butlergrad04
Member
Hello, I'm brand new to this, like 5 minutes ago. 
I have an 18 pound (seriously, big boned not just fat) orange tabby named Conrad. He turned 15 last month. Still kitten-like and an absolute love of mine. I mean, like you, I am really attached to my cat. He is Mr. Personality. He has annual exams with bloodwork and has always been hearty. I even have his teeth cleaned occasionally.
He only started urinating more frequently and drinking to excess one week ago. (I was very observant about all of that esp. with him getting older. I am also single and the only one to care for him so I am sure it just developed.) His BG was 222 in Sept. when he had his physical but the vet wasn't only concerned. He just suggested that if I observe anything unusual, I might want to have Conrad's BG tested. So....I did (this week). His BG was 275 (and his fructosamine was 535). The vet said that this is a mild case of diabetes. He also said that because it is so mild and it was caught so early, if I just switch to all moist/low carb food, Conrad may be one of those lucky cats to go into remission with just the smallest dose of insulin. Conrad's diet has always been moist in the am and pm with some dry during the day. He's always favored moist (this is good, I guess).
Because his case is so mild, the vet said he was okay waiting a week to have me come back in, check Conrad's BG again and have a discussion over beginning insulin injections. (My vet had a death in the family and had to go out of town.)
My question is: if Conrad is newly diabetic and at 275 BG, he won't be suffering any major damage by waiting a week to start insulin, will he? I'm afraid of a sudden elevation. (But are the odds of this happening slim? I know hypo is much worse than hyper!) I guess I just hate seeing him acting more sluggish and want to act NOW!
He is still eating well, however. I am just so new to this but I've done a ton of reading on your great site (thank you!) but just need a "virtual hug" and a "there-there, it will be okay" from those in the know.
I refuse to feel overwhelmed by this. (And I just (secretly) got annoyed at some co-workers who, when I said I'd have to give Conrad shots, got all wide-eyed and said, "You have to give him shots??!!!!!", like it's the end of the world. But, I guess they just don't know that diabetes is manageable. THANKS!

I have an 18 pound (seriously, big boned not just fat) orange tabby named Conrad. He turned 15 last month. Still kitten-like and an absolute love of mine. I mean, like you, I am really attached to my cat. He is Mr. Personality. He has annual exams with bloodwork and has always been hearty. I even have his teeth cleaned occasionally.
He only started urinating more frequently and drinking to excess one week ago. (I was very observant about all of that esp. with him getting older. I am also single and the only one to care for him so I am sure it just developed.) His BG was 222 in Sept. when he had his physical but the vet wasn't only concerned. He just suggested that if I observe anything unusual, I might want to have Conrad's BG tested. So....I did (this week). His BG was 275 (and his fructosamine was 535). The vet said that this is a mild case of diabetes. He also said that because it is so mild and it was caught so early, if I just switch to all moist/low carb food, Conrad may be one of those lucky cats to go into remission with just the smallest dose of insulin. Conrad's diet has always been moist in the am and pm with some dry during the day. He's always favored moist (this is good, I guess).
Because his case is so mild, the vet said he was okay waiting a week to have me come back in, check Conrad's BG again and have a discussion over beginning insulin injections. (My vet had a death in the family and had to go out of town.)
My question is: if Conrad is newly diabetic and at 275 BG, he won't be suffering any major damage by waiting a week to start insulin, will he? I'm afraid of a sudden elevation. (But are the odds of this happening slim? I know hypo is much worse than hyper!) I guess I just hate seeing him acting more sluggish and want to act NOW!

