No insulin and seeking advise

[Brenda Thompson]

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes over a year ago and we initially tried insulin therapy along with a diet change to strictly canned food twice a day. My cat hated the shots and it was a very stressful ordeal that eventually led to her not eating well. She became hypoglycemic one night and was rushed to the vet ER. After that, I decided to just try and maintain her glucose levels with diet alone. It worked to some degree for the last year but I'm noticing increased weight loss and she can't afford to get any skinnier. I'm very fearful of insulin therapy because of the reaction she had the first time around but I know she won't thrive if we continue on out current path. Has anyone out there experienced this and if so did you find a solution?

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Welcome! There's a lot of advice and support for you here. Unfortunately, if you want your kitty to be healthier you're going to have to reconsider insulin. Most cats need it unless/until they're among those that eventually go into remission. That doesn't happen to all of them, though.

My cat hated the shots and it was a very stressful ordeal

There are ways to desensitize your kitty and teach yourself to be calmer doing this. They can pick up on our anxiety and it can have a big effect on how smoothly things go. People here can help with that.

She became hypoglycemic one night and was rushed to the vet ER

You need to dose carefully and monitor the effect of the dose to avoid these emergencies. The essential tool in keeping your kitty safe is to test blood glucose at home. I'm sure you won't like thinking about this but it, too, can be learned with help from here. So much of this depends on you deciding to have a positive mind set. There are many people who came here terrified and absolutely certain they wouldn't be able to give shots or test blood glucose and found that, indeed they could, given enough practice.

I'm very fearful of insulin therapy because of the reaction she had the first time around

I guarantee we can help you avoid this if you're willing to learn about the insulin prescribed for your kitty and take on the challenge of testing at home.

I know she won't thrive if we continue on out current path.

Yes, this is true unfortunately.

Has anyone out there experienced this and if so did you find a solution?

Yes, there are people who came here only after an ER emergency and decided to do things differently.

 

[Lisa and Smoky]

I answered your post on the main health board. I should really learn to look on here first. welcome to our group

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Welcome
Kris covered most of your introduction post but I can follow up that she can thrive and live out her life if you can take charge. We all care about our fur babies here and we are their strength. We can help you out as much as possible here with support and advice but the decision is still yours. Once you start, it really does become a routine and home testing can prevent another Hypo event. Home testing has saved many a kitty life here!

 

[StephG]

Just wanted to add that some vets start them on a dose that is too high. My old vet did this with my cat. Started him on 7 units with instructions to give him insulin no matter what every 12 hours-- bad advice and too much insulin. That's how I ended up here and lucky for me we caught him before going hypo.
Starting on a low dose sounds like the best plan for your nerves and for your kitty.
Hang in there... This place has so much info it can make you a little overwhelmed but take it day by day and you'll be fine!