Question about diagnosing diabetes

[j_o]

So a friend of mine uses the same vet as diagnosed Oscar with a single blood test result of 234 and she also diagnosed their cat as diabetic but they have not started him on insulin due to other issues. He was also diagnosed with 1 test result of around 234. Is this a common practice? If so it's a very scary one.

 

[BJM]

I believe I'd call it malpractice.

One glucose test does not a diabetic make, especially under vet stress, which may raise levels 100 points..

A fructosamine is a bit better, but in the presence of an infection, may not be a true picture either, since sustained infection may elevate that.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would do more since frequently a cat's BG is elevated due to vet stress when the sample is take at the vet. There are two other tests. One is testing the cat's urine for glucose using a dip stick.
The other is a frutosimine blood test.
Yo can purchase a human blood glucose meter to measure the BG at home.

 

[j_o]

We definetly test at home Oscar is down to one test a day and has never tested over 81 and that was after eating and we have told our friends not to start until after we can teach them how to test and make sure their cat needs the insulin. What scares me is how many other cats has she done this too....

 

[MommaOfMuse]

My own vet will not even suggest diabetes unless the blood test is in the high 300 and then she double checks with other tests. Heck, I have one civie that tests around 250 everytime we take her to the vet's she is a semi-feral and very scared of anyone that's not the Momma.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang.