New Diagnosed- Very Scared

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MikkiL

Member Since 2023
Hi,

My name is Mikki and my cat Bobby was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. Im devastated and heart broken. I’ve been reading through the information on this site and it’s been very comforting. I dont usually post to online forums or most social media but Im so upset at this I just need someone to tell me it will be okay. Bobby was seen at the vet for an unrelated issue (small bacterial skin infection likely related to stress from our recent move) and discovered high glucose at testing. I have not noticed any symptoms of diabetes in Bobby such as excessive thirst, urination, weight loss. He is always extremely food motivated- one of the reasons we’re here. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs. The vet was booked up for non-drop off appointments until then- I hate dropping him off and leaving him. They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation. Im very stressed about the cost of both medication, insulin, and vet rechecks because I just bought my first house. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, I would so appreciate it. I love him so much. Thank you!
 
MikkiL said:
Hi,

My name is Mikki and my cat Bobby was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. Im devastated and heart broken. I’ve been reading through the information on this site and it’s been very comforting. I dont usually post to online forums or most social media but Im so upset at this I just need someone to tell me it will be okay. Bobby was seen at the vet for an unrelated issue (small bacterial skin infection likely related to stress from our recent move) and discovered high glucose at testing. I have not noticed any symptoms of diabetes in Bobby such as excessive thirst, urination, weight loss. He is always extremely food motivated- one of the reasons we’re here. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs. The vet was booked up for non-drop off appointments until then- I hate dropping him off and leaving him. They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation. Im very stressed about the cost of both medication, insulin, and vet rechecks because I just bought my first house. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, I would so appreciate it. I love him so much. Thank you!
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I feel you, I'm glad to know someone else is just as scared as I am, my Corky was diagnosed on July 2nd he stayed at the hospital 5 days, him also was drinking so much water, I just thought he was thirsty I had no idea, I did picked him up once he's a little finicky its always on he's terms, and he felt like a feather, I rushed to the closest emergency hospital opened now he has a sensor on his back and I got the monitor FREESTYLE2 I do not prick him, this sensor/monitor is a life changer it monitors everything low/high glucose ,has alarms on high/low/time to check , graphs 90 days of data , time in target it has everything you change the sensor every 14 days, you do not need a vet at all ( recommended on this forum) you get a PRN Prescription( 1 year) from your vet for the monitor and senso the monitor is a 1 time purchase I paid $87.00 at Walmart, and the sensor are #31.00 each, its good to buy 2-3 at a time because sometimes they stop working before the 14 , or the kitty may take it off, you call the customer service dept and they ship you a replacement within 48 hours although you place it on his upper back side you shave the area round, you replace it yourself very easy and not painful for you or him wishing you the best stick to this forum it is a life changer and they are there for us 24/7
 
MikkiL said:
Hi,

My name is Mikki and my cat Bobby was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. Im devastated and heart broken. I’ve been reading through the information on this site and it’s been very comforting. I dont usually post to online forums or most social media but Im so upset at this I just need someone to tell me it will be okay. Bobby was seen at the vet for an unrelated issue (small bacterial skin infection likely related to stress from our recent move) and discovered high glucose at testing. I have not noticed any symptoms of diabetes in Bobby such as excessive thirst, urination, weight loss. He is always extremely food motivated- one of the reasons we’re here. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs. The vet was booked up for non-drop off appointments until then- I hate dropping him off and leaving him. They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation. Im very stressed about the cost of both medication, insulin, and vet rechecks because I just bought my first house. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, I would so appreciate it. I love him so much. Thank you!
Click to expand...

and don't pay attention to the spread sheet here, you have the freestyle2 monitor, that's all you'll need
and almost all of us use the ProZinc insulin is the best for cats long lasting and every 12 hours its appx $120 Believe me I emptied the little savings I had, I'm on a very very tight rope budget myself
 
Welcome and we’re glad you found us!

it’s totally normal to feel this way and overwhelmed but this is the best place on earth for owners of diabetic cats. Bobo was my second diabetic cat and I still felt like my world crumbled when I found out he was diabetic too.

I have to disagree with @mayte having been a member here since 2020 and tagging a few even more experienced than me here @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Sienne and Gabby (GA) you do need the spreadsheet in order for all of us to be able to see the data and give advice on dosing. We cannot give advice without seeing your cat’s progression on a spreadsheet. If you noticed, our members have some basic information about their cat's in their signature. This helps us to not pester you by asking the same questions (your cat's name, insulin type, date of diagnosis, etc.) repeatedly. We also have a link to our spreadsheet in our signature. We are very numbers driven. The spreadsheet is a record of your cat's progress. By linking it in your signature, we can follow along and provide feedback should you need the help.

