Just found out my kitty is diabetic

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LoveMySmokey

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My sweet Siamese Smokey was diagnosed with diabetes today. I don't even know where to start, he had lost weight during the last 6 months but I figured it was because I had changed his food to a weight management food and cut down on his food because he was overweight. Then within the last 2 weeks or so he just didn't act right and within the last week he started having a lot of trouble walking, would take a few steps and have to lay down. I thought he had a hurt leg, he could hardly walk up the stairs and started peeing on the cat bed or the rug or anywhere else. I took him in today, they did blood work and found out he is diabetic. His glucose was over 600 :shock: Hearing everything that is involved with caring for a diabetic cat is just so overwhelming. He has to go in next week so they can run an all day test to determine how much insulin he needs. I just don't know where to turn or what to do right now. I'm sure it will get easier over time but right now it's just so confusing. I can't help but feel guilty like I could've kept him from getting diabetes somehow.
 
Take it a step at a time. That is the only way you can do it. I am pretty new to the diabetes thing also. I found it very scary at first and quite confusing. The people here on this board helped me a lot. They still are. So just hang in there and they will help get you and your cat through it. I found it most helpful to take it a step and a time. I started out just reading about diabetes. Then I got used to the shots. While I was doing that I got used to the idea of home testing. Then I started that slowly hometesting. I never thought I could home test. I need a lot of encouragment on that. I hate needles. Now we are home testing and for the most part after some adapting it is pretty easy. I never thought I could even give the insulin. Suzie and I are doing both now. It still is trial and error but it gets easier every day. It is worth it. I still have a lot to learn about cats and diabetes but I will a step at a time just like you will. The people here helped me take a breath. Something I don't do real well and they will help you. My suzie would have made it with out the help here. They will help clear the confusion for you also. I found that most of the people here know more about diabetes then some vets.

As for feeling guilty you don't have the time or energy for that. Give yourself a break and leave go of feeling guilty right away. You are already doing so much more for a diabetic cat then the average person does. Your cat is lucky to have you.
 
Hi and welcome to FDMB.

We all understand how you feel. It is very overwhelming at first when you find out your cat had diabetes, but let me assure you that this is something that can become easily managable with only a few changes to your routine.

One of the first ways is through diet change. A high protein / low carb canned or raw food diet works best for feline diabetes. Dry food is very high in carbs and you will not be able to get your cat's glucose levels regulated if you are feeding him it. You do not need prescription food either, no matter what your vet tries to tell you. It is expensive, higher in carbs and most cats don't like it anyway. Many of us feed our cats either Friskes or Fancy Feast canned foods. The pate flavors are lower in carbs than anything that has "gravy" on the label.

Next suggestion is insulin. Since you have not started on it yet, you probably do no know what kind you will be using. There are may different insulins, but the best ones for cats are Lantus, Levemir, PZI and Prozinc. These are all longer acting insulins and many cats respond well to them. You want to start at a low dose of 1 unit twice a day and slowly (over several weeks) work your way up to your optimal dose. Most cats only need 1-2 units twice a day to keep them regulated. Insulin is not dosed by weight and too much insulin could be dangerous. If your vet tries to start at a higher dose, tell him you do not feel comfortable at starting that high and want to start at 1 unit twice a day instead.

Also if your vet prescribes either Lantus or Levemir, ask for the prescription for either the pens or cartridges instead of a vial. The initial cost is about twice that of a vial, but you get 5 in the package. It is extremely rare that you would use a whole vial before it becomes ineffective. With the pens/cartridges, you will be able to use almost every drop and it will last several months. There is also a $25 coupon in the Supply Closet for Lantus and information for ordering it from Canadian pharmacies also. If your vet prescribes BCP PZI, your vet can go to their website and order the first vial free for you.

The last recommendation is for you to learn to hometest. You will use a human glucose meter to test - any brand including store brands will work. By testing before every shot of insulin, you will know if it is safe to give the dose. Also, by testing you will soon learn if the dose you are using needs to be adjusted. We'll go over that information when you know what insulin you are using.

I know it is hard, but try to relax. We are here to help you with every step. There are a lot of great people on this board and many of us have been caring for diabetic cats for years. Start reading information on this site, especially about insulins, hometesting, diet and hypoglycemia. Ask any questions you may have, we are here to help you. Caring for a diabetic cat is not difficult and the bond that is between you will grow immensely.
 
Hi and Welcome!

