? I'm worried about insulin dependence

[MikelovesHarley]

My soon to be 14 year old boy was just diagnosed today. I feel so lost and so foolish for not seeing the signs earlier. He's lost 3 pounds in a year despite a voracious appetite. That must mean that he's already in DKA. I don't know what to do. I fed Harley boiled chicken after getting home from the vet, but I'm worried he'll require insulin for the rest of his life. I don't know if what i'm doing is right. I've been reading reddit, which led me to doctor Lisa A. Pierson, which led me to here but i'm just so worried and lost. I think my boy is too far gone.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
It’s very common for diabetic cats to lose weight when they are first diagnosed. This is because they can’t absorb all the nutrients in the food. This will improve once he is on insulin and his blood glucose numbers become more normal. My Sheba became very thin but she regained all the weight and muscle mass she had lost. So don’t lose heart. I’m sure he is not too far gone.

Why do you think he is on DKA? Did the vet say he had any ketones on in his urine when he was diagnosed? If he had been in DKA he would be very sick and not wanting to eat and very lethargic. Is he like that?
What I would do is go out and buy a bottle of Ketostix from Walmart or a pharmacy and test the urine for ketones. The test should be negative so let us know if there are any ketones. And tell the vet if there is more than a trace of ketones on the urine.

Has the vet put Harley on any insulin yet?
Is so what type of insulin and how much?
Have you started the insulin yet?

We can’t say how long he will require insulin. Some cats go into remission after a time on insulin and don’t require insulin but a lot do require insulin for life.
This does not mean he can’t live a normal life.

There are a lot of things you can do to help Harley right now

• Make sure he is eating really well…..low carb food is best for a diabetic cat. Carbs under 10%. But the most important thing is he eats and eats well. A lot of people feed fancy feast pates which are low carb. Don’t feed dry food…it is high carb and very bad for cats.
• Look into hometesting the blood glucose levels. This way you will know how the insulin is working a and you will keep Harley safe. Look at buying a human meter ..ReliOn Premier which costs $9 at Walmart and a box of 100 test strips for $17.88. You will also need a box of lancets…..get size 26 or 28 gauge, and some cotton rounds to hold behind the ear when you test. I’ll give you a link below on hometesting …….we can help you get started.
• Set up a spreadsheet and signature which will tell us all about Harley so we don’t keep asking you the same questions. I’ll send a link for that as well.
• Make sure he is drinking well…you can mix a teaspoon of warm water in each snack if he will let you
• The routine for giving insulin is to test the BG, food your kitty and then give the insulin. If you can tell us what type of insulin you have been prescribed we can tell you if you need to wait after feeding before giving the dose. You need to feed before every dose and then we encourage you to give snacks of food during all the cycles.
  
• Ask lots of questions…we are very happy to help.

HELP US HELP YOU has a link to the spreadsheet, signature, hypo kit and more

HOMETESTING TIPS AND LINK

Injection sites for cats

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

Hi Mike and Harley my name's Kyle. Don't despair. You might have had reason to before you found this place but now that you are here, there is much reason for hope and optimism.

I 100% appreciate the kicking yourself feeling, my boy Hendrick was losing weight and we took longer to notice than I feel like we should have as well. But once I found this group, got him on insulin and started checking his blood glucose -- oh my God what a difference! He gained weight back, coat got nice and smooth and shiny and his behavior returned to normal -- he was his old self again and my heart just soared.

Take a deep breath -- the diagnosis is heartbreaking and I was so depressed. Blamed myself, hung my head and it all just felt so overwhelming and impossible. IT IS NOT! I have read about some cats getting diagnosed at around Harley's age and living another 8-10 years! All is not lost, my friend.

I am new to this as well so no expert but I have learned a lot in the past couple months. We can be new at this together -- I'll see you around the forums. Feel free to DM me if need be as well.