Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

[Abby's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

I use Honest Kitchen, so I add water to everything, after all the dry ingredients are mixed. Personally, I would add some water to it, if you are feeding kibble, as kibble is dry to begin with. If wet food, perhaps just a small amount of water.

I do know that this brand does not have any flavors, or additives, and only improved her BG levels.

Barb

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Thank you so much! This forum is a life saver

[CraigM]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Barb - Thanks for the link to the Walmart brand fiber. I might compare the price with what I've been using (Target's Up & Up brand) for my use.

I've been using either the Target, or Costco, generic brand of Benefiber for Annie. The Benefiber style has no taste and dissolves completely in water. I add 1/4 tsp per meal. Don't really know if it helps, but don't think it could hurt. I sometimes use this in my coffee and it doesn't turn to gel like some fibers might.

I'd be sure to add enough water to the food + fiber because some types can expand in the throat and cause choking problems. Read any warnings on the label

Craig

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Thank you Craig!

[Abby's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Barb - Thanks for the link to the Walmart brand fiber. I might compare the price with what I've been using (Target's Up & Up brand) for my use.

Craig

Craig, I use to get this for $11-$13, but most recently I think it was closer to $13.00. It does last a bit, that is for sure. I do not think it is the Walmart brand, however, as I have seen coupons sometimes for this one, and not for Walmart, but for the brand.

I'd be interested to see your cost comparisons.

Barb

[CraigM]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Craig, I use to get this for $11-$13, but most recently I think it was closer to $13.00. It does last a bit, that is for sure. I do not think it is the Walmart brand, however, as I have seen coupons sometimes for this one, and not for Walmart, but for the brand.

I'd be interested to see your cost comparisons.

Barb

i just used a scan app from my iPhone on a container of Walmart's Equate Fiber Therapy (Psyllium) and it said $8.84 for 29 oz / 822 grams. Looks like the Walmart Equate brand is about 1/2 the cost, assuming they are the same general ingredient. I'm not sure this link will work or not: http://scand.it/mRy4kA3mS

Craig

The scan app wouldn't work on the Costco generic Benefiber container's UPS code.

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

One more question. I feed Bo 2x per day (6 am, 6pm). Do you all add fiber with every meal, or just one meal per day?

[Abby's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

I add the fiber with every meal, keeping things consistent...

Barb

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

I figured this was best, just wanted to make sure!! Thank you

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Does anyone else feed Wellness Core grain free reduced fat? I have changed Bo to this and am now wondering if it is "low glycemic" enough for him. I know it is not a certifide low glycemic food but was just wondering if I am the only one feeding this to a diabetic dog. The change in food has messed up his bg so we are now trying to reregulate him. The vet has lowered his dosage from 10u to 8u because of his curve last week. My AT2 just came in the mail today so I am hoping this will help me determine whether or not 8u is too low of a dosage since it has never been enough for him in the past. His last curve numbers were:

6am - 10u and meal
8:30 am - 50 (scared everyone and this is why they decreased his dosage)
10:30 am - 158
1:30 pm - 250
3:30 pm 322

Any thoughts??

[Abby's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

I had Abby on the Wellness Core for a short time, but found it to had raised her numbers, with some big fluctuations.

I see that the 'grain - free' does have potatoes in them, so even though Grain Free, it seems to have some carbs. It is the carbs or the lack of carbs that may may give him wild swing. I have Abby on Honest Kitchen Embark, and it states, no Grain, but it too has potatoes. I do not add anything to her diet, as it seems to keep her pretty level. The other grain free food was Zeal, and it too did not have any grains, and I had to add Millet to keep her level.

What was Bo's reading at fasting... was he low at fasting, and the 50 was a reading where he went even lower? It seems like he may need a more balanced curved, and then a safe increase. But as long as he is getting those 50s that would be cause of concern.

Barb

[Monsters Momma]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

That 50 would have scared me too!! Hopefully, you'll have him back on track in no time!!

[k9diabetes]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

It is really important to separate "grain free" from low carb or carb free. Most grain free foods contain plenty of carbohydrates as potatoes, etc. Vegetables all pretty much contain some carbohydrates.

Low glycemic is not necessarily a worthwhile goal in diabetic dogs.

It's a matter of species differences. Dogs absorb these insulins often quite a bit faster than a person would and they can have sharp drops in blood sugar in the first couple of hours after a meal and injection if their diet is very low in readily digestible carbs.

If everything in the diet is meant to be digested slowly, you set up a very poor balance of food and insulin.

Lots of insulin at first gets used up and causes low blood sugar. Then, some hours later, when the insulin is all but used up, the slow digestion process is finally kicking a bunch of sugar into the blood, sending the blood sugar high.

Dogs all do things differently so whether a dog needs more or less carbs depends on how they absorb their insulin and digest their food. It's not only fine, but often critically important, to provide a rapidly digestible portion of the diet to prevent low blood sugar and make the curve as flat as possible.

This is true of people too, but they also manage their blood sugar differently and "do" diabetes differently. The only book that matters is the one your dog writes!

Natalie

[Bo's Mom]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

We did not have a fasting reading. My AT2 just came in the mail today and I am so glad. I will do my first official home curve Friday. When I decided to change him to WC Reduced Fat, I compared the GA to the GA of Hill's prescription W/D and the carbs were lower in Wellness core (carbs 34.19%) where as in the W/D, the carbs were 50.8. I thought less carbs were good
Should I have went with a high carb food instead? I am also adding fiber. I will feel much better about doing a home curve Friday before I make any adjustments to his insulin.

[k9diabetes]

Re: Bo, 2 yrs old, has diabetes.

Your curve will tell you if what you are doing is working well or not. That's the beauty of curves!

Natalie