New To Feline Diabetes

[Baxtersmoma]

I just found out that my Baxter he is 12 years old has diabetes. He has had 2 steroid shots this summer due to a "hot spot from hell" I wonder if this gave him the diabetes. He is also epileptic. He has had epilepsy for 10 years now. I am very nervous. We go for our "demo" tonight. Where is the best place to obtain the insulin?

 

[Amy & Papaya (GA)]

Hello and welcome! I'm glad you found this board as it will really help you in treating Baxter. Everyone will probably chip in this morning with tons of tips and tricks, but I just wanted to say hello right off the bat.

Could you let us know your general location (country etc.)? There are members from all over the world here and some of the info on buying insulin, proper food and home testing supplies tends to be rather country-specific.

Also everyone will want to know: What's your name? What kind of insulin is he being prescribed (most here use Lantus, others PZI)? What are you feeding him?

The food question is really important because as you may have read on here, a low carb wet food can really bring your cat's blood sugar down. But VERY IMPORTANT you don't want to start giving insulin first and then make big diet changes because his blood sugar could drop too much. That's also why it's really important to learn to home test his blood sugar - then you will know it is safe to give insulin. Sometimes vets don't suggest this because they think it will overwhelm you, but it's a big part of treating your cat safely and we will help you learn how to do it.

I know finding out that your kitty has diabetes can be very overwhelming, never mind suddenly needing to learn how to inject insulin and test the kitty's blood sugar, but you will find all the support you need here and will be a pro at it in no time at all! I had never given anyone a needle before all this and now my dad just watches in amazement when I test my Papaya's blood sugar - he thinks I've turned into a nurse! So don't worry, you can do everything you will need to and when you're unsure just ask, there are definitely people here who can help. Best wishes for you and Baxter!

 

[BJM]

... Where is the best place to obtain the insulin?

That'll depend on the insulin. Note that typical cat doses of insulin range from 0.5 units to 3 units twice a day. Always start with a low dose! Some vets start with 3 units or more when starting out and that may result in a dangerous low.

Lantus and Levemir are human insulins available at most pharmacies. They both have 100 units of insulin in 1 milliliter (mL), so are called U-100 insulins. You want the 3 mL (300 unit) pens for either of these, not the 10 mL (1,000 unit) vials, so you don't have any waste.Instructions say to use for only 1 month, however if kept refrigerated on a stationary shelf, they may last up to 6 months, allowing you to use the entire pen. If you have a vial, you may not be able to use all of it before its efficacy wanes. In some cases, you may be able to get a Lantus savings card which would take the cost per pen down to $25.

ProZinc and PZI are veterinary insulins available from your vet and in some cases through veterinary pharmacies. ProZinc is aU-40 insulin, with 40 units of insulin per mL. PZI may be in a U-40, U-50, or U-100 concentration.

We do not recommend Vetsulin/Caninsulin as it was developed for dogs and does not last long enough in many cats. Likewise, we do not reocmmend Humulin/Novolin/Humalog/Novalog as these last roughly 8 hours in the cat which may require giving insulin every 8 hours for effective control.

 

[NancyJac]

While steroids can temporarily elevate blood glucose, it is highly unlikely that he became diabetic from just two shots. However, if one of them was very recent (in the last few days) that could still be temporarily elevating his blood glucose.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Steroids can tip a susceptible cat over the edge into diabetes but if this was the trigger the issue could resolve when they wear off. Other issues can compound this though ie diet or infection... and he may need insulin to help his pancreas recover .

What is he being fed?

Wendy