New member - 04/17/2025. Just been diagnosed and would love advice.

[Po’s Mum]

Po was just recently diagnosed with diabetes. His vet explained some of the treatment options, but recommended Senvelgo. After researching a little, I am nervous to go this route due to the risk of DKA.

Some background:
Po is 9 years old. He has always been a large cat. We’ve fed him various wet and dry foods in the past. He is an indoor cat, and has an older sister (Willo). We bought the cats a huge wheel to run on about six months ago, but have not been successful in getting them to use it (other than as a scratching post / napping spot).

A month ago one morning Po was unusually lethargic and didn’t come to eat breakfast, so we were concerned. We noticed that his back legs were a little unsteady and he was ‘walking on the hocks’. The next day he seemed back to his usual self, but his back legs were still a little weak. (His neuropathy now comes and goes).

We put him on a diet (Origen thin & trim), thinking it was his weight (17lbs) that was causing his neuropathy. On April 5th, we took him to the vet to get fully checked over and have blood and urine tests (senior panel). His BG level was 357 mg/dl and he was negative for ketones. His weight was 1 pound less than it was at his previous visit a year ago. The vet sent off the samples and the test results came back on the 10th confirming diabetes. (His glucose level was 436 mg /dl on the test results that came back from the lab).

I asked the vet about alternative treatment options, saying I was concerned about Senvelgo and she said some people choose to try a prescription based diet, but it is not always effective. She said if we start him on Senvelgo, we would bring him back on day 3 and 7 for tests (in house ketones, and BG) and again, plus fructosamine on day 14. If he was not responding well, then we would start insulin.

I’d like to try diet first, and get a BG / ketones test kit, to test him daily at home for a few weeks, to see if there is any improvement, but don’t want to delay Senvelgo or insulin, if it’s better for him to get started on one of those right away - (if catching it early is more important). The vet also mentioned that vitamin B12 might help with the neuropathy, which I’d like to treat him with too.

He is a happy affectionate cat with a healthy appetite and a noisy voice! He is very gentle, but gets stressed easily if we have visitors. He loves cat bongos (although we’ve stopped that in case it’s not good for his legs).

Our vet sent us his ‘report card’ and all his test results, which I can upload if that would be helpful.
I would love any advice or reassurance on what might be best for him. Thanks so much!

 

[Tim & Pookey]

Welcome! Po sounds like my guy, hates to see a visitor coming lol.

Quick search on the Origen shows 21% carbs, too high for a diabetic. No need for the prescription food… really just need something low carb (less than 10%). There’s a chart in the sticky posts called Dr. Pierson’s Food chart or something like that with a bunch of options. Do the food change over a week or so to avoid any tummy issues.

I’ll let others comment on starting insulin or not. Often times the food will help the numbers though. Either way it would be good to start testing and gathering data, so it sounds like you’re off to a good start!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Here is the food chart, most feed 6% or less carbs
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
Most feed Fancy Feast Classic Pates or Friskies
I assume the Origen is kibble?
You need to transition slowly to the low carb wet food and be sure to monitor Po everyday

Most members use a human meter ,that's what our numbers are based on

Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them. Most of us use human meters
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart on line



Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. Youcan fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capillaries it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets any brand
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up


Here is a video one of our members made, just ignore when she has to code it, that's because she is using a pet meter ,with a human meter like the Relion no coding is needed
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


Here is some information
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-treatments-for-feline-diabetes.284789/


This is what you should use for diabetic neuropathy
the Vitacost brand another member told me about
Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg - 100 Capsules

Same as Zobaline , but the Zobaline is so expensive as you know
This is the same thing
The only difference is the Zobaline has 200 mcgs of folic acid
So I bought the folic acid at the supermarket and crush it up and added it to the Vitacost brand
If you can't find the 200 mcg get the 400 mcg and cut it in half and crush it up and add it, some members didn't even add the folic acid and the neuropathy improved
The Vitacost brand is a capsule so just open it and pour the powder on the wet food
Has no taste, no need to crush it up, I still give it to Tyler every now and then and he has never tasted it in his food , I always add water to his food and just stir up the methyl B-12 good
I switched to the vitacost brand because the zobaline was too expensive,
Even though the vitacost brand is 5000 mcgs and the zobaline is 3000 mcgs
What they don't need they will pee out because it's water soluble.

The Zobaline is expensive for 60 pills, 30.00 some other places want 33.00
I used to use the Zobaline when I joined, then a member told me about the Vitacost brand .

It took about 2 months for Tyler to get back to walking normal, jumping on to the couch, running around
But every few weeks I did see a slight improvement
Some members didn't even add the folic acid to the vitacost brand and it still helped and the neuropathy was gone

https://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules-6

14.49 for 100 capsules

 

[Kobe (Dean and Lesley) MO]

Welcome!