The libre can be great and a lot of people love it, but it can also be glitchy and you need a new one every 2 weeks so it’s not cheap. If you’re in the us, you can get all the supplies you need to home test at Walmart for under $30. You don’t need an expensive pet meter, human meters are fine, which the libre is.

prozinc is a great insulin, but most of us here use Lantus or the generic glargine which means you can get more help and more people who know how that insulin works as opposed to prozinc. The generic Lantus can be as little as $50 at a Costco pharmacy and because it’s a human insulin, there are a lot of online discount coupons you can use like gold rx.

I know a few new members are using bexacat but I really have no experience with it.

What food is Bobby on right now? I’d suggest transitioning him to low carb if he’s not already on it. No need for expensive prescription foods which are mostly high carb and not high quality. Most of us feed fancy feast or Friskies.

With a diabetic cat you need:

  • A low carb wet diet that is 10% carbs or under. Most of us use around 4-7% carbs
  • A suitable insulin such as Lantus or Prozinc which are long acting, more gentle insulins than the old insulins. Don’t let your vet prescribe you caninsulin, also called Vetsulin as it’s good for dogs but not cats
  • We recommend hometesting the blood glucose with a human meter…it is not necessary to use a pet meter which is expensive to run and is no better. It will keep your kitty safe and you will know how the dose is working for your kitty. Only testing every so often will not tell you what is happening in between those times and an awful lot can happen in even a day.
  • HELP US HELP YOU has information about the spreadsheet, signature and hypo box which you will need to be able to look after your beloved kitty properly
We are happy to help you with setting up the spreadsheet, sorting out what food to buy, how to transition safely to a low carb diet, how to learn to home test and much more.
 
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Hi there, yes it is a very daunting scenario to be sure. My situation is i am looking after a cat while owners are overseas, the cat was diagnosed while they were away, and two months later is STILL not receiving insulin, due to some communication issues (very long story) though hopefully that will change in a few weeks once the owners are back. And he is hanging in there.

This is not to say i recommend postponing treatment, but, just take one step at a time, deep breaths, there is a lot to consider, and from my experience there are Some vets who are happy to cooperate with home testing and some who really, really are not. The people on this forum are so helpful, knowledgeable and experienced, and you will get the hang of things. One step at a time xx
 
Hi and welcome to the forum Mikki and Bobby.
It is always a shock to find our beloved kitty has diabetes. What you are feeling is quite normal.
@Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) has given you some excellent advice.
Personally I would not use the Bexacat but go straight to insulin. Insulin is a tried and true therapy that works well. Bexacat is very new and previous oral medications for diabetes in cats has not worked well at all.
I agree that lantus (or a biosimilar) is the best insulin for cats. Prozinc is also very good. I'm going to tag @Diane Tyler's Mom as she can tell you where to get cheaper lantus.
I would also recommend you think about hometesting as it is the only way to ensure the dose is correct and Bobby does not drop too low. It sounds daunting but really it is not hard and you will both get used to it very quickly. The libre freestyle is also fine but can be expensive if you are going to use it ongoing. For a meter I would get a human meter as they are much cheaper to run than a pet meter
And I also disagree that a spreadsheet is not necessary. A spreadsheet is a must if we are to help you. And it is also what you need to see where things are going. It is colour coded and shows trends which just numbers on a monitor cannot do.
While it is great that everyone wants to help you and give advice, I would always look to see how long each person has been here and what experience they have.
Keep asking questions.:bighug:
 
Just one blood test is not the way to diagnose diabetes. Can you tell us what the blood glucose number was at the vet? The urinalysis and possibly a fructosamine can tell you if it's more than just stress causing high blood sugar numbers.

My non diabetic cat had to go to a strange male vet (Sunday emergency) on the other side of town with a long drive, had blood work done as part of diagnosis. Which was nothing related to diabetes, he had no diabetic symptoms which I was familiar with because of Neko. The vet clinic sent me the blood work showing high glucose. It was over 220 (US numbers). Normal range is typically 50-120. I tested him at home because I can. He was 53 at home. Summary, stressful circumstances can raise the blood sugar. I've even seen a cat here with even way higher numbers after a long car ride - he really hated rides. Came back home, calmed down, went into normal blood sugar numbers again. Infection and inflammation can also raise the blood sugar numbers. If you don't want to wait until the 29th for an answer, you could pick up a cheap meter and test strips and we can teach you how to test blood sugars at home. Most cats test lower at home. If he's in normal numbers, you can cancel that appointment - unless his skin still needs a follow up visit.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I agree that lantus (or a biosimilar) is the best insulin for cats. Prozinc is also very good. I'm going to tag @Diane Tyler's Mom as she can tell you where to get cheaper lantus.
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Lantus is the major brand name glargine the USA you can get generic/biosimilar glargine at very reasonable prices using GoodRx coupon. Most members use the generic because Lantus is to expensive.
https://www.goodrx.com/lantus?label...d-pens-of-100-units-ml&quantity=1&slug=lantus
Make sure that the Match your prescription pull down menue says generic glargine 1carton of 5 3ml pens.
There is no wait time test, feed, give insulin
Lantus usually doesn't kick in until 2 hours after the shot
Let us know if the vet writes the script for you because you will need U-100 syringes with half unit markings , I can tell you which ones you can use
We buy the pens but use the syringes to draw out the insulin because if you use the pen you can only adjust by full units


