Welcome :smile:
Here is a list of ways to save money on your diabetic cat's supplies and treatment:
http://binkyspage.tripod.com/frugal.html
The main expensese are insulin, insulin syringes, food, and blood glucose testing supplies. You don't need to buy any of these from the vet :smile: Your vet could do the blood glucose testing for you but you can save money by doing it at home yourself and the numbers you get will be much more accurate.
Insulin: You can use a Human insulin for your cat. The best ones to use are Lantus (aka glargine) and Levemir (aka detemir). There is also Humulin N but it is not a good insulin to use for cats (too short acting). You can buy these at at Human pharmacy with a prescription from your vet. The most cost effective way to buy the insulin is the pen form (Lantus SoloStar or Levemir FlexPen) instead of the 10 ml bottle. Very few cats can use up a 10 ml bottle before it starts to lose effectiveness, which can be anywhere from a month to a few months. An insulin pen is 3 ml and you can use it pretty much to the last drop. The pens come in a box of five which is at least a 5 month supply you will have on hand. The cost for the box of pens is around $250 or so but per pen the price is alot less than the $110+ you might need to spend montly for a 10 l bottle. There is a $25 coupon for the Lantus and Levemir pens here:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36964
You can use insulin syringes with the pens. You can dose smaller units of insulin that way. The pen, if used the way a Human diabetic would, only doses in whole unit increments.
Call around to see what the pharmacies in your area charge for the insulin. Some people find the lowest price at Costco than at a big name chain pharmacy. Some pharmacies may sell you a single insulin pen if you don't want the entire box.
You can use a free prescription card at the Human pharmacy to save money on medicines. Some pharmacies have their own card you can sign up for. The AAA service for cars has a prescription card you can use. Here is one specifically for pets that can be used at at Human pharmacy:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=53397
Some people order Lantus and Levemir from online Canadian pharmacies where they cost a lot less than at at US pharmacy. You do need to factor in shipping time and be home at the expected time of delivery so the package isn't sitting in the hot sun or freezing cold all day which can damage the insulin. I think the package may be insulated with ice pcks and/or insulated cooler to prevent damage during the summer but it's still not worth risking the package sitting outside in hot weather. There is more info about that in this thread:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=11530
If the vet tries to sell you Lantus or Levemir or any Human insulin, make sure that the insulin is in it's original packaging. Some vets repackage the insulin into other containers and stick on a vague label. The sterility of such repackaged insulins are questionable and I would not risk using it. Here is what the original packing looks like for Lantus and Levemir:
10 ml bottl of Lantus
Lantus SoloStar pen
10 ml bottle of Levemir
Levemir Flexpen
If your vet prescribes a pet insulin such as ProZinc, you can also buy it online from a pet pharmacy possibly even a few online Human pharmacies. If the vet wants your cat to start insulin right away, then it's probably best to buy the insulin from the vet and then purchase future insulin online where it is cheaper. A prescription maybe needed to buy the insulin online.
Insulin syringes: You can buy both U40 insulin syringes and U100 insulin syringes online. AmericanDiabetesWholesale.com is one popular place.
U40 syringes are for pet insulin only (ProZinc, etc). You can use U100 insulin syringes with pet insulins but there is a conversion chart that you must use so that your cat is getting the correct amount of insulin.
U100 syringes are for all Human insulins (Lantus, Levemir, etc). U100 insulin syringes can also be bought at any Human pharmacy, a prescription may be needed.
Do not use U40 insulin syringes with U100 insulin because your cat will not receive the correct amount of insuln.
The preferred U100 insulin syringes to use for cats are 3/10 cc (30 unit) with half unit markings. Needle gauge and length is preference. The ony combinations are 30 gauge 1/2 inch, 30 gauge 5/16 inch, 31 gauge 5/16 inch, and 29 gauge 1/2 inch. There are many brands out there: GNP, Monoject, Relion, BD, etc. Some cost as little as $13 for a box of 100. Others cost $30 for a box of 100. Price doesn't necessarily mean better quality. The inexpensive brands work just as well, if not better, than the expensive brands.
I'm not familiar with U40 insulin syringes so I can't say what syringe sizes, needle gauge and lenght they are available in. I do know that there are special 12 unit insulin syringes to use with ProZinc. You don't need to use these particular syringes, though. Regular U40 insulin syringes or U100 insulin syringes wtih the conversion chart can be used.
Food: You don't need the prescription junk the vet may try to sell you. It's expensive and full of junk quality ingredients. Feed your cat a commercial canned food instead. Many brands are suitable for diabetic cats: Fancy Feast, Friskies, Wellness, etc. You just want to feed the low carb varieties.
Here are the food charts that most people use:
Binky's canned food charts
Pet Food Nutritional Values list
Hobo's Guide To Nutritional Values
Dr. Lynne's Wet Food list
List of low carb gluten free Fancy Feast
On Binky's charts, stick with foods that have a number 10 or less in the carbs colum. On the Pet Food Nutritional Values Chart and Hobo's Guide, look at the %kcal from carbs column and choose foods that have a number 10 or less.
Popular brands to feed are Fancy Feast, Friskies, Wellness, Merrick, Nature's Variety Instinct, and Innova EVO. There are many others. Feed your cat whatever brand he likes to eat and you can afford and can find in the local stores.
Limit seafood based foods to once in awhile meals or treats. Some cats get addicted to eating seafood and will refuse to eat anything else.
Don't feed gravy based foods. They are too high in carbs for a diabetic but do keep a few cans in the kitchen to use in case your cat hypos. The high carbs will raise blood glucose levels.
Feed low carb treats:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9172
Blood glucose testing supplies: You don't need the expensive pet meter that the vet may sell. A Human blood glucose meter and supplies is all you need. You can request a starter testing kit from here:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=60261 If you prefer to buy your own, there are some good brands out there. AccuChek, Bayer, OneTouch, and Relion are popular brands used by members here. Relion is a Wal Mart only brand and I don't think you can buy it online. Some brands use pretty pricey test strips so what some peple do is buy a meter that has inexpensive test strips. You can buy test strips and lancets online. Some people even buy from EBay or even Craigslist but do make sure that the test strips are not expired or are close to expiring.
The FreeStyle brand and any brand that has "True" in the name give inaccurate readings so don't use any of these.