Many of us use human meters to test BG and ketones. The meters are reliable, the strips are more affordable, and the guidelines for insulin dosing that we use are made for human meters. ReliOn is a popular brand for testing BG, and you can get one for under $20 at Walmart. You can test for ketones with urine strips, also available at Walmart... or you can use a device very similar to a BG meter that measures ketones in a small sample of blood. The test strips for the ketone meter are a little bit more expensive, but you won't test for ketones as often, especially if your cat doesn't have them.

I have a blood ketone meter. My boys are pretty secretive about the litter box, and do not appreciate being followed or watched. And my schedule is such that I couldn't always wait for Kobe to produce a urine sample. Especially because he has had ketones, so I was testing daily for a while.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I’d like to try diet first, and get a BG / ketones test kit, to test him daily at home for a few weeks, to see if there is any improvement,

You can create our spreadsheet so you can enter Po's BG numbers , this link will also explain how to use it
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/

 

[Po’s Mum]

Wow, thank you all SO much for this great feedback! I shall absorb it all and get started right away. What an amazing resource this board is! Thank you

 

[Po’s Mum]

Here is the food chart, most feed 6% or less carbs
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
Most feed Fancy Feast Classic Pates or Friskies
I assume the Origen is kibble?
You need to transition slowly to the low carb wet food and be sure to monitor Po everyday

Most members use a human meter ,that's what our numbers are based on

Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them. Most of us use human meters
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart on line



Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. Youcan fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capillaries it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets any brand
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up


Here is a video one of our members made, just ignore when she has to code it, that's because she is using a pet meter ,with a human meter like the Relion no coding is needed
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


Here is some information
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-treatments-for-feline-diabetes.284789/


This is what you should use for diabetic neuropathy
the Vitacost brand another member told me about
Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg - 100 Capsules

Same as Zobaline , but the Zobaline is so expensive as you know
This is the same thing
The only difference is the Zobaline has 200 mcgs of folic acid
So I bought the folic acid at the supermarket and crush it up and added it to the Vitacost brand
If you can't find the 200 mcg get the 400 mcg and cut it in half and crush it up and add it, some members didn't even add the folic acid and the neuropathy improved
The Vitacost brand is a capsule so just open it and pour the powder on the wet food
Has no taste, no need to crush it up, I still give it to Tyler every now and then and he has never tasted it in his food , I always add water to his food and just stir up the methyl B-12 good
I switched to the vitacost brand because the zobaline was too expensive,
Even though the vitacost brand is 5000 mcgs and the zobaline is 3000 mcgs
What they don't need they will pee out because it's water soluble.

The Zobaline is expensive for 60 pills, 30.00 some other places want 33.00
I used to use the Zobaline when I joined, then a member told me about the Vitacost brand .

It took about 2 months for Tyler to get back to walking normal, jumping on to the couch, running around
But every few weeks I did see a slight improvement
Some members didn't even add the folic acid to the vitacost brand and it still helped and the neuropathy was gone

https://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules-6

14.49 for 100 capsules

Here is the food chart, most feed 6% or less carbs
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
Most feed Fancy Feast Classic Pates or Friskies
I assume the Origen is kibble?
You need to transition slowly to the low carb wet food and be sure to monitor Po everyday

Most members use a human meter ,that's what our numbers are based on

Here is the link for the meter and test strips so you don't have to search for them. Most of us use human meters
Relion Premier Classic Meter at Walmart for 9 dollars
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-CLASSIC-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/552134103

The tests strips are 17.88 for 100
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Premier-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-100-Count/575088197
At least if you need more test strips you can run into Walmart and pick them up or if you're running low you can just order them from Walmart on line



Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. Youcan fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up

6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capillaries it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 10 or 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets any brand
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

Try putting a thin layer of Vaseline on the ear so the blood will bead up


Here is a video one of our members made, just ignore when she has to code it, that's because she is using a pet meter ,with a human meter like the Relion no coding is needed
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar


Here is some information
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-treatments-for-feline-diabetes.284789/


This is what you should use for diabetic neuropathy
the Vitacost brand another member told me about
Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg - 100 Capsules

Same as Zobaline , but the Zobaline is so expensive as you know
This is the same thing
The only difference is the Zobaline has 200 mcgs of folic acid
So I bought the folic acid at the supermarket and crush it up and added it to the Vitacost brand
If you can't find the 200 mcg get the 400 mcg and cut it in half and crush it up and add it, some members didn't even add the folic acid and the neuropathy improved
The Vitacost brand is a capsule so just open it and pour the powder on the wet food
Has no taste, no need to crush it up, I still give it to Tyler every now and then and he has never tasted it in his food , I always add water to his food and just stir up the methyl B-12 good
I switched to the vitacost brand because the zobaline was too expensive,
Even though the vitacost brand is 5000 mcgs and the zobaline is 3000 mcgs
What they don't need they will pee out because it's water soluble.

The Zobaline is expensive for 60 pills, 30.00 some other places want 33.00
I used to use the Zobaline when I joined, then a member told me about the Vitacost brand .

