetic he is as healthy as ever. email Isabelle Davenport, let her know that Maria Corky's Mom gave you the reference, she will answer. Giving back is the best gift I can have for these members and Forum have giving me:bighug::bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
Yeah I finally got a response from DCIN, I have to fill out the form for the voucher, I just found out 2 days ago Mateo had diabetes even though I had my suspicions, needless to say I haven't been taking care of myself very well so today I'm struggling... I'm just going to have to find that balance, because I know exactly what you mean by your cats being family, when I was at the vet I swear to God she was trying to convince me to put him down because I told her I was on disability... I was crying so hard I couldn't make any decisions so I decided to take him home and figure out my options and I'm so glad I did, I messaged and called every place I could find, I somehow messaged a place in Canada even though I live in Michigan and they actually called me back, but because of the stress and my disease I'm having trouble recalling some of what she said, but I have the number and more than that I have my love for my cat and that will get us through this. I never realized how bad certain cat foods could be for a cat! Now I am on a mission to not only take care of myself but my cat! It's going to be a challenge, Mateo is so fussy and so spoiled I really appreciate your reply, it means the world to me to know I'm not alone, oh God I thought the tears were gone but here they come again! This is going to be a rough day for me today the way I feel but I'll get through it and I'll get done what I need to get done because I am determined to try and get Mateo into remission! Like you I can't afford a lot, but we figure it out when it comes to our animals, and it won't be as expensive as I thought... The vet just wanted money, the people that run these organizations just want to make animals healthy and happy and that's the difference!
 
This is great news, now the next step is that we need to know more about Mateo, like what does he eats, what insulin and dose are you home testing. below are several links to help us help you, and yes Some Vets do tend to just want $$, or are not schooled on Feline diabetes, we would like you to create your signature and Mateos spreadsheet, if you have issues creating them let us know we would have a member help you. below are the links, also a Drs food chart, most members enjoy Fancy Feast Pates, diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet carb food between 0-10% carbs, if you are feeding kibbles, know that they contain between 20 up to 30% carbs you can transition slowly, but it is important to home test, you can purchase a human monitor from Walmart like the ReliOn Premier monitor and strips, the monitor is $19.99 and the strips are $9.00 for 50 and $17.88 for 100, is good to have extra on hand, feeding several meals/snacks during the day helps the insulin's depot throughout the day, is important to test before shotting, and not shoot on an empty stomach . I know is a lot of information but we want to make sure Mate4o gets better and stabilized, some cats never go on remission they are lifelong diabetic, like my Corky, but it is manageable, feel free to post any concerns, no concern is a small one, We will do this together,:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/health-links-faqs-about-feline-diabetes.14/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/spreadsheets-tech-support-testing-area.6/
NEW FOOD CHART CHECK CARBS/ FF
 
The beginning of the journey is overwhelmingly stressful. That's the bad news. The good news is that it becomes a lot easier. Much of what you'll be dealing with initially becomes less of an issue as you develop a routine and realize you can do this and you won't harm your cat in the process. In addition, we have members on this board from all over the world. In practical terms that means we're around pretty much 24/7. We are also used to not every member having a trust fund to pay for vet bills.

You have lots of choices with food. You just want to stick with foods that are under 10% carbohydrates. An option that's not on the list that Maria provided is a raw diet. For those of us who feed our cats a raw diet, we make the food at home. You can buy a ground protein that your cat likes and there are pre-packaged supplements that you add in order for the food to be nutritionally complete. I've never figured out the pricing but I suspect it's on a par with some of the less expensive canned foods.

One other point -- please take care of yourself. If you're struggling, your cat will sense your mood and it will make everything harder. Get some rest. Take a few breaths. And remember, this is doable. You can treat diabetes and, unlike with humans, cats can go into remission. So, one step at a time. We're here to help.
 
