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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2006I got some bad news this morning about Rumble
I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go in next week and learn how to give him insulin 2 times a day. I am going to definitely need some help from the group on how to deal with it. I have never had a cat with diabetes before. I have no idea what to expect at all I don't know whether to break down and cry or be happy that I saw something wrong with him and got him to the vet to nip it early. All I can do is ask why this? Hasn't he been put through enough in his life? Sorry I am just really upset right now. We have a joyous occasion to celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so happy and sad that I am crying for both > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were the signs, may I ask? My Miss Pua drinks water up the Whazoo, and I'm wondering if I may be facing that in the future as well. kili >> I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose > level [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > kili I noticed that he was drinking a lot more. He turned down his favorite treats. he was always hungry after eating a whole can himself than would eat another can and want more. He started getting a fascination with water more than usual. It also looked like he was getting thinner but he actually weighed more. I was really worried that he was in liver or kidney failure due to his epilepsy and also being on Diazepam. I was a worried Daddy and I can see that I had reason for it. I will give this warning to all cat owners CATS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HIDING PAIN YOU NEED TO WATCH THEM FOR ANY CHANGE > > Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were the > > signs, may I ask? My Miss Pua drinks water up the Whazoo, and I'm [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I will give this warning to all cat owners CATS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HIDING > PAIN YOU NEED TO WATCH THEM FOR ANY CHANGE Miss Pua drinks a ton of water (to the point I gave her her own glass next to her favorite chair - who's the slave here?) and pees a lot. If you take the cat to the vet, do they do a blood test for diabetes? kili >> > Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were > the [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > kili Not necessarily. If it were me, I would take Miss Pua to the vet, describe these symptoms, and specifically request a glucose test. It is much better to catch this problem early rather than late. The cost for the test should be minimal (but should be verified in advance). MaryL > >> > Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were > > the [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > MaryL Thanks, Mary. She's about due for her annual anyway. I'll give it a shot when I can. kili >>> Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were > the [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > kili Yes, they can. I hope she is OK. You don't need more challenges right now!! >>> I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >> level [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > I will give this warning to all cat owners CATS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HIDING > PAIN YOU NEED TO WATCH THEM FOR ANY CHANGE Too true. I don't know how many times over the years I've taken a cat to the vet cause it just doesn't seem right. And it has always been something that needed treatment. Jo >>> I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >> level [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > I will give this warning to all cat owners CATS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HIDING > PAIN YOU NEED TO WATCH THEM FOR ANY CHANGE Matthew, These are all good signs to look for. In addition, I would recommend that everyone should be careful not to use food that is high in carbs. I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly not going to claim that all cats that have free access to dry food will develop diabetes, but the likelihood that cats that *do* develop diabetes were fed on dry food is very high. Incidentally, I have diabetes myself, and I found the same relationship in my own diet. I was able to bring my BG into normal range by completely changing my dietary habits. I have not had to take any medication for two years. This same pattern can be seen in many cats that have developed diabetes. Will you please send private email to me and include your valid email addy? MaryL > I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but > this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly > not going to claim that all cats that have free access to dry food > will develop diabetes, but the likelihood that cats that *do* > develop diabetes were fed on dry food is very high. Are you saying that carbs *cause* diabetes? I thought only genes could do that. It's true that once you have it, cutting back on carbs is a good way, among other things, to keep it under control. But it's my understanding that if you're going to get it, you're going to get it. You don't "cause" it with diet, but you can control it with diet. Joyce > > I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but > > this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Joyce Just like people, there are factors that increase the likelihood of diabetes. Some factors (such as heredity) are beyond our control, but others (such as obesity) can be controlled. Some people (or cats) who would otherwise become diabetic can reduce the likelihood through dietary management. In my own case, *all* of my glucose readings for the past 2 years have been within the normal range, and I do not take any medication. That has been the result of a change in diet. That has primarily been a reduction in certain types of carbs. At the same time, my diabetes has not been "cured" -- instead, it is under control. Likewise, there have been many success stories with cats in which a change of diet has resulted in successful control of diabetes. In many cases, the result has been so successful that insulin is no longer necessary. At the same time, I cannot claim that carbs "causes" diabetes in the sense of x+y=z. However, there is a clear relationship. MaryL > > Are you saying that carbs *cause* diabetes? I thought only genes > > could do that. > > Joyce > Just like people, there are factors that increase the likelihood of > diabetes. Some factors (such as heredity) are beyond our control, but [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > reduction in certain types of carbs. At the same time, my diabetes has not > been "cured" -- instead, it is under control. OK, but you're talking about controlling a disease you have *already* been diagnosed with. I understand and agree that diet and exercise can go a long way to keep diabetes under control, if you have the disease. My question was, if you do *not* have diabetes, can eating a lot of carbs in your diet *bring on* (ie, *cause*) the disease to begin? Again, this is referring to someone who does not already have the disease, not someone who does. I've always understood that, if you do *not* have the disease, eating a carb-rich diet will not *create* the disease. But if you do have it, then lowering carbs