new to forum & diabetes in cats

new to forum and joined to learn about diabetes in cats and to see how others manage and to learn from it..
my 10yr old boy was officially diagnosed with it today and has an appt. with a specialist on thursday.
He is, or rather was before this month, a very fluffy long hair cat and i have been fostering/adopting two 4wk old kittens that were sick so i didn't realize he was losing more weight than i thought right away. He was perfectly fine in may with a clean bill of health, it wasn't until after we had to get him vaccinated for rabies and the combo distemper shot, that he started to go downhill it seems but, i wrote off him not quite being himself to new kittens, stress, getting dewormed twice since kittens who supposably had no worms ended up with roundworms and possible giardia and to the vaccines still being in his system. Now i feel guilty for bringing home 2 new kittens because they are the reason my two big boys had to be vaccinated in the first place (indoor cats only so we don't vaccinate after first year booster) and right now it seems to me like the vaccines are what brought the diabetes on but, of course i am new to having a diabetes cat and unfamiliar at how cats really get diabetes (other than dry food reasons) so i am here to get educated and hopefully learn enough to make my boy as comfortable as possible during his next few years (although he has lost 2lbs since May his liver & kidney bloodwork came back good so i am assuming he will have a few more years with us if his diabetes is contolled right by me and vets)..

sorry for long intro, kinda helped calm me down a little though...well off to go read this new found forum site!

 

Welcome! He is a pretty boy (name?).

 

Welcome! You've come to the right place. If you have any specific questions write on the main health forum.

 

thank you, hope he looks like that again soon. his name is Tux (he use to have a grayish coat in front when little that looked like he had a tuxedo on).

 

Good job getting your spreadsheet up.
My kitty was diagnosed at 11, and because of this forum lived to just past his 20th Birthday. Good Luck to you and Tuxie!

 

Welcome!! I am new here too

 

wow that is encouraging to read
was looking at your kitty's old spreadsheet and looks like it was a long road in the beginning for you guys. Hoping our new specialist tomorrow will be as knowledgable on diabetes in cats like our vet said she was and that she prescribes us Lantus since from what i gather so far is the best choice.