Magic 411 newly diagnosed

Hi - this is Magic “Maji” and she is recently diagnosed. She is 12 yo Tuxedo and I’ve never had a cat quite like her - I just got my blood glucose tester but scared to use it. My husband is a dog person but - she does tricks on command for him with salmon reward. Hubby has her sit, roll over, jump through hoops and we both just love her so much...and I really would like her to go into remission. I feel so badly she has diabetes and I believe I over fed her...

 

Welcome, Maji is beautiful and sounds like quite a character! I was afraid to test my cats glucose too, but it turned out to be no big deal. Remember it can save her life and help you get her to regulation or even (fingers and paws crossed) remission. Looks like you’ve posted on the Main Forum already, great, see ya there!

 

Thank you Sharon and Colin!!! Much appreciation! I know I need to test her myself... it’s the needles... I just feel so bad sticking her that I’m afraid to do any more... but I’m sure Maji would prefer NOT to go to the vet and is depending on me to come thru...I will read the materials tomorrow and get a system down I’d really like to know what’s going on with her bsl...

Thank you again for responding!!!
K

 

Welcome to the forum. Yes the first week can be stressful. After a very short period you will be a pro. You can save a lot of money doing it yourself. And home testing really keeps your kitteh safe, so that you don't dose Magi some insulin when she may not need it.

We all probably wish for remission. But it often does not happen. Leo has been diabetic and on insulin for almost 3 years. He kinda likes getting tested because he knows a treat or a meal follows immediately after. So I kinda have him trained....if a cat can be trained.

 

Jeff and Leo, thank you for responding... a cat can definitely be trained!!! Cats are quite smart. I never believed a cat could do tricks but if they’re highly food motivated which Maji is and it sounds like Leo is too they respond well to rewards...I’m going to take your advice on trying to make it a testing reward scenario- she really responds well to rewards of food. I have been preparing myself for the fact that she may have to be permanently on insulin as she did not respond as fast to the insulin as the vet had hoped and I had hoped. When this came on it started out with a week of throwing up during the night throughout the night then she appeared to have stopped throwing up and we notice her drinking water which she never was before. Then the peeing in the kitty box large amounts then she seemed weaker... took her to the vet for dental cleaning and they gave her a blood test and would not do the procedure due to the diagnosis. Thanks so much for responding Jeff and Leo - I really appreciate it greatly!!!
K

 

Welcome!

 

No problem. Excess drinking and urination are a result of high blood glucose. Proper amounts of insulin will resolve that issue - if it is due to diabetes.

 

Jeff, do you think that the throwing up episode for about week, I kept thinking it was a hairball she was trying to get out, could have been something else? In the back of my mind I keep wondering if something happened to the pancreas as a preindicator??? Then the resulting symptom = diabetes?

 

I'm pretty sure the throwup is unrelated to diabetes. Diabetes manifests from the pancreas and affects insulin output. Diabetes can also manifest from Acromegaly (pituitary tumor). Neither of those cause vomiting.

So it is probably something else causing the throwup. Some cats (like Leo) eat a lot, even when they are regulated. So if they do not eat, like at 3am, then they can get digestive puke. Usually it is just some small liquid.

 

Thank you Jeff BTW I looked at your kitty photos ADORABLE!!!