We were in your shoes on February 28, 2011. Roscoe my Sugar Kitty was on Lantus 1 unit t.i.d. After 28 days she was OTJ and she is eating well now. Our vet, whom I love and adore, said to take her and our other cat, Max, completely off of dry food. If you can find Merrick cat food it is the lowest in calories and carbs. Roscoe really likes those foods. If you have a Petco or Petsmart near you check with them. Also, print Janet and Binky's list of commercial canned cat foods, and take it to the pet store or grocery store with you so you will know what to buy. I printed two copies and I leave one in the car. Also, read the post for newbies...letter from your cat. It really made me calm down. The best you can do is stay calm, talk to us, and all will be okay.


Good luck to you and your Sugar Kitty!
 
I can sympathize - I have 4 kitties, one has IBD, one has Eosinophilia, one has pancreatitis and diabetes, and the 4th (Zeke) has just been diagnosed with diabetes. All are on different prescription diets, and medication. I was handling all of it well until my vet said that Zeke had to go on insulun. My other kitty, Misty, with diabetes is being controlled with diet alone, and I thought when Zeke was diagnosed maybe that would be a possibility too, but his sugar would not come down. Zeke is my wildest cat - he's a very anxious cat and is spooked easily. I never thought I'd be able to manage him with injections - he runs and hides if he even thinks I'm about to do something. Because he gets his insulin when he eats, I feed him in the bathroom with the door closed. I then have a smaller area to work with him and he can't hide under beds, etc. He hesitates when going in even though he loves his food and I have to nudge him a little. I only just administered his 2nd shot this morning so as you see I am far from being an expert - I'm still anxious about it and working through it. FDMB is such a great resource. I can relate to feeling guilty - I always feel like I should have done something or I missed something. But please don't - I am working on not feeling guilty and you should do. Like Tracey said, you don't have the time or energy for that. Use the energy to care for Smokey. He is lucky to have you to care for him. Best of luck to you and Smokey.
 
It's nice to know there is actually a place to go where people are going through the same thing with their kitties.

When we picked up Smokey from the vet the only people there were his 2 assistants, he had already left for the day so we couldn't even talk to him. All he did was call and tell us that Smokey had diabetes and we needed to start insulin. I don't really think the assistants knew that much about what we asked. They made it sound like I had to give up my whole personal life to take care of him, I could never go on vacation or leave for any amount of time because nobody would want to take care of a diabetic cat while the owner was away.

I can't give up on my kitty, he deserves the best chance possible. I've cared for him for 11 years since my mom brought him home one day after someone threw him away in a trash can. He is my baby.

He has always been on dry food so it might be a little bit of trouble trying to get him to eat wet food. He will be going in for his testing in just a few days. It will take some getting used to but I know I can do it for him.
 
Now is the time, before starting insulin, to try the canned food. That alone can lower bg's if all dry is removed. As for sending him in for a full day at the vet, if you home test, there is no reason for you to spend money and stress him out at the same time with a day at the vets. Start low with the insulin dose, test, and go from there. Help is here. No cat is ever regulated at a vet office, no way. Even then vet stress will probably make his numbers higher than if he is at home.
 
Just wanted to say hello and welcome. My cat Max was diagnosed in January and I was right where you are now. I'm sure you're already figuring out that you've come to the best place for help with your diabetic cat. I knew next to nothing at first and was overwhelmed and stressed. This forum and following the great advice/protocol really helped me turn Max's health around. Read all you can, ask questions, and take it a step at a time. There's a learning curve at first, but diabetes can be very manageable and you can have a life. Like others have suggested, changing the diet can really make a difference, especially if you're cat has been eating a higher carb dry food (like my cat). Max wasn't making much progress at first, but then I found this forum, changed his diet, and started home testing. His health really turned around after that, especially with the diet change. Before the diabetes, Max only ate his dry pellets and loved them. He would even turn his nose up at treats and go for the pellets. I was unsure if I could even get him to eat wet food, but, with a few tricks (tuna juice on top), I was able to switch him over to the wet and he eats it happily now. Since you haven't started insulin yet, this is the best time to try the diet change.
 
All of this is still sinking in for me. I just want to make sure he is getting the best care. I have no idea how much my vet even knows about diabetic cats.

I just have some questions which seem so simple but I have no idea what to expect.

I just bought one of those water dishes that have the bottle on top and only lets out a certain amount of water at a time. Before that I was filling up the small water dish 3 or 4 times a day. Of course we also have another cat so he was also drinking the water. Will he still drink as much water as he is right now?