and exercising will control it (but not cure it, as you said). Those are two different situations. Do you see the distinction I'm making? I think it's important, because I think a lot of people believe that if they eat a lot of carbs, that's going to "give" them diabetes. Personally, I don't see why you should have to worry about it unless you already have evidence that your body is not processing sugars properly (eg, insulin resistance, or a number of abnormally high sugar readings). But if you have a healthy metabolism, then eating carbs isn't going to give you a diabetic metabolism. I hope that makes more sense. I agree that the issues are probably similar between cats and humans, so I wasn't asking about that. My question above pertains to both cats and humans. Thanks, Joyce > My question was, if you do *not* have diabetes, can eating a lot of carbs > in your diet *bring on* (ie, *cause*) the disease to begin? A book I read answered that question as "yes." I was concerned about low blood sugar (I get migraines when I don't eat, etc.) so I read this book. I can dig out the title and author if you want. It said that with our crappy diets, well it didn't word it exactly like that, but all of the refined and sugary foods we put into our bodies sends our pancreas into a frenzy. It said that when we dump sugar/refined carbs, our pancreas over-reacts because it doesn't know how to handle the load. It sends out too much insulin and then we get tired an hour or two afterwards from the hit of insulin. After years of the pancreas over-reacting, it finally gives out and does not produce any insulin. That's when the type II diabetes kicks in. I suppose you can be more genetically predisposed, but this book says the main culprit is diet. I can see that in cats, their bodies aren't set up for grains and cereals. Many people on the feline diabetes board think that's why so many cats have diabetes -- dry food full of carbs. I read somewhere that a larger percentage of cats now have diabetes than humans. Rhonda > > My question was, if you do *not* have diabetes, can eating a lot of carbs > > in your diet *bring on* (ie, *cause*) the disease to begin? > A book I read answered that question as "yes." > I was concerned about low blood sugar (I get migraines when I don't eat, > etc.) so I read this book. I can dig out the title and author if you want. Yes, thanks. I'd like to check it out. I guess you have a point with all the refined sugars and processed flours and so forth. That's a lot of stress to put on the metabolism. Joyce > > jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt@sonic.net wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I guess you have a point with all the refined sugars and processed > flours and so forth. That's a lot of stress to put on the metabolism. Hi Joyce, The name of the book is "Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia), The 20th Century Epidenmic?" by Martin L. Budd Rhonda > The name of the book is "Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia), The 20th > Century Epidenmic?" by Martin L. Budd Thank you! Joyce > > My question was, if you do *not* have diabetes, can eating a lot of carbs > > in your diet *bring on* (ie, *cause*) the disease to begin? [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > After years of the pancreas over-reacting, it finally gives out and does > not produce any insulin. That's when the type II diabetes kicks in. Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea that the pancreas loses the capability to secrete insulin is just plain wrong. Type II diabetes is not, as is Type I, a disease of insulin shortage. It's a disease of insulin metabolism. Another technical description is that it is a disease of insulin resistance of target cells that need insulin. Yes, some drugs for Type II stimulate the islet cells of the pancreas to secrete insulin when they won't do so on their own, but clearly the capability is still there. Other drugs work on getting the insulin to pass through the cell walls of cells where it is needed to metabolize insulin. The latest approved class of drugs for diabetes, the incretin analogues like Vyatta, are a synthetic version of a hormone that affects the rate at which insulin is generated,the sense of fullness, and, perhaps most important, the rate at which the liver creates circulating sugar from stored glycogen (starch). One common misconception about diabetes is that ingested sugar circulates around until metabolized or does damage. In general, that's not the case. Bursts of high sugar not covered by insulin get converted either to glycogen in the liver (easily converted to sugar) or to circulating fat-like compounds (the problem in atherosclerosis). > I suppose you can be more genetically predisposed, but this book says > the main culprit is diet. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Rhonda > Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea that > the pancreas loses the capability to secrete insulin is just plain wrong. > Type II diabetes is not, as is Type I, a disease of insulin shortage. It's a > disease of insulin metabolism. Another technical description is that it is a > disease of insulin resistance of target cells that need insulin. Hmmm. So what is it then, about diet and weight, that causes or changes this? My friend recently was diagnosed with the beginnings of Type II. She went on the South Beach Diet, a healthy way of eating, lost 35 lbs, and now does not have to take any medication for diabetes. And cats, it seems that they can be diabetic for years, then suddenly their pancreas "kicks in" as my internist vet said, and the cat can be fine again for years before becoming diabetic again. They called it the Honeymoon period and told me to watch for signs of low blood sugar after the shots. Maybe cats diabetes is different than humans? Rhonda Okay, I looked it up -- for humans anyway. Here's what I found: "Type 2 diabetes is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance with an insulin-secretory defect that varies in severity. For type 2 diabetes to develop, both defects must exist: All overweight individuals have insulin resistance, but only those with an inability to increase beta-cell production of insulin develop diabetes. In the progression from normal glucose tolerance to abnormal glucose tolerance, postprandial glucose levels first increase. Eventually, in hepatic gluconeogenesis increases, resulting in fasting hyperglycemia. About 90% of patients who develop type 2 diabetes are obese. Because patients with type 2 diabetes retain the ability to secrete some endogenous insulin, those who are taking insulin do not develop DKA if they stop taking it for some reason. Therefore, they are considered to require insulin but not to depend on insulin. Moreover, patients with type 2 diabetes often do not need treatment with oral antidiabetic medication or insulin if they lose weight." http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic134.htm > Hmmm. So what is it then, about diet and weight, that causes or changes > this? [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Rhonda >> Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea >> that [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > on the South Beach Diet, a healthy way of eating, lost 35 lbs, and now > does not have to take any medication for diabetes. That is exactly what I did. I went on South Beach, but in addition, I eliminated all forms of flour, refined sugar, pasta, rice, and potatoes. I have not needed medication for 2 years, and my glucose levels have stayed completely within the "normal" range during that time. MaryL > And cats, it seems that they can be diabetic for years, then suddenly > their pancreas "kicks in" as my internist vet said, and the cat can be [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Rhonda > > Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea that > > the pancreas loses the capability to secrete insulin is just plain wrong. