Diabetes and steroids

[tdellison]

Hello. I am new to the forum. I am writing because my cat's diabetes is currently under control, but he has a dermatitis and is in need of a steroid injection, which will send his diabetes out of control. He has been wearing a cone and is miserable. I think we are going to go ahead with the injection, as without the cone he pullls all his hair out. Has anyone experienced this? And how have you managed the diabetes after the steroid injection? I'm so scared of losing him L :-(. Thanks! Tracey

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I have no experience with a steroid injections. As you know steroids can cause diabetes as well as raise insulin needs in an already diabetic kitty. I have used prednesolone on already diabetic cats on insulin and on one one kitty that was on Glipizide before i adopted him but now is on no treatment. When the pred was stopped, BG and insulin needs returned to levels that were normal for the kitty pre-pred. Steroids have there legitimate use, and from the information you provided might be the right think to do. However, you did not provide all history (and not really expected to). If there is no viable alternative to try I would go with the steroid.