Diabetes

sharper16 · Jan 28, 2005

My 14 year old boy Toby has just been diagnosed with diabetes. The vet wants me to bring him in for a few days so that can treat him and bring the sugar levels down.

I have no idea what do think regarding this and I'm wondering who here has gone through it or is going through it now. Can you please help. I need some guidance.

THe vet said I will have to change his diet, but to what yet, I don't know. Does anyone have an idea of costs, etc. Any information would greatly help.

Thank you.

sandie · Jan 28, 2005

I have not had any personal experience with feline diabetes. I have however seen many cats live long and healthy lives with it. It can be somewhat costly as with any "managed" condition. One of the websites I know alot of people have found useful is

http://www.felinediabetes.com/

captiva · Jan 28, 2005

I'm sorry - I just went through this scare with my six yr old kitty. I was fortunate because I caught it early and we were able to control it with diet. He's now in normal limits. Sandie gave you a good site, but I can go into more detail with my own experience with you. I will private message you.

hissy · Jan 28, 2005

I have alerted gayef to this thread, she is a pro in diabetes management for cats-

gayef · Jan 28, 2005

Originally Posted by sharper16

My 14 year old boy Toby has just been diagnosed with diabetes. The vet wants me to bring him in for a few days so that can treat him and bring the sugar levels down.

I have no idea what do think regarding this and I'm wondering who here has gone through it or is going through it now. Can you please help. I need some guidance.

THe vet said I will have to change his diet, but to what yet, I don't know. Does anyone have an idea of costs, etc. Any information would greatly help.

Thank you.

Awwww, poor Toby ... I am so sorry to hear of this, but am so happy that you came around to ask about it. I successfully treated and maintained a diabetic cat for 6 years and so learned a lot in the process, hopefully some of the stuff I learned may assist you and others here with an interest.

It isn't at all unusual for the vet to have wanted to keep your boy a few days ... the vet will administer IV fluids and other medications and be able to perform a glucose curve to see how his food intake works with the insulin administration. It will be very helpful info to you for when Toby comes home, you will be better equipped to treat him intelligently.

Once they determine the appropriate food/insulin times and amounts, the vet will show you how to give the insulin at home. Please ... if you are at all squeamish about needles, get over it now. If not, then you are a step ahead of the game.

The vet will also recommend a food suitable for Toby, but I had a lot of success with Purina's D/M Diabetic Maintenance formula with my own cat. If your vet doesn't already stock it, have him order it in - it really does work.

As for costs, I can't tell you it is inexpensive to treat and maintain a diabetic cat. It isn't. But, once you get over the initial diagnosis and early testing stage, the amount you are spending does decrease somewhat. It wouldn't at all surprise me to see the initial vet charges well into the hundreds of dollars. But after you get Toby to a point where he is maintaining well, you can reasonable anticipate about $50 - $75 a month, give or take.

I think it should be said that the emotional cost is pricey. You really do bond with a diabetic cat on a level that you haven't before. I began seeing every little thing and wondering if this was the day ... but your mileage may vary - I tend to see the cup as half-empty, you may be a half-full sort.

I am happy to go into much, much deeper detail if you like. Ask specific questions and I can try to answer them for you. But every cat is different and what worked for me may not always work for you.

Sending some much-needed hugs your way - Toby has a very special person to take care of him the way you do. Know that he is in the best of hands right now and that they are there to help him. And above all else, remember to breathe. It might be a whirlwind of emotions and really unfamiliar territory, but you have a place to come when things get hairy.

Yours from the heart,

Gaye

gayef · Jan 28, 2005

Originally Posted by hissy

I have alerted gayef to this thread, she is a pro in diabetes management for cats-

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Hissy.

~gf~

cirque · Jan 28, 2005

Our cat elmer had Diabeties. We managed him with an adjusted diet (Science Diet something..) and a pill form of medication, not all cats react to it, he seemed to. By the time we and the vet caught on to him having a problem because his tests never seemed to show problems when we had him tested for various things, it was really already to late and his kidney's had been damaged. That ment he was using his litter box a lot and drinking a lot. Although ihs behavior when things went good for him was ok, he was very prone to being jealous or mean if for example his food dish was empty or he felt neglected even when he wasnt or he felt like he needed more water.. anything little thing could set him off. He was also fairly old and was around 15 years old. At times we also had him treated for sore joints and he had regular steriod enjections as well. All in all, it was not a horrible experience and as long as you find a litter that works well with frequent trips to the litter box if thats the case, things are fairly like normal with the excetption of the adjusted diet and trying to get pills or shots into them in a method that does not freak them out and make them hate the process so you cant do it. I wish you all the best with yours and I hope you have better luck then we did, even though our exerpience was not totally horrible and we would not have given up on him despite his illness.

mom of franz · Jan 28, 2005

Originally Posted by sharper16

My 14 year old boy Toby has just been diagnosed with diabetes. The vet wants me to bring him in for a few days so that can treat him and bring the sugar levels down.

I have no idea what do think regarding this and I'm wondering who here has gone through it or is going through it now. Can you please help. I need some guidance.

THe vet said I will have to change his diet, but to what yet, I don't know. Does anyone have an idea of costs, etc. Any information would greatly help.

Thank you.

So sorry to hear about Toby's diagnosis. I can assure at at least the insulin is cheap. One hint that may help you. My friend Nancy got her dog Harry used to his two shts a day by administering the insulin just prior to feeding. In no time at all, he learned to associte that getting the shot, meant that food was on the way. He literally leaped onto the chair's ottoman just seeing the needle! Of course that means that your guy MUST eat right after the shot...if he is a fussy eater, the shot prior to food may not be best. Of course you know your boy in that regard...just a thought.

hissy · Jan 28, 2005

Originally Posted by gayef

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Hissy.