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Rhonda They still don't know a lot about cat diabetes and there do seem to be differences, but there are also many similarities in behaviour and side effects. > > Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea that > > the pancreas loses the capability to secrete insulin is just plain wrong. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Hmmm. So what is it then, about diet and weight, that causes or changes > this? Not all Type II diabetics are overweight. There's a significant genetic component, and nuances in the symptoms. For example, there's a clinical entity called metabolic syndrome X characterized by certain disorders of fat metabolism (think "cholesterol"), high blood pressure, and not just general overweight but specifically around the abdomen. Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, and indeed heart disease, where the same fat on the hips and thighs is lower risk. > My friend recently was diagnosed with the beginnings of Type II. She > went on the South Beach Diet, a healthy way of eating, lost 35 lbs, and > now does not have to take any medication for diabetes. A low-carb diet such as South Beach works for me. Other diabetics, however, do better on much higher carbs, although the carb type need to be controlled -- there's a rating called "glycemic index" that indicates how fast the food raises blood sugar relative to white bread. Nutrition is complex. If I have half a cup of steel-cut oatmeal with skim milk, an ideal breakfast in classic diabetic diets, my glucose will go sky hight. I can eat ice cream and have relatively low increase. It appears that fat modifies the rate at which I absorb sugars. > And cats, it seems that they can be diabetic for years, then suddenly > their pancreas "kicks in" as my internist vet said, and the cat can be [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Rhonda > Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, and indeed heart > disease, where the same fat on the hips and thighs is lower risk. I have a couple of questions about this. First, do you have any idea why this is? Why does it make a difference where the fat is? Second, are researchers sure that the belly fat causes the diabetes, or is it the other way around, ie, could gaining weight around the middle be an *indication* that the disease is progressing, rather than a cause? I ask this because one or two people I know suddenly started putting on a lot of weight around the middle, on the tummy, without their diet having changed at all. Next time they got a checkup, they found out their sugars were in the diabetic (or "pre-diabetic, ie, insulin resistant) range. I suppose it could be a feedback loop - the more your body is unable to use insulin, the more fat you gain on your belly. Now that makes sense to me. And then, that in turn causes your system to have even more trouble using insulin to metabolize sugar. I do have trouble understanding how the latter part of that works, though. Thanks, Joyce > > Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, and indeed heart > > disease, where the same fat on the hips and thighs is lower risk. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > First, do you have any idea why this is? Why does it make a > difference where the fat is? I'm not Howard ... I've always thought it was more like "We've noticed that people who have belly fat (they used to describe this as apple-shaped) tend to have problems with this, whereas people who have thigh hip fat (pear-shaped) don't." I think it's more of a correlation than a causal thing. Maybe the particular chromasomes go together.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > I've always thought it was more like "We've noticed that people who > have belly fat (they used to describe this as apple-shaped) tend to > have problems with this, whereas people who have thigh hip fat > (pear-shaped) don't." I think it's more of a correlation than a > causal thing. Maybe the particular chromasomes go together. Or, as I said before, maybe the insulin resistance or diabetes is causing the person to collect fat around the belly. Maybe that's where the fat goes when it's created from unmetabolized sugars? Joyce >> > Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, and indeed heart >> > disease, where the same fat on the hips and thighs is lower risk. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > (pear-shaped) don't." I think it's more of a correlation than a > causal thing. Maybe the particular chromasomes go together. There is also a difference in the type of fat that is stored on the abdomen as opposed to the type of fat that is stored on the hip and thigh. The belly fat is referred to as "brown fat". It has a much larger blood supply than other fat. So it has a different effect on metabolism. Jo > Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea that > the pancreas loses the capability to secrete insulin is just plain wrong. > Type II diabetes is not, as is Type I, a disease of insulin shortage. I was away, so missed this discussion, but I'm glad to see that Howard jumped in here and pointed out that what you are all talking about is type II diabetes. I have type I, but people only tend to be aware of type II (because the media keeps telling the public that "if you do this or that, you'll get diabetes" without specifying that they're talking about type II), so I have to explain a lot (no, it won't go away if I 'start' eating right (as if I haven't the past 36 years), no, exercise won't cure me, no my pancreas hasn't produced any insulin in 36 years, it's hardly going to start now) if I say I have diabetes. Often, I rather just don't tell people I have diabetes. It's much easier. Besides, (healthy) people tend to only see you as a walking disease and nothing else. ;o) SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea >> that [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > people I have diabetes. It's much easier. Besides, (healthy) people tend > to only see you as a walking disease and nothing else. ;o) I am Type II, and I understand what you mean when you say that people only tend to be aware of Type II. I find myself doing that unless I know the person has had diabetes since childhood -- which is obviously a misperception on my part. On the other hand, I have not had any problems with telling people I have diabetes. No one as seen me as a walking disease (or they hide it well), but I have seen others refer to this same problem. MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > I am Type II, and I understand what you mean when you say that people only > tend to be aware of Type II. I find myself doing that unless I know the > person has had diabetes since childhood -- which is obviously a > misperception on my part. I don't have this misperception, because my mother's a type I diabetic, so I grew up with that. Hard not to be aware of it when your mom takes a shot every day! I also knew there was another kind of diabetes (type II) that some people got when they got older, that wasn't usually as serious as type I, although some of them also needed insulin. I did believe for a long time that type II was also caused by a breakdown of the pancreas, rather than because the body loses the ability to use the insulin that it's still producing. That is, I thought that type II was just a slower and less extreme version of type I, rather than being a completely different disease that ends up having similar results. Joyce > I was away, so missed this discussion, but I'm glad to see > that Howard jumped in here and pointed out that what you are [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > diabetes. It's much easier. Besides, (healthy) people tend to > only see you as a walking disease and nothing else. ;o) Type II is a lot more common than type I, so I guess that is what most people know about. Type I diabetes is not incompatible with being "healthy". I know a man with type I diabetes who is in his 80s and is still going strong. I think the people with type I diabetes tend to do better than the ones with type II. Bud >> I was away, so missed this discussion, but I'm glad to see >> that Howard jumped in here and pointed out that what you are [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > going strong. I think the people with type I diabetes tend to > do better than the ones with type II. It varies. Some handle the "rules" and others just can't. Some are more plagued by complications than others. My cousin followed the too familiar path. And was a blind alcoholic musician when he died at thirty. He just couldn't handle it once he was an adult and had to deal with it on his own. (And yes there is a reason that path is common. Many diabetics have a serious problem with their eyesight. So music is often an interest. Something you won't lose if you can't see. Something you can still do. But making a living with music is commonly done in clubs and bars. Hard to live a different life from the company you keep no matter what you promise yourself.) Jo >> Type II is a lot more common than type I, so I guess that is >> what most people know about. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > It varies. Some handle the "rules" and others just can't. Some are more > plagued by complications than others. That's just it. And it's not even just about following the rules vs not following them. My sister and I received approximately the same care (even saw the doctor together when we were still kids), ate the same stuff as long as we lived at home (and she eats mostly vegetarian now, and I'm a veggie). She's had diabetes longer than I have. But I'm the one with all the complications, and she has none. So it's not just about following the rules. This thing just affects people different. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >>> Type II is a lot more common than type I, so I guess that is >>> what most people know about. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the complications, and she has none. So it's not just about following the > rules. This thing just affects people different. That has to be incredibly frustrating sometimes. I hope your island summer give you rest and relaxation. Family, and fun and all the very best. I know Mir Mir and Cali will provide laughter. Jo > Type II is a lot more common than type I, so I guess that is > what most people know about. > Type I diabetes is not incompatible with being "healthy". I > know a man with type I diabetes who is in his 80s and is still > going strong. I think the people with type I diabetes tend to > do better than the ones with type II. I once heard a very interesting presentation on the discover of insulin. The speaker had written a book on the subject, and when tracking down relatives of people who had been among the first diabetics to be treated, was pleasantly surprised to discover from her 'widower' that one of them was still alive and quite healthy! Not bad for someone who had been diagnosed when type 1 diabetes meant a slow, painful death by starvation - and that was with the best treatment of the day! SignatureCheryl >> Type II diabetes involves quite a few complex mechanisms,but the idea >> that [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Besides, (healthy) people tend to only see you as a walking disease and > nothing else. ;o) I see you as someone who has a great outlook on life, so many obstacles were/are put in your way and yet you handle your life admirably, you have a positive outlook and last, but not least, you are a purrfect catslave. You are a great and wonderful person, Marina, and we are wishing you have a very enjoyable summer (even though we'll miss you a lot) Polonca and Soncek > I see you as someone who has a great outlook on life, so many obstacles > were/are put in your way and yet you handle your life admirably, you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > have a very enjoyable summer (even though we'll miss you a lot) > Polonca and Soncek Wow. Thank you Polonca. You've made me blush. And I'm leaving in a few hours. Finally, I'll be back with the cats! SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > > > Are you saying that carbs *cause* diabetes? I thought only genes > > > could do that. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Thanks, > Joyce Yes, I do see the distinction you are making, and I think my own answer simply was not clear. I think there are *many* people who *would not* have developed T2 diabetes if they had not spent a lifetime of eating the wrong foods. This certainly does not mean that everyone eating the same foods will develop diabetes, but I think the evidence is clear that a better diet and weight control would have delayed or even prevented the onset of the disease. It may be that some of us are more "predisposed" to develop diabetes, but that is not at all the same thing as saying that it was inevitable that a person would have developed the disease. In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not mean that every cat that is free-fed on dry food will develop diabetes, but the *proportions* are much higher. MaryL > In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs > are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not > mean that every cat that is free-fed on dry food will develop > diabetes, but the *proportions* are much higher. Do you think it's helpful to combine a diet of dry and wet food? Or are you saying that giving cats dry food at all can be a problem? My cats free-feed on dry food, but I also feed them canned twice a day. I certainly don't want to make it more likely for them to get diabetes, but I also like to know that if they get hungry during the day, they can snack. I'm gone for many hours each day. Thanks, Joyce > > In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs > > are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks, > Joyce I previously free-fed my cats on dry cat food. On the advice of a friend who cares for a number of diabetic cats, I changed to a diet comprised only of premium-quality canned cat food. Like you, I am