Newly diagnosed diabetic cat

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carlystateman

carlystateman

Member Since 2017
Hi everybody
My cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes but has been very unwell as it was undetected and his blood sugar at the moment is very high. He has been to the vet and had to stay there for 2 days for I've fluids as his bold sugar was so high he has not eaten very uninterested in food and very flat in himself. I've given him his first injection tonight with vet there watching and his next dose will be in the morning which I will give as he is now at home, he's just been sleeping though not eating or drinking so far. I feel a bit overwhelmed and I just need some advice and someone to talk to who understands. I am fully dedicated to giving him injections and understand the responsibility he means the world to me.
Thanks Carly
 
You're in the right place now Carly, everybody here understands. I'm on my second sugar cat, some people have been here for years. No question will be stupid, no thought too emotional.
 
Thank you for your messages, he's on 2 units at the moment but his blood sugar when checked tonight by vet was high still and my cat (Ginger) has just been sleeping since coming home. He's a bit unsteady on his hind legs due to the high blood sugar and won't let me stroke him. I offered him some cat milk but he only had tiny bit. Vet said if tonight he hasn't eaten or drunk and still seems very lethargic I will need to take him back in the morning to see them. I've tried encouraging him to eat by putting biscuits and wet food near to where he's sleeping but he just walks away and goes to sleep elsewhere. Is there anything else i could be doing to try get him to eat and drink as at moment I feel like I should be doing more for him, but cats are independent as we know and when he wants to eat and drink he will
 
We have all been where you are. I remember crying 12 hours on and off that first day she was diagnosed. A week later and it was all routine. I promise it gets easier and we are here to help you with questions, just as these fine folks were here for me last summer. :)
 
Yeh it's a lot to take in but I'm sure in few weeks I'll be more confident in giving the insulin, as at moment I'm worried in case I do it wrong I'm just worried about everything at mo as early days
 
Yong said:
It is nice to know that I was not weird for doing this either the first day or two. :)
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Definitely not. I bawled. I cried a long, hard, sorrowful, ugly cry. I was mourning for her and what I perceived as a rough existence of daily shots... Was it Kinder to let her go? I cried for my guilt of giving too many carbs not realizing the consequences, for my guilt of not realizing the signs sooner that something was not right with her. I held her and apologized profusely. I was worried for the financial strain it was going to cause, for the pressure and stress on the family, for the lack of confidence I had in my ability to care for her as she needed. I cried for the schedule we would be forced to keep and the spontaneity we would have to sacrifice. I was thinking no more trips for the next 5-8 years as she is only 13 years young, and how unfair that is four my 4 year old who would miss out on travel adventures. I cried about how scared I was of messing up and killing her.

Then the next day I put on my big girl panties and just decided I needed to take things as they come and just do what needed to be done. To learn what I could.... Do what I could.... And leave the rest to God because I can't do better than my best. I didn't cry about it again.

One regret I have is not starting home testing sooner... I waited 6 weeks until a dose increase was suggested by my vet and I was more worried about hypo.... Once I learned to test it was like a new phase of empowerment! I was determined to have her regulated! About 10 weeks later I not only had her regulated, but in remission. It was like a weight off my shoulders, and I was shedding happy tears that time.
 
JanetNJ said:
I was mourning for her and what I perceived as a rough existence of daily shots... .
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Makes me appreciate our vet so much. With our first sugar baby Nigel she was on the phone with us every morning and night for the first two weeks. Her Dad was a vet as well so she was born into it. Without her hand on our shoulders we would have just disintegrated.
 
Hi there,
My male cat Woody has been just dx with diabetes. This is not my first go round with this dx and a cat. However, this cat is very different than my female cat. He was initially on 1 unit twice a day and then when his behavior was very odd (he was under my son's bed and he NEVER goes under there) I knew something was wrong. I travel for work so my husband is the one who is responsible for his care during the week. Initially, when he sent me a text he though perhaps he did something wrong with the insulin shot. That was not the case. He was not absorbing the insulin through the scruff of his neck so now it goes in his flank. He hates it. He is on prescription food wet and very little dry. Everything I have read says no dry. I think that is probably where we went wrong with Salem my last diabetic cat. She had wet and dry. Cats are used to eating throughout the day and so is he. I have now decided to feed him large morning and evening meals and small meals throughout the day. That seems to be working. It is wet food that he is getting.

I have read a number of posts here and on a FB site that Fancy Feast is also a good cat food provided it is not the gravy kind. I don't know if I should get a few cans of that for his smaller meals since he is on the prescription food. People have said the scripted food is not worth it. I really need to figure out a good routine for him when it is just my husband because it stresses all of us out. If he can't get his insulin in the flank I say he should use the scruff and be done with it. It is less stressful for everyone. Thoughts? Does anyone feed their cat regular tuna fish? Woody will be 9 in April. He is on Lantis 2 units am and pm now. My vet wants us to wait another week before we test him but I want to do it this morning so I know his number before he gets insulin. I use the alphatrak2.
 
carlystateman said:
Hi everybody
My cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes but has been very unwell as it was undetected and his blood sugar at the moment is very high. He has been to the vet and had to stay there for 2 days for I've fluids as his bold sugar was so high he has not eaten very uninterested in food and very flat in himself. I've given him his first injection tonight with vet there watching and his next dose will be in the morning which I will give as he is now at home, he's just been sleeping though not eating or drinking so far. I feel a bit overwhelmed and I just need some advice and someone to talk to who understands. I am fully dedicated to giving him injections and understand the responsibility he means the world to me.
Thanks Carly
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Welcome!

You are in the very best place to get help and support Carly.

When my Eve was diagnosed I cried like a baby every day for a week. I was so overwhelmed and upset and very afraid about testing, giving shots etc.

Now it's 3 years later and I actually adopted a diabetic cat 8 months ago. I test and shoot both of them everyday. It just becomes part of your routine. The key is commitment and if you've got that, this board will help you with everything else.

Jeanette
 
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