My cat has been diagnosed with diabetes today. I'm very heart broken and stressed out right now. He's an older cat, 17 years old. He has a hyperactive thyroid, and now he has diabetes. He looks and seems fine, although he's drinking a lot of water. He throws up in the morning after he eats as well. I need to go back to the vet tomorrow where they'll show me how to inject the insulin into him and everything.

This has been extremely bad news for me. My cat is so special. He was born in our house the day before my 10th birthday. He was healthy all his life up until now. He used to go outside all the time, but not for a few years now because he's older. But one night he got outside chasing another male cat. He got so stressed out by it, and that's when the problems with his thyroid started. Up until now, he was doing well with his thyroid medication, then this horrible diabetes suddenly turned up.

I was planning to go to Japan early next year to become an English teacher, it was my dream for years, but now I've chosen to stay with my cat. It will require all my time now to take care of him, and if I were to leave, I don't have anyone who can take over the careful care giving he needs, not even my parents who are gone most of the day. So diabetes not only has messed up his life, it's messed up mine as well.

Even the vet was warning about the cost and time it will take to care for a diabetic cat. It was almost like she was suggesting I put him down instead. I can't do that. I love him far too much, and I truly believe that a pet should only be put down as a very last resort. I don't know how to cope with this, and it feels like my life has just ended. Can anyone give me suggestions on how to cope? Thank you.

now now, just take a deep breath. life is not over, nor is your cat's life.

it is not expensive to treat for diabetes, once you get past the initial purchases. and the biggest money saver is to hometest your cat's blood glucose levels, just as a human diabetic does (see attached videos)
[www.youtube.com]
[s138.photobucket.com]

also, once you get the hang of it (testing & shooting), you will find that it only adds maybe 10-15 minutes to your regular daily routine, that's it.

others will be along with more info so i'll keep it short. just start reading and ask questions as you go along.

Your life and your cat's has changed a bit, but is by no means over.

As Cindy said, the initial costs are kind steep, but after that, food is my biggest expense.

What are you feeding your critter? Many (possibly most) feed regular old canned food from the store instead of more expensive (and likely inferior quality) prescription foods. Try to stick with 10% of the calories from carbs or less. A great resource is a list { [www.felinediabetes.com] } that a memeber here, Janet & Binky, compiled that lists the actual, as fed, nutritional values (more accurate than the guaranteed analysis numbers, in my opinion). That link also has links to several other sites that have great information about how to feed your diabetic (and even non-diabetic) cats.

Others will be along shortly, I'm sure with more information and encouragement than you thought possible. It will likely be a bit overwhelming at first, but just keep reading and asking questions and before long it will be like second nature!

---

I'm Donna

The cats are: Maxie: Striped extra-sweet guy. Diagnosed May 11, 2006. Last shot was January 29, 2007. We used Novolin N. Buddy: long-haired all black civie

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." ~Ronald Reagan

Maxie's Spreadsheet [spreadsheets.google.com]

Hello, Welcome to the best place to be for a diabetic cat. I am really sick and my head is fuzz so I will let others tell you the good stuff. There are over 4000 world wide members here and we have all felt like you. First it will not be expensive and you should not use the "special" food the vet will tell you that is needed. The only thing special is it costs alot for low quality food. Go to the top of the page and click on Janet and Binky's square. Look at the food lists under canned and choose one that is high protein and under 10% carbs, Fish can be used as a treat but not daily food. Ok there one problem is solved.
If your boy is used to eating dry there is an article by Dr. Lisa on how to transition him to wet. I will put that link in for you.
Read the FAQ's and absorb the information. Home test and save lots of money as you don't have the vet doing it. There are so many ways to save money and in the end your cat is much better off. Many cats go off insulin in the first 2 or 3 months once they are on a good wet canned food. So maybe you still can go to Japan. Your folks can learn to home test him to spot check the blood glucose.
I am sure others have been posting while I sit here sneezing and coughing and typing slow.
You really will get so much help and you will not be sorry.
You are an excellent caregiver to be willing to do so much for your baby. That is something you will find here. We all understand.
Some borrow money for big illnesses some get a second job.
The only way the care will be expensive is if you let the vet do everything.
Glad you are here. Hugs and breathe in a month you will be here telling someone else that this is easy. Bonnie
edited to add links.
[www.catinfo.org]
This is written by Dr. Lisa a DVM
who posts on our board and is an
expert in cat diets.


