I'm back after 3 years

[Cat mom]

This forum helped me greatly 3 years ago. I had a 14 year old cat that blood test showed was diabetic. My vet put him on insulin and it was such a rocky road he nearly died from hypo. If it wasn't for this forum telling me to keep Karo syrup in the house he would have died.

I eventually asked for a copy of the blood test and the vet had missed a raging infection his white blood cell count was through the roof. We treated the infection I took away his dry food , he was a dry food junkie but we could never get the insulin right. I had tortured him with ear pricks. I was ready to give up and was waiting for his vet to return to have him euthanized. Believe me that was is a very hard decision, this guy is my buddy but I could no longer torture him.

The vet was out of town for two weeks thankfully. In that time being off dry food and on canned food only he went into remission for the past 3 years.

I am back because now he is 17 years old and he has been peeing a lot and I tested his blood glucose levels and it was 300. I was able to do a urine test and he has no ketones. When I pricked his ear he went crazy for 4 hours I could not calm him down. He was in pain scratching his ears.

Meanwhile I have been sick and cannot get him to the vet. A nightmare! He is eating but he has lost weight he wants to pee only on pee pads. He sleeps a lot. I'm trying my hardest to feel well enough to get him to the vet for a full blood panel.

I am worried that if he is diagnosed with diabetes that it will be absolutely impossible to prick his ears for blood. It will be torture for him I know that. Insulin proved to be very dangerous and we never got it right the first time. I was lucky to have him go into remission.

At 17 years old I don't know if this will be worth it. To take a geriatric cat and torture him with ear pricks seems cruel. It's far too much pain for him

I read about oral insulin called Glipizide. Have any of you used this? And do you still have to do regular glucose blood testing at home with this medication?

I have to find out if course if there is an underlying condition. I don't know if he has kidney failure or some other problem going on. But I want to be ready to talk to the vet about anything. I know at his age most vets would say put him down.

Of course I want him to live but I don't want him to live a tortured life.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome back. I am sorry you have had to come back though.
The Glipizide is not good got the pancreas. It makes it work harder. It is not recommended.

We have a lot of cats 17 years and older that do very well so don’t write him off because of his age. I wonder if he might have a UTI with peeing out of the litter box.
Please keep testing daily for ketones while you wait to see the vet.
Testing the BGs should not be painful for your kitty. Are you offering a treat as you do the tests? If you are having trouble there is an ointment called neosporin pain relief ointment which will help.

We can help and guide you through this. When you are feeling unwell yourself everything seems overwhelming.
Here is a link to info for new members.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Welcome back but sorry you're here.

Had anyone ever suggested testing your kitty on his paw pad?

One other consideration is getting your cat used to your handling his ears. Start by scratching his ears. Give a great. Grasping his ear they way you would if you needed to test. Give a treat. Pinch his ear. Give a treat. (You get the idea.) Basically, you want to try to desensitize him to the process. Are you using a lancing device or are you free handing? Whichever you're using, try the other.

 

[Cat mom]

Thank you for your replies and giving me some hope.

Interesting to know about Glipizide. Injected Insulin rocked my world the last time we tried. I have no problem giving the shot and he had no problem receiving the shot it was just the dose was always wrong. It had me on 24-hour alert he seemed to be either hyper or hypo and never okay. I had a different vet at the time I don't know if she knew what she was doing. It seems vets need better training with diabetes. Thank God he went into remission and had an amazing rebound.

I hope to get him to the vet as soon as possible. I wanted to today but the vet was completely booked.

Yes Bron and Sheba you're not kidding I am overwhelmed not just from being unwell I also have a dog with heart disease that needs tons of care. She's a miracle in herself and that's another story.

Having 2 ailing pets is extremely nerve-wracking. I know my vet he'll give me the soft tone talk of how old he is. He thinks I'm crazy as it is because I won't put my dog down, but she's doing well and I wish he understood I'll know when it's time , I've had animals my entire life.

So for the questions again...

