My cat was diagnosed with diabetes today and I don't know where to go from here.

[KhufusMa]

Hi guys,

I am new to this website as a friend just pointed me in this direction after I received my cat Khufu's diagnosis. The vet told me he has a probable bladder infection as well and that his blood sugar was close to 600. They say I need to pick up his insulin and start it ASAP as well as a diabetic friendly diet, then bring him in the following week to check his levels and treat the UTI (another 300 dollars at least.)

The appointment yesterday was $308- this included blood test, pee test, and wellness exam. I am broke and I have no idea how I'm going to afford this. I am thinking about calling other vets and animal hospitals around for prices for future appointments.. I would also appreciate any advice for over the counter food that I can feed to him. Until now, I've been leaving dry food out as well as 1/2 can of wet food per day. Should I switch to only wet and 2 cans per day, and if so, which brands are best?

I have two more huge problems that I need some advice with.. first, my cat is not super friendly. I love him, and he loves me (totally conditionally, as cats do,) but if I even pet him the wrong way he will scratch me and run away. It took 4 vets with huge gloves to get him back in the crate. I have NO IDEA how I will get him to take 2 shots a day!

Second problem- I am 24 but I currently live with my mom. I have a dog as well. In June I am moving overseas to study, I will, of course, be back to visit and eventually (maybe in a year or so) I would like to take my animals overseas with me (my mom will take care of them until then,) I just can't immediately because I need to find a stable place to live and etc. My mom is a single mother and I have two kid siblings and she also does not have money or the time to do constant vet appointments, I also don't think she has the desire to give him the shots. She would feed him the necessary diet though for sure as that is pretty simple, we feed the cat and dog at the same time. She talks about rehoming him to someone better suited to care for him but I don't want him to go anywhere that I don't know he will be safe and happy- I really love my cat. I also think he has warmed up a lot to us over the past couple years and gotten much more loving- we took him in from a neglectful neighbor and back then we couldn't even approach him, now he will lay with me and let me pick him up. Shots though seem to be out of the question.. I get scared giving him his flea prevention!

I'm sorry if this post is all over the place- I'm clearly extremely overwhelmed right now and looking for some advice from anyone who may have been in this position. I'm scared and upset, and really, really broke. I don't even know how I'm going to pick up his medication. I want to figure out the next step and where to go from here. I really appreciate all your help folks.

If it is helpful I am happy to receive the paperwork I got from the vet with diagnosis, meds, and instructions.

Thanks.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Welcome to the FDMB! The best place you never wanted to be!!

Should I switch to only wet and 2 cans per day, and if so, which brands are best?

Yes....the "diabetic" food is lousy and too high in carbs. Most of us feed plain Fancy Feast Classics or Friskies pates!! Both a lot more affordable than whatever your vet will try to sell you.

The vet told me he has a probable bladder infection

Getting this taken care of is very important. Infection can cause the blood glucose to be higher than normal.....also, tests done at the vet's office are unreliable because when the cat is under stress (like at the vet), the blood glucose numbers will be higher!

As long as there weren't any ketones present in his blood/urine, it's not necessary that you start insulin immediately. Get that bladder infection treated and get him onto a low carb canned diet and then worry about the insulin.

Shots though seem to be out of the question.

Everybody thinks giving shots is hard....but the needles we use are very tiny and most cats never even notice! A lot of us give their shots when their head's in the food bowl! If the only needles you've ever seen are the ones your vet uses for vaccines and such, please understand that the insulin needles are MUCH tinier!!

I am broke and I have no idea how I'm going to afford this.

Most of us home test so we don't have to keep taking our cats to the vet and pay their crazy prices. A human meter like the Relion Prime or Premier from WalMart are inexpensive and the strips are only $9 for 50. Also, by testing at home, you'll get more real numbers since the cat won't be stressed out by being thrown in a carrier, driven to the vet and being poked and prodded by something they don't like much anyway

Even feral cats can get used to home testing. Don't let it scare you. We can help you to teach him to accept it.

If you are low income (which it sounds like you are), you can apply to Diabetic Cat's In Need. We have a Compassionate Assistance Program to help people just like you!

If you're on Facebook, you can also message DCIN here

I don't have any words of wisdom about convincing your mom to take care of him while you're away, but I hope you can get her to understand that once she has a little experience, it's no more trouble than brushing your teeth twice a day!

 

[JanetNJ]

Chris covered everything so I'll just say that we are here for you. Clearing up the infection will go help tremendously, as will getting him off the high carb kibble. As Chris said, most of us feed fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods. I have a link to the food list in my signature below. Pick foods under 10 percent carb (under 7 is even better).

 

[KhufusMa]

Welcome to the FDMB! The best place you never wanted to be!!



Yes....the "diabetic" food is lousy and too high in carbs. Most of us feed plain Fancy Feast Classics or Friskies pates!! Both a lot more affordable than whatever your vet will try to sell you.



Getting this taken care of is very important. Infection can cause the blood glucose to be higher than normal.....also, tests done at the vet's office are unreliable because when the cat is under stress (like at the vet), the blood glucose numbers will be higher!

