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Linda2468

Member Since 2026
Licorice ( my cat) was just dx’d with pred induced diabetes. She has always had some liver enzyme issues and now they are elevated again. Vet has reduced her dose of pred. The reason she’s been on pred is due to thickened intestines. I’m feeding her Wellness Tiny Tasters chicken pate. It’s the only wet food she will eat. In 3 weeks, we will go back to vet and probably do the Freestyle Libre monitor. Sounds like she won’t be a good candidate for the oral insulin due to liver issues. Anyone else have this type of problem and which insulin did you go with? She’s also getting daily transdermals— pred in one ear, levothyroxin in the other. She had radioactive iodine treatment a couple years ago, but now it’s swung the other way a bit- hence the Levo. Her vet seems really good and I trust her. I just want to study and educate myself
Thanks
Linds
 
Welcome to FDMB!

The American Animal Hospital Assn recommends either Lantus (glargine is the biosimilar/generic) or Prozinc for the treatment of feline diabetes. These are longer acting insulins and are more suitable for cats given their fast metabolism. Lantus is a human insulin and available at any pharmacy. Prozinc was developed for animals and either your vet will have it in stock or you can purchase it online (e.g., through Chewy's or other sources).

Does your vet think your cat has inflammatory bowel problems? That's typically the concern with thickened bowel and the reason for prescribing pred -- and is your cat prescribed prednisolone or prednisone. Prednisolone would be preferable. There's also the option of budisonide. The biggest issue with a diabetic cat that needs a steroid is that you will need to work your insulin dose around the steroid. It may also mean that remission may not be an option. However, it does not mean your cat can't live a happy and healthy life.

Please let us know how we can help. We love questions so ask away.
 
Thank you for the responses. She is on Prednisolone- transdermal. Also Levothyroxine- transdermal. ( I absolutely cannot orally med her). I put the correct doses in each ear every morning around 9-9:30 after she eats breakfast. She is so skittish and tough to med, although the transdermals have gotten easier. Not sure what the recommendations will be around working the insulin around the transdermals. I’m sure after the first experience of injecting the insulin after she has eaten, she won’t eat again the next day. And then I guess we have the same frustrating experience 12 hours later. I have given her B12 injections, but not usually right after she has eaten. And then she gets a bit of freeze dried chicken ( no other ingredients — just chicken ). I don’t think it really bothers her ( not painful) , it’s just the whole idea of it and that freaks her out. Every morning she knows we are going to do the transdermals and she runs right to the basement after breakfast to her hiding spot in a little cloth house under a card table with towels covering it so she can hide. I am able to access her ears there and it doesn’t bother her— again, it’s just the idea of it that she doesn’t like. After we do her transdermals, she gets a small bit of freeze dried chicken I have read other people have similar issues. She is also terribly finicky. Took me several years to find a wet food she would eat (Wellness Tiny Tasters chicken pate, which her vet thinks is ok). No way will she eat the prescription vet wet food. She will eat a little of the vet’s Science Diet M/D dry food. I really try hard to get my cats to eat wet food— I know diabetics need high protein, low carbs— the Wellness seems to fit that bill. Hate to be a Debbie Downer. I know it’s going to take time and patience. It’s not the injections, I can do that— it’s getting her to eat first. Like others have mentioned, I can’t wait all day for her to eat while she stays hiding and napping in her basement spot. Thank you for this wonderfully supportive group. I sure need it!



wet food
 
Linda2468 said:
Thank you for the responses. She is on Prednisolone- transdermal. Also Levothyroxine- transdermal. ( I absolutely cannot orally med her). I put the correct doses in each ear every morning around 9-9:30 after she eats breakfast. She is so skittish and tough to med, although the transdermals have gotten easier. Not sure what the recommendations will be around working the insulin around the transdermals. I’m sure after the first experience of injecting the insulin after she has eaten, she won’t eat again the next day. And then I guess we have the same frustrating experience 12 hours later. I have given her B12 injections, but not usually right after she has eaten. And then she gets a bit of freeze dried chicken ( no other ingredients — just chicken ). I don’t think it really bothers her ( not painful) , it’s just the whole idea of it and that freaks her out. Every morning she knows we are going to do the transdermals and she runs right to the basement after breakfast to her hiding spot in a little cloth house under a card table with towels covering it so she can hide. I am able to access her ears there and it doesn’t bother her— again, it’s just the idea of it that she doesn’t like. After we do her transdermals, she gets a small bit of freeze dried chicken I have read other people have similar issues. She is also terribly finicky. Took me several years to find a wet food she would eat (Wellness Tiny Tasters chicken pate, which her vet thinks is ok). No way will she eat the prescription vet wet food. She will eat a little of the vet’s Science Diet M/D dry food. I really try hard to get my cats to eat wet food— I know diabetics need high protein, low carbs— the Wellness seems to fit that bill. Hate to be a Debbie Downer. I know it’s going to take time and patience. It’s not the injections, I can do that— it’s getting her to eat first. Like others have mentioned, I can’t wait all day for her to eat while she stays hiding and napping in her basement spot. Thank you for this wonderfully supportive group. I sure need it!



wet food
Click to expand...
To add,— her vet said we might try a different steroid - I’m guessing the one you mentioned-Budisonide. I guess first, the Freestyle Libre will be placed on 2/23 and we will monitor the readings— we’re just starting all this
 
Hello and welcome. You might want to investigate different methods of giving medications. I have been giving a steroid to an IBD and small cell lymphoma kitty for years (was thickened intestines), in the form of chew treats. Very easy for me, and the petsitter to give.

My Neko did take budesonide, and we were lucky that it didn't impact her blood sugars, though it does for a few cats. For those cats we "work around" it by just increasing the insulin dose given.
 
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