also out of the house for many hours a day (working). I really felt guilty for awhile because my twosome made it *very* clear that they preferred their dry food. I "transitioned" them by using both for awhile, and they gradually became used to a 12-hour schedule. That is, they are fed twice a day and I stay as close as possible to 12 hours for their feeding schedule. They have now adjusted to that schedule and seem happy with it. I was also amazed to see how they have thrived on this diet. Holly, in particular, was always a beautiful, healthy cat. Nevertheless, I suddenly realized that her coat had become more lush, glossy, and all signs of dandruff had disappeared. I left Duffy out of the equation because his transformation has been truly remarkable. On the other hand, his previous circumstances were very different. He had been left at an animal shelter and had lived in a cage for several months, so I am really not comparing the same background as with Holly. Both cats are now happy, gorgeous, and their weight has been perfectly maintained. I hope this helps. I am not an expert on cat diets, but I have become a "believer" in premium canned cat food. MaryL > I hope this helps. I am not an expert on cat diets, but I have become a > "believer" in premium canned cat food. What brand(s) do you use? Joyce > > I hope this helps. I am not an expert on cat diets, but I have become a > > "believer" in premium canned cat food. > > What brand(s) do you use? > > Joyce I use primarily Wellness canned food (3 or 4 varieties) plus lesser amounts of Innova Evo, Eagle Pack, and *occasionally* (expesive) Nature's Variety Prarie. There are no suppliers within 70-75 miles of my home, so I order online through PetFoodDirect.com. They frequently have good discounts (22 percent last week), so I wait until I receive notice via email to place an order. The discounts basically cover the cost of shipping. I buy the 5.5 oz cans. I alternate the varieties (for simplicity, I don't actually mix them). Each cat received 1/3 can twice a day, fed at 12-hour intervals or as close to that as possible. That doesn't sound like much, but both cats are satisfied and have maintained very stable weight. Of course, the amount would depend on your cats' weight. Holly weighs slightly more than 9 pounds and Duffy is a little over 8 pounds. As I said earlier, my cats are satisfied with this. If your cats did seem hungry (yet their weight remained stable), you could mix some extra water with their food. Incidentaly, I do give small amounts of Halo's chicken flavored Liv-a-Littles a couple of times a week. It is freeze-dried chicken, and looks like styrofoam to me, but both cats love it. MaryL > > What brand(s) do you use? > I use primarily Wellness canned food (3 or 4 varieties) plus lesser amounts > of Innova Evo, Eagle Pack, and *occasionally* (expesive) Nature's Variety > Prarie. There are no suppliers within 70-75 miles of my home, so I order > online through PetFoodDirect.com. They frequently have good discounts (22 > percent last week), so I wait until I receive notice via email to place an > order. The discounts basically cover the cost of shipping. Thanks for the info! I never know which premium food is in favor this week and which one has gone out of favor. I remember when Science Diet was all the rage, now nobody who knows anything about feline nutrition would be caught dead giving their cat SD. Same with Iams. So I wasn't sure what to think about the others. Joyce > > > In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs > > > are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > MaryL Okay, Mary, how did you transition your cats to eat the wet, 'cause mine won't touch it. It ends up all ant-infested. kili > Okay, Mary, how did you transition your cats to eat the wet, 'cause mine > won't touch it. It ends up all ant-infested. > > kili It took awhile, and I went through terrible guilt pangs during the process because I knew canned food wasn't what they wanted. They ate very little the first few days, and that made me feel terrible. I persisted because I knew the end result would be better for them, and I had input from a friend who had a lot of experience in this area. Okay, this is what I did: First, I started with canned food with some dry food pressed onto the top to encourage my cats to try the new food. As expected, they picked out the dry food, but they got at least a little of the canned food. I gradually decreased the amount of dry food until it was all canned food (about 2 weeks, if I remember correctly). I stuck to a precise feeding schedule during that first period of a 12-hour schedule. I still follow that as closely as possible, but I thought it was especially important during the transition period so they would become adjusted to the fact that food *would* reappear on schedule. I left each "meal" our for about 30 minutes and *then removed any that remained.* Yes, I had a lot to throw away in the beginning, and I almost felt crying when I knew they were hungry, but it is important to remove leftovers so they will adjust to the new routine. Both cats eventually adjusted, and now it is clear that they *like* the new diet. I no longer worry about removing leftovers -- they usually eat everything within a relatively short period of time. As to the ants that you mentioned: Removing leftovers (as I described) should help a lot with that situation. Be sure to clean the bowls between meals. In addition, some people who have problems with insects place their cat or dog bowls in a shallow, slightly larger dish (larger in diameter, that is). The "outer" dish is kept filled with water. Ants and most other insects cannot reach the food because the water provides a barrier. This will not stop flying insects, but it is a good barrier for crawling insects. I hope this helps. MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > As to the ants that you mentioned: Removing leftovers (as I > described) should help a lot with that situation. Be sure to clean [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > food because the water provides a barrier. This will not stop > flying insects, but it is a good barrier for crawling insects. Oscar appears to dislike eating her wet food in a bowl -- she's much more likely to finish if I put it on a little plate. Weird? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Oscar appears to dislike eating her wet food in a bowl -- she's much > more likely to finish if I put it on a little plate. Weird? That's really not unusual. My theory is that the cat's whiskers may brush the sides of a bowl, and some cats do not like that. I use narrow, ceramic oval bowls (tye type you may have seen in pet stores or Target -- picture of a blue cat in the center of the bowl and checkerboard pattern around the edges). I think the shallow depth and elopngated shape may serve the same purpose. MaryL > I hope this helps. I am not an expert on cat diets, but I have > become a "believer" in premium canned cat food. I had the same experience. Oscar hated switching from wet to dry, but she is much more active and alert now. If I feed her regular dry food now, her belly is all complainy and she curls up in a ball and looks miserable for the day. I just leave the plates out all day, then switch and leave the other plate out all night. This is easier here, with low humidity and no insect problem. She doesn't eat all her food all the time, but I don't really worry too much about it as long as she seems to be maintaining weight. Kili, what about trying Inova Evo? It's a very low carb dry ... maybe that would have some of the benefits. Oscar loves the stuff, but I still mostly insist that she eat the wet. