Hello, I'm new.

[franb]

I just learned this evening that my almost 16 year old "Misty" has diabetes. Misty is a beautiful striped gray tabby. Her veterinarian plans to treat this with diet and a medication called Glipicide. After being on the medication for one week, she will be checked for progress. I have already been caring for her for high liver enzymes (now under control) and pancreatitis. She already takes a supplement called Denamarin for the liver and was on a special diet for the pancreatitis, but that diet will now be changed. I have 4 kitties and I am committed to providing whatever they need. Misty is the oldest. I am hoping that this site will help to educate me about this disease. I have treated my kitties for various ailments, but diabetes is a new experience for me.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Take a deep breath. We were all terrified when we got the diagnosis but we have learned to manage the disease and in some cases, gotten our kitties off insulin. We use a protocol of insulin with doses determined by home testing glucose levels and a wet lo carb diet.

Here's a video on hometesting: Video for hometesting We have taught lots of people how to do it over the internet and would be glad to help you learn. Here is a vet's website with info on wet lo carb food: http://www.catinfo.org

We do not recommend Glipizide. Our concerns are that it strains a non-functioning pancreas and may cause liver damage. We like to see a newly diabetic cat on insulin, starting with small doses and small increases based on blood glucose testing at home. There seems to be a limited window for the pancreas to heal and giving Glipizide narrows that window. I know it is hard to get conflicting advice from strangers on the internet, but we all have or had a diabetic cat and successfully treated them. We are all here voluntering our time to help others, because we were helped.

Keep reading and asking questions. We would love to help you help your kitty.

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Hi and welcome to FDMB. Others will post a lot more info.....I just wanted to post about the use of Glip. If you already were having liver problems I definitely would not use the Glip. Majority of cats do not benefit from it and need insulin..I would try diet change for a week without the use of Glip and see what numbers she throws. Can you tell us what her bg reading was at diagnosis? Also, in treating diabetes, the best tool to use and the best thing you can do to keep her safe is test her blood sugars at home. You can get a ReliOn meter cheaply at Walmart. Here is the info on Glip:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_glipizide.html

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

Forgot to mention that Vinnie, kitty I adopted from RI, was on Glip and had to be put on liver supplements to get his liver values back to normal. I'm glad he wasn't on it any longer than necessary before I got him.

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

Guess what....it's actually easier to give insulin shots than to pill most cats.

I promise.

 

[Kelly & Oscar]

I have quoted here the most important part of that article Hope posted

One of the most important cautions with the use of this medication is that by increasing the release of insulin, glipizide also increases the secretion of other proteins in the pancreas. It is generally abnormal protein deposition in the pancreas that caused the diabetes mellitus in the first place, thus the use glipizide may lead to progression of pancreatic destruction. For this reason, we recommend glipizide as a last resort when insulin administration cannot be given or for a select few cats who are sensitive to insulin secretion.