Hello! | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB

Hello!

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Dakota2019

Member since 2025
Hello! My name is Charity, and my cat Dakota was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I don't know what I'm doing and am looking for advice on how to maintain this. I really dont want to give him up and the vet I used is not really helpful, considering at first they gave me 2 different types of syringes to use. I'm surprised he is still alive after that mix up. Can I use a human glucose meter for him or do I need a specific one? The vet also told me u-40 syringes but was not specific on which one. I asked reception for some u 40 syringes until the ones I ordered came in.
Pic of my Dakota bear.
These are the pics of the syringes. The one with the 5 was the very first one I used from the bag from the vet. I didn't know they had given me multiple different syringes. I thought they were all the same. I was giving 2cc from those syringes.
Come to find out there were syringes with a 10 on them in the bag also and so I was also giving 2cc from those syringes as well. The ones I ordered are also different but say u 40. Idk I'm so confused. I was also getting vet assistance and they weren't really helpful at all. I think they don't really care because I'm not paying for it! I'm sorry I tried explaining the best I could. Thanks everyone!
 

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Welcome!

Yes, you can use a Human blood glucose meter to test your cat. Much cheaper than a pet meter and you can buy test strips much more easily. If you're in the US, the Relion brand of meters sold only at Walmart is what many people use. But any brand works. I use the AccuChek Guide. The test strips is what you will need to buy often so some people choose to use a meter that has affordable test strips, like Relion.

What is the name of the insulin your cat is on? What is the current dose? Lantus and ProZInc are the two best choices for cats. What syringes did your vet give you?

Diet is important. Most vets prescribe prescription food which doesn't do anything except empty your wallet. Low carb canned food is best and there are many brands such as Fancy Feast Classic, Tiki Cat, and Weruva.

Most people here don't use their vet for much other than yearly check ups, vaccinations, etc and for a prescription for insulin. Some people find a new vet who is more knowledgeable about diabetes or have their vet consult with another vet.
 
squeem3 said:
Welcome!

Yes, you can use a Human blood glucose meter to test your cat. Much cheaper than a pet meter and you can buy test strips much more easily. If you're in the US, the Relion brand of meters sold only at Walmart is what many people use. But any brand works. I use the AccuChek Guide. The test strips is what you will need to buy often so some people choose to use a meter that has affordable test strips, like Relion.

What is the name of the insulin your cat is on? What is the current dose? Lantus and ProZInc are the two best choices for cats. What syringes did your vet give you?

Diet is important. Most vets prescribe prescription food which doesn't do anything except empty your wallet. Low carb canned food is best and there are many brands such as Fancy Feast Classic, Tiki Cat, and Weruva.

Most people here don't use their vet for much other than yearly check ups, vaccinations, etc and for a prescription for insulin. Some people find a new vet who is more knowledgeable about diabetes or have their vet consult with another vet.
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I dont want to use that vet at all anymore! Them giving me multiple syringes could of killed him. He's on vetsulin 21/2 cc. She didn't even want to give me syringes I asked the receptionist and she gave me a bag of them. Which I didn't know where two different kinds. I specifically told her u-40
 
Vetsulin isn't the best choice. Insulin is measured in units. Did your cat start at 2.5 units?

Yes, Vetsulin is a U40 insulin so you do need to use U40 syringes. There is a way to use U100 syringes but most vets are unaware of it. There is a conversion you have to use to correctly measure U40 insulin in a U100 syringes.

How did your vet expect you to give insulin without any syringes? 🤔

There's info on using Vetsulin here: Sticky - INTRODUCTION TO CANNISULIN/VETSULIN & N/NPH

Call around to other local vets to see who is knowledgeable about diabetes. You can also try searching this board to see if there are any old threads with suggestions for vets in your area. We have members all over the US and world. Here's a thread on how to find a new vet: Vet Interview/Screening Topics & Check List
 
squeem3 said:
Vetsulin isn't the best choice. Insulin is measured in units. Did your cat start at 2.5 units?

Yes, Vetsulin is a U40 insulin so you do need to use U40 syringes. There is a way to use U100 syringes but most vets are unaware of it. There is a conversion you have to use to correctly measure U40 insulin in a U100 syringes.