Also
The 5 pens will last about a year, we use the pens just like a vial, you would just insert the syringe it the gray rubber stopper on the pen and draw out your insulin
Its generic lantus



Or this one also

I see some members will call CVS, Rite Aid, Costco, Walgreen's, to get the price for 5 pens
Posted by another member
One members posted this
. I paid $175 for a box of 5 pens at Walmart pharmacy, but GoodRX coupon says you can get it for around $90 if you have a Rite Aid pharmacy near you.

Just call around for the best price

A member just posted this
Allie was using the Lantus and I just switched to the generic and using the GoodRX I got 5 pens for $81.30 at Walgreens. GoodRX has a 1-800 number to assist you in using their services to get your pets prescriptions filled if the pharmacy gives you any issues.

I think I found it for you
GoodRx / Customer service

1 (855) 268-2822

You will also need U-100 syringes with half unit markings
I can tell would where to get them just ask
49823063143_3437e9e997_o.jpg


You can read all about Lantus here, all the yellow stickys
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/
 
Hi, I've also been doing this for a short time, but don't despair, sometimes you get overwhelmed, it seems that you're going to go crazy, a lot of information very quickly. You see that your cat is not improving, ask in this forum they help a lot. If you feel bad for your cat, ask any questions, encouragement in this process we are all for the health and well-being of the animal. all the best.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
The libre freestyle is also fine but can be expensive if you are going to use it ongoing. For a meter I would get a human meter as they are much cheaper to run than a pet meter.
Click to expand...

I definitely wouldn't recommend the FreeStyle Libre (CGM), but opt in favour of a hand held meter (BGM). Regardless of its costs, I know a lot of members have used it successfully here in the past, however, quite recently, the system became incredibly unreliable (the Libre 2, cannot vouch for earlier/later release), especially in the higher numbers. I have spoken to at least 4-5 members facing the same issue.
I have made many many dosing mistakes when I solely went by the numbers the Libre has given me, and inadvertently hurt my cat shooting him with much higher doses than he actually required.

I know I may face resistance on my claim, but I've had the Libre 2 on my cat for about a month and a half after catching on the issue and collected comparison data while simultaneously testing him with a BGM too. I've been meaning to plug the data into a spreadhseet and creating a thread and link it there for members considering using the Libre system so I can just refer to that thread every time when this topic comes up, @Bron and Sheba (GA), @Wendy&Neko do you think that may be a good idea? At the moment I feel like I'm hogging everyone's thread with these warnings, which is really not my intention :confused:

Edit: I have 4 more Libres to hand, so could collect even more data, to ensure (more) reliability?
 
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Welcome to FDMB.

I am in agreement with Wendy. A fructosamine test is a far better way to diagnose diabetes. It will give a result that is an average of blood glucose over a period of weeks. Given that Bobby has an infection, between the stress of your move, travel to the vet, being at the vet's office it's not surprising that he may be a bit stressed! (Any form of infection or inflammation also counts as a source of stress.) Stress causes the release of stress hormones which then cause an increase in blood glucose numbers. Getting a test at home or looking at fructosamine results will give you a far better idea if your cat is diabetic.
 
I think it likely that is the vets plan, as OP said "I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs." - one would presume 'more lab's' to be a fructosamine test, amongst other things :) post also said "They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation." which implies diagnosis it to be confirmed, still.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
I would never make a presumption about what an MD or vet is thinking. Not all vets get routine labs or even specialty labs.
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yes good point re not presuming! However, my point still stands that Mikki did say "I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs....and ....They are recommending therapy upon confirmation." hence the diagnosis will not be just from one blood test, as some people were saying. Either way, still great to share the info about fructosamine :) Mikki i think at this point maybe you can think of it like you have a "suspected diabetes" diagnosis... would people agree that to be more accurate for now? ... if it's still just possible diagnosis, this may be another good reason to remind you to just take one step at a time <3
 
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Hi and welcome to the FDMB. This place is amazing, they saved me and saved my boy.

Tracking your cats blood glucose in a spreadsheet is a must if you care about your cat and want to help your kitty as much as possible. Basically, the advice the experienced guru-type members here can offer is priceless and almost impossible to find anywhere else. If you buy in, and listen to them and follow their guidance -- literal miracles can happen.

My boy Hendrick is in remission now thanks to this site.

