My cat just diagnosed - looking for info
- Thread starter Val
- Start date
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C
Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
Hi Val, and Oliver!
Try not to feel sick about this, Val, it isn't as bad as you might think. Tell us more. What symptoms did you see that made you bring Oliver to the vet? And what did the vet do, test-wise, to arrive at the diabetes diagnosis? What did he say to do from here on?
This is a very manageable disease, and it just means that for now at least, Oliver might need you to give him insulin twice a day.
The keys to successful management are:
1 - Home testing of his blood glucose using a human glucometer.
2 - A proper low carbohydrate canned food diet.
3 - Twice a day insulin injections using a good insulin for cats like Lantus, Levemir or Prozinc where the dose is logical based on the numbers you get from testing.
We've all done this. Some of our cats eventually get off insulin and become diet-controlled. Even if that doesn't happen, Oliver can still live a long and happy life with two shots a day, just like a human diabetic can.
What's Oliver's status now? Is he home? What sort of BG numbers did the vet get when he tested Oliver? Has he prescribed treatment?
We can help you with this, Val.
Carl
Try not to feel sick about this, Val, it isn't as bad as you might think. Tell us more. What symptoms did you see that made you bring Oliver to the vet? And what did the vet do, test-wise, to arrive at the diabetes diagnosis? What did he say to do from here on?
This is a very manageable disease, and it just means that for now at least, Oliver might need you to give him insulin twice a day.
The keys to successful management are:
1 - Home testing of his blood glucose using a human glucometer.
2 - A proper low carbohydrate canned food diet.
3 - Twice a day insulin injections using a good insulin for cats like Lantus, Levemir or Prozinc where the dose is logical based on the numbers you get from testing.
We've all done this. Some of our cats eventually get off insulin and become diet-controlled. Even if that doesn't happen, Oliver can still live a long and happy life with two shots a day, just like a human diabetic can.
What's Oliver's status now? Is he home? What sort of BG numbers did the vet get when he tested Oliver? Has he prescribed treatment?
We can help you with this, Val.
Carl
max&emmasmommie
Member Since 2012
Oh, my, we all felt this way when we got the diagnosis. Once you have had some time to absorb information here you will feel better!
Welcome! You will have not only information from this site, but support from other people who are going through or have gone through this before. Some of the "experts" have been here for 5 or 6 years. No kidding.
I don't have time to write much, but please before you give any insulin get an idea of what can happen when a cat is overdosed. My cat was overdosed -- the vet told me to give him 2.0 units, and it was too much. (Then he told me to give 3, but I didn't (for more than one shot) after I read this board.) It took me forever to get my baby's blood sugar down as overdose on insulin can cause the body to ramp up the blood sugar to incredible heights. Max's BG wasn't even registering on the meter it was so high. Cats can also die from an overdose, of course.
The best thing to do is start with very little insulin -- no more than 1 unit. If your vet tells you to give more, please come to us, and someone will explain it all to you. You make the decision whose advice to follow, but at least you'll have all the info to make that decision.
Meanwhile please check out this link: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15887 and this one: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=2501
Good luck!
Welcome! You will have not only information from this site, but support from other people who are going through or have gone through this before. Some of the "experts" have been here for 5 or 6 years. No kidding.
I don't have time to write much, but please before you give any insulin get an idea of what can happen when a cat is overdosed. My cat was overdosed -- the vet told me to give him 2.0 units, and it was too much. (Then he told me to give 3, but I didn't (for more than one shot) after I read this board.) It took me forever to get my baby's blood sugar down as overdose on insulin can cause the body to ramp up the blood sugar to incredible heights. Max's BG wasn't even registering on the meter it was so high. Cats can also die from an overdose, of course.
The best thing to do is start with very little insulin -- no more than 1 unit. If your vet tells you to give more, please come to us, and someone will explain it all to you. You make the decision whose advice to follow, but at least you'll have all the info to make that decision.
Meanwhile please check out this link: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=15887 and this one: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=2501
Good luck!
C
Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)
And this one, while you're reading. :smile:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33671
Carl
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33671
Carl
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