HI all! My 17 year old cat was just diagnosed. Twice daily insulin shots and wearing a glucose monitor are the vet recommendation. He hates the car and the vet. I'm trying to decide if the recommendation is best for him or to put him on hospice. He's already getting the older cat, bony look. Just not sure the best next choice. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd love to hear. The vet is leaning to a 1 month trial but i can't get a sense of if that could cause him to crash more quickly if we decide to discontinue. Thanks. Jacki
New diagnosis New member 8/26
- OP jhunt
- Start date
Liz & Crowley
Member Since 2026
I obviously don't know about your cat specifically, but my cat was getting a little bony just because he couldn't process his food right. After just a week on insulin, he already looks a lot better!
It seems very overwhelming at first, but it's pretty manageable! The people here are really wonderful at providing any help you might need and answering questions!
It seems very overwhelming at first, but it's pretty manageable! The people here are really wonderful at providing any help you might need and answering questions!
CORKY
Member Since 2023
Welcome to FDMB
As Liz said it is overwhelming at first, but it gets easier by the day, before a cat is diagnosed with Feline Diabetes, it is extremely possible that as much as we look out for them, cats do hide illnesses quite well, once on insulin and the right diet and home testing, he will be gaining weight, it takes a few weeks to begin to see results, Corky was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago, he was 10, indoor cat from 16.5lbs to 8.5lbs at time of diagnosed, so do not be discouraged, normally an inside cat can live to be in its 20+
We would like to know what insulin is your cat using, what is his diet? diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs. Most members use Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% most feed up to 5% (food list below, the third column contains the carb%, we are looking for Dry Matter Carbs, calculator below) if you are feeding kibbles (dry food), the transition has to be a slow one since changing carb content can alter the levels to low numbers, also feeding 3-4 meals or snack during the day plus the two main meals before shot, the CGM is a good choice, but it is also good to have a manual meter handy, since the CGM tends to read low numbers lower than normal, so you want to double check, as well as that the sensor may fall off or malfunctions you have a backup, a non-diabetic cats' glucose lever is between 50-120 most members use the ReliOn human meter and strips (Walmart) or any human meter, we base our numbers on human meter, no need for a pet meter, too expensive and so are the strips. Please continue to post any concern of yours is not a small one.
Also you should create a HYPO KIT containing some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs, some high carbs between 16-24% carbs, some KARO syrup or honey, this in case his glucose levels run low. We can guide you along this process, also read our sticky notes in our main Forum, they contain much valuable information
Info - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
Carb Calculator - Felinediabetes.com
As Liz said it is overwhelming at first, but it gets easier by the day, before a cat is diagnosed with Feline Diabetes, it is extremely possible that as much as we look out for them, cats do hide illnesses quite well, once on insulin and the right diet and home testing, he will be gaining weight, it takes a few weeks to begin to see results, Corky was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago, he was 10, indoor cat from 16.5lbs to 8.5lbs at time of diagnosed, so do not be discouraged, normally an inside cat can live to be in its 20+
We would like to know what insulin is your cat using, what is his diet? diabetic cats need to have a diet of wet can or raw foods between 0-10% carbs. Most members use Fancy Feast Pates between 0-10% most feed up to 5% (food list below, the third column contains the carb%, we are looking for Dry Matter Carbs, calculator below) if you are feeding kibbles (dry food), the transition has to be a slow one since changing carb content can alter the levels to low numbers, also feeding 3-4 meals or snack during the day plus the two main meals before shot, the CGM is a good choice, but it is also good to have a manual meter handy, since the CGM tends to read low numbers lower than normal, so you want to double check, as well as that the sensor may fall off or malfunctions you have a backup, a non-diabetic cats' glucose lever is between 50-120 most members use the ReliOn human meter and strips (Walmart) or any human meter, we base our numbers on human meter, no need for a pet meter, too expensive and so are the strips. Please continue to post any concern of yours is not a small one.
Also you should create a HYPO KIT containing some medium carb foods between 11-15% carbs, some high carbs between 16-24% carbs, some KARO syrup or honey, this in case his glucose levels run low. We can guide you along this process, also read our sticky notes in our main Forum, they contain much valuable information
Info - Dr. Pierson - new Food Chart
Carb Calculator - Felinediabetes.com
Agreed, don’t give up on that guy just for a diabetes diagnosis. The insulin will help and make sure he’s having enough calories.
If you’re going to stick around (and please do, there’s so much knowledge here that will help your boy), check out this post about some basics we ask for from new members regarding your profile:
Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
Corky has good questions about what type of insulin and his current diet. Those two are easy wins.
If you’re going to stick around (and please do, there’s so much knowledge here that will help your boy), check out this post about some basics we ask for from new members regarding your profile:
Sticky - New? How You Can Help Us Help You!
Corky has good questions about what type of insulin and his current diet. Those two are easy wins.