Kitty Shadow
Member Since 2021
My 14 year old Shadow has today been diagnosed with Diabetes. She currently weighs less than 3 kgs (part Maine Coon) and has simply wasted away in the last 2 months. She should weigh at least 4,5 kgs. Her muscles has also wasted away in the last few weeks. I Initially took her to the vet as she was vomitting and looking decidely unwell. They gave her an injection and sent her home with nausea medication. This was around 3 months ago. She progressively has just lost weight, and generally did not look well, so I took her back. They kept her in hospital for 2 days and was diagnosed diabetic. I have had to inject her with insulin since then, 2 x a day at exactly the same time every day. I was also told she had to be on hills dry diabetic cat food which she refused to eat. I tried the Royal Canin dry - no go either. I then managed to get Royal Canin wet food pouches for diabetic cats that she has been eating. Almost impossible to get right now in South Africa, due to Covid, so I have been phoning random vets around the country and couriering in a box or a few pouches, from here and there and everywhere. As you can imagine its very expensive and an ongoing nightmare to source. Shadow was initially on 2 units of Lantus Insulin, 2 x a day, but was looking so unwell I took her back. Enormous appetite, drinking vast amounts of water, seemed to be confused, unsteady on her feet. The vet reported her glucose was so high that it could not be measured. They kept her in, and could not get it down, so increased the dose to 3 units 2 x a day. Her kidney functions tested normal. Since Diagnosis, She has only got thinner, cant poop, her beautiful long thick fur is now scraggly, thin, and even falling out. On Monday, I had to rush her back, as she kept trying to poop but was collapsing as her back legs could not hold her up. She had to enemas to help to clear her colon, her glucose was tested 2 x on Monday, 2 x yesterday and all 4 times so high it cannot be measured. Still in hospital and still on a drip, early this morning my Vet informed me that the Glucose tested suddenly at 8, before she had even had her morning dose this morning. He said he is convinced that she has Brittle Diabetes, and while her glucose is at 8 cannot obviously have her insulin dose. He will be testing her again later. Update: He has just called to say that her glucose now has tested 16, (12 Noon) and they will test again before 5. He said more likely she will require 3 units again at 5pm if the glucose continues to climb. He fully expects it to climb. Right now I am feeling completely overwhelmed. Getting her diagnosis for normal Diabetes, only 3 weeks ago, was in itself just shocking, and this unstable Brittle diabetes is very overwhelming, as there seems to be almost no information about this. The information that is available all says the prognosis is very dismal, and ultimately swiftly leads to organ failure and death. I came across this page in my search, and hope I am at the right place. Any help or advice to assist my beautiful Shadow, would be greatly received...