CORKY said:
This is great news, now the next step is that we need to know more about Mateo, like what does he eats, what insulin and dose are you home testing. below are several links to help us help you, and yes Some Vets do tend to just want $$, or are not schooled on Feline diabetes, we would like you to create your signature and Mateos spreadsheet, if you have issues creating them let us know we would have a member help you. below are the links, also a Drs food chart, most members enjoy Fancy Feast Pates, diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet carb food between 0-10% carbs, if you are feeding kibbles, know that they contain between 20 up to 30% carbs you can transition slowly, but it is important to home test, you can purchase a human monitor from Walmart like the ReliOn Premier monitor and strips, the monitor is $19.99 and the strips are $9.00 for 50 and $17.88 for 100, is good to have extra on hand, feeding several meals/snacks during the day helps the insulin's depot throughout the day, is important to test before shotting, and not shoot on an empty stomach . I know is a lot of information but we want to make sure Mate4o gets better and stabilized, some cats never go on remission they are lifelong diabetic, like my Corky, but it is manageable, feel free to post any concerns, no concern is a small one, We will do this together,:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/health-links-faqs-about-feline-diabetes.14/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/spreadsheets-tech-support-testing-area.6/
NEW FOOD CHART CHECK CARBS/ FF
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I'm so sorry I haven't been back on I promise I will tomorrow, I've been going and going and I'm exhausted! I have sjogren's syndrome it's an autoimmune disease and stress is a bad thing for me, but there's no way I can't be stressed right now so I just have to soldier on! I'm forcing myself to eat and drinking extra extra water... But I will be back tomorrow cuz I really need so much advice!
 
Purrrnella said:
I'm so sorry I haven't been back on I promise I will tomorrow, I've been going and going and I'm exhausted! I have sjogren's syndrome it's an autoimmune disease and stress is a bad thing for me, but there's no way I can't be stressed right now so I just have to soldier on! I'm forcing myself to eat and drinking extra extra water... But I will be back tomorrow cuz I really need so much advice!
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Breath in and breath. Out, I hope you feel better soon, and the sooner we get your precious one stabilized the faster the stress will go away, we are here fire you. :bighug::bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
He finally looks like he's feeling better but I was wondering if there's any dry food besides the prescription diabetic that I could try with him, I realize it might be trial and error, but he's a big boy and all Fancy feast will get expensive fast, I have been cooking him chicken and vegetables and I'm going to also get a lean roast beef (he actually like the beef Fancy feast I was surprised) any suggestions
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
The beginning of the journey is overwhelmingly stressful. That's the bad news. The good news is that it becomes a lot easier. Much of what you'll be dealing with initially becomes less of an issue as you develop a routine and realize you can do this and you won't harm your cat in the process. In addition, we have members on this board from all over the world. In practical terms that means we're around pretty much 24/7. We are also used to not every member having a trust fund to pay for vet bills.

You have lots of choices with food. You just want to stick with foods that are under 10% carbohydrates. An option that's not on the list that Maria provided is a raw diet. For those of us who feed our cats a raw diet, we make the food at home. You can buy a ground protein that your cat likes and there are pre-packaged supplements that you add in order for the food to be nutritionally complete. I've never figured out the pricing but I suspect it's on a par with some of the less expensive canned foods.

One other point -- please take care of yourself. If you're struggling, your cat will sense your mood and it will make everything harder. Get some rest. Take a few breaths. And remember, this is doable. You can treat diabetes and, unlike with humans, cats can go into remission. So, one step at a time. We're here to help.
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Yeah I'm still trying to figure out a feeding plan, I have the Fancy feast pate, and he seems to really like it, but he's a big boy so I'm going to have to figure out some kind of dry food that's okay for him... I'm realizing that all cats are different... I have been making him chicken stew and vegetables, and I am going to try a lean roast beef and vegetables in the Crock-Pot for him... But any advice food wise would be great! I still have so many other questions... Right now half the time I'm not even sure if I'm using the right words when I'm asking about things but I'm going to take it one step at a time, this is a wonderful group and I know you will help me and I SO appreciate all of you
 
