Kitten might be diabetic?

I think that my kitten, Juliet, might be diabetic.
We got her when she was around seven weeks old (Samson was just three weeks- they were both members of two abandoned litters). We noticed that she drank water way more often than our other cats. Diabetes immediately jumped into my mind, but I'd never had such a young kitten and she seemed perfectly healthy, so I decided to wait, as I didn't have a job at the time. She also pees a LOT, and my mom just commented to me that she's used one of the litter boxes at least three times in the past hour.

She was pregnant at the time we got her spayed because it was difficult to keep the two kittens apart when she was in heat, so we had them aborted. After that, her round belly NEVER left. She's a small cat, with a lean face and legs, and now has a noticeable firm and round belly.

Something that really worries me is her energy. She's a playful kitten, being just under one year old, but ten to fifteen minutes of vigorous playing will leave her laying on the floor and literally panting, while her "bro" Samson isn't anywhere close to letting up. I know that every cat is different, but that can't be normal, can it?
I've also noticed that if she can help it, she won't leap onto things. She'd rather grab on with her front paws and haul herself up onto the arm of the couch or platform of her cat tree. She seems to easily manage the table that the cat food is on, on which she wouldn't be able to pull herself up because it has a smooth surface.

I was reading about the symptoms and saw that she has a lot of them, but diabetes is female kittens would be very rare.

I want to get her tested. Does anyone have any experience with diabetic cats, and if so could you give me any advice about the process and initial costs?
I work a minimum wage job at an average of 26 hours per week, so cost is obviously important to me. It's the main reason why I've been putting this off. I care about Juliet a lot and my cats mean more to me than my own self most of the time. I just need to think about how much I can afford to spend in my low-income situation.

I'm really stressing about this, so any and all input is appreciated!!

Is there a vet college nearby? They will often examine pets for much less than a fully-licensed vet. That may be your best course of action. I know that vets are very expensive.

If you think she is diabetic, you may want to consider taking out pet insurance before you get her diagnosis. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions. If your kitty is diabetic, she will probably have to be given daily injections of insulin. I expect that bill will quickly add up, even if you buy the meds on-line. You'll need syringes and a needle container, too, if you have to give her injections.

Please let us know how you get along. We're sending our best wishes!

Best regards.

why don't you call or email vets in your area about the cost of a wellness exam and blood work, specifically a chemistry panel? i don't know where you live, but i know a vet who does a chemistry blood panel for $67, but you will also have the exam fee. the Louisiana SPCA here where i live has a community clinic and charges $30 for a kitten exam. however, my cat-only vet charges $56 for an exam. 

Go here for info: FelineDiabetes.com There's a great message board there where you will get help and advice from experienced diabetic cat owners.

Juvenile diabetes is rare, especially in a kitten. Typical diabetes symptoms are excessive drinking, flooding the litter box with sugary sticky urine, always hungry and eating a lot of food but still losing weight. By excessive drinking, I mean laying by the water bowl and just drinking very frequently. Is your kitten showing any other symptom besides the drinking which seems to be excessive?

The vet will need to do a fructosamine test to determine if the kitten has diabetes or not. if the test shows an elevated blood glucose level, then the vet will most likey prescribe insulin and diet. There are ways to keep both these costs low Ask over on the FelineDiabetes.com message board.