[www.felinediabetes.com]
Choose a canned food high in protein and under 10% carb (not fish)

Great spot to see pictures and learn how to do blood tests
[www.sugarcats.net]

Read the FAQ's they have it all!

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Any advice or ideas I give are based strictly on my own experience or on what I have read on this FDMB. I am not a DVM just a cat mom who tries to study a lot for my girls care.

Bonnie and Cessan in Sweden
DX Dec 6th 2006
On Caninsulin 6U bid I dropped it to 3 and then to 1 within a couple days.
Was on high protein low carb wet from mid Dec and when taken off the 3TBLS dry a day she went off insulin. Her BG was bouncing from 3 to 20 ( Sweden ) and settled to 4.7 when taken off all dry. OTJ since Feb 2nd 2007.
I am checking the board everyday since Feb 1, 2007




GA



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 10/10/07 02:55PM by Cessans Mom.

Awwww, Cindy is right. This is not something that will ruin your life. It is easily treatable and with hometesting you will have so much better control over it (and your sanity). What do you feed him? Info like this will help people here to help you better. I am so glad you found this community. You will see soon enough what a supportive and life saving place this really is! *HUGS* Try not to stress too much, it will be ok. Your very obvious love and dedication to your furbaby is a big step in this "sugar dance"!

Love,

& ~ Bobbi ~
Trixter is Insulin FREE since 8/11/06! IMOM, The FDMB, PZI Vet, home testing and diet change saved my baby! Thank you! <3

Please do look through the FAQs. This is overwhelming for the first month or two, but it IS doable. Where do you live right now? Maybe you can't go to Japan, but you may have other options there.

Hometesting is definitely the priciest part of diabetes BUT it is also the part that gives you much MUCH more control over the diabetes and will allow you to give the best care possible without so much worry. HOnestly, after you learn how to do it you will be SO glad.

Did you vet mention what insulin they are thinking of using?

Maybe someone is close enough to help you learn to test. Please don't despair. 17 is elderly, but if he is fairly healthy otherwise, this could really give you some extra quality time.

Karen & Pearl

Pearl's Levemir Spreadsheet


[pearlthediabeticcat.blogspot.com]

(new entry SEPTEMBER 29. AEROKAT DEMO added!)

try not to worry too much. it's all manageable, really. it just takes time, education and patience. listen and read as much as you can. also, where are you located? there might be someone in the area who could help you. my sister-in-law teaches (private lessons) english in japan. my brother is in the military there.

Welcome to the forums - you've definitely landed in the right place!

My cat is 15 and he also has diabetes and is hyper-T. Please try not to stress yourself out too much, because all this is manageable. The first few weeks are sooooo over-whelming, but soon it starts to make sense

Please do as others have suggested and read the FAQ at the top of this page. And by all means, feel free to ask questions - there is a ton of experience here and folks are always anxious to help you get off to a good start.



Victor (GA) and Victor's Mom
Civvies - male Flame Point Siamese and one female Pixie Bob




V-man: GA 06-20-09 at age 15+, diabetic, IBD, hyperthyroid, heart murmur, mild neuropathy.
Food: NV Raw Rabbit - (more for his worsening IBD than for FD)
dx 06-15-07 - Humulin N

Last shot 05-18-08 - and still off the juice when he passed to the Bridge on 06-20-09.

Hi there and welcome! My boy was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and I too was very stressed out and overwhelmed at the time, but I've gotten some great advice from the fine folks on this message board, and you will too! Just hang in there and know you're not alone!

It's very manageable and it certainly isn't the end of the world. It just puts a little crimp into your morning and evening plans. I think the ititial costs for testing are the biggest part of it, then once he's regulated, it shouldn't be bad at all.

You've come to the right place for help!

All I'll add is welcome, and ask whether if the diabetes is under control can't you take your cat with you to Japan? Take some time to do some reading and learn more about feline diabetes and how its very treatable.

Jen

**********************************************
Me: On the FDMB almost daily since December 2002.

Squeak:8 years old, on Humulin L for 3 months, off insulin since March 2003.

Our short list of favorite links for feline diabetes info (thanks to Robin for the idea):

FDMB FAQs ~ Pets with Diabetes ~ Gorbzilla.com ~ Binky's Page ~ Boo's Valley Sugarcats ~ Health Articles right here at Feline Diabetes ~ Pat's Post about Switching Diets ~ Feline Nutrition ~

As others have said, once you get over the initial shock and sadness, you start to educate yourself and this becomes very doable.