CORKY said:
This is the people that help me in DCIN, email them they will answer right away, if you receive any Federal assistance it will even be great, I hope this will help I know I've been there, they have been assisting me with all supplies including insulin, for the past 3 years I hope thist can help you. Best to you and your kitty:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
Isabelledaventport@gmail.com
THH@dcin.info
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I have to apologize for not replying to your messages, I think I have mentioned that I have sjogren's syndrome and all this is taking such a toll on me. I get brain fog... And I mean brain fog from hell the hardest part of all this is going to be me keeping track of everything, I have Mateo on his insulin but I don't know how I'm going to afford more, I was lucky my ex paid for the two vet visits... But boy it's so obvious they are about money and nothing else! Long story... I have applied to Red Rover for assistance, I am disabled and get social security in SSI, Red Rover contacted me and I'm calling them Monday but I'm sure I'll need more than just them to help me, DCIN contacted me on Facebook, but it's hit and miss with their reply so I don't really know what's going on so your email is so appreciated, because I am lost! Thank God for people like you because I wouldn't make it through this. I thought I was going to have to put him down and I cried for days.. I'm still working on a plan, one thing I don't understand is when they first showed me insulin prices I guess you'd call her the nurse showed me a much cheaper one, then she came back and said no the doctor wanted Mateo on way more expensive one... I went back to them after a couple days just because he was looking so sick and like I said my ex help me out big time... But I'm going to find another vet! Something about them just really set off alarm bells for me... Sorry if I'm all over the place, like I said brain fog any advice you have for me would be so appreciated, I don't even know the verbiage of half the things I'll know to discuss what's going on with Mateo in the future. I'm still waiting for the meter to check his blood.
 
Purrrnella said:
I have to apologize for not replying to your messages, I think I have mentioned that I have sjogren's syndrome and all this is taking such a toll on me. I get brain fog... And I mean brain fog from hell the hardest part of all this is going to be me keeping track of everything, I have Mateo on his insulin but I don't know how I'm going to afford more, I was lucky my ex paid for the two vet visits... But boy it's so obvious they are about money and nothing else! Long story... I have applied to Red Rover for assistance, I am disabled and get social security in SSI, Red Rover contacted me and I'm calling them Monday but I'm sure I'll need more than just them to help me, DCIN contacted me on Facebook, but it's hit and miss with their reply so I don't really know what's going on so your email is so appreciated, because I am lost! Thank God for people like you because I wouldn't make it through this. I thought I was going to have to put him down and I cried for days.. I'm still working on a plan, one thing I don't understand is when they first showed me insulin prices I guess you'd call her the nurse showed me a much cheaper one, then she came back and said no the doctor wanted Mateo on way more expensive one... I went back to them after a couple days just because he was looking so sick and like I said my ex help me out big time... But I'm going to find another vet! Something about them just really set off alarm bells for me... Sorry if I'm all over the place, like I said brain fog any advice you have for me would be so appreciated, I don't even know the verbiage of half the things I'll know to discuss what's going on with Mateo in the future. I'm still waiting for the meter to check his blood.
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I hope you are feeling better , the insulin is not picked out by the price of the insulin, but for what is good for a diabetic cat which should be Lantus or ProZinc ,they are a long time 12 hour insulin gentle on a diabetic cat, so you should get a prescription from your vet, or call him to send via email a PRN prescription ( 1 year)
under Mateo's name to (IsabelleDavenport@Gmail.com) this way you already have that ahead while they approve the application, which is the same day they will mail you the insulin and supplies right away, Mateo need to be on insulin as soon as possible, and that is what the DCIN is there for, you tell your vet they have approved you, so you need him to email the script, then change vets if you need to:D:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
Happy Easter!
 
Happy Easter to you too my vet doesn't want me monitoring Mateo myself and she doesn't want to give me a prescription so I'm going to have to find a new vet!
 
