Hi! New here with a couple questions

[valkyriestorm]

I have an 11 year old male cat who was diagnosed a year ago with diabetes. I noticed something was wrong when he started peeing and drinking a lot so I took him in to get tested and sure enough he had diabetes. He was strated out on Humulin N, I think 2 units, then 3 and now 4. Shots are given twice a day every twelve hours. Now the problem I am still having with with him since he was newly diagnosed is he is still constantly drinking and peeing a lot. The peeing is still so bad that I have to scoop the litter box three times a day and buy new litter 3 times a week. And he constantly drinks water like crazy. He even lays near his water all the time. I thought that when the diabeties was under control this would all stop. Also his back feet are really bad. He is totally flat footed. So I have taken him to the vets 3 times since he was diagnosed and I tell them he is still having theses problems so they test him and add another unit. I can't afford the litter anymore and spending 100 bucks to get him test all the time. I feel like they are just taking my money and not helping my cat. Does anyone have and ideas and if there is anything I can do to help my cats situation?

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Hi and welcome to the board!

Some questions -

Is the insulin you are using still Humulin?

When you bring him to the vet for tests, are they keeping him all day and testing him several times that day, or are they just testing him once?

What food does he eat, how much and how often?

Would you be able to test his BG at home rather than bring him to the vet?

What type of litter are you using?

Do you have any idea what the test results have been at the vet?

Where are you located (city/state)?

If you can answer all of that, I think we can really help you and your kitty out.

Carl

 

[BJM]

When you take him to the vet, the stress from that may be raising his glucose levels, giving an incorrect high.
When the vets then adjust the Humulin dose up, they are basing it on potentially faulty data.
If the insulin dose is too high, the liver attempts to compensate by releasing a form of stored sugar, raising the glucose back up.

You can cut your vet bills and keep your cat safe by testing his glucose yourself at home. Pick up a human glucometer such as the WalMart ReliOn (inexpensive, test strips are inexpensive, WalMart is open all night) and we'll help you learn how to test his glucose levels. With that information, you can give insulin and adjust the dose safely, based on what your cat needs, without needing to constantly trot over to the vet.

Also, Humulin N only lasts 6-8 hours in the cat. When it wears off, the glucose rises right back up and causes excessive urination, excessive thirst, and increases hunger because the body can't use the glucose it has.
Thus, it may be helpful to do 1 of the following:
a) pick up all food at 8 hours after giving the insulin or
b) test him to make sure it is safe to give insulin and dose on an 8 hour schedule