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Kili, what about trying Inova Evo? It's a very low carb dry ... maybe > that would have some of the benefits. Oscar loves the stuff, but I > still mostly insist that she eat the wet. Where do you buy it? At the vet or a local farm store? kili >> Kili, what about trying Inova Evo? It's a very low carb dry ... maybe >> that would have some of the benefits. Oscar loves the stuff, but I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > kili Some pet supply stores carry it, but you do have to *look* for it. I order mine online through PetFoodDirect.com. MaryL >> Kili, what about trying Inova Evo? It's a very low carb dry ... >> maybe that would have some of the benefits. Oscar loves the stuff, >> but I still mostly insist that she eat the wet. > > Where do you buy it? At the vet or a local farm store? There's a locally owned pet supply store near our house -- she has both dog/cat food and horse supplies. She carries it. I don't recall the price, though -- it may be prohibitive for lots of cats. http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=product-detail&pxsl=%2F%2Fproduct%5B%40id %3D%271255%27%5D There's a store finder on the right side of the page ... Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > > In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs > > are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Do you think it's helpful to combine a diet of dry and wet food? Or > are you saying that giving cats dry food at all can be a problem? FOr some cats, yes, probably giving it at all can be a problem. YOu would be astounded at the number of cats whose numbers drop like a stone when taken off all dry food. > My cats free-feed on dry food, but I also feed them canned twice a > day. I certainly don't want to make it more likely for them to get [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Thanks, > Joyce > > In that same vein, cats that are fed food that is high in carbs > > are far more likely to develop diabetes. Again, this does not [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Thanks, > Joyce I free-feed mine, too, but I don't supplement with canned because no matter what brand I buy, they won't eat it! It will sit, all day, then I look at it and the plate is covered with ants, so I gave up. My cats won't even eat people food. Are they subject to diabetes because they're not eating actual meat? kili > > > Are you saying that carbs *cause* diabetes? I thought only genes > > > could do that. [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Thanks, > Joyce Here's an analogy for the point I was trying to make: Smokers have a much higher incidence of lung cancer than non-smokers This does not mean that all smokers will develop lung cancer, and it unfortunately also does not lead to the conclusion that all non-smokers will remain free of lung cancer Nevertheless, there is a clear relationship between smoking and lung cancer. In that same way, there is a relationship between T2 diabetes and certain other factors (some beyon our control, as I said earlier -- such as heredity -- but others well within our control). MaryL > Here's an analogy for the point I was trying to make: Smokers have a much > higher incidence of lung cancer than non-smokers This does not mean that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > other factors (some beyon our control, as I said earlier -- such as > heredity -- but others well within our control). Thanks, Mary, that's much clearer! Makes sense. Joyce > > I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but > > this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Joyce Type II can be caused by eating patterns. Type I is something you can't keep from getting, nor diet control. >> > I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but >> > this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Type II can be caused by eating patterns. Type I is something you can't > keep from getting, nor diet control. Not exactly. Two people can eat exactly the same diet and one will develop Type II and the other will not. Jo > > Type II can be caused by eating patterns. Type I is something you can't > > keep from getting, nor diet control. > Not exactly. Two people can eat exactly the same diet and one will develop > Type II and the other will not. Precisely. The difference is genetic. Joyce >>>> I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but >>>> this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Jo It can *certainly* be triggered by dietary habits. "can be" Doesn't mean everyone will develop it, but you certainly can develop it. Type II diabetes doesn't just happen like Type I does. I guess my point is that it is not "if you are going to get it, you are going to get it". That just isn't how type II works. >>>>> I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but >>>>> this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > is not "if you are going to get it, you are going to get it". That just > isn't how type II works. Well stated. Thanks. MaryL > > I realize this isn't really a wet food vs. dry food thread, but > > this really is one of the problems with dry food. I am certainly [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > it. You don't "cause" it with diet, but you can control it with > diet. There's having a disease, and there's having to medicate it. Say a cat has diabetese and is put on insulin. Then diet changes allow the insulin level to be reduced to the point where it's no longer necessary. The cat still has diabetes and should be monitored, but surely it's an improvement that the cat no longer has to be medicated. It's like this Crohn's stuff my doctor says I have. I may really have it, and that's forever, but I may be able to prevent the pain and associated problems through diet and lifestyle management. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca Hi Kili, Bob's symptoms were drinking a lot, peeing a lot (I noticed SOMEONE was soaking the litter boxes more than normal,) and losing weight. I petted him one day and could feel his backbone and I knew something was very wrong. Turns out he had lost 3 pounds. He had had a steroid shot for possible allergies 3 weeks prior and that's what triggered the diabetes. None of our cats will EVER get steroids again! Rhonda > Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were the > signs, may I ask? My Miss Pua drinks water up the Whazoo, and I'm wondering > if I may be facing that in the future as well. > > kili > Hi Kili, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Rhonda Shoots, now I wonder if Miss Pua has it because she's fascinated by water, drinks a lot and pees a lot. She seems healthy, though, but I'll keep a closer eye on her. Thanks. kili > Shoots, now I wonder if Miss Pua has it because she's fascinated by > water, drinks a lot and pees a lot. She seems healthy, though, but > I'll keep a closer eye on her. Thanks. If you suspect it, don't wait. Every day that her glucose is too high is a day that damages her eyes and kidneys and increases