I went from changing litter about once a week with scooping in between to changing it once every 3 or 4 days with scooping because of the amount of urine that Smokey is producing. Often times he will come into the bathroom while I'm changing the litter box and he will end up peeing on the rug because he has to go so bad and can't wait. Will he still pee as much?

How exactly do you do home testing for a cat?

My mom is a nurse (for humans of course) and she said she would help me out as far as giving insulin injections. She even said that she might be able to get insulin samples from work if it is a brand that humans use also. That would really help a lot for price. I'm hoping to get Lantus as I know that is a brand that humans use also.

I do medical transcription for a living and I always hear about the complications that humans have with diabetes and I'm wondering if they are the same kind of problems with cats.

Smokey is really weak right now, like his back legs are weak and he can only go a few steps and then has to lay down. He really has a hard time getting up the stairs and I will often carry him. I thought maybe he had a sprained leg or broken leg but the vet said it was more than likely because of the diabetes and didn't see the need for an x-ray. Does diabetes generally cause weakness like this?

How do you keep other cats from getting into the wet food? Is it ever okay to give dry food? How about treats? We have always given dry food so I'm wondering how well he will handle wet food, is it okay to mix dry food in for awhile?

Thank you for all the help. My name is Sara, I don't think I mentioned that before. I've been trying to post a picture of Smokey in my avatar but I'm not sure how to make it smaller.
 
Hi Sara,

All excellent questions.

Will he still drink as much water as he is right now? As he becomes regulated, he should drink less.

Will he still pee as much? The peeing should improve also. Was he sure checked out for a Urinary Tract Infection? Sometimes it's the diabetes, sometimes a UTI plus diabetes.

How exactly do you do home testing for a cat? Here's a video: Video for hometesting We can help you figure out what supplies you will need and help you through the process.

I'm hoping to get Lantus as I know that is a brand that humans use also. Lantus is a great insulin. We have a Lantus Support group. The stickies at the top of the page have great info on using Lantus in cats, how to buy it less expensively, how to dose, etc. Lantus forum

Does diabetes generally cause weakness like this? Yes, it is called neuropathy and is common. Here is some info on how to help: Neuropathy

How do you keep other cats from getting into the wet food? Is it ever okay to give dry food? How about treats? We have always given dry food so I'm wondering how well he will handle wet food, is it okay to mix dry food in for awhile? You can transition fast or slow. Depends on his tummy. We just switched over one night. All your cats will do well on wet food. Read this site by a FD vet to see why: www.catinfo.org

I've been trying to post a picture of Smokey in my avatar but I'm not sure how to make it smaller. Post on the Tech Support group: viewforum.php?f=6 They should be able to help.

Keep reading and asking questions. It is a steep learning curve but is very doable. We will be glad to help.
 
Just called the vet to try and see if we can get insulin started and they won't even give it until they do the testing which they said can last up to 2 days. I said I had been reading about home testing and she said she didn't know about that because you can't do that to determine how much he needs. I said that Wednesday would be the best day to bring him and he she wanted to know if it could be a different day because the vet we saw on Friday isn't in on that day. I'm more frustrated now, they say we need to get him in as soon as we can but yet Wednesday isn't a good day. Sigh. I asked how much the vet actually knows about cat diabetes and she said they wouldn't be doing this if they weren't comfortable. I don't feel like I got very far.

Going to the store to grab some wet food and see how he does.

Can someone tell me if Lantus and Levimer insulin for cats is the same formula they use for the human forms? She talked about PZI but said we would have to discuss what kind with the vet.
 
Ask your vet if the testing for 2 days will be free to you.... that curve is not necessary; the numbers will not be natural either. My two test differently when at the vet... one has higher than normal numbers and the other has very low numbers. When I get them home, I see their normal numbers within 30min.

Pick up a regular glucose meter at the pharmacy, or walmart. Many people use Relion as it is a good meter, and the test strips are much cheaper than for other meters.

You do NOT need permission from a vet to test your cat at home. Ask any human diabetic if they test themselves before EVERY shot .... is your kitty less important?

Lantus and Levemir are excellent insulins and yes, same as used by humans. Since I am in Canada, I don't need a prescription for insulin or syringes. Is your vet office saying that you should start insulin right away but refuse to give you the prescription until you take your kitty into the office for 2 days for a curve that will cost you a great deal of money?

If you get a meter and test at home, switch to all wet low carb food, you may find out that your kitty does not even need insulin or may need a very small amount for a short period of time.

