New cat diabetic mom - already hopeless

[Amy C]

My 10-year-old male cat was diagnosed with Diabetes on Wednesday 9/11/24. We tried Senvelgo which did not work. I should have stuck to my gut instinct because I knew it wouldn’t. The Senvelgo website states not to start Senvelgo if the cat is lethargic. Well, he was lethargic which is the reason I took him to the vet in the first place (blood sugar was 578). Max’s electrolytes were way out of whack as well which I contributed to his lethargy. The vet convinced me Senvelgo was the way to go due to decreased risk of hypoglycemia so I went with it. His 3 day urine check showed no ketones but he still wasn’t feeling well. The vet told me it may take a few days for him to feel better. The week 1 urine check showed ketones and he was determined to have DKA. He was hospitalized yesterday on 9/18/24. I spoke with the vet today and they are keeping him again tonight.


I don’t want to sound like I don’t love my cat because I absolutely do. His vet bill from his first visit overnight visit was $1200. I have no idea how much the bill will be for this DKA visit.


REAL PURPOSE FOR POST (thanks for listening to me vent): I tent camp all the time. It is my favorite hobby. I am willing to give up camping because my cat comes first (over my hobbies). I may be getting waaay ahead of myself since my cat is still hospitalized (I might be in denial). I live in the city and go stay at a friend’s house in the country every other weekend. I do this for my sanity because I hate the city! My dog also enjoys running around in the country (and no, I cannot move right now). Is it wise to travel with a diabetic cat? I was thinking to myself that I will bring my cat and all his supplies to my friend’s house. My cat hates riding in the car though (which I know can spike glucose levels). I don’t if this would make his diabetic control worse with the glucose spikes from traveling? I don’t have any options for leaving overnight. Boarding will get too expensive and again, that stresses him out too! Please help.

 

[CORKY]

My 10-year-old male cat was diagnosed with Diabetes on Wednesday 9/11/24. We tried Senvelgo which did not work. I should have stuck to my gut instinct because I knew it wouldn’t. The Senvelgo website states not to start Senvelgo if the cat is lethargic. Well, he was lethargic which is the reason I took him to the vet in the first place (blood sugar was 578). Max’s electrolytes were way out of whack as well which I contributed to his lethargy. The vet convinced me Senvelgo was the way to go due to decreased risk of hypoglycemia so I went with it. His 3 day urine check showed no ketones but he still wasn’t feeling well. The vet told me it may take a few days for him to feel better. The week 1 urine check showed ketones and he was determined to have DKA. He was hospitalized yesterday on 9/18/24. I spoke with the vet today and they are keeping him again tonight.


I don’t want to sound like I don’t love my cat because I absolutely do. His vet bill from his first visit overnight visit was $1200. I have no idea how much the bill will be for this DKA visit.


REAL PURPOSE FOR POST (thanks for listening to me vent): I tent camp all the time. It is my favorite hobby. I am willing to give up camping because my cat comes first (over my hobbies). I may be getting waaay ahead of myself since my cat is still hospitalized (I might be in denial). I live in the city and go stay at a friend’s house in the country every other weekend. I do this for my sanity because I hate the city! My dog also enjoys running around in the country (and no, I cannot move right now). Is it wise to travel with a diabetic cat? I was thinking to myself that I will bring my cat and all his supplies to my friend’s house. My cat hates riding in the car though (which I know can spike glucose levels). I don’t if this would make his diabetic control worse with the glucose spikes from traveling? I don’t have any options for leaving overnight. Boarding will get too expensive and again, that stresses him out too! Please help.

My 10-year-old male cat was diagnosed with Diabetes on Wednesday 9/11/24. We tried Senvelgo which did not work. I should have stuck to my gut instinct because I knew it wouldn’t. The Senvelgo website states not to start Senvelgo if the cat is lethargic. Well, he was lethargic which is the reason I took him to the vet in the first place (blood sugar was 578). Max’s electrolytes were way out of whack as well which I contributed to his lethargy. The vet convinced me Senvelgo was the way to go due to decreased risk of hypoglycemia so I went with it. His 3 day urine check showed no ketones but he still wasn’t feeling well. The vet told me it may take a few days for him to feel better. The week 1 urine check showed ketones and he was determined to have DKA. He was hospitalized yesterday on 9/18/24. I spoke with the vet today and they are keeping him again tonight.


I don’t want to sound like I don’t love my cat because I absolutely do. His vet bill from his first visit overnight visit was $1200. I have no idea how much the bill will be for this DKA visit.


