JenM
Member Since 2013
Hi everyone. I've been absent for quite awhile... but thought I'd hop on to "pay it forward". When my Tink was diagnosed back in 2013, this forum LITERALLY saved his life. My vet hadn't a clue and I felt completely overwhelmed and hopeless. Ya'll quickly turned that around and I quickly became a "pro" with feline diabetes and was able to find a vet that trusted my judgement. Lately Tink has been losing weight and we were having a hard time managing his BG. The other day he stopped eating (which was VERY concerning, because he's normally EXTREMELY interested in anything resembling food - like to the point where he would snatch another cats food before you could even grab him).
Anyway... after 4 years of managing diabetes, I decided awhile ago that we aren't going to go any further than we already were. I wasn't interested in bloodwork, more meds, surgeries, etc. I didn't want to do that to him. His only interest in life was food. There would be no more feeding tubes, etc (we did that back when he was first diagnosed - but he was much younger then). At 14, he's had a a good life, and frankly... I'm tired. My life has been consumed by this cat for 4 years - having to be home every 12 hours for insulin injections. Managing every ounce of food he consumes. Making sure no dirty dishes are left out, no crumbs make it to the floor, locking up anything even remotely edible in cabinets he couldn't get to. He opened the cabinet once and chewed the corner off my bag of flour. Even zucchini, tomatoes and bananas couldnt be left out. He was nuts. And yet I loved every minute of it somehow.
He went downhill VERY fast when he stopped eating. Of course I couldn't really give him his insulin unless I force fed him - which I didn't want to do. I suspect he may have finally given himself a blockage. They knocked over the garbage can the night before he stopped eating... and for whatever reason, Tink ALWAYS had a plastic fetish. He would eat the handles off plastic grocery bags, he LOVED any kind of cellophane... how he made it 14 years without surgery to remove the pounds of plastic he consumed in his lifetime, I'll never know. But... I have a strong suspicion that's what got him. He never seemed in pain though... he just stopped eating. He would sit by the water bowl, but wouldn't drink it. I gave him subQ fluids after he hadn't eaten for 24 hours, to see if that'd perk him up... it didn't. Instead, when I got home on day 2, he'd crashed and was very weak. I took him in for his final vet visit. He was very much at peace and seemed ready to go.
I had just lost my disabled cat 3 weeks prior. That might have played a part too - they were pretty close.
So... now we're down to 3 healthy (knock on wood) young cats.
Long story short, I no longer need my ReliOn Prime monitor, the 100 test strips I just bought (a few missing), the brand new unopened box of syringes that just arrived from ADW, or the 80 or so units of Lantus left in my pen.
Given that this group saved him, I'm hoping I can send this to someone who is either new to this and overwhelmed at the information and cost, or to someone already managing this disease in their precious kitty who is struggling to afford it. If you're in serious need of this, or know someone who is... please reply. Thanks!
Anyway... after 4 years of managing diabetes, I decided awhile ago that we aren't going to go any further than we already were. I wasn't interested in bloodwork, more meds, surgeries, etc. I didn't want to do that to him. His only interest in life was food. There would be no more feeding tubes, etc (we did that back when he was first diagnosed - but he was much younger then). At 14, he's had a a good life, and frankly... I'm tired. My life has been consumed by this cat for 4 years - having to be home every 12 hours for insulin injections. Managing every ounce of food he consumes. Making sure no dirty dishes are left out, no crumbs make it to the floor, locking up anything even remotely edible in cabinets he couldn't get to. He opened the cabinet once and chewed the corner off my bag of flour. Even zucchini, tomatoes and bananas couldnt be left out. He was nuts. And yet I loved every minute of it somehow.
He went downhill VERY fast when he stopped eating. Of course I couldn't really give him his insulin unless I force fed him - which I didn't want to do. I suspect he may have finally given himself a blockage. They knocked over the garbage can the night before he stopped eating... and for whatever reason, Tink ALWAYS had a plastic fetish. He would eat the handles off plastic grocery bags, he LOVED any kind of cellophane... how he made it 14 years without surgery to remove the pounds of plastic he consumed in his lifetime, I'll never know. But... I have a strong suspicion that's what got him. He never seemed in pain though... he just stopped eating. He would sit by the water bowl, but wouldn't drink it. I gave him subQ fluids after he hadn't eaten for 24 hours, to see if that'd perk him up... it didn't. Instead, when I got home on day 2, he'd crashed and was very weak. I took him in for his final vet visit. He was very much at peace and seemed ready to go.
I had just lost my disabled cat 3 weeks prior. That might have played a part too - they were pretty close.
So... now we're down to 3 healthy (knock on wood) young cats.
Long story short, I no longer need my ReliOn Prime monitor, the 100 test strips I just bought (a few missing), the brand new unopened box of syringes that just arrived from ADW, or the 80 or so units of Lantus left in my pen.
Given that this group saved him, I'm hoping I can send this to someone who is either new to this and overwhelmed at the information and cost, or to someone already managing this disease in their precious kitty who is struggling to afford it. If you're in serious need of this, or know someone who is... please reply. Thanks!
You were a good mama. What a thoughtful gesture offering your supplies. Take care and enjoy your three other babies. 