It took about 2 months for Tyler to get back to walking normal, jumping on to the couch, running around
But every few weeks I did see a slight improvement
Some members didn't even add the folic acid to the vitacost brand and it still helped and the neuropathy was gone

https://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules-6

14.49 for 100 capsules

Hello, Yes the Origen is kibble. Thank you so much for all these links!

 

[CORKY]

Hello, Yes the Origen is kibble. Thank you so much for all these links!

Welcome to FDF and welcome to Po, you have come to right place, in the main forum you will find sticky notes with valuable information, as the other members spoke of, the diet for a diabetic cat needs to be preferably wet cat food between 0-10% carbs, most of the embers enjoy Fancy Feast Pate's, the Dr's food list contains many brands to choose from, the third column will contain the % of carbs for food chosen, I am sending you a link for a carb calculator, you will type the nutrient of the food to have the % of carb for that food, you should transition slowly from dry to wet slowly, not to cause upset stomach, and it does alter the BG numbers, so it is great to home test, especially before each dose, you fo not want to shoot not knowing Po's BG, you should also create a HYPO KIT, this contains some medium carb food between 0-10% arbs and some high carb food between 16-24% carbs, KARO syrup or honey, this is to be used in case Po's Bg becomes concerning (too low), we like to hike up the BG number with food first rather than the Karo or syrup since this last one is only a quick fix, we can help you if the case arises, You are way ahead, it seems that your Vet is knowledgeable in Feline Diabetes and you are home testing, it is good to test at lest 3-4 times during the day as I said including before each shot. Perhaps you want to ask your Vet for ProZinc or Lantus insulin this is a long lasting 12 hour insulin a better insulin and easier for the cat, although I am not familiar with Senvelgo, I will Post other members that can guide you in dosing, switching from dry to wet, I do not believe will be the only answer, if Po was diagnosed diabetic and a high glucose number, it means his pancreas are not creating insulin and is damaged, since cats cannot digest carbs it takes the place of insulin forcing the pancreas not to create it, so the pancreas need to heal, so the sooner you began the process of dosing the quicker Po's pancreas begin to heal and there won't be other complications
Cat Food Nutrition Calculator | Elizabeth C Scheyder

 

[CORKY]

Welcome to FDF and welcome to Po, you have come to right place, in the main forum you will find sticky notes with valuable information, as the other members spoke of, the diet for a diabetic cat needs to be preferably wet cat food between 0-10% carbs, most of the embers enjoy Fancy Feast Pate's, the Dr's food list contains many brands to choose from, the third column will contain the % of carbs for food chosen, I am sending you a link for a carb calculator, you will type the nutrient of the food to have the % of carb for that food, you should transition slowly from dry to wet slowly, not to cause upset stomach, and it does alter the BG numbers, so it is great to home test, especially before each dose, you fo not want to shoot not knowing Po's BG, you should also create a HYPO KIT, this contains some medium carb food between 0-10% arbs and some high carb food between 16-24% carbs, KARO syrup or honey, this is to be used in case Po's Bg becomes concerning (too low), we like to hike up the BG number with food first rather than the Karo or syrup since this last one is only a quick fix, we can help you if the case arises, You are way ahead, it seems that your Vet is knowledgeable in Feline Diabetes and you are home testing, it is good to test at lest 3-4 times during the day as I said including before each shot. Perhaps you want to ask your Vet for ProZinc or Lantus insulin this is a long lasting 12 hour insulin a better insulin and easier for the cat, although I am not familiar with Senvelgo, I will Post other members that can guide you in dosing, switching from dry to wet, I do not believe will be the only answer, if Po was diagnosed diabetic and a high glucose number, it means his pancreas are not creating insulin and is damaged, since cats cannot digest carbs it takes the place of insulin forcing the pancreas not to create it, so the pancreas need to heal, so the sooner you began the process of dosing the quicker Po's pancreas begin to heal and there won't be other complications
Cat Food Nutrition Calculator | Elizabeth C Scheyder

@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
@Diane Tyler's Mom GA

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Welcome to FDMB.

If you're considering Senvelgo or Bexacat (they are the same class of drug), this is our post on these newer treatments. There are also some comments from member who have been using the medication. While some members have had good results, there are limitations inherent in the use of the drugs and there's not yet any long term research on outcomes.

If you are going to try diet as a first option, I'd encourage you to ditch the dry food. Even the prescription diabetic/dietetic foods are high in carbohydrates. There are only two brands of dry food that are under 10% carb -- Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein and Young Again Zero Carb (it's not zero carb but it's OK). We consider under 10% as low carb. Also, the pet food manufacturers lost a class action lawsuit for calling most of their food "prescription". There's nothing in the diabetic foods that requires a prescription. Those foods aren't always low in carbs and the quality tends to be less than desirable.

You want a specific form of B12 for treating neuropathy. You want methycobalamin (methyl-B12). Zobaline, as mentioned above, is available on Amazon.