My cat has diabetes, please talk to me.

[Crunchymum]

She is having an overnight stay for IV and they'll give her the first few doses of insulin and monitor.

Please talk to me about costs (time and money) and prognosis.

My girl is 12 and not insured I know we cancelled the policy last month due to increased tariff (oh the irony!!) and I'd not sorted the repalcement. Completely my fault as I'd taken the responsibility to sort the new insurance.

I'm glad her illness is hopefully treatable but I'm also overwhelmed.

Our old girl was diabetic and like you I felt overwhelmed. She has been gone nearly 3 years now so I don't know if medication has changed at all but we did insulin injections twice a day (she was on Caninsulin) which I admit was tying but we adjusted our days/schedule. Luckily our vets has a cattery at the back so she stayed there if we went away. A vet nurse could be a good cat sitter if you go away unless you have a cattery where they will do this.
We got a prescription from the vet and I bought the insulin online. Likewise syringes but do make sure you buy the correct ones.
One ongoing cost could be ongoing blood tests at the vets-we did glucose curves at home but any fructosamine tests (I think that's the name) were done at the vets-these weren't often if I recall.
We bought a basic glucometer which the vet tested against their one and bought the strips from a local pharmacy.
We did have wonderful support from the vets and nurses at the practise so I hope you have the same. Work with them and don't forget they are just at the end of the phone/email with any questions. Ours showed us how to inject insulin, do blood glucose readings and went through what to do in case of a hypo (have some basic honey you can rub on the gums). Also useful was a nurse saying to keep everything in a small box so it's always together including the honey, the insulin will live in the fridge.
Our neighbour had a diabetic cat live for quite a few years. Ours was just over a year and a half but she had other health issues.
Good luck with it all, it does get easier.

💐OP, it's a shock, I know. On my third diabetic DCat here, and endorsing everything @Vinorosso74 has said. Especially about working closely with the vets, and that you do adapt. Drop me a PM if you want to chat - or even just a handhold.

Thank you so much for the kind words and info.

I'm no stranger to diabetes (had gestational diabetes with my 3rd child) and I'm also no stranger to injecting little creatures. My youngest has had a daily injection since she was 8 months old (and will do for life but she'll obviously administer them herself when she is old enough)

So on paper I should kind of know what I'm doing

My girl doesn't like being handled, she'll be traumatised by this vet visit so I'm going to have to find some techniques to be able to medicate her?

We'll get there I'm sure!!

I don't know if its any help but my friend has a 14 year old cat who was diagnosed with diabetes last year and was pretty upset because it severely limited their social lives and holidays and they are only 30 bless them.
Anyway they had the cat on a very strict diet for 6 months as well as insulin and the diabetes reversed. She is currently diabetes free.
I reversed my own diabetes too by completely changing my lifestyle, my blood sugar has been normal for 2 years.
You never know!!

No experience of diabetic cats- just family members! But our local cattery does look after diabetic cats when their owners go on holiday so I'm sure you can find similar if needed.

I found the injections easier than applying flea treatment or getting tablets down.
Diabetes is reversible in some cats but I believe they still need some monitoring in case it returns, it wasn't in ours as her pancreas was badly damaged from chronic pancreatitis.