REAL PURPOSE FOR POST (thanks for listening to me vent): I tent camp all the time. It is my favorite hobby. I am willing to give up camping because my cat comes first (over my hobbies). I may be getting waaay ahead of myself since my cat is still hospitalized (I might be in denial). I live in the city and go stay at a friend’s house in the country every other weekend. I do this for my sanity because I hate the city! My dog also enjoys running around in the country (and no, I cannot move right now). Is it wise to travel with a diabetic cat? I was thinking to myself that I will bring my cat and all his supplies to my friend’s house. My cat hates riding in the car though (which I know can spike glucose levels). I don’t if this would make his diabetic control worse with the glucose spikes from traveling? I don’t have any options for leaving overnight. Boarding will get too expensive and again, that stresses him out too! Please help.

Welcome Amy, it is overwhelming when our precious kitty is diagnosed with diabetes, I feel you, it's ok to vent, there is a solution, I am not familiar with the insulin you are giving, but I do know that ProZinc and Lantus are a better choice for a diabetic cat is long lasting, many of us member use it, to be able to help you we would need more information on your kitty, like the dose, food, labs, below there is a couple of links that will be beneficiary for you and the members to guide you and your baby to a better health, and less expenses, home testing is very important especially before every shot, you do not want to shoot without knowing his glucose level, the norm is you test, feed, shoot, otherwise without knowing his glucose numbe,r it could have a situation of hypoglycemia, diabetic cats need foods that are between 0-10% carbs, they do not digest carbs, so the pancreas will continue to damage, us members like the Fancy Feast wet Pate Foods the link will show you many brands you can choose from the third column will have the amount of carbs in each food, stay away from dry foods and treats, they contain very high carbs like 20-25% carbs, which beats the purpose of treating the diabetes and low glucose levels, I know exactly how you feel, I went thru the same when my Corky was diagnosed, and pocket had a hole as big as a softball, I would assume you can take your cat camping as long as he is contained from eating strange things in the woods, you want to make sure you know what's his/her is eating, always, also the insulin must be refrigerated at the same temperature, otherwise it will decompose. You are in the right place there many expert members that can help your kitty get back to great health, without high Vet expenses, but we need more information, in the Main Forum are many stick notes for you to familiarize better with the Forum and answer many questions I am sure you have, don't worry is ok to feel desperately overwhelmed at first, and you can vent, we all do; post your concerns, no matter how small it may be, they are important

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

We have members who travelled regularly between their condo in NYC and a home in the Finger Lakes. Their cat loved the cabin and travelled well! We have members whose cat needed a very specialized surgery and traveled between Vancouver and Colorado. I'm also pretty sure we've had members who took their cat camping. Basically, if your cat likes to travel, there's no issue. I moved from Chicago to Columbus with a diabetic cat. I've given insulin while someone else was driving and monitored my cat's blood glucose levels when in the car. My cat hated car rides -- although she was better on the trip to Columbus because someone else was driving and I kept an arm around her.

Cats will experience spikes in their blood glucose for any number of reasons. Think in human terms. Human diabetics do not live a stress free life. Their levels will go up and down. It's temporary.

Is there a possibility of finding a cat sitter? I've had good luck with finding a person who came to my home and knew how to give shots and was much less expensive than boarding. Often vet techs from your vet's office will have a side business of cat/pet sitting.

DKA is expensive. It's also life threatening so I'm glad that your cat is getting good care. I am concerned, though, that the DKA wasn't picked up before starting Senvelgo. I would encourage you to push your vet to prescribe either Lantus (there is now generic/biosimilar glargine) or Prozinc. These are the two types of insulin that are recommended by the American Animal Hospital Assn for treating feline diabetes.

 

[SmallestSparrow]

I can relate to feeling hopeless—I think everyone here can. But taken in small steps I hope it’s manageable. You’re right, first things first: get cat well and you’ve done the right things in that direction. I can only speak re travel in terms of my first diabetic cat. This was many decades ago, before glucose meters and pet-specific insulin (although he was enrolled for a time in a study of a new longer acting pet insulin)—he was diagnosed two days before I had to drive from the west coast to east coast with three cats—in the military so no delaying it. We all made it. This included being in the car all day, staying in a different hotel each night, then living in a strange apartment and finally moving to a house. Rough first 3 months as a diabetic. Perhaps your vet could prescribe gabapentin to help with her travel. Try to have enough familiar things at your friends place so it feels more familiar. Alternatively, you may be able to make friends with someone in your community who also has a diabetic pet (try Nextdoor, or ask your vet), and not only would that person be local support as you get used to dealing with DM but perhaps you could trade pet sitting duties and kitty wouldn’t need to travel. Also, if you can afford it (not everyone can) you could find a pet sitter who is comfortable giving shots
I hope kitty is better and out of hospital soon