Just found out my cat is diabetic

[Vinorosso74]

So our poor 13 yo girl has been for her MOT today and turns out she's diabetic. I brought the check forwards a couple of weeks as she's suddenly started drinking a lot more. Not a complete surprise as she had triaditis last year and her pancreas is damaged. The specialist vet did warn us she may do.
Got an appointment tomorrow to go through how to do the insulin injections etc. Feel sorry for her as she's had a rough year.

Just to say my old boy lived (mostly) very happily with diabetes from 16 to 19.5, so it is possible. The idea of the injections seemed quite horrific at first, but we soon got into the swing of things (and he was a strong willed cat!) Good luck with your appointment.

Sorry to hear that - but it's not a death sentence these days.

Well done for getting her to the vet so timeously.

She's a carninore not an omnivore (like a dog) so cutting out any starches will fix it!

Managed the first two insulin injections without any dramas! Back to vets today for check up.
There were also ketones in her urine so she got fluids at the vets yesterday. Vet advised me they tend to keep them in like that but as she was bright and eating was ok to come home but to go back for check ups.
Also got two weeks worth of tablets as looks like her liver is inflammed slightly-this was the start of all her problems last year.
Our vet spoke to the specialist she was under at the referral place last year and he described her as a "medically complex cat".
It's more the additional responsibility around having a diabetic cat is my main concern. Obviously, we'll take care of her and manage it as best we can and I'm sure it'll be fine.
When we go away we've started using the cattery at the back of our vets and they look after her well.

Can i ask how much she was drinking and were there any other signs? My 6yo moggy has started drinking quite a bit more than usual and I'm worried about diabetes, there are no other signs at all though that he is ill.

I don't know exactly amounts but it was a very obvious increase in what shelse 2as drinking. She started peeing a bit more frequently (not greatly so) and she was also being a bit scavengy trying to hoover up crumbs off the floor.
Might be worth a vet visit if you're worried. Could be something else or hopefully nothing.

Thanks thinking about it he has started peeing a bit more in the litter tray as well o.kay will take to vets next week.

Hope it goes o.kay with your cat, good luck with the treatment.

Thank you.
Fingers and paws crossed all is ok with your boy.

One of my cats is diabetic - I panicked at first but it's surprisingly OK. There's been a lot of tweaking of doses and blood tests, and he's moved to a new type of insulin recently, but on the whole it's far less faff that you'd have thought. He's fine with the injections - I have this idea he knows it makes him feel better, but may be crediting him with too many cognitive skills :o.

The only real issue is holidays - I can't pay a DC's mate to come in and throw them some food twice a day anymore. We pay a lovely catsitter woman instead, who is happy to inject - but it's not cheap.

Out of interest, would any insurance policies pick up some of the tab for formal care during vacations - needed as a result of a medical condition such as diabetes?

Just had it confirmed that my cat is diabetic seriously hoping the insurance company picks up some of the cost!

Op how is it going with your cat?

Sorry to hear that Girlie. Am finding the injections ok, the main issue is making sure she's eaten enough prior to injection as she's decided the food she loved the other week she doesn't like now. She's on a hypoallergenic diet which makes it tricky but luckily she likes the wet Hills z/d.
Have you had your lesson in injecting the insulin yet? It is quite easy but am just trying to get adjusted to the routine.
Hope all goes well with your cat and good luck on the insurance-gave my form in at the vets on Friday so hopefully they'll pay up.

An acquaintance of mine had a diabetic cat and, like you, the biggest issue seemed to be not the injections but her eating her food timeously. (If I recall, she was a fusspot at the best of times.)

Good luck.

The food thing is going to be a complete nightmare as I have two cats! Atm they have a high protein dry food down most of the time and wet food once or twice a day. Have no idea how I will separate how I feed them

Was reading on t'internet that going grain free is meant to be really good for diabetic cats, not sure how expensive that would work out in reality though.

Got to take him back to the vets tomos for more tests and a discussion about managing it. I am not worried about giving him the injections (I'm a nurse!) but just the long term implications and ongoing costs.

You'll be an expert on the injections then! I'm also unsure about longer term implications. The vet told me some cats go into remission especially if it's caught soon enough but they can't tell which cats will.
Yes Cozie our cat can be a fussy madam which is a nightmare having a hypoallergenic diet!

Just found out today our 12 year old cat has diabetes. We've been in to see the diabetes nurse this morning to discuss treatment options and have a lot of information to digest! The vet is going to call later today and we're hoping to get him booked in tomorrow to learn how to do the injections.

Just seen your post Kettricken. Sorry your cat is diabetic too. The injections are way easier to give than I expected. Much easier than tablets. Our problem has been getting our cat to eat enough beforehand.
Our vet showed me how to do it with water (sterile for the purpose not tap water!) and talked me through it. I showed DP what to do and we're managing fine apart from when she sneezed one day and I have no idea if the insulin went in or not.

I think that the eating may be the difficult part. I recall my acquaintance running around after her girl trying to tempt her with some warm roast chicken. That cat was a bit of a fusspot anyway as I think I said but still......

Thanks both, we have an appointment now for 8.30 in the morning for his 1st injection. Reassuring to hear that people get on ok with it all!

Hi not sure if anyone still checking this thread but was about to start a new one as am worried about my diabetic cat! My boy cat has been on twice daily insulin injections for just over two weeks now and i am also checking his blood sugar once a day, his blood sugars are still ridiculously high, they haven't gone below 25mmol at all

I saw the vet on Tuesday who said to increase his insulin by a unit morning and evening which I have done but his blood sugar was still 32mmol tonight he is now on 3 units morning and evening, does this sound about right? He is slightly grumpier than usual bit otherwise doesn't appear unwell....

Hi there. We just increased my cat from 1 unit to 2 units twice a day last week. Are you using Caninsulin? I think they prefer to start lower to prevent hypos. Our vet did a sample yesterday (were there for another reason) which was 11.6 this was about 8 hours after insulin too so glucose would be going up again. I need to get a glucometer for home....
I've been told it can take a while to get the dose correct. One of the nurses said some cats go off the scale completely! Have your vets mentioned the fructosamine test? That can monitor how the diabetes has been managed over the previous 3 (?)weeks.
Has he got grumpier since increasing the dose? If you're worried call your vet for their advise.

We've just started yesterday on Caninsulin 1.5 units twice a day but don't have a meter to test at home yet. He's going to the vet for the day next Thursday so they can do a glucose curve where they'll test him every hour to see how he's doing and see if he needs a dose increase. They tested him yesterday at the vet before the first dose and he was 20mmol. Finding the injections ok to do and he doesn't seem bothered by them.

Have been home testing since he started on the insulin, thats trickier than giving the injection but boy cat is so good bless him so trusting! Yes he is on Caninsulin 3 units morning and evening, am just checking his sugars in the evening at the moment, you have to prick their ears but its fairly straight forward.

Well am reassured that the dose is about right, the vet did say that sometimes in cats when they start on the insulin they chuck out more glucose in response but am worried that his blood sugars have been so high over a few weeks now.

He isn't grumpier since increasing the dose, on two occasions he has hissed at me (very out of character normally very soppy and laid back!) and when I checked his blood sugars they were over 30 so am guessing thats why he is feeling miserable. Just hoping the insulin kicks in soon.

GirlieOur cat definitely seems happier on her increased dose so it might just take a few days for your cat's to kick in.
Our vet said she finds getting blood out the ear one of the trickiest things to do!
Kettricken glad you're managing ok with the injections.