As long as there weren't any ketones present in his blood/urine, it's not necessary that you start insulin immediately. Get that bladder infection treated and get him onto a low carb canned diet and then worry about the insulin.



Everybody thinks giving shots is hard....but the needles we use are very tiny and most cats never even notice! A lot of us give their shots when their head's in the food bowl! If the only needles you've ever seen are the ones your vet uses for vaccines and such, please understand that the insulin needles are MUCH tinier!!



Most of us home test so we don't have to keep taking our cats to the vet and pay their crazy prices. A human meter like the Relion Prime or Premier from WalMart are inexpensive and the strips are only $9 for 50. Also, by testing at home, you'll get more real numbers since the cat won't be stressed out by being thrown in a carrier, driven to the vet and being poked and prodded by something they don't like much anyway

Even feral cats can get used to home testing. Don't let it scare you. We can help you to teach him to accept it.

If you are low income (which it sounds like you are), you can apply to Diabetic Cat's In Need. We have a Compassionate Assistance Program to help people just like you!

If you're on Facebook, you can also message DCIN here

I don't have any words of wisdom about convincing your mom to take care of him while you're away, but I hope you can get her to understand that once she has a little experience, it's no more trouble than brushing your teeth twice a day!

You guys are amazing- these replies have given me so much relief I dont know how to thank you.

Few questions-

You mentioned I can use a human meter from walmart to test his levels, does this include the tool to prick the blood or do I only get this from the vet? I also need to only do this here and there, right? Following that, should I take care of the UTI first and then wait a bit and check his levels before I start insulin?

As far as diet- my cat is thirteen pounds, he used to be much more overweight and it seems he is ALWAYS hungry! Switching to the wet food diet (I will go buy the food you mentioned tomorrow) should i feed him just 2 cans a day or will he need more?

Thank you so, so, SO much!

 

[Diana&Tom]

The lancet device usually comes in the box with the meter, but you don't necessarily need the device itself. Many people find it easier to use the lancet itself freehand - it gives more control and the cat isn't startled by the clicking sound the device makes.
You should use a fresh lancet for each test, so over time you'll need more than what you get in the box with the meter. You will also need further supplies of test strips - you may get ten or so in the box but these won't last long as...

... testing the blood is not something you only need to do "here and there", I'm afraid. If you're giving insulin you need to be sure that the glucose level is high enough to warrant giving the dose you've been prescribed. Most insulins are given twice a day at regularly-spaced, 12-hour intervals, so you need to test a minimum of twice a day and ideally at certain points during the cycle as well, to see how the insulin is working. Insulin is a very powerful substance and we need to be very aware of usung it safely.

As for the UTI - it is likely that bg will drop somewhat when an infection is treated and cleared, so you may want to get this sorted first and see what the bg is doing then, but speak to the vet about this as if bg is very high then at least a token dose should be given. This is a slightly complex area where your vet should be able to advise you. You don't want to start on too high a dose that could be too much when the infection has gone. In addition, switching to a wet food diet should lower bg in itself so really you need to see what numbers you get on a new diet before anything else.

I'm sorry your mum may not be able to get too involved in treatment but you may need some form of back-up if you're going to be away yourself. Treating FD can be quite a commitment. This board has plenty of answers so maybe you could encourage your mum to join and work through things together?

Good luck!

 

[JanetNJ]

You guys are amazing- these replies have given me so much relief I dont know how to thank you.

Few questions-

You mentioned I can use a human meter from walmart to test his levels, does this include the tool to prick the blood or do I only get this from the vet? I also need to only do this here and there, right? Following that, should I take care of the UTI first and then wait a bit and check his levels before I start insulin?

As far as diet- my cat is thirteen pounds, he used to be much more overweight and it seems he is ALWAYS hungry! Switching to the wet food diet (I will go buy the food you mentioned tomorrow) should i feed him just 2 cans a day or will he need more?

Thank you so, so, SO much!

I just freehand poke. Some cats don't like the click of the Lancet. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home. If course she's a lot more chill than your guy.

 

[Julie and Honey]

You guys are amazing- these replies have given me so much relief I dont know how to thank you.

Few questions-

You mentioned I can use a human meter from walmart to test his levels, does this include the tool to prick the blood or do I only get this from the vet? I also need to only do this here and there, right? Following that, should I take care of the UTI first and then wait a bit and check his levels before I start insulin?

As far as diet- my cat is thirteen pounds, he used to be much more overweight and it seems he is ALWAYS hungry! Switching to the wet food diet (I will go buy the food you mentioned tomorrow) should i feed him just 2 cans a day or will he need more?

Thank you so, so, SO much!

3 oz can for 3- 3 1/2 lbs of weight per day for normal cat. Diabetic cats need more until they are regulated because their bodies can’t properly use the nutrients, that is why they start losing weight. Sounds like a non diabetic 13 lb cat can have 4 cans a day, to maintain weight. So would not go under that. At 13 lbs he has a little cushion, but as you mentioned he has lost a lot already.

We also add a little water to the wet pates. Make sure it is the pates which are low carb, other flavors are higher carb.