CORKY said:
I hope you are feeling better , the insulin is not picked out by the price of the insulin, but for what is good for a diabetic cat which should be Lantus or ProZinc ,they are a long time 12 hour insulin gentle on a diabetic cat, so you should get a prescription from your vet, or call him to send via email a PRN prescription ( 1 year)
under Mateo's name to (IsabelleDavenport@Gmail.com) this way you already have that ahead while they approve the application, which is the same day they will mail you the insulin and supplies right away, Mateo need to be on insulin as soon as possible, and that is what the DCIN is there for, you tell your vet they have approved you, so you need him to email the script, then change vets if you need to:D:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
Happy Easter!
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In the meantime that insulin gets to Mateo, we need you to create your signature and spreadsheet, because we need more information on Mateo in order to help you with dosing, if you have difficulty creating these, the links are below, let us know and we will be happy to create them for you, we are numbers oriented, that is what the spreadsheet is for, you will be home testing, checking his glucose level, we can help you with dosing, curving etc, this way you will save money on vet bills and stress for you and Mateo, we will get to the home testing once you let us know the insulin is on it's way, relax Mateo needs you and you Him, you stress he stresses, and you both will not be able to help each other
About the diet is good for a diabetic cat to have two main meals before each shot and a bout 3-4 small meals/snacks during the day, below is a
Drs food chart where the third column has the % of carbs for each meal, a diabetic cat needs to have a diet of wet can foods between 0-10% carbs , most of the members enjoy the Fancy Feast Pates as you are already feeding Mateo, and also The Friskies, they are les expensive and larger cans you can split for 2 meals, my Corky is a very large big cat not obese weighing 16.5lbs and my Coco a 1/2 Main Coon weighs 17.4 lbs
and the eat on each meal 1/2cn of the Fancy Feast only with 3 small meals and 1 snack during the day so that's 4 cans a day for both of them, I buy the food at CHEWY.COM they are between $0.80-$0.83 a can, I buy for the month 4X7X30, no shipping charge, believe me I am on SSA(retirement and EBT) and penny like budget, CHEWY is the way to go, any other concerns no matter how small please post us, I am sure someone will step in to help

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/spreadsheets-tech-support-testing-area.6/

NEW FOOD CHART CHECK CARBS/ FF
 
I think finding a new vet sounds like a plan. There are plenty of humans with diabetes and no one suggests euthanasia! I can't imagine a pediatrician telling a disabled parent to give up on an infant with diabetes. Given that you are the caretaker, this is your decision and you will get a huge amount of support here for treating Mateo.

Not to pressure you, but please find a new vet quickly. Untreated diabetes can result in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which is a very serious complication. It means days of expensive hospitalization and your cat's life could be in the balance. FWIW, my cat was a survivor of DKA. See if your vet's office will email you Mateo's lab test results. (You paid for them so you are entitled to a copy.) You can bring them along to a new vet. If there is a cat specialty clinic in your area, that may be a good option.

In the meantime, this is a link to information on feline nutrition. The website is authored by a vet. It will give you background about food. In a nutshell, cats are obligate carnivores. That means that the veggies you've been adding to the food you've been making can't be metabolized. Cats need a diet that's high in animal protein and preferably muscle meat. The vast majority of dry food is high in carbohydrates. There are only 2 brands of dry food that are low in carbs -- Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein and Young Again Zero Carb. They are expensive. There are some other dry foods that are either freeze dried or air dried raw food-- ZiwiPeak or Stella and Chewy's. If you want to make a raw diet for your cat, you can get whatever protein your cat likes at the grocery store and many of us use a pre-mix that provides all of the necessary supplements to make the diet nutritionally complete. I'm guessing that what you're making at home is not a nutritionally complete diet unless you were aware of all of the supplements that are needed (e.g., taurine). The pre-mix I use is made by FoodFurLife.

If you don't have insulin, you need to get Mateo on a low carb diet. We consider low carb as under 10%. The information about carbs is not on the can. The chart that Maria/Corky provided does have nutritional information, including carbs. You can also find cat food carb calculators on the web if you need one.
 
I did get the insulin, my ex God bless him paid for two vet visits and the insulin, I have a glucose meter and the strips coming. But when I was ordered them they said the 25th and after I paid they said the 25th to the 1st... I tried to cancel and get a different one but they wouldn't let me so I'm stuck with that. But Mateo is finally starting to act like himself, and man I sure appreciate everything you just told me I kind of figured the stew wasn't very good for him nutrition wise, but I do have the Fancy feast pate now, and I am going to try the pre-mixed like you said! What a great idea thank you! But yes come Monday I am looking for a new vet!!! Do you know has anybody tried getting a vet online for the prescriptions? Red Rover got a hold of me and I have to call them on Monday to go over my application... And there's other organizations that I'm going to apply to, unfortunately I got sick when I was trying to get all this done, but I'm doing everything I can to take care of myself too so I can take care of Mateo because I know how important this is! I just got to find the right balance, And not let the stress get to me... I am going to do everything I can this is my little man I'm growing old with... Thank you so much for everything you told me. I was kind of freaking out about the food, he's a big boy and just Fancy feast I didn't think was going to be enough for him, not to mention the cost. I SO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ON HERE! ALL OF YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO EMOTIONAL BUT IN A GOOD WAY!
 