What did the vet mean they wouldn't be doing this if they weren't comfortable? Tell them you are not comfortable, and just want the prescription for the insulin, Lantus or Levemir.
 
LoveMySmokey said:
Just called the vet to try and see if we can get insulin started and they won't even give it until they do the testing which they said can last up to 2 days. I said I had been reading about home testing and she said she didn't know about that because you can't do that to determine how much he needs.
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No diabetic cat can be regulated at the vet's office. A two day curve is ridiculous and a waste of money :-Q

You can start insulin at 0.5 units twice a day or at 1 unit twice a day. Both are low enough doses that are not likely to cause hypoglycemia.

You can test blood glucose levels at home. There are many published veterinary studies that support this. Perhaps your vet needs to read the latest journals and magazines to get up to date.


LoveMySmokey said:
Can someone tell me if Lantus and Levimer insulin for cats is the same formula they use for the human forms? She talked about PZI but said we would have to discuss what kind with the vet.
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There is only one Lantus insulin and only one Levemir insulin on the market for diabetic Humans. Both can be used for diabetic cats as an "off label" use. You buy Lantus and Levemir at the Human pharmacy with a prescription. Lantus has a high remission rate if started early enough and your cat is on a low carb diet. There are some published studies on how well Lantus works for diabetic cats. Levemir works similar to Lantus and is also a good choice but not too many vets are aware of this insulin.

PZI can be used if you prefer that. I think only the BCP PZI is still being made. Here's the info: http://www.bcpvetpharm.com/products_bovine.htm

There is also ProZinc insulin http://www.prozinc.us/
 
It is hard to hear advice that conflicts with your vet. But we all do curves at home; they are more accurate and less expensive than taking the cat in. Lantus and Levemir are fine - so is PZI. All are mild, long lasting insulins. The only insulins we would not advise are Humulin or Vetsulin.

Do you want some recommendations for FD vets in your city? If so, post your city and state and ask for some ideas. We may have someone who lives nearby.

Our idea about testing at home is that we would never get a dose amount from the doctor and then go home and blindly shoot our child for several weeks before returning to the doctor. We would test before every shot to see how the insulin is working. We do the same for our 4 legged children.
 
We live in a small town and the vet we go to is about 25 minutes away in Walla Walla, Washington.

I'm just so frustrated at this point. Feel like I can't get anywhere with the vet. They say he needs to get started right away on insulin but they don't give it to us on Friday and tell us he has to come in for the testing. When I called it was only the assistant that I talked to and it felt like I was talking to a brick wall. I say Wednesday is the best day to bring him and and she said that wasn't a good day for them because they like to stick with the same vet and he wasn't in on that day. Sigh. I asked about the insulin and she said we have to wait until they know how to regulate it. Asked about Lantus and Levemir and she said we would have to talk to the vet after the testing. All they seem to want to do is testing and more testing. All I want is for Smokey to get the help he needs and it seems like I'm not getting very far.
 
We do have a number of members in Washington. You might start a new thread and ask for vets near Walla Walla. There may be someone with ideas. You are a long way from Canada, right? You can get insulin without a prescription in Canada but I don't know about the whole procedure.

Well, it doesn't sound to me like they are very concerned about your cat - postponing insulin until it is convenient for them. There are vets who don't like hometesting - sometimes it seems that they don't want to stress out the owner with additional tasks (like shooting blind isn't stressful) and sometimes it may be that they like the income, sad to say.

As others have said, you can go ahead and get the supplies and we will walk you through it. Then you will have an idea of how Smokey is doing and can compare it to their results if you have to go in for the testing. They are not there when you poke and use the meter or when you give the insulin. Your responsibility is to Smokey. Some people here are pretty careful about what info they give their vet and just use them for vaccines etc when necessary. They manage the diabetes at home. If you decide that is an option, we make a good support group. :mrgreen:
 
hello smokey's mom...look at the upper left corner of the page and see if you have a message...i am getting ready to send you one ok.
 
I'm going to start calling around to the different vets in my area to find out if any of them are more trained in treating diabetic cats. I really don't feel comfortable with this vet for something like this. He is a good vet for other things but the problem is he is very biased against women, I always end up having my dad with me in the room because he doesn't feel so intimidating with him around. He makes me feel stupid or something if I'm the only one in the room with my cats. Hope I can find someone who will treat me right along with Smokey. Even when he called to tell me that Smokey was diabetic he was very short on the phone.
 
Hello,

I'm only a week into this and still don't really know what I'm doing, but I just want to wish you luck!
 
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