Hello! Newly diabetic kitty - food guidance appreciated

[daeseage]

Hello! I just found this forum after spending all of yesterday reading and getting set up on the old forum, only to realize I can't post! I'm so relieved to find the community is still active.

• Me: Lindsey
• Kitty: Meathead, 10 years old, previously healthy other than reocurring skin rash/plaques that appear related to diet
• Diabetes diagnosis: 6/11/2025
• Insulin: Lantus
• Blood glucose meter: Walgreen's True Metrix
• Diet: combo Hill's Sensitive Skin & Stomach, with warm water
• Dosing approach: SLGS
• Other health conditions: in DK at time of diagnosis. History of skin lesions/plaques
• Meathead's Spreadsheet

After Meat was diagnosed a couple weeks ago and spent 3 days at the emergency vet, the vet discouraged me from doing glucose testing at home. I was advised to just dose the insulin by how much he eats. That seemed strange to me - we have many diabetic human fanily members and they always dose by the numbers! After 2 half-doses last week he was increasingly thirsty and lethargic over the weekend, so I went bought a meter yesterday and started doing more active research. Fortunately he's perked up again and we're going to be testing several times a day until things get dialed in.

We have a follow-up appointment with the vet next week and I'm hoping to have a more informed conversation about dosinh and appropriate diet. After learning more about the carb content of his current food, I'd like to find a healthier option that won't bring back the skin issues. I'm really looking forward to learning more from everyone here!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hello and welcome. I'm glad you found us.

Was his hospitalization due to DKA? If so, could you put "DKA on dx" or "DKA on date" in the signature. That's a significant even that influences some of our decisions.

Are you home testing Meathead for ketones? Ketones can be an early warning system on DKA and can rise quickly, so it's a good idea to test regularly. You can buy either urine test strips such as Ketostix (info here: Tips to catch and test a urine sample) or a blood glucose meter that tests for ketones.

Good on you for starting home testing - it's the best way to keep them safe. What day did he start insulin? Has he been on 1 unit since then, except the two half doses? Your diabetic family members have it right. If he did have DKA, you really want to keep up the insulin dosing. Sorry for the many questions to start.

How is Meat's appetite now? Kitties recovering from DKA should be getting 1.5 times the normal amount of calories, as well as plenty of fluids to help flush ketones. If not eating well, he needs an anti nausea medication.

OK, onto food. Here we believe that low carb food (10% or under carbs) wet food or raw is best for diabetics. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances or other health issues that do need to be accommodated. However, many times there are alternatives to the vet foods. Is Meat eating wet or dry food? The hills wet (depends on flavour) is about 10% carbs, the dry 36%.

What proteins have you tried with Meat before hand? The Hills, depending on wet or dry seems to be chicken and/or fish. Both of which are common allergens. I have an IBD kitty (not Neko) who does best on rabbit and turkey. But you really have to read labels as so many products have other proteins in them. And sometimes it's not the proteins but the gums or other additives.

 

[daeseage]

Was his hospitalization due to DKA? If so, could you put "DKA on dx" or "DKA on date" in the signature. That's a significant even that influences some of our decisions.

Per the emergency vet, it hadn't progressed to DKA yet - apparently there were significant ketones, but they stressed it was "ketosis" not "ketoacidosis".

Are you home testing Meathead for ketones? Ketones can be an early warning system on DKA and can rise quickly, so it's a good idea to test regularly. You can buy either urine test strips such as Ketostix (info here: Tips to catch and test a urine sample) or a blood glucose meter that tests for ketones.

I was worried about ketosis again yesterday and picked up some urine test strips at the pharmacy. I haven't been able to catch him at the litter box yet - I always realize where he is just after he's finished! I'll try some of those tricks tonight to see if I can catch a sample.

What day did he start insulin? Has he been on 1 unit since then, except the two half doses?

He started insulin at the hospital on 6/12/25. Looking at the notes, they had him on Humulin briefly, then switched him to Lantus before discharge on 6/13/25. He's been on 1U Lantus twice daily since then. He's mostly been a really good eater since then - I think we've skipped one dose per the vet's "don't give insulin if he doesn't" eat and have given a handful of 1/2 doses. I am kicking myself for not charting this whole time.

How is Meat's appetite now? Kitties recovering from DKA should be getting 1.5 times the normal amount of calories, as well as plenty of fluids to help flush ketones.

He wasn't very hungry Friday and didn't each much Saturday. Sunday and today he's been ravenous and has finished nearly everything he's been offered. I didn't realize he should have that much more food and will try to offer more frequently. I can't keep food out for him unsupervised because our other cat is a pushy glutton.

Is Meat eating wet or dry food? The hills wet (depends on flavour) is about 10% carbs, the dry 36%.

He's mostly been getting dry food, with warm water added. The wet is usually a large spoonful as a topper to get him to eat. Wet is "Hills Science Diet - Sensative Stomach & Skin Adult - Chicken & Vegetable Entrée". Dry is "Hills Science Diet - Sensative Stomach & Skin Adult - Chicken & Rice Recipe".

What proteins have you tried with Meat before hand? The Hills, depending on wet or dry seems to be chicken and/or fish. Both of which are common allergens. I have an IBD kitty (not Neko) who does best on rabbit and turkey. But you really have to read labels as so many products have other proteins in them. And sometimes it's not the proteins but the gums or other additives.

I've only had him for about a year - previously he belonged to a coworker's brother. I have some history, but food seems to have varied quite a bite. I'm very certain that he's had chicken and salmon. When I was looking to make a food switch after a bad flareup late last summer I had a very hard time finding novel proteins so we went with the Hills since it has hydrolyzed chicken protein. I brought up allergen testing with the vet once, but they didn't seem enthusiastic about it.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Looks like the HIlls wet could be considered low carb, but just barely. Do you think he'd eat more of the wet food?

Cat allergies can build over time, so him having had chicken or fish before doesn't mean he could tolerate it now. There are low carb options with turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, venison, beef (also a common allergen), that are commercially available. This food list has some as of a couple years ago. Manufacturers do add new products. It lists the carbs. I just searched the list for rabbit when I was looking for something for my IBD kitty.

I brought up allergen testing with the vet once, but they didn't seem enthusiastic about it.

I've heard the same - don't think there's particularly good options out there to do it. And there's even been a scam in the past. People got results from stuffed animal hair sent it. Or different results from two hair samples from the same cat.

Regarding dosing, just keep on gathering data, and we'll be able to provide more ideas after a couple more days of data. Test before each shot, and somewhere between shots when you can, including at night before bed.

 

[Mary & Jude]

Hi Lindsey! Welcome to the forum. Good for you to look into and start testing Meathead! You can continue posting here if you wish, or if you want to go over to the Lantus forum and join other Lantus users, you're welcome there as well. Good luck as you work to get Meathead regulated.

 

[Sienne & Gabby (GA)]

Glad you found us here. There is a great deal of information on the "old" board. A good portion of it is copied here on the Health Links and FAQs page.

I would take issue with your vet suggesting that you don't need to test Meathead. I really wonder whether a vet would have the same reaction if it was their infant that was diagnosed with diabetes and the pediatrician said that it was just fine to shoot blind and hope for the best. If it were my kid or my cat I'd be aggressively scratching my head and wondering where the vet was trained. I'm glad you bought a meter!

My thoughts were much the same as Wendy's. I would take a look at novel proteins. I've also seen some elimination diets for cats. Most of the elimination diets suggest hydrolyzed protein and may not be low carb though.