Last time I wanted to use vetsulin, but I ended up using a human version of insulin I bought at Walmart Pharmacy I can't remember the name. Could this be why we had such trouble last time with it? Or perhaps again, my vet just didn't know what she was doing. What insulin is most used in cats?

Yes I remember reverting to pricking his paw pad last time. His ears are extremely sensitive. If most of you saw this you would not believe how severe this issue is. Ironically when I pricked his ear the other night I used Neosporin with pain relief. But he just went crazy. My husband son and I couldn't believe the reaction. It took the three of us to hold him and get it done quickly. I do have a lancing device but I literally have to have someone put a small flashlight behind his ear so I can see the blood vessels and then it seems easier to prick it myself.

Yes he has had a history of UTIs. Thankfully I have some oral antibiotics at home I've been able to start in case that is part of the issue.

What about Sub-Q fluids? Any opinions on it I could also give him that.

My biggest question for you is about a strange symptom I never saw before... Do diabetic cats stop and stare? It reminds me of dementia. I don't know if it's because of the insulin issue in his body or there is a bigger issue going on. Have you heard of this happening with diabetic cats? He has confined himself to the bedroom and doesn't want to leave there. I take him out and he goes right back in to his spot. This is a little different than before. Does any of this sound familiar at all? My fear is something bigger is going on.

I thought I'd mention he is eating small amounts but being very finicky. Probably because he doesn't feel well. He's usually a good eater.

Thank you so much for your help. This forum saved his life last time. I knew I had to come back. Your information is invaluable.

 

[Deb & Wink]

but I ended up using a human version of insulin I bought at Walmart Pharmacy I can't remember the name. Could this be why we had such trouble last time with it? Or perhaps again, my vet just didn't know what she was doing. What insulin is most used in cats?

The insulin you got at Walmart was likely a form of NPH insulin. Either Humulin N or Novolin N.
NPH insulins are not the best for cats. They drop the BG (blood glucose) levels very rapidly and steeply.

You should consider Prozinc, Lantus or Levimir. Those are the best insulins for cats.
We can help you with better cost and where to buy these insulins.
Your vet will need to provide a prescription.

Yes I remember reverting to pricking his paw pad last time. His ears are extremely sensitive.

Paw pads are fine for home blood glucose testing.

o diabetic cats stop and stare? It reminds me of dementia. I don't know if it's because of the insulin issue in his body or there is a bigger issue going on. Have you heard of this happening with diabetic cats? He has confined himself to the bedroom and doesn't want to leave there. I take him out and he goes right back in to his spot. This is a little different than before. Does any of this sound familiar at all?

No idea. Can't help you on that question.

If he was on insulin already, it could be a sign of hypoglycemia.

If dehydrated, try adding some extra water to his canned food when you feed him.

I read about oral insulin called Glipizide. Have any of you used this?

Glipizide isn't insulin, it's a medication that makes his pancreas work harder to produce insulin from the remaining b-cells. Low success rate in diabetic cats, <30% I thought.

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

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[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I know how hard it is to have two sick pets at once. It’s draining!

If he’s not eating well he might be nauseated. Cats that are nauseated won’t eat. Ask for some cerenia from the vet for the nausea.

Dont worry about the vet thinking you are crazy.... a lot of us are in the same boat!

I would ask the vet if he thinks subQ fluids are needed.

The staring vacantly is not usually a symptom of diabetes as far as I know unless the BG was too low. But he’s not on insulin yet is he? Maybe it’s a petit mal.

Do you think he is in pain. Wanting to go back to the same spot might indicate that.

I think once you go to the vet you will get answers. If he goes back on insulin I would also recommend Lantus, levemir or Prozinc.
Best wishes to both your dog and kitty and also to you.

 

[Cat mom]

Thank you for all your information! Interesting that the version I picked up at Walmart last time I believe was novolin. It was horrible!

You've helped me very much. I'll check back in once he sees the vet.

Interesting about BG possibly being low with his vacant stare. After he ate today , he ate quite a bit and looked so much better.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Get some information in your signature and we can help you better.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

wondering if he just has another infection going on???