Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Bertie was diagnosed in early Jan 2007, at the age of 8.
The diagnosing vet suggested I have him put to sleep, because 'diabetic cats are so difficult to care for'.
Feeling absolutely distraught, I got online and then found that there were people out there successfully treating their diabetic cats. And I found FDMB.
..Needless to say, I also got a new vet.....
Bertie's blood glucose levels were mostly high for quite a long time. And at one point he was on 15 units of insulin a day, split into 3 doses a day.
Over time, and with two changes of insulin, his blood glucose levels dropped and stabilised. And his insulin requirements became less and less and less.
For a couple of years now he's had insulin on an 'as needed basis', initially every few days, but then he'd go as long as 14 days at a time before needing insulin.
Now, he's gone a whole month and is in nice normal numbers today....
I'm not calling it 'remission' because, knowing Bertie, he may well throw me a curve ball....
Bertie is almost 19 now. He is getting a little frail, but still really enjoys life.
I'm immensely proud of my boy.
I do hope our story offers encouragement to others, especially to those who have newly diagnosed kitties, or to those who have kitties that have been on insulin for a while, and who think their situation may not improve much.
I'm also very grateful to FDMB for the support, wisdom, and friendship that I've found here. You taught me how to care for Bertie, and the lessons I learned here undoubtedly saved his life...
Thank you all!
Eliz
The diagnosing vet suggested I have him put to sleep, because 'diabetic cats are so difficult to care for'.
Feeling absolutely distraught, I got online and then found that there were people out there successfully treating their diabetic cats. And I found FDMB.
..Needless to say, I also got a new vet.....
Bertie's blood glucose levels were mostly high for quite a long time. And at one point he was on 15 units of insulin a day, split into 3 doses a day.
Over time, and with two changes of insulin, his blood glucose levels dropped and stabilised. And his insulin requirements became less and less and less.
For a couple of years now he's had insulin on an 'as needed basis', initially every few days, but then he'd go as long as 14 days at a time before needing insulin.
Now, he's gone a whole month and is in nice normal numbers today....
I'm not calling it 'remission' because, knowing Bertie, he may well throw me a curve ball....
Bertie is almost 19 now. He is getting a little frail, but still really enjoys life.
I'm immensely proud of my boy.
I do hope our story offers encouragement to others, especially to those who have newly diagnosed kitties, or to those who have kitties that have been on insulin for a while, and who think their situation may not improve much.
I'm also very grateful to FDMB for the support, wisdom, and friendship that I've found here. You taught me how to care for Bertie, and the lessons I learned here undoubtedly saved his life...
Thank you all!
Eliz
Thank you so much for sharing it, Elizabeth ! Our elder kitties can still surprise us ...what a gift to have him still at 19 