All of us were stressed out at the beginning of this journey. I am incredibly comfortable with most things medical, speak fluent "medicalese" and I was still a wreck. It didn't help that when I picked Gabby up from being hospitalized, because the vet thought I was either a nurse or MD, he never showed me how to give a shot and I didn't even think about not really knowing what to do. (Thank goodness for YouTube and FDMB.) That's my way of saying that the stress is normal. Once you're comfortable with getting a routine, it will be easier both for you and Mateo. And, there is usually someone on this board 24/7. We have members from all over the world so it's usually a short wait if you have a question or need support.

I don't think it's ethical for a vet to prescribe without having seen your cat. You'll have to get in to see someone for a first appointment. I suspect it would be any medical professional's nightmare to take a caregiver at face value, write a prescription, and then find out that the problem wasn't what the the caregiver thought it was or that there was some other complicating factor and the prescription caused a critical health problem or the other condition went untreated because the vet didn't lay hands on your cat. It's also why some vets give members considerable push back about changing doses themselves. (They also tend to forget that most human diabetics change their insulin dose without seeing their doctor.) There is a pharmacy in Canada -- Marks Marine Pharmacy -- that many Lantus users purchase from. They will require a prescription once and then keep it on file. However, once the biosimilar version of Lantus was available, the cost for the generic glargine was far more affordable and comparable to purchasing from Canada.

The pre-mix is a powder supplement. You mix it with water then add it to the ground raw food. I make 2 pounds of food at a time and freeze the food in ice cube trays. I defrost what I need overnight for the next day.
 
I was just thinking the online vet because my doctor doesn't want me to do anything... She doesn't want me to monitor him myself... I know I'm going to have to get a new vet, because I've got to have control of my cats recovery I guess you would call it... You're right though I didn't think online that would be the way to go I'm just trying to figure out once they're sure he's on the right insulin how I can get it without having to go to her every time... She pretty much demanded that the prescription dry food for diabetic cats was the only thing I could give my cat, every support group, and pretty much everyone I've talked to has told me Fancy feast is the way to get my cat into remission, and I'm going to do the homemade food with the mixes that you told me about. My vet is totally against this plan. It's going to take me a minute or two to figure things out but he is on the insulin now and I'm giving him Fancy feast, I have hopefully found an organization to help me with funding... I will figure it all out because my cat isn't just a cat to me! He is my family, since I live alone he's the one that has to listen to all my problems ...haha... But I'm going to do what I need to do to get him healthy and hopefully in remission!
 
I just want everybody to know when I talk about having Sjogren's syndrome, I am not whining I promise you I'm learning to live with it.. but stress makes the disease worse, and I get horrible brain fog and it's hard for me to put words together sometimes because they just leave my head... And it's embarrassing because I have such trouble finding the words to say what I mean. I just wanted to put that out there so people understand that sometimes it's hard for me to do these posts and say what I mean.. but it will get better. But it's really embarrassing for me and that's why I'm trying to explain things to everybody
 
When Gabby was diagnosed, my vet loaded me up with prescription food. After a minute here, the next vet visit I returned with all of the prescription food. The vet was pissed. I (somewhat) sweetly asked her what the carb percent was for the food they had sold me. She stared at me blankly -- she didn't know. I told her what the carb counts were and what the carbs were in Fancy Feast. She apologized and said she had no idea. She agreed that I should be feeding Gabby Fancy Feast or whatever I wanted since I understood what was necessary for diabetes management.

