diabetic kitty with eye problems

[Soxtiger]

Sox was diagnosed in 2009 and has been on Lantus since. We've regulated him pretty well at this point and think he will likely need Insulin until the end of his days. He's 16 years old now and has had a string of health issues prior to developing diabetes. For us diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg. Lately his kidney numbers are sliding and his digestive problems are sometimes better sometimes worse, but no diareah mor constipation. The latest issue we can now add to our long list is an eye infection with an ulcer in the right eye. The vet indicated Sox is developing cataracs in both eyes. I have no idea what that really means, but he said it's slow moving and might take another 5-7 years to get really bad. We don't know if Sox has that much life left in him. Does anyone have experience with eye infections/ulcers and diabetes? We need to stay away from steroids, so we got an ointment without steroids. Vet said it will help, but be less potent than the one with steroids, but that one would send his BG sky high and negatively impact his kidneys.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Steroid eye meds hinder healing a corneal ulcers and that is why steroids are not used.
Cataracts a pretty common in older cats and diabetes seems to speed them up little. Diabetes in dogs is another story. In dogs, uncontrolled diabetes can quickly result in vision problems due to diabetes. Since cats do not read cataracts are really not a problem. My Mitten had them and my Patches hss them. The cats seem to not notice.

 

[BJM]

Ask your vet about these thoughts:

Gentle cleaning/removal of any crusts with sterile preservative free eye drops before applying ointment (ex Systane single use droppers) may help the ointment work better.

Eye treatments may be somewhat systemically absorbed, but not as greatly as oral meds. If you home test, you can monitor for impact and adjust the insulin as necessary. In general, it works to adjust the insulin around the requirements for other illnesses.