Borderline diabetic?

Hello everyone,

Well, I got Dusty's blood work back. T4 was slightly elevated but still in normal range. But he's "borderline diabetic." His glucose was 279 (it was 178 when he got blood work taken back in June). I'm freaking out. I didn't get to speak directly to the vet (she had left for the day and so I'll call her tomorrow), but she left a message for me that I should call her to discuss diet and getting him to lose weight. I'm so scared. Please help. Could stress account for such an elevated glucose? He gets only Wellness chicken or turkey wet food, about 6 oz. a day.

Thank you,
Elena & Dusty

 

Oh and in the urinalysis from about a week ago, there was no glucose found.

 

Yes. When Evie was taken in for a glucose check as well as a shave, the vet attributed the higher levels to her being stressed, especially when the test was taken while she was being shaved (I don't know why they did that). Stress is a possible reason. But remember: diabetes is treatable!!

 

Thank you, Samantha. Have you by any chance heard of borderline diabetes before? I'm just not sure exactly what that means. I'll speak with the vet tomorrow and get more information, but I'm just scared. Ugh.

 

I've never heard of borderline diabetes, but I think (but then again I don't know for sure!) maybe the vet is telling you that he's at risk for diabetes? Like it's not diabetes YET but it could easily turn into it?

I have no idea! Try to stay calm until you hear from the vet tomorrow. The important thing is that you're taking action and you're doing everything you can to help your kitty.

 

My cat's specialist calls it pre diabetic and or borderline diabetic when glucose levels stay in the high end of normal but not quite high enough to be considered diabetic. I found that each vet has a different criteria for diagnosing when a cat is actually diabetic needing insulin. Some have said consistently over 250 and another one says once they reach 300. I never realized before that there was so much difference of opinions on treating and diagnosing diabetes in cats until my kitty was diagnosed. My cat's glucose levels can go up 100 points if he's at the vet and is very stressed.