~gf~

That's okay I am still waiting for your article....

pat · Jan 28, 2005

I am sorry for your news, it always is hard to hear one of our kitties has a chronic condition.

I can highly recommend this site and this list jmpeerson's canned foods list .

I wish your kitty all the best,

tulip2454 · Jan 30, 2005

it is not a disaster that your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes. It is manageable and is not life threatening in itself. Mischa was diagnosed before christmas. the injections were not too bad for me but Mish hated it. Your vet will explain everything-go armed with lots of questions however stupid they sound. Read up on things but dont get overwhelmed, there is a lot of info out there. Take it a bit at a time and WATCH YOUR CAT. Cost wise - not too bad but that will depend on how much insulin and how many injections. Mish was on Hills m/d and hated it (still hates it) so I would recomend getting Toby stable first. As long as he eats. Regulation is the key I think. Regular feeding times, same food etc.
It is strange how me and Mish get along now. She is 12 and has never been a lap cat and keeps herself very much to herself but now she is a little lovey cat!
On a bright note - we had a blood curve done a couple of weeks ago and she has below normal levels (which scared the **** out of me) but she no longer has insulin injections and seems to have 'overcome' diabetes! Maybe just the honeymoon period so I am still keeping an eye on her. It doesnt happen often apparently we are one of the lucky ones!
Good luck - us who have gone through it are always here to help but remember your cat is unique and what goes for my Mish may not be applicable for Toby.

sharper16 · Jan 30, 2005

I brought Toby home yesterday. The vet put him on Hills W/D. He is eating it like crazy. My boy has never been a picky eater. I will have to give him insulin once a day. It is such a small dosage that the vet said a bottle would last me about 5 months!

Toby responded very well to treatment and the vet is very optimistic. When I first brought him in, his glucose levels were at 420. I guess normal range is 90-170. With just 2 injections, his levels dropped to 280. I will have to give him on shot every morning and I will be taking him in for a recheck on Wednesday. All his other vital organs are perfect, so the vet thinks he will recover just fine. I'm a little nervous about the injection, since I will be giving it to him for the first time today. I guess practice will make perfect!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts.

Originally Posted by tulip2454

it is not a disaster that your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes. It is manageable and is not life threatening in itself. Mischa was diagnosed before christmas. the injections were not too bad for me but Mish hated it. Your vet will explain everything-go armed with lots of questions however stupid they sound. Read up on things but dont get overwhelmed, there is a lot of info out there. Take it a bit at a time and WATCH YOUR CAT. Cost wise - not too bad but that will depend on how much insulin and how many injections. Mish was on Hills m/d and hated it (still hates it) so I would recomend getting Toby stable first. As long as he eats. Regulation is the key I think. Regular feeding times, same food etc.
It is strange how me and Mish get along now. She is 12 and has never been a lap cat and keeps herself very much to herself but now she is a little lovey cat!
On a bright note - we had a blood curve done a couple of weeks ago and she has below normal levels (which scared the **** out of me) but she no longer has insulin injections and seems to have 'overcome' diabetes! Maybe just the honeymoon period so I am still keeping an eye on her. It doesnt happen often apparently we are one of the lucky ones!
Good luck - us who have gone through it are always here to help but remember your cat is unique and what goes for my Mish may not be applicable for Toby.

sharonkay · Jan 30, 2005

Originally Posted by sharper16

My 14 year old boy Toby has just been diagnosed with diabetes. The vet wants me to bring him in for a few days so that can treat him and bring the sugar levels down.

I have no idea what do think regarding this and I'm wondering who here has gone through it or is going through it now. Can you please help. I need some guidance.

THe vet said I will have to change his diet, but to what yet, I don't know. Does anyone have an idea of costs, etc. Any information would greatly help.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry for your news...I wish I could be more help here...but unfortunately I was very young when we had this situation.

My beautiful Olivia ( my cat growing up, who looked hauntingly like my Adelaide) had feline diabetes. The vet did keep her for a couple days, and then we had her on a specific food, but I dont remember what...this was a long time ago (I was 10 when she passed).

What I do remember was that it was not terribly cheap, but worth every penny. Once she was regulated on insulin shots (my mom was a pro at these and even said that giving her the shots was far easier than any pill she'd given her) she was pretty happy and in good shape for a long time. Then, we got some bad news...the insulin that she was on was being discontinued by the manufacturer and the real expense began. We moved to a cat specialist who tried to get her healthy again with other therapies. After almost 2 years of that, we realized that she was absolutely miserable and we let her go...

But, I really meant this to be a little uplifting...Olivia was happy and fairly healthy for a long time until we had to change her meds...and when she died she was almost 17!! She lived with the disease for a long time....

I hope that you and Toby adjust well to your new "routine"

good luck!!

tulip2454 · Jan 30, 2005

SharonKay said:
My beautiful Olivia ( my cat growing up, who looked hauntingly like my Adelaide) had feline diabetes.

Weird isnt it - my Mischa looks startlingly like my very first cat Harry Flashman!

dont worry sharper16 about the injections - just follow what the vet said and youll be fine. I had a few practise goes in the vet on a piece of rolled up cloth and then on Mish! It doesnt hurt and its over in a flash. A bit nerve wracking to begin with but you'l be a practised pro in no time

pat · Jan 30, 2005

Thanks for the update, sounds like things are stabilizing nicely

Diabetes

sharper16

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sandie

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captiva

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hissy

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gayef

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gayef

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cirque

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mom of franz

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hissy

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pat

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tulip2454

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sharper16

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sharonkay

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tulip2454

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pat

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