You have already been given some great resources. Before your vet visit, print of the FAQ's at the top of the page and some of the other ones you want to remember. Put them in a 3 ring binder where you will be keeping all the info on your cat from now on. Be sure to bring home the numbers from the lab tests your kitty has been given.

Ask your vet what kind of insulin. The majority of people here use PZI or Lantus because it is usually easier to get a cat regulated on them. Humulin N is doable, but is fast acting and that is harder to deal with.

Ask if they will help you learn to hometest. If they can't, come back and we will. Think of it as if your cat were your child. You wouldn't just give her insulin and take her back to the doctor once a month; you would test before each shot so you know how much or little to give.

Take your copy of Janet and Binky's page (at the top of this page) to PetSmart and pick out food below 10% carbs with no gluten. If your vet wants to sell you expensive prescription food, don't. Trust us on this. We have lots of research, including articles by the vet who developed DM, that says that prescription food isn't necessary.

I know we are just people on the internet, but we care about cats. You can do this and we can help. You can have more quality years with your cat. We have!

-Sue and Oliver(GA)

Niko


Thanks for our friends at FDMB, Oliver was diet controlled until his death from heart disease in 2008. (PZI user, Fancy Feast eater, love PetSafe5 automatic feeder) We adopted Niko from the shelter later that year.

Your cat is very lucky to have you -- you are clearly very dedicated to giving him the best care possible. Please tell us your kitty's name, and your name also. You've already been told a lot of great info, so I'm going to concentrate on your appoinment with the vet tomorrow:

1) find out what type of insulin s/he is prescribing -- there are several. Knowing that will help everyone here help you. Prices of insulins vary.

2) The vet will VERY LIKELY prescribe a special diet that you can only buy from his office. It's not necessary to buy/feed this food. Many regular grocery store canned foods are cheaper and just as good - or better - for your cat. If it's difficult to refuse the food while you're there, just get it and return it (unopened) later. This will save you bunches of money in the long haul.

3) If the vet wants to keep your kitty overnight (or several days) to "regulate" him -- REFUSE! You can do the same blood testing at home, where your cat is relaxed, and save TONS of money over paying for an extended vet visit.

4) Find out what tests the vet did to diagnose the diabetes. Urine test? Blood test? Fructosamine? Get a copy of the lab report.

Giving the injections is a breeze - especially if you've got your cat's face planted in a bowl of yummy food while you do it!

We've all been in the place where you are now, and we can all promise that it gets easier and you'll be more relaxed. Your life is NOT over - and neither is the kitty's.

Let us know how it goes.



Nancy
Main person for Isabella(GA), a cute but cranky girl DX'd 9/28/06 ... GA 9/21/2008, a very sad day
blog: sweetisabella.blogspot.com

Thank you so much to everyone who replied. Thank you for the information, and the support, both of which I need dearly right now. To answer some of the questions asked here, I live in Canada, and in the area I live in, specialists and people who know anything about feline diabetes is very limited. I need to rely on my vet, but I'm discouraged that she would be so grim about the situation because my cat is an older guy. He seems so healthy otherwise, but he does have a hyperactive thyroid. The medication he's on for that keeps it under control. He also has a heart mummer, but he's had it for many years, and is a symptom of his thyroid problem. So I suppose my vet was just being honest by combining all these problems, and his age. She probably thinks he doesn't have much longer. I don't want to think, or accept that.

Right now I'm feeding him Fancy Feast, all of which doesn't contain wheat glutton and are on the Janet and Binky's list. I've been feeding him it for years. I mix it with Whiskas dry food.

As for Japan, I was planning to leave early February, but I don't know how well things will be going for my kitty, though. I should be getting ready to go now, getting my visa, the flight tickets, a homestay family, but I can't concentrate on getting those things ready with my baby as sick as he is.

Julie and Homer, do you know which city your sister-in-law is working in? I had planned to teach children at a school in Tokyo or Chiba, but I don't have a job yet. It's difficult to be hired overseas, especially since I will be going on a Working Holiday Visa. I was just going to go there and find a job, and bring enough money to support me for a few months. But now I think I will be spending most of that money on medication and vet appointments, even if I do figure out that home testing, so even if I can convince my parents to take over for me, I won't have the funds anymore to go.

There are many Canadians, me included, on the board.

Please note that treating diabetes doesn't have to be expensive, you may still be able to afford to go.

