My cat was just diagnosed with diabetes. She is very, very sick, and I am overwhelmed. I don't know if we can manage to get her regulated and well again. She has had 3 doses of insulin. Now she just wants to sleep. I don't know if the sleeping is a good thing, a way for her to rest and recover, or indicates something bad. I just don't know what to do other than to keep giving her the injections at regular intervals and keep offering food.
Newly diagnosed cat
- Thread starter Brenda
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Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
Welcome Brenda,
Yes, there is something else you can do that can make all the difference. You can test her blood glucose levels, just like human diabetics do. She may be feeling crummy because her bg levels are too low and because they are too high. Once you know, you can adjust accordingly.
We use human glucometers and poke our kitty's ear. Video for hometesting If you want to learn how today, we can help. We have taught hundreds of people how, over the internet. Here is a shopping list:
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 25-26 gauge is good. Any brand will work.
Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.
Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking.
Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not Lo carb treats
It is not always as easy as it looks in the video but we all have tricks that helped us the first time. For us, heating the ear was vital.
We can help you help your cat.
Yes, there is something else you can do that can make all the difference. You can test her blood glucose levels, just like human diabetics do. She may be feeling crummy because her bg levels are too low and because they are too high. Once you know, you can adjust accordingly.
We use human glucometers and poke our kitty's ear. Video for hometesting If you want to learn how today, we can help. We have taught hundreds of people how, over the internet. Here is a shopping list:
A human glucometer. Any one that sips and takes a tiny sample is fine. The meters are often free at drug stores; it’s the strips that are expensive. You can, however, buy them on ebay at less than half the price of stores. Lots of people here also like the ReliOn from Walmart. It is an inexpensive meter and its strips are the cheapest around. Try the meter out on yourself or someone else before you try it on your cat. You want to be familiar with it before you poke the cat.
Lancets and a lancet device. Usually, until the ears “learn” to bleed, a 25-26 gauge is good. Any brand will work.
Ketone strips. (Ketostix) Just like human diabetics use. You will sometimes need to test urine if the numbers are high.
Rice sack. Make this out of thinnish sock, filled with raw rice or oatmeal and then knotted. You heat this in the microwave until very warm but not hot. Then heat the ears before poking.
Also nice to have. Flashlight: so you can look at the ears and find the little capillaries that come off the vein running down the ear. Vaseline: Put a tiny smear where you want to poke. It will help the blood bead up.
And some lo carb treats to give your kitty, successful test or not Lo carb treats
It is not always as easy as it looks in the video but we all have tricks that helped us the first time. For us, heating the ear was vital.
We can help you help your cat.
Lisa and Witn (GA)
Very Active Member
Hi Brenda and welcome to FDMB.
Can you tell us more about your cat? What is your cat's name?
Also, what insulin are you using and what dose? Are you giving insulin twice a day?
Also, what are you feeding your cat?
As Sue has suggested, the insulin dose may be too much. This can be very dangerous for a cat. Hometesting with a human glucose meter is very important to determine your cat's glucose levels and you should do this asap. Please try to get your cat to eat if she is not eating, even if you need to feed her with a syringe. That will help raise her glucose levels if she is too low.
Where do you live? City and state only?
Can you tell us more about your cat? What is your cat's name?
Also, what insulin are you using and what dose? Are you giving insulin twice a day?
Also, what are you feeding your cat?
As Sue has suggested, the insulin dose may be too much. This can be very dangerous for a cat. Hometesting with a human glucose meter is very important to determine your cat's glucose levels and you should do this asap. Please try to get your cat to eat if she is not eating, even if you need to feed her with a syringe. That will help raise her glucose levels if she is too low.
Where do you live? City and state only?
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