Cat just diagnosed with diabetes

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Loretta Quinn

Loretta Quinn

Member Since 2019
I'm real nervous about giving my cat an injection. I still have to get all of the supplies which I am working on today. I've been reading about injections and how to and the vet will be by to show me. My cat is very shy and I'm just hoping that it can become a routine.
 
Welcome to the best place for advice and support! :) We all remember how scary and nerve wracking this was at the start. What insulin will you be using? Has your vet said anything about testing blood glucose at home? We can help with all of that.
 
Thank so much, it's comforting to know that I'm not alone on this new road. Here is what the vet is suggesting. If you know of any better pricing or any additional info, it is most appreciated!

1) Glargine insulin (Lantus); one 3ml (100units/ml) syringe. I'm estimating it will last around 2 months initially. I've priced it through two vet pharmacies for about $173. Feel free to contact the pharmacy you normally use to see if it can be found for less.

2) Royal Cannin Glycobalance - diabetic cat food ~$30 for a 4 # bag

3) Alpha trac glucometer
https://www.amazon.com/AlphaTRAK-Bl...stem/dp/B007Z0XULY/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
This will help you monitor Buddy's bloodsugar at home and help us get him regulated more easily. Generally, when giving Glargine insulin, only 4 readings need to be taken over a 12 hour period. (This is much better that older methods that required hourly readings over 24 hours! :-) )
 
Here are my comments and suggestions:
  1. Lantus is a great insulin for cats. The usual starting dose is 1 unit given every 12 hours. Is that what your vet prescribed? Based on the price you were given I'm guessing you aren't in the US (the price would be double that there). If you're in Canada, you can buy Lantus over the counter for about $120 per 10 mL vial. That's true in Ontario. That 10 mL vial will contain 1000 units of insulin and should last you many, many months longer than what your vet said. You can also buy Lantus pens as a 5-pack which are better value.
  2. We recommend a diet of only low carb wet food. All kibble is too high in carbs, even that marketed for diabetic cats. The wet version of RC Glycobalance is too high in carbs as well. Plain old Fancy Feast or Friskies pate style wet food are fine and there are many optiions in the high end wet food brands that are good as well. You want to keep it at less than 10% carbs as feed - less is better.
  3. Vets like the AT meter because it gives reading closer to what they measure in clinic. However thes test strips for it are very expensive and not readily available should you run short. That's why most of us switch to a human meter with its cheaper strips that can be bought 24/7. A human meter will read lower but we can teach you how to understand those numbers.
It would be helpful if you set up your signature (the light grey text you see under my post). Here's how:
  • click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
  • click on "signature" in the men that drops down
  • type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using /glucose meter you're using/what he eats/any other meds or health issues he has.
  • your general location (country, time zone)
Another thing that will help us help you now given that you'll be testing BG at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. We can all see it and look at it before offering advice: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

That's a start. Feel free to ask a ton of questions. The learning curve is steep and there's an avalanche of information to absorb but we can help. :)
 
Hi and welcome to FDMB Loretta. Your kitty is precious! I was just typing out an response and saw Kris's answer. She said everything I was putting down.
I will tell you though, that you are not the only one to post your first thread feeling nervous and unsure. You will find the resources you need here, as well as an entire community of support while you learn about feline diabetes and treatment.
Read the information in the FAQs forum and the Lantus forum, ask questions and know that you are not alone on this new adventure. One step at a time and before you know it, you will be offering support and input to another new member.
 
Thanks for the great info. I am in the US so I guess that's a decent price for the Lantus. I'll talk to her about the wet only diet and the meter option(s).

This is all a bit overwhelming! :(
 
Idjit's mom said:
Hi and welcome to FDMB Loretta. Your kitty is precious! I was just typing out an response and saw Kris's answer. She said everything I was putting down.
I will tell you though, that you are not the only one to post your first thread feeling nervous and unsure. You will find the resources you need here, as well as an entire community of support while you learn about feline diabetes and treatment.
Read the information in the FAQs forum and the Lantus forum, ask questions and know that you are not alone on this new adventure. One step at a time and before you know it, you will be offering support and input to another new member.
Click to expand...
Idjit's mom said:
Hi and welcome to FDMB Loretta. Your kitty is precious! I was just typing out an response and saw Kris's answer. She said everything I was putting down.
I will tell you though, that you are not the only one to post your first thread feeling nervous and unsure. You will find the resources you need here, as well as an entire community of support while you learn about feline diabetes and treatment.
Read the information in the FAQs forum and the Lantus forum, ask questions and know that you are not alone on this new adventure. One step at a time and before you know it, you will be offering support and input to another new member.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much!
 