How did your vet expect you to give insulin without any syringes? 🤔

There's info on using Vetsulin here: Sticky - INTRODUCTION TO CANNISULIN/VETSULIN & N/NPH

Call around to other local vets to see who is knowledgeable about diabetes. You can also try searching this board to see if there are any old threads with suggestions for vets in your area. We have members all over the US and world. Here's a thread on how to find a new vet: Vet Interview/Screening Topics & Check List
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I dont know I've used them before when he needed dental work and they were super sweet and everything. I paid out of packet for that. But for some reason this time I used the vet assistance program they had because I am having financial issues right now and it's like their whole attitude towards me changed. She didn't want to give me anything but wanted me to go to the nearest petstore to buy some syringes. She said get u 40 but I found out there are different kinds of u 40 syringes. The three posted all claim to be u 40 which is why I'm so confused. No he started at 2 cc

Thanks for your reply!!
 
All U40 syringes are the same, only varying in needle length and gauge and if they have half unit markings or not, and the max capacity (3/10 cc, 1/2cc, or 1 cc). No pet store sells insulin syringes.

The ideal syringes to use for cats is 3/10 cc with half unit markings. Very few cats need more than a few units of insulin so 3/10 cc is all you need.

2 cc is two full 1 cc (ml) syringes, a massive overdose for any cat. If the vet told you to give 2 cc, she (hopefully) meant 2 units. Which line on the syringe are you measuring to?
 
squeem3 said:
All U40 syringes are the same, only varying in needle length and gauge and if they have half unit markings or not, and the max capacity (3/10 cc, 1/2cc, or 1 cc). No pet store sells insulin syringes.

The ideal syringes to use for cats is 3/10 cc with half unit markings. Very few cats need more than a few units of insulin so 3/10 cc is all you need.

2 cc is two full 1 cc (ml) syringes, a massive overdose for any cat. If the vet told you to give 2 cc, she (hopefully) meant 2 units. Which line on the syringe are you measuring to?
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I apologize yes, 2 units. The very first syringe I used was the this one and I was filling to where the black line is.
Do you have a pic of what type of syringe would be best to get?
So these would be okay?
 

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Dakota2019 said:
I dont want to use that vet at all anymore! Them giving me multiple syringes could of killed him. He's on vetsulin 21/2 cc. She didn't even want to give me syringes I asked the receptionist and she gave me a bag of them. Which I didn't know where two different kinds. I specifically told her u-40
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Welcome to FDMB, unfortunately there are some vets that are not familiar with feline diabetes, you are correct if you do not feel comfortable with your vet, seek a Vet that is familiar with feline diabetes, Squeem3 gave you great tips and information, here is a link on financial assistance for diabetic cats, and there's a link for a supply closet were members, either give away free, or ask for a bit or money or just pay postage. you do not need to let go of your cat, diabetes is manageable, with the right wet can food between 0-10% carbs, home testing a food schedule and lots of love, the best insulins would be ProZinc and Lantus they are a 12 hour insulin and easy on the cats system, please post any concerns you may have, I hope you find the Vet that you feel comfortable with, there are many sticky notes in the main forum, to help you with valuable information ;) :cat: :cat:

Financial Help Links
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/supply-closet-for-sale-or-free.15/
 
That's still a U40 syringe. It just has a max capacity of 20 unit instead of 12 units like the other picture. And it also has half unit markings unlike the 12 unit syringe. Here's a picture (ignore the fact that the syringe goes up to 30 units. And the red arrow that points to 1 unit).

Half-Unit-Marking.jpg
 
CORKY said:
Welcome to FDMB, unfortunately there are some vets that are not familiar with feline diabetes, you are correct if you do not feel comfortable with your vet, seek a Vet that is familiar with feline diabetes, Squeem3 gave you great tips and information, here is a link on financial assistance for diabetic cats, and there's a link for a supply closet were members, either give away free, or ask for a bit or money or just pay postage. you do not need to let go of your cat, diabetes is manageable, with the right wet can food between 0-10% carbs, home testing a food schedule and lots of love, the best insulins would be ProZinc and Lantus they are a 12 hour insulin and easy on the cats system, please post any concerns you may have, I hope you find the Vet that you feel comfortable with, there are many sticky notes in the main forum, to help you with valuable information ;) :cat: :cat:

Financial Help Links
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/supply-closet-for-sale-or-free.15/
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Thank you so much!. I'll see about switching insulin. I give him 2 1/2 units every 12 hours.
 