her risk of heart disease. By the time symptoms show, lots of damage is already done. Chak SignatureThe triumph can't be had without the struggle. --Wilma Rudolph Rhonda <san-toki@attremovethis.net> wrote in news:449AB9A1.20305 @attremovethis.net: > He had had a steroid shot for possible allergies 3 weeks prior and > that's what triggered the diabetes. None of our cats will EVER get > steroids again! Steroids can cause diabetes in humans, too. Chak SignatureThe triumph can't be had without the struggle. --Wilma Rudolph > Hi Kili, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that's what triggered the diabetes. None of our cats will EVER get > steroids again! Might I suggest that the issue is not to avoid corticosteroids completely, but use them, as with antibiotics, prudently? There are any number of conditions where these drugs can be lifesaving, or have a major role in decreasing discomfort. It's very rare for a short course (1-2 weeks) of corticosteroids, with the dose tapered down during therapy, to have significant problems. I'm wondering if the shot he had was a long-release type. >>Hi Kili, >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > dose tapered down during therapy, to have significant problems. I'm > wondering if the shot he had was a long-release type. I don't know, but it was one shot. That one shot cost us $4,000 in six months and cost Bob a lot of pain and discomfort. He had pancreatitus to go along with diabetes. It would have to be a no-other-options, life-saving thing for me to even consider using steroids on one of our cats again. Rhonda >I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am > so happy and sad that I am crying for both Purrs and prayers both on the way. Diabetes in cats is apparently fairly common. A friends cat had to have injections twice a day, and it was kind of cute the friends father learning to give the cat shots and going over to take care of him when ever his son had to work out of town. Which was fairly often. Dad was NOT a cat person, except of course for this particularly special cat that happened to really like him. Jo Yes, the worst thing about a sick cat is they usually hide it so well that by the time the symptoms are apparent, the cat is very, very ill. The moment I notice my cats hiding out in reclusive corners and staying there (very unlike my social kitties) I know something is wrong and I take them to the vet then rather than wait until I can physically see signs of illness. > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both Our deepest prayers that Rumble recovers and is able to live a long life with the new kitten. > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both >I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am > so happy and sad that I am crying for both There is no need to be sad, Matthew. A diagnosis of diabetes is far from a death sentence now-a-days. Diabetes in cats, just as in humans, can be quite easily handled with just a little care. Rumble still has many good years in him, and now that you know about the diabetes and can deal with it he'll be feeling much better - so celebrate! SignatureHugs, CatNipped See all my masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped/ Matthew, We had a cat that had diabetes, and I know how that diagnosis hits you. I was stunned, absolutely stunned, and walked around in a daze for at least 24 hours. I am afraid of needles and shots and I learned to give them. If I can do it, anyone can. Bob didn't seem to mind them at all. I don't think they hurt -- they feel like a mosquito bite. My boyfriend used to give Bob shots while Bob was eating even. By the way, have the vet let you give a practice injection to Rumble in their office. When they showed me -- they gave the practice one and I watched. It would have been much better for me to give one there. You can ask any diabetes questions here of course, but there is a message group completely devoted to feline diabetes. The format is different than this but the people are wonderful. Many of them have more practical experience than vets! They are devoted to helping cats with diabetes and they helped me every step of the way. You can access the board from the website www.felinediabetes.com. It would be a good idea for you to sign up for that right away and start reading. Many cats live years and years with diabetes. Bob lived for 2 years with it, but he actually died from cancer. His diabetes was under control and I think he would have lived for many years with just that. Give yourself some time to get used to the idea, but I think you'll be just fine. You and Rumble will work it out. Take care, Rhonda > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > something wrong with him and got him to the vet to nip it early. All I can > do is ask why this? Hasn't he been put through enough in his life? Purrs for you and Rumble. I think feline diabetes can be controlled with insulin injections. How old is Rumble? I know in humans, chances of getting diabetes increases after age 40. I sympathize with how you feel. Rusty is giving me grey hair. Instead of having problem of the year, he seems to have problem of the month. I have taken him to the vet just about every month this year, and the year is not half over yet. Not to mentione all the prescription food he eats. At 12, it is going to get worse as he ages. Is there a presciption food for diabetic cat? Do they have to watch their diet like diabetic humans do? I know exercise helps with the blood sugar level. You may want to ask the vet about it and see whether and what ways you can get Rumble to exercise more. Winnie > Sorry I am just really upset right now. We have a joyous occasion to > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. Diabetic cats can be controlled with diet. Megan (zuzu22) is very knowlegable on the subject - you might check her website. -L. > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His > Glucose level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I > am so happy and sad that I am crying for both Lots of purrs for Rumble. Marina's Frank had diabetes, he still had a good life. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go > in next week and learn how to give him insulin 2 times a day. I am going to > definitely need some help from the group on how to deal with it. I have > never had a cat with diabetes before. I have no idea what to expect at all I'm so sorry, Matthew. We are sending lots of purrs that you can figure it out with Rumble. I've had type I diabetes since I was 5 years old, but I don't really have any advice on how to care for a diabetic cat. Karen can probably be of more help. Anyway, positive vibes on the way from this diabetic to that one. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki I'm sorry to hear the bad news. But I think diabetes in cats can be controlled quite well. I'm sure Rumble has many good years left in him. Purrs, SignatureBritta Purring is an automatic safety valve device for dealing with happiness overflow. Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His > Glucose level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I > am so happy and sad that I am crying for both My Fritzie was diabetic for the last several years of his life. And believe me, you’re lucky you caught Rumble’s now, because in Fritzie’s case his sugar was several hundred points higher than Rumble’s and we came within a whisker of losing him. Your vet will give you a diabetic diet for Rumble. Hills and Purina both make excellent varieties. It’s a hair pricier than the usual stuff from the pet food aisle, but you’ll see a huge difference in the long run. The insulin is easier than you’d think. A cat has a flap of skin at the nape of the neck, where Mama takes her kittens to carry them about, and this is where you give the shot. You pull up the skin to make a little pyramid or tent of flesh, keep the needle as close to a 45 degree angle as you can, insert and pump the syringe. The needles will be prescribed and you get them from a regular pharmacist; the insulin is regular human insulin. See if you can get the type of syringes with shorter needles. They seem to work better on a cat. Fritzie never flinched when we gave him his shots. The quicker you do it, the less discomfort. Keep the used needles in a tough container like an empty bleach bottle and when it’s full the vet will dispose of it for you. The vet may even prescribe pills such as some type 2 diabetics use, like Glucophage; you’d need to get a pill splitter to halve or quarter it. The good news is that, with diligent care, a cat can go into remission. We don’t know why cats can and two-leggers can’t yet, but this is what our vet told us. It happened twice to Fritzie, which brings me to the next thing: after remission, it can return. Get Rumble a glucosamine test every month and a fructosamine—a more involved sort of screening—every three months, or as your vet recommends. These tests will show the progression of the diabetes, the effectiveness of the treatment and diet, and help you to adjust the treatment accordingly. The other good news is that you got it in time. That’s a huge component. Feline diabetes can be controlled and Rumble can share a good, long, normal lifespan with you. And I know you love him dearly and give him good care, and won’t let this turn into something uncontrollably horrid. I really want to stress that feline diabetes is *not* a death sentence for a cat who gets good, loving and watchful care from his two-legged servant. Fritzie lived to the age of nineteen after many years diabetic. Your vet will help you make the best health and quality of life for Rumble, I can bet the bank on that. In the meantime, prayers from me and purrs from my four little masters for both you and Rumble. If you believe in the saints have a word with Francis on Rumble’s behalf; I certainly will, having been in your shoes. But you are a strong and conscientious man, and I have no doubt the shoes will fit you well. Blessed be, Baha I would skip the vet diet and go to a good low car canned food (you will find a chart at the site I gave.) I would also home test, just like with humans. No way would I give shots without testing. When Pearls numbers suddenly settled, if I had not known from testing, I would have just shot and very likely sent her into insulin shock. It isn't hard. She doesn't mind testing at all and she is a kind of grumpy kitty. You'll be fine. > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level > is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both Of course you're upset! OTOH, as you said, it's wonderful that you got him when you did. You no doubt saved his life. With the support of everybody here, and advice from those who have experience with this sort of thing, you're going to give him a long, happy life. And you know he's already much better off than he was. ((((((((((Matthew and Rumble)))))))))) Joy > Sorry I am just really upset right now. We have a joyous occasion to > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so > happy and sad that I am crying for both I'm so sorry about the bad news about Rumble, Matthew. However, I'm sure that in your hands, he will get the best and most loving care and diabetes management from you. It does seem unjust that one cat has to deal with so many of life's unkindnesses. Nina and Francesca send their purrs to Rumble, Melissa >I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am > so happy and sad that I am crying for both Matthew, I wish I had more time to give you information, unfortunately I've got to catch a plane in about 2 1/2 hours and I have to be at the airport 2 hours in advance (Atlanta, what can I say?). However, my Hobbes is diabetic and I can tell you that this is not a death sentence. This is something that you'll get used to. I promise you that! When I first started giving Hobbes shots it was a nightmare! We did not do well at all. I was nervous, he was mad, I whined to the group, I reserarched everything I could find. Now, 6 months later it is second nature to both of us and we're both happy campers. I haven't started home testing yet but need to. I know that Karen home tests Pearl and she can give you information about that. Tish has years of experience with a diabetic cat and she can give you a lot of good information. Right now, being short of time, the best advice I can give to you is to take a deep breath and relax. Everything is going to be fine. You are going to learn some very scarey things in the next few days and probably be overwhelmed, but this too shall pass and you'll get into a routine. You are a good Paw and you and Rumble will work this out. Hugs and purrs and headbutts from Hobbes who has grown used to his shots. I'll be back on Sunday evening and I'll check in with you. I hate leaving....I can't say enough to you right now to help you relax because I know what you are feeling. Take care of yourself as well. Julie, Hobbes, Selena, Lacey, Sam, and Barnabus Purrs and prayers for Rumble and you. Hope everything works out for the best. Lily & her mama SignatureIrulan from the stars we come to the stars we return from now until the end of time >I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am > so happy and sad that I am crying for both Phil P has stated a number of times that by giving a diabetic cat a canned diet he has been able to take it completely off of insulin. I see that you pinged him on another newsgroup. Hopefully he will respond. ---MIKE--- >>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire >> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580') ... He is diabetic. I am going to have to go > in next week and learn how to give him insulin 2 times a day. ... Matthew, A number of years ago our cat, Josh, was diagnosed as diabetic. I was sure I would not be able to give him the injections, but I learned and was surprised how easy it was (after the first time when I filled the needle, inserted it, withdrew it, and then pushed the plunger.) Annie >I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose >level is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have >to go in next week and learn how to give him insulin 2 times a day. I am >going to definitely need some help from the group on how to deal with it. >I have never had a cat with diabetes before. I have no idea what to expect >at all Thank goodness that you noticed something wrong in time. ISTR there are several people on the group who have diabetic cats who can advise you how to manage Rumble's condition. At least it is something that can be controlled with meds and he doesn't have something much worse. Tweed > I was woke up to some bad news about Rumb |
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