Here's the scoop. Vets get a minimal amount of education about nutrition. They often rely on the pet food marketing people who visit their office for the information and they are not going to tell a vet that the dry food they are selling them can be 40% carb (and I'm not kidding). A couple of years ago there was a class action law suit that the pet food companies lost. They are no longer able to call their food "prescription" because there is nothing prescriptive included in most of the foods. Humans do not require a prescription diet for managing diabetes. It's no different for cats. A low carb diet is what's recommended.

If your current vet continues to be a pain, or if you need some literature as a back up with finding a new vet, this is a link to the guidelines for treating diabetes from the American Animal Hospital Assn. It will shoot down most of your current vet's objections and it's by one of her professional associations. We're really not a group of crazy cat ladies. We do our homework!!

This is a link to a post on interviewing for a new vet. It helps you to know what to look for.
 
OMG! YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR! After all the message boards and organizations I've talked to I had no doubt Fancy feast was a way to start! But I had no information to back it up. Doctors always think they know the best and I know from experience that's just not true, this isn't my first support group, and I trust support groups more than I do doctors now... You have to talk to the people that is actually going through it because they're on a mission... Losing my words again but oh my God thank you so much for that!
 
When I get my glucose meter, boy am I going to need you guys! And in regards to YouTube... I learned a lot on YouTube all the time so I know exactly what you're saying
 
Purrrnella said:
When I get my glucose meter, boy am I going to need you guys! And in regards to YouTube... I learned a lot on YouTube all the time so I know exactly what you're saying
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We are all here for you, and at least you have a reason for brain fog, I get them all the time! especially at the beginning when Corky was diagnosed, I was at the point of a breakdown, if I would've not found this Forum my Corky would be dead now, that was 3 years ago, and now, is a walk in the park, we have all been there, Sienne is amazingly well educated on Feline diabetes, she will be able to assist you with dosing, other members as well, you do not need to take your vet in for shots, glucose testing or curves, all that can be done at home, with this Forum, and save tons of money, my Corky is a very healthy boy, I am blessed to say that after diagnosed, he has not stepped Paw in a vets office, I do everything with this Forum, I trust them blindly, of course all cats are different and have different ailments, but if Mateo is healthy, and all he has is diabetes, you can do this right here, and remember you are in control of Mateo you know him better than the Ve, there are plenty of Stick notes in the main menu that have a lot of valuable information, you are not alone.:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
Yes he is healthy, none of his organs were damaged. Since he's on his insulin I took the day off, I just needed to regroup so I can stay healthy for him and get done what I need to get done, I love that you don't have to go to the vet. That's what I'm aiming for I plan on doing it all myself... And you're right he's my cat and I know him... I know the insulin is finally making him feel better... He's getting his attitude back. He's not a lovey dovey snugly cat, but he's got a personality that I love because he's a clown. And he is worth the fight! I'm going to quit stressing and work on a plan, now that I have this site and all you wonderful people I have the confidence I need to do what I have to do! I have to call Red Rover back tomorrow, I guess they can help me with funding. And there are other places I can apply I just have to stay calm and remember why I'm doing this, which isn't hard every time I look at him. Animal lovers are a whole different breed I swear, they are always there for each other and always willing to help! So thank you my friend, because of people like you I know I got this!
 
Purrrnella said:
Yes he is healthy, none of his organs were damaged. Since he's on his insulin I took the day off, I just needed to regroup so I can stay healthy for him and get done what I need to get done, I love that you don't have to go to the vet. That's what I'm aiming for I plan on doing it all myself... And you're right he's my cat and I know him... I know the insulin is finally making him feel better... He's getting his attitude back. He's not a lovey dovey snugly cat, but he's got a personality that I love because he's a clown. And he is worth the fight! I'm going to quit stressing and work on a plan, now that I have this site and all you wonderful people I have the confidence I need to do what I have to do! I have to call Red Rover back tomorrow, I guess they can help me with funding. And there are other places I can apply I just have to stay calm and remember why I'm doing this, which isn't hard every time I look at him. Animal lovers are a whole different breed I swear, they are always there for each other and always willing to help! So thank you my friend, because of people like you I know I got this![/QUOTE
YES you got and if he’s healthy you don’t need the vet as much we can help you is important t for you to always test before you dose, and keep track the BG number on the spreadsheet every time you test before each shot and at least 3-4 times during the day to see how he react to the dose given, we are numbers oriented if you need help setting up the spreadsheet let us know so we can ask another member to make it for you, the quicker it gets done the better to see how he is reacting and help you with dosing so you don’t have to assist to the vet as frequently. Ye, my fue babies are everything, my family, friend companion and support And not having funds for a vet this forum is God sent, we are here for you:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Mateo’s mom need assistance with the spreadsheet
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One problem w/an on-line vet is what happens when you cat is sick and needs labwork or on-hand exam?
Going to the ER for such things when not a real energy is expensive.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
One problem w/an on-line vet is what happens when you cat is sick and needs labwork or on-hand exam?
Going to the ER for such things when not a real energy is expensive.
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How are you doing with the Foundations, and how are you and kitty doing, has DCIN answered you yet?? :bighug::bighug::cat::cat:​
 
