Just Diagnosed :(
- Thread starter Riley
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C
Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
Riley,
I'm going to move your post to the "Feline Heath" board so everyone will see it. This "Announcements" forum is for the Moderators and Web Master to post news in.
But to answer your question..... Absolutely YES. Treating feline diabetes is not super hard once you get the hang of it. And you will get all the help you can handle from the amazing people here (who were all once in "your shoes" on the day they first posted). A cat who is fed a good diet, and gets proper doses of insulin twice a day can live for many more years. My cat was 12 when he was diagnosed. He just celebrated two years of remission, having had his last shot of insulin in July, 2011. He's now a "diet controlled diabetic", he's 14 years old, and he's healthier than he's been in years. There is no reason to believe that the same thing can't happen for you and your guy.
Carl
I'm going to move your post to the "Feline Heath" board so everyone will see it. This "Announcements" forum is for the Moderators and Web Master to post news in.
But to answer your question..... Absolutely YES. Treating feline diabetes is not super hard once you get the hang of it. And you will get all the help you can handle from the amazing people here (who were all once in "your shoes" on the day they first posted). A cat who is fed a good diet, and gets proper doses of insulin twice a day can live for many more years. My cat was 12 when he was diagnosed. He just celebrated two years of remission, having had his last shot of insulin in July, 2011. He's now a "diet controlled diabetic", he's 14 years old, and he's healthier than he's been in years. There is no reason to believe that the same thing can't happen for you and your guy.
Carl
Tara & Buster
Member Since 2012
Hello Riley - welcome! My boy, Buster, was diagnosed about a year ago at 13. We're still working on getting off the insulin, but we have formed a wonderful bond over the last year and he's a happy, soft, purry furry guy! It will seem overwhelming at first, but this is the best place you can be to help your kitty get on track. Once you get the hang of things, you can do most things in your own home and avoid leaving your cat at the vet all day for glucose curves and stress. Please ask all the questions you need - this board is very experienced and full of amazing, caring people!
Hope + (((Baby)))GA
Member Since 2009
My second diabetic was dx'd at 13 and had another great 5 1/2 years getting shots and hometesting and it was a heart problem that took her. Mishka is almost 15 now and has been on insulin for 10 years this October. I adopted a 16 1/2yr. old newly dx'd diabetic, turned 17 last May, and she is doing beautifully. My Hope went into remission after 4 1/2 years because of a heart problem......best we can conclude at least.......but she too is 15 now. All the help you may need will come from this board. Canned food and hometesting are the main two thing along with a good insulin.
Wendy&Tiggy(GA)
Member Since 2011
Hello!
Diabetes is a totally manageable condition and as the others said, with a few key things in place your cat has a good chance of remission.. Even if he doesn't manage that, he can live a long and happy life as diabetic and nobody but you would even know he is diabetic!
So let us help you, tell us more..
1. What are you currently feeding your cat? Wet? Dry? Brand/type? Food is key in diabetes treatment
2. Has your vet started your kitty on insulin? If so which? If not, you want to ask for the good ones.. Lantus, levemir or prozinc as they offer the best chance of good regulation or remission
3. Did your vet mention home testing? This is key to keeping your kitty safe and tracking how he is doing
Wendy
Diabetes is a totally manageable condition and as the others said, with a few key things in place your cat has a good chance of remission.. Even if he doesn't manage that, he can live a long and happy life as diabetic and nobody but you would even know he is diabetic!
So let us help you, tell us more..
1. What are you currently feeding your cat? Wet? Dry? Brand/type? Food is key in diabetes treatment
2. Has your vet started your kitty on insulin? If so which? If not, you want to ask for the good ones.. Lantus, levemir or prozinc as they offer the best chance of good regulation or remission
3. Did your vet mention home testing? This is key to keeping your kitty safe and tracking how he is doing
Wendy
Larry and Kitties
Member Since 2009
A diabetic kitty can do fine with insulin. I adopted by Patches over eight years ago and she is doing fine. She was being treated before I adopted her.
Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
Hello, and welcome!
Treating your cat's diabetes will absolutely NOT "put him through hell". It could give him an amazing quality of life! :smile:
My cat, Bertie, has been diabetic and on insulin for over six and a half years. At diagnosis he looked absolutely awful. But after being on insulin just a short while his condition improved amazingly.
The insulin shots should not hurt your cat at all. And if you can learn to hometest (test your cat's blood glucose levels at home (way easier than it sounds...)), then you can have an incredible level of control over managing the diabetes.
And quite a few cats go into remission (become diet-controlled diabetics) after just a short time on insulin and with a switch (if necessary) to a lower carb diet.
Take heart: Not only is diabetes treatable, but you've also found the most helpful feline diabetes website in the universe to give you advice and support!!!
Eliz
Treating your cat's diabetes will absolutely NOT "put him through hell". It could give him an amazing quality of life! :smile:
My cat, Bertie, has been diabetic and on insulin for over six and a half years. At diagnosis he looked absolutely awful. But after being on insulin just a short while his condition improved amazingly.
The insulin shots should not hurt your cat at all. And if you can learn to hometest (test your cat's blood glucose levels at home (way easier than it sounds...)), then you can have an incredible level of control over managing the diabetes.
And quite a few cats go into remission (become diet-controlled diabetics) after just a short time on insulin and with a switch (if necessary) to a lower carb diet.
Take heart: Not only is diabetes treatable, but you've also found the most helpful feline diabetes website in the universe to give you advice and support!!!
Eliz
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi and welcome to the FDMB. Would you please introduce yourself and your cat? First names would be good.
I'm Deb and that tuxie on the right is my sugardude Wink. He used to have horrible dandruff, severe diabetic neuropathy, gobs of fur missing from his coat, drank lots of water and peed tons too! He was ravenous so he ate about 11-12 ounces fo food a day. Now he eats 6 ounces and his coat is shiny and sleek, he gets all the water he needs from his canned food and hasn't touched a water dish in months, peeing is like a normal cat, and his neuropathy is much improved. He is a happy and healthy cat, you'd never know he was diabetic.
My foster cat Wink, is one of those diet controlled diabetics people have mentioned. I changed his diet from high carb dry food to low carb Fancy Feast classic pates and Friskies pates and he needed less and less insulin. Now, he does not need any insulin and has great BG readings
between 60 and 90 most of the time.
I'm Deb and that tuxie on the right is my sugardude Wink. He used to have horrible dandruff, severe diabetic neuropathy, gobs of fur missing from his coat, drank lots of water and peed tons too! He was ravenous so he ate about 11-12 ounces fo food a day. Now he eats 6 ounces and his coat is shiny and sleek, he gets all the water he needs from his canned food and hasn't touched a water dish in months, peeing is like a normal cat, and his neuropathy is much improved. He is a happy and healthy cat, you'd never know he was diabetic.
My foster cat Wink, is one of those diet controlled diabetics people have mentioned. I changed his diet from high carb dry food to low carb Fancy Feast classic pates and Friskies pates and he needed less and less insulin. Now, he does not need any insulin and has great BG readings
between 60 and 90 most of the time.
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