Unless your cat is in DKA - there is absolutely NO reason for the vet to keep your cat for 10 days! Diabetes does not get regulated overnight or in 10 days!
I was told the same thing with Maui and freaked out too. The folks here set me straight - and now it's your turn...
Here is my basic welcome info - there is ALOT of information below, don't get overwhelmed, we can and will help you.
WELCOME, this forum is a great place to gain knowledge and really learn how to manage feline diabetes. By doing just a few things each day (that really won't take up much of your time at all), you won't need to worry about losing your precious cat, not where feline diabetes is concerned.
There are three key factors to managing diabetes: food/nutrition, home testing and insulin
1) Feline Nutrition: Now, as far as diet - definitely dump the dry food (if you are feeding any) and if the vet recommends purchasing prescription food like DM just say "no thank you". ALL cats, and especially those with diabetes, do best on a species appropriate diet that is high in protein and low in carbs. Dry food DOES NOT fit that bill and DM food, even canned, just really isn't that great as far as quality. Most here on FDMB feed low carb/high protein canned, raw bought from a pet store or they make there own.
Here is a link to a site by a vet "Dr. Lisa DVM" ... who also posts on this board from time to time ... http://www.catinfo.org
If you look on the right side of her site, she has a food comparison chart to help you figure out what food you want to get based on the carb %.
You want to keep the carb % below 10% and around 7% is great. (Personally, I stay between 0-6% carbs.)
While on her site, you can read about in-depth info. on nutrition and how to make raw food, etc.
Here is another link that will give more information about food/nutrition
Nutrition/food info
The good thing with feeding your diabetic cat this way, is that it is ALSO good for any non-diabetic cat too. All your cats can safely eat the same food without worry and it may save you some costs and headaches of having to do separate feedings and keeping track of what they are eating.
2. Home testing: It is impossible to convey the value of testing your cat's BG (blood glucose) level at home. Some vets will "suggest" this, but most won't even mention it. They will send you home with insulin and an amount to shoot and maybe some instructions about hypoglycemia (blood sugar dropping to a dangerously low level).
Well, the thing is, human diabetics don't EVER give themselves insulin without checking there BG to make sure it is safe to do so, so why shouldn't it be the same for our kitties. Here on FDMB it is. You will notice that the vast majority of people here test their cat's BG at least 2x/day (before giving each shot to make sure the level is safe enough) and periodically at other times to see how the cat is responding to the current dose. We use a human glucometer, test strips and lancets - which are all very readily available and easy to use.
Our kitties get lots of love and treats for "putting up" with this and most of them actually come out to be tested on their own 'cause they want those treats . Here is a collection of great links that "Carolyn and Spot" pulled together about home testing. See what you think ... it truly is the best way to not only keep your cat safe but also really get a handle on this disease and help him to live a healthy life with FD (feline diabetes).
Home testing Links
3. Insulin: There are several types of insulin available. The top three we recommend are Lantus, Levimer or Prozinc all are great insulins. They are gentle insulin and given twice (BID) per day in 12 hour increments.
Please read up on the insulins available, here is a link to the Insulin Support Groups:
Insulin Support Groups
However, one caveat and again this shows how these three things are inter-related:
If you are feeding dry food or even a high carb food, BEFORE removing these foods, please make sure of your insulin dose as it will most likely need to be reduced, so as to avoid a possible hypoglycemic situation due to the removal of the dry/high carb foods that will lower the BG’s and reduce the amount of insulin required. Again, another reason why home testing is important.
I know this all seems like a lot, and that is because it is ... there is a learning curve here. But as long as you are determined and keep at it, you will have it down before you know it and you'll be seeing the results in Your cat' overall health and happiness. Ask all the questions you can think of – that is why we are here!
Also, if you have not done it yet, take the time and fill out your profile. It will help when others come on and read this. Also, let us know where you live - city/state or city//province/country as there are probably people in your area who can provide on the ground support and help you to learn home testing, etc.
Now, you can do this on a budget. Here is a shopping to get started:
1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro*
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound (can use generic brand)
5. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken, even rotisserie chicken, deli chicken, canned tuna will work
9. Karo syrup/table syrup, honey or any sugar product like jam, jelly, etc. if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast -
10. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
• We suggest the Relion meter and matching strips from Walmart, as they are the most economically priced meter and strips. That is assuming you have a Walmart nearby. If not, then you can purchase any human glucometer except for Freestyle with butterfly strips or any meter with TRU in the name. People have had issues in the past with these meters and best to start off with something else.
OK, that's enough for the moment. What questions do you have?
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May I suggest that you take the following action steps -
1) call the vet and ask
- what kind of insulin is being used
- how much and how often
- what is the frequency of testing
- what are the test numbers
2) then as long as the cat is not in DKA - tell the vet you want to pick him uptoday and bring him home - ask him to teach you how to test, if he won't don't worry we have videos to help you...
3) get low carb canned food - for an easy way of figuring this out for now - Fancy Feast Classics - Pate style are all low carb - when you have time you can read Dr. Lisa's chart and choose other options
4) if the vet insists on prescription food - just say no thanks, you'll stick with Fancy Feast
5) get a prescription from the vet for insulin - Lantus or Levimer - ask for the pen version
6) get a prescription from the vet for insulin syringes - U100 for these insulins
7) bring your cat home - be sure to thank the vet, but be strong and insistent that you can't afford the hospitalization cost, you also feel your cat will do better at home than in the vet office - remember if a human is diagnosed with diabetes, they don't spend 10 days in the hospital to get regulated. No reason your cat needs to be there.