Another point several others have made that I wanted to chime in on --- the fructosomine test is something I highly recommend you pursue if your vet is not already doing it. Request it. It is used to really truly understand whether or not a cat has Feline Diabetes. Definitely a good thing to be sure about!
 
I think we all agree, ask for the fructosamine test. It will cost you but you need it to make sure your cat is really diabetic and if Bobby isn’t, then you’ll be saving a ton of money and stress so definitely worth it!
 
Hi, just want to add to what's been posted. My cat has been on Bexacat since April, he's 13 years old and FIV+ also. Bexacat cannot be given along with insulin, and if insulin has been started, you can't switch to Bexacat. Your vet should be aware of this already, but I wanted to make sure you understand that. If a cat has had insulin at any point in its life, it cannot be put on Bexacat. Other than that, I agree that a fructosamine test needs to be done first, but it sounds like your vet has not made a definitive diagnosis yet. In the meantime, I would definitely be making changes to the diet, low to no carb food and putting him on wet food primarily. My guy has been on Dr. Elsey's chicken recipe for kibble and a combination of Fancy Feast and Tiki Cat pates for wet food. It did take a bit for his system to regulate when he started on the diet change and Bexacat, but he is doing well now and will be going in for his next round of bloodwork in a couple of weeks. One other note, treating a diabetic cat is not an inexpensive process, no matter which route you go, insulin or Bexacat, so be prepared. Best wishes to you and your cat.
 
Angus13 said:
Hi, just want to add to what's been posted. My cat has been on Bexacat since April, he's 13 years old and FIV+ also. Bexacat cannot be given along with insulin, and if insulin has been started, you can't switch to Bexacat. Your vet should be aware of this already, but I wanted to make sure you understand that. If a cat has had insulin at any point in its life, it cannot be put on Bexacat. Other than that, I agree that a fructosamine test needs to be done first, but it sounds like your vet has not made a definitive diagnosis yet. In the meantime, I would definitely be making changes to the diet, low to no carb food and putting him on wet food primarily. My guy has been on Dr. Elsey's chicken recipe for kibble and a combination of Fancy Feast and Tiki Cat pates for wet food. It did take a bit for his system to regulate when he started on the diet change and Bexacat, but he is doing well now and will be going in for his next round of bloodwork in a couple of weeks. One other note, treating a diabetic cat is not an inexpensive process, no matter which route you go, insulin or Bexacat, so be prepared. Best wishes to you and your cat.
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How much does bexacat cost? You can get inexpensive insulin, like glargine which is the generic Lantus for as low as $40 from Canada and $50 in the US
 
MikkiL said:
Hi,

My name is Mikki and my cat Bobby was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. Im devastated and heart broken. I’ve been reading through the information on this site and it’s been very comforting. I dont usually post to online forums or most social media but Im so upset at this I just need someone to tell me it will be okay. Bobby was seen at the vet for an unrelated issue (small bacterial skin infection likely related to stress from our recent move) and discovered high glucose at testing. I have not noticed any symptoms of diabetes in Bobby such as excessive thirst, urination, weight loss. He is always extremely food motivated- one of the reasons we’re here. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs. The vet was booked up for non-drop off appointments until then- I hate dropping him off and leaving him. They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation. Im very stressed about the cost of both medication, insulin, and vet rechecks because I just bought my first house. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, I would so appreciate it. I love him so much. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi, it is normal to be scared. But the great news is: 1. You find the best place to help you. 2. Your cat seems to be in a very early age of FD, a lot earlier than most of the member here. Due to this two factory, it is extremely likely our cat will be fine, and a decent change of remission. My cat penpen were a lot worse than your kitty when I discovered his FD, with the help of here, it went remission in 2 months.
 
MikkiL said:
Hi,

My name is Mikki and my cat Bobby was just diagnosed with diabetes yesterday. Im devastated and heart broken. I’ve been reading through the information on this site and it’s been very comforting. I dont usually post to online forums or most social media but Im so upset at this I just need someone to tell me it will be okay. Bobby was seen at the vet for an unrelated issue (small bacterial skin infection likely related to stress from our recent move) and discovered high glucose at testing. I have not noticed any symptoms of diabetes in Bobby such as excessive thirst, urination, weight loss. He is always extremely food motivated- one of the reasons we’re here. I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday 8/29 to have a urine analysis, and more labs. The vet was booked up for non-drop off appointments until then- I hate dropping him off and leaving him. They are recommending a medication called Bexacat and insulin therapy upon confirmation. Im very stressed about the cost of both medication, insulin, and vet rechecks because I just bought my first house. If anyone has any advice or encouragement, I would so appreciate it. I love him so much. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi,
Did you a fructosamine test? Some cats have hyperglycemia due stress and it is needed to do a urine test (glucose on urine) or better a fructosamine test. My cat reached 340 on vet about two years ago when he was not diabetic.
Regards.
 
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