Loretta Quinn said:
Thanks for the great info. I am in the US so I guess that's a decent price for the Lantus. I'll talk to her about the wet only diet and the meter option(s).

This is all a bit overwhelming! :(
Click to expand...
That's an astounding price for Lantus in the US! Is that for a 10 mL vial or a single Lantus Solostar pen?

FWIW - my vet told me to switch immediately to low carb wet food when Teasel was diagnosed. He was put on prescription Purina Pro Plan DM pate canned food which is 6% carbs as fed. If your vet stocks that it might be a compromise she can live with.
 
Loretta Quinn said:
Thanks for the great info. I am in the US so I guess that's a decent price for the Lantus. I'll talk to her about the wet only diet and the meter option(s).

This is all a bit overwhelming! :(
Click to expand...
Loretta, I know it's overwhelming and confusing at first, but please consider the wet low carb diet for your kitty. Some cats actually achieve remission by changing the diet, with some insulin therapy. Idjit was one of those fortunate cats, so it does make a difference. But the testing is a critical component in that happening. We changed the diet, injected insulin and were not testing as we should have been, Idjit's BG went right down and we got into some low numbers. Not critical, but we should have been more on the ball. We were just learning and not aware of what could happen. Just so you know. :)
 
Idjit's mom said:
Loretta, I know it's overwhelming and confusing at first, but please consider the wet low carb diet for your kitty. Some cats actually achieve remission by changing the diet, with some insulin therapy. Idjit was one of those fortunate cats, so it does make a difference. But the testing is a critical component in that happening. We changed the diet, injected insulin and were not testing as we should have been, Idjit's BG went right down and we got into some low numbers. Not critical, but we should have been more on the ball. We were just learning and not aware of what could happen. Just so you know. :)
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Thanks Lou, I will be firm about the wet food.
 
Kris & Teasel said:
That's an astounding price for Lantus in the US! Is that for a 10 mL vial or a single Lantus Solostar pen?

FWIW - my vet told me to switch immediately to low carb wet food when Teasel was diagnosed. He was put on prescription Purina Pro Plan DM pate canned food which is 6% carbs as fed. If your vet stocks that it might be a compromise she can live with.
Click to expand...
back to the Lantus, that price is for one 3ml (100 units/ml) syringe. She said it should last about two months.
 
Hello and welcome! I have only been here about a month and I totally relate to the overwhelming amount of information and stress that comes with this diagnosis. I am still often confused (but thankfully have the wonderful people on this BB to walk me through everything!!), but I am way less stressed about blood glucose testing and injections, which was a HUGE hurdle! My vet put my cat on Purina DM wet and dry, but I have since switched to Fancy Feast pates which are lower in carbs and price than the Purina DM. I also bought a human BG meter as the pet one was much more expensive and strips harder to come by. I got a RelionPrime meter from Walmart and the supplies were pretty inexpensive.

Your Buddy is a real cutie, for sure! Best of luck with everything!

Suzi and Reece
 
SuziB said:
Hello and welcome! I have only been here about a month and I totally relate to the overwhelming amount of information and stress that comes with this diagnosis. I am still often confused (but thankfully have the wonderful people on this BB to walk me through everything!!), but I am way less stressed about blood glucose testing and injections, which was a HUGE hurdle! My vet put my cat on Purina DM wet and dry, but I have since switched to Fancy Feast pates which are lower in carbs and price than the Purina DM. I also bought a human BG meter as the pet one was much more expensive and strips harder to come by. I got a RelionPrime meter from Walmart and the supplies were pretty inexpensive.

Your Buddy is a real cutie, for sure! Best of luck with everything!

Suzi and Reece
Click to expand...
thanks, I'll check out the Fancy Feast Pate's and the Purina DM.
 
Im certain the only reason why my cat jumped into remission so fast is because I put her on only wet food after she was diagnosed. earlier in the year when my cat was diagnosed she had constipation issues and i put her on a high fiber dry cat food with some wet at night. now its 2 servings of 1 can of wet food (friskies chicken pate) twice a day. get her off the dry food ASAP. lots of great advice in these message boards. if it wasnt for this place i dont know where we'd be. thankfully my kitty was off the juice after a week. good luck
 
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