I have another question. Would a tru metrix monitor from Walgreens work? I already have that one. Also, how many times a day should I check his levels?
 
Any human monitor is good most members use the ReliOn Premier and strips you can get it At Walmart for $19.99 and the strips are $9.00 for 50 and $17.88 for 100 is always good to have extra strips especially at the beginning since we miss a lot, in a week or so the capillaries will swell and it will be easier to draw blood, find a small sock fill the bottom with some rice to make a small ball tie it to fit the inside of the ear for support, in the main menu you will find tips for home testing
 
CORKY said:
Any human monitor is good most members use the ReliOn Premier and strips you can get it At Walmart for $19.99 and the strips are $9.00 for 50 and $17.88 for 100 is always good to have extra strips especially at the beginning since we miss a lot, in a week or so the capillaries will swell and it will be easier to draw blood, find a small sock fill the bottom with some rice to make a small ball tie it to fit the inside of the ear for support, in the main menu you will find tips for home testing
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Thanks!
 
We all have gone crazy, cried, and many sleepless nights, but it gets better, really, I can tell you what I was told when I was at the point of a breakdown " take a step back, breath in, breath our cats are t, very sensitive to stress, we stress, they stress" your cat knows you love him, he loves you, you are doing everything you can to make him better, I trust this forum blindly, it and the amazing knowledgeable members save many, many cats My Corky included, all will fall into place ;) :cat::cat:
 
As for the U-40 syringes — you’ll ideally want the 3/10 cc syringes with half-unit markings. The ones you already have that go up to the number “12” are the type that will work best.

Like has been mentioned, all u-40 syringes are ok for your insulin, the difference in what you show in your picture is how MUCH insulin the syringes hold.

If you go with Prozonc insulin, u-40 syringes will be used. If you switch to Lantus, you’ll need different syringes entirely (u-100).
 
Technically there's a way to use U100 syringes with ProZinc BUT since newbies are already confused enough, it's not recommended. Use only U40 syringes with ProZinc until you are more comfortable in this diabetes journey :)

There are various brands of U40 3/10cc syringes with half unit markings. UltiCare VetRx is one: UltiCare VetRx U-40 Insulin Syringes 3/10 mL/cc 12.7mm (1/2") x 29G… Amazon and Chewy both sell these as well as many other online stores. Amazon won't ask for a prescription but Chewy might ask for the vet's phone number to confirm the prescription. Chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, etc) do not sell U40 syringes.
 
Yes Chewy does request a prescription as well as Walmart Amazon does not you can just get them online, Squuem3 is right it is a bit difficult the conversion of units in syringes, I know I could not do it, a neighbor gave 2 boxes of syringes that were thick, and with 10-15- markings, and some that had the 1-2-3 markings, I was overwhelmed at the beginning to much too soon, so I got the right syringes with the 1/2 unit marking ProZinc syringes with the 1/2 markings as Squeem3 described, it made my journey so much easier, it is important to get the right syringe for the insulin you are using especially when you need to measure 0.25 units or 1/2 units, makes your life easier
 
If you are planning on finding a new vet, you may want to consider finding a "cats only" clinic. There's a much better chance that the vets there will be more knowledgeable about feline diabetes. This is a search tool for finding cat friendly vet practices. When I moved to a new city, I asked if I could visit the clinic and speak to one of the vets. They gave me a tour including the areas where they boarded the cats. They didn't have any procedures going on so I saw those areas, as well. It was a way to ensure the clinic was clean and the cats that were there were well cared for. I also sat down and talked with the vet. I'd been here for a while so I was conversant with diabetes treatment. I asked many of the questions that are in the post that Squeem3 linked. I was also prepared to pay for an office visit which the vet said wasn't necessary -- but be prepared to pay for the vet's time.
 
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