Jen

**********************************************
Me: On the FDMB almost daily since December 2002.

Squeak:8 years old, on Humulin L for 3 months, off insulin since March 2003.

Our short list of favorite links for feline diabetes info (thanks to Robin for the idea):

FDMB FAQs ~ Pets with Diabetes ~ Gorbzilla.com ~ Binky's Page ~ Boo's Valley Sugarcats ~ Health Articles right here at Feline Diabetes ~ Pat's Post about Switching Diets ~ Feline Nutrition ~

HOnestly it should not take anywhere NEAR that amount of money to get started with diabetes treatment! Don't let them talk you into "keeping him a few days for a curve". Instead, go buy a glucometer at the drugstore and testing strips. Visit Pearl's blog below. All the hometesting video links are off to the side. You can do that even before your next vet visit. It takes a little bit to get comfortable with it sometimes, but you can do it. The only thing not mentioned in the videos is new cats, you kind of have to warm the ear up a bit, say 30 seconds, with a very warm rice sock (put raw rice in the toe of a sock and tie it off, warm in microwave) or damp cloth in a plastic baggie warmed in the microwave. It helps the ear bleed at first.

Really, it is not THAT expensive! Hopefully they are going to use an insulin like PZI or lantus. Its just a little easier to work with than others.

Take it a step at a time.

Karen & Pearl

Pearl's Levemir Spreadsheet


[pearlthediabeticcat.blogspot.com]

(new entry SEPTEMBER 29. AEROKAT DEMO added!)

Thank you everyone.

My cat's name is Sylvester (after Sylvester and Tweety.)

The vet didn't tell me which insulin she would be prescribing yet. She said it would only cost about $10 a month.

I think Sylvester's diet is fine now with Fancy Food canned, and Whiskas dry. At least I hope so.

I would like to do the blood testing at home since my cat gets so stressed out everytime I bring him to the vet. I'll ask my vet about it tomorrow. The hardest part for me is to give him needles. I know he's going to react badly, and it's just scary to do, even if he's distracted. Especially that I can't stand needles. I'm the most worried about doing that part right now.

The diabetes was diagnosed with a blood test today.

Manitoba, Canada. I live in a small town, and we only have 2 vets, one generally treats farm animals only.

my brother and sister in law live at camp zama (military place) which is 25 miles southwest of tokyo, but it takes about 3 hours to get there because of so much traffic. i don't know the city name where they live but will try to get it. they have lived there for a few years and gosia is from poland but speaks german, english and now japanese so she teaches kids and adults i think in their home like a private tutor.

Get the smallest guage needles possible and it will not be bad at all. Most of them barely notice it.

Karen & Pearl

Pearl's Levemir Spreadsheet


[pearlthediabeticcat.blogspot.com]

(new entry SEPTEMBER 29. AEROKAT DEMO added!)

Sakura,

I know how you're feeling about the shots, but I promise you that the anticipation is the worst part. I, too, am afraid of needles and never in my wildest dreams did i think I could ever give a shot to anyone, let alone my Trixter. But once I gave that first shot I was so relieved at how easy it really is! The needles are SO tiny, Trixter didn't even feel it!

About the dry food you mix into the Fancy feast. Dry is very high in carbs and will cause a rise in blood sugar. Check out this very informative website about feline nutrition for a more detailed explanation: www.catinfo.org

You will do just fine!

Love,

& ~ Bobbi ~
Trixter is Insulin FREE since 8/11/06! IMOM, The FDMB, PZI Vet, home testing and diet change saved my baby! Thank you! <3

Sakura, I'm originally from Manitoba. Perhaps I might be able to help.

A couple of things..

My hubby and I are needle phobes but we learned very quickly that giving insulin is easy, you just grab some scruff and shoot and the cat hardly ever feels it. Even hometesting was waaaayyyy easier than I expected.

We have LOTS of information for you should you have difficulties with your vet. And please note that not many vets know that hometesting is valid AND endorsed by the Canadian Veterinary Association!

Jen

**********************************************
Me: On the FDMB almost daily since December 2002.

Squeak:8 years old, on Humulin L for 3 months, off insulin since March 2003.

Our short list of favorite links for feline diabetes info (thanks to Robin for the idea):

FDMB FAQs ~ Pets with Diabetes ~ Gorbzilla.com ~ Binky's Page ~ Boo's Valley Sugarcats ~ Health Articles right here at Feline Diabetes ~ Pat's Post about Switching Diets ~ Feline Nutrition ~