Sorry I've been absent, really didn't feel good, feeling better now but anyways I have a bunch of doctors appointments, and one is really early I give Mateo his insulin at 8:00 and I might not get home till about 9:00 is it okay to give it to him late?
 
CORKY said:
How are you doing with the Foundations, and how are you and kitty doing, has DCIN answered you yet?? :bighug::bighug::cat::cat:​
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Yep they got a hold of me... I've just got to find a new vet now.. one that will prescribe the insulin they want me to use, I wanted a new vet anyways
 
Larry and Kitties said:
One problem w/an on-line vet is what happens when you cat is sick and needs labwork or on-hand exam?
Going to the ER for such things when not a real energy is expensive.
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Yeah I'm not even going to consider the online vet now, I'll figure everything out somehow someway... I appreciate everybody and their help on here I truly truly do!
 
Purrrnella said:
Yep they got a hold of me... I've just got to find a new vet now.. one that will prescribe the insulin they want me to use, I wanted a new vet anyways
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The insulin needs to be given at the same time always or you might rum into shooting when the insulin is still in the system and cause Hypoglycemia, as well Mateo will not quickly due to the changes, I am glad the organization contacted you, one less stress for you to feel better:bighug::bighug::cat::cat::bighug:
 
CORKY said:
The insulin needs to be given at the same time always or you might rum into shooting when the insulin is still in the system and cause Hypoglycemia, as well Mateo will not quickly due to the changes, I am glad the organization contacted you, one less stress for you to feel better:bighug::bighug::cat::cat::bighug:
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What about if I do it an hour later? If I have to I can reschedule my test, but they're tested I really need to get done.
 
I looked it up, this is from another organization I'm going to call them to make sure, but this is the information I have so far... After this if I have any appointments I will be sure to schedule them around his shots! :)

If your day's schedule isn't cooperating, it's OK to give the insulin injection as much as 2 hours early or 2 hours late on occasion. Otherwise, try to keep an every 12 (or 24) hour schedule
 
Purrrnella said:
I looked it up, this is from another organization I'm going to call them to make sure, but this is the information I have so far

If your day's schedule isn't cooperating, it's OK to give the insulin injection as much as 2 hours early or 2 hours late on occasion. Otherwise, try to keep an every 12 (or 24) hour schedule
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@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Questions about dosing 2 hours late or early??
 
Please get your signature set up. I tried to sort out what insulin you're using and couldn't readily find it.

With Lantus, shooting late or early is a problem. You have about 30 min of wiggle room. A late shot acts like a dose reduction whereas an early shot acts like a dose increase. Inconsistent timing has an effect on how the insulin works.

With other insulin you have more room for when you shoot. It's really not great to have to alter shot time by 2 hours. If you move a shot time, you need to then adjust the time to get back on schedule. You can adjust by 15 min twice a day or 30 min once a day. Moving shot time by that much is, to put it mildly, an ordeal.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Please get your signature set up. I tried to sort out what insulin you're using and couldn't readily find it.

With Lantus, shooting late or early is a problem. You have about 30 min of wiggle room. A late shot acts like a dose reduction whereas an early shot acts like a dose increase. Inconsistent timing has an effect on how the insulin works.

