Is the fructosamine test neccessary for diagnosis

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beggargirl

beggargirl

Member Since 2011
Hey all.

Going to be taking a cat in to be tested possibly today. If I remember correctly when my cat was diagnosed they did a 'geriatric panel' and a fructosamine test. But if the panel comes back with nothing else wrong can we just do a curve and start on insulin? (with diet change and testing of course).
 
First you dont need the fructosamine test to diagnose diabetes, you can test the urine at home and/or the blood for sugar levels and if either are out of range then its probably diabetes. But the fructosamine test confirms it.

If the fructosamine test comes back out of range, and assuming no ketones, you could start with home testing and a diet change before the insulin.

A change from a high carb dry to a low carb wet can make many cats blood sugar drop by over 100 points and some can go into remission. I would be inclined to give it a few days to a week of a food change and home testing first before deciding if insulin is necessary.. and not do a curve at the vets until then (if at all!)
 
Some signs of diabetes
excessive hunger/eating
weight loss, despite eating a lot
excessive thirst
glucose in the urine (accumulates over several hours)
walking on the hocks (back legs don't support, so don't stand up all the way)
oceans of wet pee in the litterbox

If diabetic and untreated or inadequately treated, ketones in the urine, possible a nail poish-like odor on the breath. This is a medical emergency.
 
Thank you for the responses. I currently have a diabetic kitty who is now 2 years OTJ.

The cat I am concerned about has all the textbook symptoms and reads at a diabetic # on my meter (22 canadian). The concern is the cost of the vet visit and if the fructosamine isn't vital once everything else has been ruled out we might want to skip that step.
 
Yeah if he is reading 22 at home then I think you have a diabetic kitty on your hands - thats high.

I would also pop to shoppers or walmart or some pharmacy and pick up a pack of Keto-diastix. Then check the pee with those for glucose and ketones. Glucose will confirm that he is spilling sugar into his urine and ketones is always good to check for on a regular basis as DKA is very serious.
 
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