Hi! I've been a lurker on this site since my sweet man cat, Critter, was diagnosed as diabetic in August 2013. I want to say thank you to everyone here. The advice and tips have been so helpful (sometimes even more so than my vets advice) and with the tips that I've learned here, I have not had to give Critter a dose of insulin in nearly a month.
Critter was overweight (about 13 lbs) when he was diagnosed. I initially thought that he had a UTI, as he was limping and having inappropriate urination. Off to the vet it was! He was diagnosed that day, with a level of about 350. I left the office with a script for Lantus and some printed instructions of what to do. Fortunately I have experience with giving humans insulin injections, so that relieved some of the stress. I continued with his dry food diet, but regulated amounts and frequently much better, in addition to 2 units of insulin twice day. With each visit to the vet, his numbers were hardly dropping. What was a doing wrong?! His insulin dosage was increased every time we went. He was still overweight and still incredibly thirsty.
Then he had to be rushed to the ER vet for diabetic Kedoacidosis. The vet tech said it would be "ok for him to miss a few shots" if I had to go away for a day or so. That was the worst advice EVER!! When I arrived home, he was on death's doorstep. I didn't know if he was high or low. I didn't have any testing supplies at home! I felt like the worst kitty mommy ever. He recovered like a champ and was back to me after 24 hour observation, fluids, and insulin drip and a huge bill later. But I would do anything for him! They suggested an expensive RX cat food.
After his last check up at the vets, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I purchased a glucometer and began home testing. If you have not done this-DO IT! I didn't think I would "need to" but boy, it has saved me so much money and so much stress. I started by tracking his numbers at home, at different times of the day. This is with insulin (3 units 2x/daily) and dry food (1/4 cup 2x/day). I still wasn't seeing improvement. FINALLY (and don't ask me why I didn't do this in the very beginning!) I went to wal-mart and bought a 32 case of Friskies pate wet food. This has made all of the difference in our lives! I couldn't believe the results. I changed his diet, continued testing, and the numbers just started dropping. And dropping. He was losing weight. The pouch that drug from his belly on the floor was gone! His eyes were brighter. He was playing again! I always thought he didn't play "because he was fat and lazy." Turns out he was just fat and diabetic! As I was testing, I began decreasing the dosage, 1/2 a unit at a time, until I eventually eliminated the evening dose. When I would test him, he would sometimes be lower he should be (in the 70s) so I thought, what the heck, let's stop the morning dose, too. His readings have been wonderful ever since (hovering around 90) and he is doing fabulously.
Maybe he just needed to lose the weight? Maybe his pancreas just needed a jump start? I don't know, but what I do know is that if it wasn't for the people here on FDMB, I wouldn't have done all that I had done and I would still be giving him shots twice a day and feeding him dry food.
If you are new to feline diabetes, do yourself and your loved kitty a favor and get a glucometer and switch to wet food. Your furry friend will thank you (and so will your walle
PS: The clickable link below leads you to a picture of my Critter
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1622571_10203263555858125_1135500898_o.jpg
Critter was overweight (about 13 lbs) when he was diagnosed. I initially thought that he had a UTI, as he was limping and having inappropriate urination. Off to the vet it was! He was diagnosed that day, with a level of about 350. I left the office with a script for Lantus and some printed instructions of what to do. Fortunately I have experience with giving humans insulin injections, so that relieved some of the stress. I continued with his dry food diet, but regulated amounts and frequently much better, in addition to 2 units of insulin twice day. With each visit to the vet, his numbers were hardly dropping. What was a doing wrong?! His insulin dosage was increased every time we went. He was still overweight and still incredibly thirsty.
Then he had to be rushed to the ER vet for diabetic Kedoacidosis. The vet tech said it would be "ok for him to miss a few shots" if I had to go away for a day or so. That was the worst advice EVER!! When I arrived home, he was on death's doorstep. I didn't know if he was high or low. I didn't have any testing supplies at home! I felt like the worst kitty mommy ever. He recovered like a champ and was back to me after 24 hour observation, fluids, and insulin drip and a huge bill later. But I would do anything for him! They suggested an expensive RX cat food.
After his last check up at the vets, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I purchased a glucometer and began home testing. If you have not done this-DO IT! I didn't think I would "need to" but boy, it has saved me so much money and so much stress. I started by tracking his numbers at home, at different times of the day. This is with insulin (3 units 2x/daily) and dry food (1/4 cup 2x/day). I still wasn't seeing improvement. FINALLY (and don't ask me why I didn't do this in the very beginning!) I went to wal-mart and bought a 32 case of Friskies pate wet food. This has made all of the difference in our lives! I couldn't believe the results. I changed his diet, continued testing, and the numbers just started dropping. And dropping. He was losing weight. The pouch that drug from his belly on the floor was gone! His eyes were brighter. He was playing again! I always thought he didn't play "because he was fat and lazy." Turns out he was just fat and diabetic! As I was testing, I began decreasing the dosage, 1/2 a unit at a time, until I eventually eliminated the evening dose. When I would test him, he would sometimes be lower he should be (in the 70s) so I thought, what the heck, let's stop the morning dose, too. His readings have been wonderful ever since (hovering around 90) and he is doing fabulously.
Maybe he just needed to lose the weight? Maybe his pancreas just needed a jump start? I don't know, but what I do know is that if it wasn't for the people here on FDMB, I wouldn't have done all that I had done and I would still be giving him shots twice a day and feeding him dry food.
If you are new to feline diabetes, do yourself and your loved kitty a favor and get a glucometer and switch to wet food. Your furry friend will thank you (and so will your walle
PS: The clickable link below leads you to a picture of my Critter
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1622571_10203263555858125_1135500898_o.jpg