With other insulin you have more room for when you shoot. It's really not great to have to alter shot time by 2 hours. If you move a shot time, you need to then adjust the time to get back on schedule. You can adjust by 15 min twice a day or 30 min once a day. Moving shot time by that much is, to put it mildly, an ordeal.
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He is on ProZinc for now, I am still trying to find a new vet... I'm not sure what a signature is is that like a profile? I'm going to go right now and try to figure it out
 
Purrrnella said:
He is on ProZinc for now, I am still trying to find a new vet... I'm not sure what a signature is is that like a profile? I'm going to go right now and try to figure it out
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Okay I found where the signature is what do I do put all my cats information? I'm waiting for the glucose meter to be delivered today between 2:00 and 4:00, I honestly have no idea what information you guys need but I'll do whatever you guys need me to.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
The information on what to include in your signature is in this post.
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Okay I will get that done... Sorry to keep bothering you but do you know anything about the clinic at tractor supply and if they help with diabetic cats? The one near me comes by weekly and they'll be here on Saturday. I called the store but they don't have any information I have to wait and talk to the people running the clinic
 
I don't have a clue. I suspect that every store is different. I'm in Ohio and it looks like you're in Michigan.

I've always taken my kitties to a feline specialty clinic.
 
I just made an appointment with a vet or the first, that would be pretty close to 2 weeks since I went to the last one.. it sounds like they will work with me and also give me the lantus insulin (not sure if I spelled it right) that DCIN told me to get.. my Walmart order with the monitor and everything I need for it will be here in just about 5 minutes.
 
Purrrnella said:
I just made an appointment with a vet or the first, that would be pretty close to 2 weeks since I went to the last one.. it sounds like they will work with me and also give me the lantus insulin (not sure if I spelled it right) that DCIN told me to get.. my Walmart order with the monitor and everything I need for it will be here in just about 5 minutes.
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Excellent were on our way!!!:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
:bighug::D:p AMEN!!! Mateo is my buddy, and he's still relatively a baby. We're going to have a nice long life together :bighug: and I will try to get that signature done by tonight.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
The beginning of the journey is overwhelmingly stressful. That's the bad news. The good news is that it becomes a lot easier. Much of what you'll be dealing with initially becomes less of an issue as you develop a routine and realize you can do this and you won't harm your cat in the process. In addition, we have members on this board from all over the world. In practical terms that means we're around pretty much 24/7. We are also used to not every member having a trust fund to pay for vet bills.

You have lots of choices with food. You just want to stick with foods that are under 10% carbohydrates. An option that's not on the list that Maria provided is a raw diet. For those of us who feed our cats a raw diet, we make the food at home. You can buy a ground protein that your cat likes and there are pre-packaged supplements that you add in order for the food to be nutritionally complete. I've never figured out the pricing but I suspect it's on a par with some of the less expensive canned foods.

One other point -- please take care of yourself. If you're struggling, your cat will sense your mood and it will make everything harder. Get some rest. Take a few breaths. And remember, this is doable. You can treat diabetes and, unlike with humans, cats can go into remission. So, one step at a time. We're here to help.
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Still catching up, yes it's going to take me a bit to get used to all this but I'm pretty darn determined. I've already learned quite a bit in the last few days, but boy is it overwhelming.. so much to keep track of, but I got the monitor and all the tools to go with it today, pretty sure I found a new vet I have an appointment on the 1st because that's when I get my check, it'll be about 2 weeks since I've been to the first vet.. and I found this wonderful form, you guys truly are wonderful I'm still scared but I'm not petrified anymore :( I'll probably be bugging all you guys quite a bit in the beginning... So thanks again for everything all of you do I really appreciate it all :cat:
 
Awesome! Remember, step back, breath in and breath out ! it gets easier from now on, We are with you all the way:bighug::bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 

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CORKY said:
Awesome! Remember, step back, breath in and breath out ! it gets easier from now on, We are with you all the way:bighug::bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
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I tried using the lancet pin to get some blood, BOY he is not happy with me :nailbiting: I'm going to give him a break and try later, I don't seem to be able to get enough blood and when I do he won't sit still, waiting for the treats for him to be delivered... I think part of it is I'm really nervous about doing this but I will get it! Like you said I need to just breathe :p
 
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